Author: Momo Chan

Introduction：”Other hands hold me as I push my way into the depths, and the night of the moon’s night my lower back roar: ‘Your blood, your breath, your breath—the city just belongs to me.’” Since then, I have been blessed with a heavenly blessing, and I have been given a life-long wolf to protect my guardianship. Desperately running away, more than capable of running away from the bottom, ignoring the self-defeating Alpha story that is at its most dangerous. “Did you change my last name?” In the dark of the night, a man’s scorching breath caught my eye.. The evening before I was supposed to receive my mating certificate, Jasper Flynn, the wolf destined to be my mate, announced his decision to mark my best friend, Mireille Dalton, as his Luna. Betrayed by both my closest companion and the wolf I had once loved, I became the subject of gossip within the pack. Everyone waited eagerly for my downfall. Yet, Nolan Reed, the esteemed Beta of one of London’s most influential packs, appeared unexpectedly and proclaimed his desire to claim me as his mate. Without hesitation, I accepted his claim and stepped into the role of his Luna. Following our ceremony, I abandoned the dream I had spent years working toward. Instead, I devoted myself entirely to my new position, embodying the ideal Luna of the Reed Pack. Among the high-ranking she-wolves of the elite, I became someone they envied. During a pack gathering, I arrived to escort a drunken Nolan home, only to overhear his sister, a wolf of high standing, speaking of me with pity. “Nolan, the marketplace you built for Mireille’s pack is set to open soon, isn’t it? You’ve given up so much for her—even your bond with Selena was part of the scheme.” With a bitter chuckle, Nolan responded, “As long as Mireille finds happiness, I will clear every obstacle from her path.” The affection I had believed in, the devotion I had trusted—it had all been an illusion. I had been nothing more than a pawn in their elaborate game. That was the moment I decided to walk away. Accompanied by Irene Humphrey, Nolan’s most trusted warrior and aide, I made my way to the pack’s private lodge, carrying a bowl of herbal tonic meant to soothe his drunken state. A resident Omega informed me that Nolan was resting in the Alpha’s private chamber. As I reached for the door, the sharp scent of alcohol filled my senses. Through the half-open doorway, I heard a voice I recognized all too well. “Nolan, the trading grounds for Mireille’s pack will be operational soon. You’ve spent years making sacrifices for her, even arranging your bond with Selena as part of the plan. How long do you intend to keep lying to her?” My body stiffened. Just as I prepared to enter, Nolan’s slurred yet unmistakably bitter voice reached my ears. “As long as Mireille remains content, I can keep up the act indefinitely.” “For her sake, I will eliminate every obstacle.” It felt as though lightning had struck me, paralyzing my every movement. My hand hovered in the air, unable to complete its motion. Beside me, Irene cast a sideways glance, sympathy flickering in her eyes. Everyone had known the truth—except me. Time seemed to halt. The soft flute melody playing in the lodge suddenly grated on my nerves, a sound too piercing to bear. My world, once secure, now crumbled around me. “Selena adores you, Nolan. She has given you everything. What happens when she uncovers the truth?” “She never will.” Despite the warmth of the chamber, a chill crept through me. I turned to Irene and murmured, “Beta Nolan has had too much to drink. Give this to him later. I’ll be outside.” Then, as a quiet reminder, I added, “And make sure you don’t say anything you shouldn’t.” Stepping into the night, I sat outside, my eyes lost in the vast sky above our pack’s land. The full moon shone down, indifferent to my turmoil. Memories surfaced, unbidden and relentless. Jasper breaking our bond without warning. The scandal that followed. The humiliation that awaited me. And then, Nolan, stepping forward as my savior, telling the pack he had always loved me, marking me before them all. I had trusted his words. I had believed his promises. Our mating ceremony had been celebrated throughout the territory as a tale of love triumphing over adversity. Now, I saw the truth for what it was. A deception. A carefully crafted illusion. Inside, Irene helped Nolan into the black SUV waiting outside the lodge. His expression remained hazy for a brief moment before something sharpened behind his gaze. Then, he leaned his head against my shoulder. “It was just a pack meeting, Selena. You could have let Irene handle it.” I forced a small smile. “You shift unpredictably when you drink. I didn’t want you getting hurt.” Nolan exhaled, gripping my arm. “Mireille’s new trading grounds open tomorrow. I’ll be working late. Don’t stay up for me.” “There have been sightings of rogues along the borders. Stay vigilant.” That night, no matter how I turned in bed, sleep refused to come. Then, a sudden thought surfaced. I had left my moonstone charm in the study. Rising from bed, I entered the study. As I opened the drawer beneath the desk, the edge of several folded documents peeked out from within.

