I'm not a Third Wheel anymore

Sensing the awkward tension among the guests and me, Ryan's mother turned to me

She added with feigned innocence, "Oh, Jenna, I never introduced Emily to you, Have I? She's the daughter of the Pack's Alpha. She and Ryan have been close to each other since childhood. She is like his sister. You really shouldn’t worry about their closeness—it’s perfectly natural! In fact, there's no need to worry about Ryan when he goes out. Emily always takes care of him?"

Just then Emily pulled a seat next to Ryan while saying with a faint smile. "Yes, Jenna, you always doubt my closeness with Ryan. It makes me feel uncomfortable, you know? I’m just one of his friends like others. None of us wants to see Ryan into trouble."

Alan Walker, one of Ryan’s closest friends and the creator of office romance story between Ryan and Emily out of his imagination, jumped into the conversation. Adding to Emily's words he said,"Besides, we’re just working on a new project. It's exhausting. We have to work more than others. Emily even ended up in the hospital after working overtime for a week. And if those two ever had feelings for each other, they would’ve been together ages ago. You had no chance with Ryan considering your background. No need to worry, Jenna."

My eyes narrowed. What background? What did he mean by saying I had no chance with Ryan?

Ryan's friend just mocked me for being an orphan in front of everyone while Ryan remained silent on this, not uttering a single word to defend me.

“Yeah, I was just Ryan's mate, not his childhood friend. I guess it's not enough to get married to someone.” I mumbled while stealing a glance with Ryan.

Realizing he’d said too much, Alan instantly fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances with the others as the room went quiet.

Dinner at Ryan's mother's house was a carefully crafted illusion. Emily's effortless charm and Ryan's family's warmth toward her made me feel like an outsider.

As we began to eat, Ryan's mother placed a hand on Emily's shoulder. "Dear, you're too thin. Eat more."

Emily smiled. She said while glancing at Ryan,"Thanks, Auntie. I've been busy with work."

I forced a smile, feeling like a prop in their warm family scene. After dinner, Ryan's friends began discussing their new project. Alan's earlier slip-up hung in the air, but no one acknowledged it.

After dinner, Emily voluntarily began doing dishes. I didn't offer her help as I was refused by Ryan's mother earlier. However, Ryan's mother didn't want her favorite girl doing manual work. She instantly remarked, “Emily is such a sweet girl. Even after being an Alpha blood, she has no shame in doing dishes. She is not like those girls who eat and do nothing.”

Clearly her taunt was hinted at by me. I gazed at Ryan, hoping to say something to defend me. He was present there when his mother had stopped me from serving dinner. But, he forced a smile and then moved his eyes away to avoid me. I then pursed my lips and took my own stand by saying, “After being discarded by your family, teach many things to you. You don't mind doing things you haven't done before.”

Ryan's mother was sharp enough to understand the meaning behind my words. If I was an orphan, Emily was also discarded by her family. How could she be any better than me?

Maybe Ryan's friends and his mother didn't like me because I never took their shit and always paid them back. I didn't need Ryan's support and he never offered it either. I was all by myself. To ease the tension between me and his mother, Ryan stood up and said to his mother, “Emily is doing dishes alone. I’ll go and help her.”

Ryan then walked up to the kitchen and began doing dishes along with Emily. I watched them from afar. I was surprised with my own realization. They indeed looked like a perfect match who were made for each other. Maybe I was a third wheel in their lives who should have never come between them.