Rejected by the Beta, Claimed by the Alpha

Chapter 177: Chapter 177

Immediately the door opened, Steve turned his attention to the direction, as one of his men walked in with his head bowed slightly.

"Boss, there’s a woman outside... She demands to see you." The man who had entered informed Steve.

Steve looked shocked, at the same time slightly pleased, as he thought to himself.

*That’s real quick... I need to see this Almighty Kimberly.* Steve maintained a calm and unreadable facial expression, concealing his true thoughts.

"Have you seen this woman before?" Steve asked, both out of curiosity and caution.

"Yes, boss, she was the one who came the other time." The man replied.

"Katherina? What’s she doing here now?" Steve uttered in shock; with his voice barely above a whisper, standing up from where he had been sitting before.

*I don’t want her now... I need some time to myself on this whole issue.

And how did she know about this hideout?* Steve further thought to himself, his mind racing.

"Are you scared of seeing your mistress?" Theo said in a mocking manner, watching the exchange from where he was restrained.

Theo’s words stung, but Steve knew he couldn’t react at that moment.

He needed to get rid of Katherina before Kimberly arrived. He exhaled sharply, ignoring Theo’s taunt, before striding toward the exit.

Steve made his way out of the room to meet Katherina, whom he believed to be waiting outside, but instead, he was met with a shock, but a pleasant one.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Doctor Ashley, his long-time friend, asked with a faint smile as she approached.

"Ashley? What are you doing here? And how did you know I was here?" Steve asked, letting out a deep sigh of relief upon realizing it wasn’t Katherina.

*I was an idiot... I should have remembered that Ashley also came the same day Katherina visited me.* Steve thought, chastising himself for his hasty assumption.

"I needed to see you and check how you’re doing." Dr. Ashley spoke calmly, her gaze steady as she studied him.

"I’m still hanging on... I believe I’ll be fine." Steve replied, forcing a small smile.

Ashley reached into her bag, pulling out a small vial and handing it to him.

"Take this. It will help you get better sleep. And don’t stay out too late, okay?" Concern was evident in her voice.

Steve accepted it, looking at the bottle for a moment before meeting her eyes. "Thank you so much, Ashley... I don’t think I can ever repay you for all you’ve done for me."

Ashley shook her head, giving him a warm but firm look. "You’ll repay me when you finally get better. We’ve been together since childhood, and I will never leave you alone."

appreciating her words more than he let on. Just as he was about to respond, they

the sound, they saw Kimberly already

reacted, surrounding her in seconds with their

how did you get inside?" One of

to see your boss... Steve, right?" She turned her piercing gaze

Steve thought, a smirk playing on

another, Kimberly spoke again, her

an intense

lips, an invisible force

and strength, dropped to their knees involuntarily, shock and confusion etched on their faces as they struggled to

an immense pressure in his chest. He fought against it, but even he wasn’t immune. His body betrayed him, his knees buckling beneath him

hands trembling as she instinctively

as he listened to

across the scene with an icy

one touches my precious ones." Her voice, though calm,

his fists, trying to

realized, for the first time in his life, that he was completely

presence commanding absolute dominance and

raged as she prepared for whatever

★★★

on the edge of his bed, eyes staring

flicker of a candle on the far table cast eerie shadows across the walls, but his mind

his body yearning for sleep but his mind refusing

going my way

felt as though the world had turned against him, as if fate itself was pulling the strings, ensuring his every move led to further

sigh, Derrick suddenly stood up, his

I will take all that is mine," he muttered under his breath, grabbing his jacket from the chair and striding out of

empty corridors as he made his

knocked sharply on the door, and within moments,

Hope all is well?" she asked, her

Derrick stated firmly, his tone leaving no room

give me a minute... Let me put something on," she responded before quickly retreating inside

his

within him overnight, but he knew

over his life.

and ready. Without another word, they headed out to the vehicle, the journey filled with heavy

and not

look like someone who wanted to see Katherina last

a mixture of curiosity and excitement bubbling within