Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 354

Kate turned up the volume on the speakers, letting the upbeat music fill the entire apartment.

She danced around the living room with a glass of wine in her hand, laughing as Rolly joined her, their voices blending as they sang along to the lyrics.

Tonight was a celebration.

Kate twirled, her silk robe swaying around her as she raised her glass in the air. “To my engagement!” she cheered.

Rolly clinked her glass against Kate’s with a smirk. “To finally secure your place as Mrs. Winters!”

Kate grinned, taking a sip of her wine before collapsing onto the couch. She felt invincible. Everything had fallen into place exactly as she wanted.

Mr. Winters had announced the engagement in front of the world, and now, there was no going back.

Ryan belonged to her.

“Can you believe it?” Kate giggled, placing her glass on the coffee table. “All these years of waiting, and now, it’s finally happening.”

Rolly smirked. “You played the game well, babe. Now all that’s left is to get a ring on that finger.”

Kate sighed dreamily, staring at her perfectly manicured nails. “It’s only a matter of time.”

Rolly grabbed the bottle of wine and refilled their glasses. “Ryan must be thrilled.”

Kate chuckled. “He doesn’t have a choice. He knows his father won’t let him back out of this.”

She took another sip of her drink, already picturing the lavish wedding, the attention, the power she would have as Ryan’s wife. Everything was falling into place.

Until the loud, sharp knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

Kate and Rolly exchanged glances.

“Are you expecting someone?” Rolly asked.

Kate frowned, setting her glass down as she stood. “No.”

The knocking came again, this time more forceful.

Kate rolled her eyes, adjusting her robe as she walked toward the door. The moment she swung it open, her smirk vanished.

Ryan.

He stood there, his tall frame tense, his dark eyes burning with anger.

Kate blinked, stunned for a moment before forcing a smile. “Ryan! What a surprise! I—”

“Cut the crap, Kate,” Ryan snapped, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

Kate’s smile faltered as she closed the door behind him.

Rolly, still holding her wine glass, watched with wide eyes before quietly setting it down.

Kate folded her arms. “What’s with the attitude?”

Ryan turned to face her, his jaw tight. “Did you plan this?”

Kate tilted her head. “Plan what?”

Ryan’s voice dropped, dangerously cold. “The engagement announcement.”

Kate blinked innocently. “Ryan, what are you talking about? Your father announced it, not me.”

Ryan scoffed. “Don’t play dumb, Kate. Did you know about this beforehand?”

Kate bit her lip, hesitating for a second before sighing dramatically. “Okay, fine. I knew he was going to say something eventually, but I didn’t know he would do it last night.”

Ryan let out a humorless laugh. “So you knew. And you didn’t think to mention it to me?”

Kate shrugged. “I didn’t think it mattered. You knew this was bound to happen someday.”

Ryan took a step closer, his eyes locked onto hers. “I told you, Kate. I’m not ready for any engagement. I’ve told you this over and over again.”

Kate’s expression hardened. “Ryan, I’ve been patient! I’ve waited for years, and I deserve this!”

Ryan’s fists clenched at his sides. “Deserve? You think forcing me into an engagement is what you deserve?”

Kate’s nostrils flared. “I didn’t force you into anything, Ryan. Your father made the announcement. What was I supposed to do? Stand there and deny it?”

“Yes!” Ryan snapped. “You should have told him no! You should have told him we’re not engaged because I never proposed to you!”

Kate’s lips parted in shock. “You’re being ridiculous.”

Ryan let out a deep breath, trying to control his anger. “You let this happen because you wanted it. You didn’t care what I thought, didn’t care what I wanted.”

Kate’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but Ryan wasn’t moved.

“You don’t love me,” he said, his voice quieter now but still firm. “You love the idea of being with me. You love the title, the power, the attention. But you don’t love me, Kate.”

Kate shook her head. “That’s not true. I love you, Ryan. I’ve always loved you.”

Ryan looked at her, his expression unreadable. “If you loved me, you wouldn’t have done this.”

Kate’s hands clenched into fists. “So what now? You’re just going to humiliate me? Let the whole world think I made this up?”

Ryan scoffed. “The whole world already thinks I proposed to you, so I guess I’m the one being humiliated.”

Kate swallowed hard, knowing she was losing control of the situation.

“You’re not backing out of this, Ryan,” she whispered.

Ryan’s eyes darkened. “Watch me.”

Kate took a shaky breath. “Your father won’t let you. Your mother won’t let you. You know that.”

Ryan clenched his jaw. “Then I guess I’ll have to disappoint them.”

Kate’s breath hitched. “You can’t just throw this away.”

Ryan stared at her for a long moment before shaking his head. “It was never real to begin with.”

Kate felt her world tilt slightly, panic settling deep in her chest.

“Ryan, please,” she whispered, reaching for him.

He took a step back. “Enjoy your celebration, Kate. But don’t expect a wedding.”

And with that, he turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Kate stood frozen, her hands trembling as she processed what had just happened.

Rolly cleared her throat awkwardly. “Well… that didn’t go as planned.”

Kate turned sharply, her eyes burning with rage.

“This isn’t over.”

Rolly raised a brow. “Are you sure about that? Because Ryan looked pretty done to me.”

Kate gritted her teeth. “I won’t let him go. Not now. Not ever.”

She grabbed her glass of wine, downing it in one gulp before slamming it onto the table.

If Ryan thought he could walk away from this, he was wrong.

She wasn’t going to let him ruin everything she had worked for.

Not without a fight.