This had never happened before. His desk drawer was always locked. But this time, it wasn’t. Curiosity gnawed at me, and eventually, I gave in. I pulled the drawer open, expecting resistance. Instead, it slid effortlessly, revealing its contents. Inside lay detailed maps of the pack’s expanding territories—plans outlining future trading centers, alliance strongholds, and diplomatic outposts that Nolan’s pack had already established or intended to develop. Resting beside them was a small velvet box. I thumbed through the documents, scanning each carefully. Then, something caught my eye. Every trading post, every new settlement, even landmarks bore the same name—Dalton. Dalton Market. Dalton Lands. Dalton Jewelers. Although I was part of the Pack’s Strategic Development Council, Nolan had always assured me that he handled territorial affairs independently. I had seldom interfered. Yet now, the truth lay before me—every move he made, every political alliance he forged, had been dedicated to Mireille. Reaching for the small box, I flipped it open. The jewelry it once held was gone, yet the authenticity certificate remained inside. It was for a Cartier piece. The Cartier Sapphire and Diamond Necklace—the Moonstone Jewel. I had long admired that necklace. More than once, I had caught myself staring at it on my phone, scrolling back to it repeatedly. Yet, I had never owned it. I remembered the moment Nolan had dismissed the idea. “Selena, a necklace of that value isn’t suitable for a Luna to wear casually. Wouldn’t you prefer something more meaningful? I could commission a handcrafted silver pendant from our pack’s artisans.” And yet, only yesterday, Mireille had worn that exact necklace to her pack’s gathering. I stepped onto the Packhouse balcony, letting the icy night air bite at my skin. My vision blurred, moisture stinging my eyes. My phone vibrated. A message flashed across the screen. [Luna Hayes, are you certain about your decision?] I didn’t hesitate. [Yes. My mind is made up.] It was time to leave. At dawn, with my bags packed, I placed a call to Nolan. “I’m heading to Italy tonight.” A pause. Then, confusion tinged his voice. “That’s sudden. What’s going on?” Swallowing the bitterness rising in my throat, I forced a casual tone. “Some of the high-ranking she-wolves from New York planned a short trip, and I decided to join them.” He didn’t question it. Instead, he pressed a light kiss to my cheek, his wolf utterly unaware of the storm raging inside me. “Good. Enjoy yourself. Buy something nice.” I exhaled slowly, marveling at how effortlessly he could feign affection. But there was no need to pretend anymore. This game had run its course. Recalling the location of the newest trade hub from the documents, I drove there, knowing it would be the last time I set eyes on Nolan. At the gathering, a designated area had been prepared for the grand opening, and Nolan stood at the center of the event. Exuding confidence, he navigated conversations with every Alpha and high-ranking guest, seamlessly weaving through the crowd. Mireille, by contrast, wore an outfit designed to draw attention, her scent deliberately laced with dominance, her gaze seductive and knowing. She lifted her glass, her lips curling into a slow smirk. “Beta Reed, congratulations.” For a split second, something flickered in Nolan’s gaze—an emotion I couldn’t quite place. But just as quickly, his composed demeanor returned, and he clinked his glass against hers. “Alpha Dalton, your contributions to the design have been invaluable. The Dalton Trade Hub is already attracting key alliances on its first day.” He deliberately emphasized ‘our trade hub,’ and the words coiled around my chest like a vice. I stepped forward. At the sight of me, Nolan’s surprise was fleeting before his mask of control slipped back into place. “Why are you here?” Feigning nonchalance, I offered a smile. “What’s wrong? Am I not welcome at my own pack’s event?” He set his glass down. Something about my tone must have unsettled him, but he chose to ignore it. “Of course not. But you dislike large gatherings. I didn’t expect you to come.” Beside him, Mireille observed me with quiet amusement, her smirk deepening as though she knew exactly why I had come. Just then, Irene, the pack’s head strategist, approached, lowering her head in deference before addressing my mate. “Beta Reed, your speech is about to begin.” Nolan turned to me. “Find a seat and rest. I won’t be long.” Without another word, he strode toward the stage. I picked up a small piece of sweetbread, taking my time before sitting down. Mireille, naturally, couldn’t resist. With an arrogant sway in her step, she sauntered over, her voice dripping with mock affection. “Long time no see, Selena. My dear, dear friend.”

