Chapter 215 The Price of Sam

"Happy birthday, Eira," Alpha Sebastian said softly, wearing the same warm, wounded smile.

Natalie turned sharply. "Wait. Today’s your birthday?"

Eira’s expression softened when she looked at her. "It is."

Natalie understood at once. Alpha Sebastian had turned the entire reception into a performance so Eira could not leave without exposing their divorce. He had betrayed her, wasted four years of her loyalty, and still thought a public display would win him another chance.

What an idiot.

Natalie stepped in front of Eira, blocking Alpha Sebastian’s view of her.

A staff member rolled the piano into the center of the room. Alpha Sebastian handed his drink to a passing server and sat down. He placed his fingers on the keys, then looked at Eira with an expression full of carefully rehearsed devotion.

"This was the song playing the night I proposed to my wife," he told the guests. "We even went back to that café yesterday. And today happens to be her birthday."

He smiled at Eira.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart."

Eira’s expression did not change.

Natalie leaned toward her. "He should’ve gone into acting. Instead, he’s making this everyone’s problem."

"There’s a reason he and Serena get along so well," Eira murmured.

Natalie glanced at her. "Why?"

"They both make a living pretending."

Natalie nodded. "Fair point."

Eira had never heard Alpha Sebastian play the piano, and she had no interest in listening now. To her, the performance was nothing more than another sales pitch for Snowmark’s executives.

She glanced down at her phone, where Miss Gwen had been sending her messages from the children.

It was her birthday after all. Maybe she should do something small to celebrate.

She opened a delivery app and ordered three small cakes from a nearby bakery. One was a spice cake for herself and Mrs. Jones. The other two were for Natalie and Miles.

Alpha Sebastian noticed that she was not watching him. She was focused on her phone instead, and his jaw tightened.

The song ended, and the room applauded. Eira looked up just long enough to acknowledge him before returning her attention to her phone.

Then the pianist began the opening notes of "Happy Birthday."

The guests joined in, smiling as they sang. Eira put away her phone and smiled at the room. If Alpha Sebastian had not arranged the whole spectacle, she might have enjoyed it.

When the song ended, Soren raised his glass.

"Happy birthday, Dr. Crawford!"

The guests echoed him.

"Thank you," Eira said.

Alpha Sebastian stood and crossed the room. The crowd parted to let him through.

"Happy birthday, Eira," he said, looking polished, heartbroken, and far too pleased with himself.

She did not even nod.

Then someone near the back called out, "Kiss her!"

A few guests laughed. Others quickly joined in.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Alpha Sebastian smiled as if the crowd had handed him exactly what he wanted. He stepped closer.

Natalie’s instincts went on high alert. She could not stop him without making the situation look suspicious. Eira still needed information about Sam, and Snowmark had not yet realized that Alpha Sebastian was using the reception to cover up his divorce.

Natalie silently wished Alpha Killian were there. No one would dare pressure Eira into kissing Alpha Sebastian if Alpha Killian stood beside her.

Then Eira smiled.

"Sure," she said.

Alpha Sebastian’s eyes brightened.

Eira held out her hand.

"But first, transfer the $118 million in research funding you promised me. A deal’s a deal."

The room fell silent.

Everyone assumed she was talking about some private research agreement. Only Alpha Sebastian knew what the money really represented. It was the marital property he had transferred to Serena.

If he could put her on the spot in front of a room full of people, she could do the same to him.

To everyone else, it looked like playful flirting. Eira was smiling, and she clearly had the upper hand.

Alpha Sebastian could not kiss her.

More importantly, he could not afford the $118 million she had just demanded.

The tension in Natalie’s chest eased. Thank God. Eira could handle herself.

Natalie stepped in with a bright smile.

"That’s right, Alpha Sebastian. You promised her a birthday gift."

Her tone made it sound like harmless teasing between a married couple. But Natalie knew the truth. Alpha Sebastian did not have that kind of cash available.

He had not expected Eira to name the amount in front of Snowmark’s executives. No one else understood what it meant, but he did.

His carefully planned evening had blown up in his face.

He forced out a laugh. "My wife is joking. Don’t encourage her. Thank you all for the birthday wishes."

Eira thanked the guests as well, then turned to Soren.

"I’m getting tired. I should head home."

"Of course," Soren said warmly. "Enjoy the rest of your birthday."

Eira glanced at Alpha Sebastian. " Soren is one of Snowmark’s most important partners. You should stay and give him your full attention."

Alpha Sebastian could not walk out on Snowmark’s director without raising questions. Still, he followed her toward the exit.

Soren had no reason to stop a husband from seeing his wife out.

The ballroom doors closed behind them, cutting off the music and conversation.

Alpha Sebastian turned to her. "You said you’d stay for the whole evening."

"I agreed to help you make an appearance. I never promised to stay until midnight."

"Eira, business relationships are supposed to be handled properly."

She stopped and faced him.

"Don’t lecture me about commitment. You married me, ran around with Serena, and spent our money on her. You refused to acknowledge our bond in public, dragged out the divorce, and then chased me only when you needed something."

His face went pale.

"You brought me here to play happy wife for Snowmark," she continued. "They believed the act, and they let me leave. Your cover story worked. We’re done."

She turned toward the elevators.

Alpha Sebastian moved after her. He could not waste the first real chance he had gotten to speak with her in weeks.

"Don’t you want to talk to Sam?"

Eira stopped.

"Stay a little longer," he said quickly. "I’ll call his school and arrange a conversation. You can hear his voice tonight."

She looked back at him.

Alpha Sebastian mistook the hesitation in her eyes for hope and softened his voice.

"Eira, you haven’t seen Sam in two years. Don’t you want to know how he’s doing?"