Chapter 39 Who Do You Think?

"Dr. Crawford is right over..." Claire began.

"She isn’t here," Professor Davies cut in.

Claire caught his pointed look and quickly changed course.

"Right. She skipped tonight. Crowds aren’t really her thing."

"I see," Serena said.

A hint of contempt crossed her face. So the brilliant Dr. Crawford could run a lab but not work a room. What a waste of an invitation.

Still, her absence was a relief. Serena had spent weeks trying to meet the researcher who always stayed one step ahead of her, but tonight she had enough to manage.

Her grandfather had refused to show her a photo. She still had no idea that Dr. Eira Crawford and Alpha Sebastian Hale’s quiet wife were the same woman.

Before Serena could leave, Professor Davies spoke.

"Dr. Winthrop, are you and Sebastian Hale together?"

Serena paused, then gave him a coy smile.

"What makes you ask?"

"We overheard his sister talking about the two of you."

Serena lowered her eyes.

"We’re keeping it quiet for now. My family doesn’t know, so I’d appreciate your discretion."

Professor Davies’s expression hardened.

Claire understood what he was doing and played along.

"How long have you been together?"

"We’ve known each other for almost eight years."

"Did you start dating after you came back to California?"

"Not exactly." Serena took a sip of champagne. "We never really lost touch. Sebastian even visited me overseas a few times."

Claire kept her tone casual. "So this didn’t start after you came home?"

Serena’s smile turned dreamy. "Some feelings never really go away. We both knew what those visits meant."

Professor Davies caught the edge of a nearby cocktail table.

Serena frowned. "Professor, are you okay?"

"I’m fine. Just a little light-headed." He forced a tired smile. "You two go enjoy the party."

Before Serena could ask another question, someone called her name from across the ballroom.

She spotted Ethan Yates, one of Alpha Sebastian’s closest friends.

"I should go say hello. Excuse me."

As soon as she walked away, Professor Davies lowered himself into a nearby chair.

Claire followed him. "You’re not fine."

"She just admitted this started long before she came home, while Sebastian was still married to Eira." His face tightened. "Give me a minute."

Claire’s expression darkened. She searched the ballroom for Eira, but Professor Davies caught her arm.

"Don’t bring her over here, and don’t tell Serena who Dr. Crawford is."

"Why not?"

"Because Eira deserves one night without becoming the hottest piece of gossip in the entire industry."

"You think Serena will make a scene?"

"I think she’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to Sebastian."

Claire glanced toward Serena, then nodded.

"Fair enough."

"If you see Eira, act normal. Just don’t do anything that leads Serena to her."

"Got it."

--

A few minutes later, Claire passed Eira near the edge of the ballroom.

Serena was still standing with Ethan across the room, and Claire could feel her watching. Remembering Professor Davies’s warning, she kept moving.

"Claire?"

Claire’s shoulders tightened. She glanced back with an apologetic grimace, then reached for her phone.

Eira’s phone buzzed inside her clutch.

Claire: Long story. Professor’s orders. Serena is looking for Dr. Crawford, and she still doesn’t know that’s you. We’re trying to keep it that way.

Eira read the message twice.

Eira: Understood.

"Who was that?" Lila asked, appearing with two champagne flutes.

"My friend Claire."

"Why is your friend texting you from twenty feet away?"

"Apparently, we’re being discreet."

Lila handed her a glass.

"I don’t drink," Eira said.

"It’s a prop. Hold it and everyone assumes you’re busy."

"Doing what?"

"Looking expensive and emotionally unavailable."

Eira accepted the glass. "You’ve put a lot of thought into this."

"I grew up at parties like this. Ninety percent of networking is holding a drink and pretending you remember someone’s name."

"Shouldn’t you be working the room?"

"I could, but then you’d be sitting here alone, looking like a very elegant hostage."

"I’m fine."

"Sure. And I love making small talk with venture capitalists."

Lila nodded toward the crowd.

"Come on. One lap. If anyone corners us, I’ll fake an emergency."

"What kind?"

"Food poisoning is a classic. Family crisis if we need something with range."

Eira sighed and stood. "One lap."

"Look at you, living on the edge."

They moved through the ballroom together. Lila sampled hors d’oeuvres from passing trays and handed the best ones to Eira.

"This one has goat cheese."

"No."

"You haven’t tried it."

"I can smell it."

"More for me."

Their easy conversation drew a few curious looks.

Eira ignored them.

Serena did not. She noticed Lila first. Then her gaze shifted to the woman beside her.

Her smile vanished.

That face.

Ethan followed her stare. "Do you know her?"

Serena did not answer.

The woman looked familiar, but the possibility made no sense. Eira wore plain clothes, kept her head down, and stayed away from events like this. She certainly did not walk through galas wearing pearls and a designer gown as if she belonged at the center of the room.

And Alpha Sebastian had claimed he was meeting someone important.

Unease tightened Serena’s chest.

"Look at that woman."

Ethan glanced over. "What about her?"

"Doesn’t she look familiar?"

He studied Eira. "Not to me."

"It’s Eira."

Ethan looked again. "Wait. Sebastian’s wife?"

Serena’s jaw tightened. "Yes."

Before Ethan could say more, Serena was already crossing the ballroom.

He exchanged a look with his date, then followed Serena with the woman at his side.

Serena moved quickly, though she tried not to look as if she were rushing.

"Eira?"

Eira turned.

Serena stopped short.

So did Ethan and his date.

Up close, there was no mistaking her. But this was not the quiet woman Alpha Sebastian had kept in the background for four years.

Eira wore a pale, figure-skimming gown with a modest neckline and a clean, elegant silhouette. It accentuated her slender frame without making her look as though she had tried too hard. Her golden hair framed her face, and her makeup was soft enough to highlight rather than conceal—the vivid blue of her eyes, the delicate curve of her lips, and the refined lines of her features.

She wasn’t dressed to impress anyone. She didn’t need to be. There was something quietly captivating about her—a kind of beauty that felt natural, unforced, and impossible to overlook. Attention found her wherever she stood.

Ethan stared openly.

His date glanced from Eira to Serena, then quietly adjusted her expression as if she had just realized the evening had become far more interesting.

Even Lila looked pleased by their reaction.

For one sharp second, Serena felt overdressed. Her red gown and rubies, chosen to command the room, suddenly seemed loud beside Eira’s effortless elegance.

She recovered first.

"What are you doing here?"

Eira glanced at the champagne flute in her hand, then back at Serena.

"Attending the expo. Most people figured that out from the invitation."

Ethan coughed into his fist, hiding a laugh.

Color rose in Serena’s cheeks.

"You know what I mean. Who brought you?"

The question came out too fast and far too sharp.

Eira heard the fear beneath it.

Serena was not worried about how she had gotten inside. She was worried Alpha Sebastian had brought her.

Eira let the silence stretch before lifting one eyebrow.

"Who do you think?" The color drained from Serena’s face.

Ethan fell silent.

So Alpha Sebastian had brought his wife after all.

It made sense. Whatever Alpha Sebastian claimed to feel for Serena, Eira was still his legal wife—and his Luna. Bringing her to an industry gala was hardly unusual.

What was unusual was Alpha Sebastian letting anyone see her.

For four years, he had kept Eira out of the public eye. Why bring her into the spotlight now?

Was he finally planning to acknowledge their marriage?