"I wasn't planning on getting married in the first place," Viona explained, her voice soft but honest. "But my parents were growing so sad watching me constantly postpone it. In the end, I just agreed. My mother didn't want a grand affair anyway—she felt it was a private family matter that didn't need to be broadcast to the world. So, we had a simple registration office wedding and only invited close relatives. I am so sorry I completely forgot to tell you guys. I was just so overwhelmed dealing with family. They... sigh."
Viona looked at her friends, hoping for understanding, but she could see the visible displeasure written across both Mark and Helena's faces.
"Hmph! You didn't even invite us to your wedding," Mark scoffed, crossing his arms defensively. "But we absolutely must meet this Omega. A close friend gets married, and I don't even get to see her mate? Unacceptable."
Helena nodded sharply in agreement, pressing Viona for an introduction.
Viona hesitated, a wave of unease washing over her. "Can we please just wait until the timing is right?" she pleaded.
But neither of them showed any intention of backing down.
Viona trapped her lower lip between her teeth, caught in a dilemma. She genuinely didn't want to upset her long-time friends, but she was equally protective of Ethan. If I ask him, he'll just nod and agree, she thought, a bittersweet pang hitting her chest. He always yields to whatever I want.
Left with no other choice, she conceded. "Okay, fine. Let me ask him first."
As Viona reached into her pocket to pull out her phone, Helena's brow furrowed in irritation. "Why do you have to ask him?" she snapped. "Can't you just make a decision by yourself?"
Viona, blinded by her trust in them, still failed to sense the underlying hostility dripping from Helena's tone whenever Ethan was mentioned. Mark, however, noticed it instantly. He had known about Helena's massive crush on Viona for a long time, but he had never breathed a word of it. He simply derived a twisted pleasure from watching people struggle with their hidden dilemmas.
If it came down to choosing a side, Mark would always choose Helena. To him, this nameless Omega was an outsider who had come out of nowhere, throwing Helena into a wild frenzy and disrupting the harmony of their tight-knit circle. Anyone who threatened their group dynamic didn't deserve a warm welcome.
Without even meeting Ethan, both Mark and Helena had already silently resolved to find a way to get rid of him.
Oblivious to the brewing storm, Viona defended her mate innocently. "It's not that I can't decide. It's just... his health isn't great, so he doesn't go out much." It was a mild fabrication, but not entirely a lie. Her Omega was fragile, and she knew it.
"Hmph. Do whatever you want," Mark muttered, rolling his eyes. "It's clear you've already chosen him over your real friends."
The sting of his words hit her, but Viona chose to ignore his pettiness. Just as she unlocked her phone to look up Ethan's number, the device vibrated in her hand.
The caller ID flashed a single word: Honey.
A helpless, radiant smile instantly broke across Viona's face. Helena caught sight of the screen, and the word Honey burned itself into her retinas. It didn't take a genius to figure out who was calling.
That annoying Omega.
Unable to contain her joy, Viona stood up and took a few steps away from the table to gain some privacy—a movement that only stoked the flames of her friends' anger.
"Put it on speaker," Helena demanded strictly. "We want to hear him, too."
This time, Viona felt a prickle of annoyance. Helena's demanding tone was crossing a line. This was her marriage, her private life, and she wasn't going to subject her mate to an interrogation. Ignoring Helena's fierce glare, Viona walked all the way to the corner of the room and pressed the phone to her ear.
"Hello... Honey..." Viona kept her voice low, but the room was quiet, and her friends were straining their ears to catch every syllable.
Hearing Viona use such an intimate pet name made Helena clench her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white with jealousy. Mark caught the gesture and smirked. Helena really had a terrifying temper, but he found it entertaining rather than alarming.
It was a tragedy, really, that Viona had spent years placing her absolute trust in people who harbored such malice toward her happiness.
Though Mark and Helena listened intently, they could only piece together the conversation from Viona's responses.
"Hello, honey."
[...Hello. Are you busy?]
"No, not at all. I was actually just about to call you. Did you miss me? Is that why you called?" Viona teased gently.
[...]
"I didn't skip meals, I promise. I was waiting for your call, but when you didn't, I got worried."
[...]
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. The morning was incredibly hectic. That's why I was planning to ring you during lunch."
[...]
"Honey... I really miss you."
[...Me too.]
Viona let out a soft, melodic laugh. "I'm so glad to hear you say that. So, what are you doing right now?"
[I'm just watching TV. I actually got invited for a job interview in two days. I wanted to tell you that.]
"Really? Congratulations, love!"
[Mmm...]
"By the way, I wanted to ask you something."
[What is it?]
"My friends really want to meet you. Just two of them—an Alpha and an Omega. What do you think? If you're up for it, would you want to join us for dinner?"
[I don't mind. You don't have to ask for my permission for things like this.]
"Mm, thank you..."
[I'll hang up now so you can focus on your work. Bye.]
"Wait—"
Beep, beep, beep.
The line went dead before she could finish.
Viona lowered her phone, looking visibly disappointed by the abrupt ending. Across the room, Helena and Mark exchanged a look of smug satisfaction. They wanted nothing more than for her to grow resentful of this dismissive Omega.
Masking her slight sadness, Viona turned back to them. "He said yes. How about we have dinner tonight?"
Helena instantly shifted gears, jumping up with a bright, cheerful facade. "Perfect! Where are we going?"
"Where?" Mark echoed, sounding entirely detached, though his curiosity was piqued. He had never seen Viona display this level of raw affection toward anyone before. It shouldn't have been surprising—they were newlyweds, after all—but it irritated him nonetheless.
"My house," Viona said casually.
The response caught them both off guard. They had anticipated a flashy dinner at a high-end restaurant, but Viona had a different agenda. Home was a safe haven. Ethan wouldn't feel overwhelmed or threatened by their presence if he was in his own comfortable environment.
"I thought we'd be hitting a restaurant," Mark said, his disappointment obvious.
"Don't worry," Viona smiled proudly. "My Omega cooks beautifully."
The phrase 'My Omega' struck Helena like a physical blow, grating harshly against her nerves.
After finalizing the time for dinner, Mark and Helena stepped out of the office together, the tension between them thick.
"Well, looks like you don't stand a chance in hell," Mark smirked, casting a sideways glance at Helena.
Helena didn't bother asking how he had deduced her feelings for Viona; his arrogant smirk was already driving her over the edge. "Shut up!" she snapped, quickening her pace to leave him behind.
Mark chuckled darkly to himself, thoroughly amused by the unfolding drama. He had never expected Viona's life to take such an entertaining turn.
Let's see what kind of Omega managed to catch your eye, Viona...
Shoving his hands into his pockets, Mark hummed. "Shouldn't I buy a gift for the happy couple? I can't exactly show up empty-handed. Let's see what kind of trouble we can buy."