Mireille smirked. “What’s this? Keeping tabs on me now?” “If you’re that insecure, why not mark Nolan properly so he stays put?” “How does it feel, sitting on a throne that was never meant for you?” “You should never forget—you will always be beneath me.” She laughed—a melodic yet mocking sound that rang in my ears. The Cartier necklace—the Moonstone Jewel—glinted under the sun, resting elegantly against her collarbone. That sight pierced me deeper than I cared to admit. Once, Mireille had been my closest friend. I had believed our bond unshakable, that our shared dreams of shaping the pack’s future through architecture and development would unite us forever. But then, Jasper, my fated mate, shattered everything. He severed our bond and chose Mireille instead, leaving me with nothing but pain. To be betrayed by my mate and my closest friend—it was agony beyond words. Just when I thought I would drown in that darkness, Nolan emerged, offering me a lifeline. For the first time in months, I saw a glimmer of hope. At first, everything seemed to fall into place. Nolan claimed me as his mate, and I accepted, believing our future would be built on trust. I was preparing for an international architecture competition when he suddenly told me, “Selena, you don’t have to burden yourself with work anymore. Just focus on being my Luna. I’ll take care of you, of your family, of everything.” His words moved me deeply. Trusting in his promise, I sold my pack-funded architecture firm, walking away from the career I had fought so hard to build. Not only that, I withdrew from the competition entirely. In the end, the champion of that prestigious event was Mireille. From that moment on, the woman who had once been my friend became an internationally celebrated strategist and architect, while I was reduced to nothing more than Nolan’s Luna—known not for my own talents, but as the Beta’s mate. Now, looking back, the truth was painfully clear—Nolan had been paving the way for Mireille all along. My gaze lifted to the expansive layout of the new trading post. The structural design was strikingly familiar—so much so that for a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. But there were subtle differences, as if someone had taken my blueprint and altered it just enough to make it seem unique. My heart pounded violently. There was a project file I had abandoned years ago, stored on my personal pack-linked server. Since stepping away from my career, I had never so much as glanced at it. So how had my design—one I had left untouched for years—become Mireille’s? And why had Nolan transformed it into this trading hub? Forcing down the surge of emotions, I turned to Mireille, ready to confront her. But before I could speak, her voice rang out, sharp and panicked. “Selena! What are you doing? Do you want me to lose my pup?!” “Ah!” Before I could react, Mireille suddenly collapsed, clutching her stomach as her face contorted in pain. Gasps rippled through the crowd. “Get the healer!” “Someone fetch the medic wolves!” A flurry of movement followed as wolves gathered, their eyes flickering between Mireille and me, their expressions laden with judgment. In the chaos, my gaze locked onto a figure rushing forward—a figure I knew all too well. “Mireille!” It was my mate. The man I had shared a den with for three years. Nolan’s face was lined with worry as he descended from the ceremonial stage. But what did he do? He shoved me aside. Without hesitation, he crouched beside Mireille, his voice urgent, his hands steadying her trembling form. “Are you alright?”

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Just before my wedding, my fate mate, my Alpha fiancé, Fabian, stripped me of my wedding dress—our wedding dress—and handed it to his mistress, Yolanda Porter. Not only that, but he locked me in the dressing room like some rabid wolf he needed to contain. “Yolanda has a terminal illness.She just wants to experience being a bride before she dies.” I lunged forward, my wolf howling inside me. Alpha’s strength pressed against mine, his dominance forcing my muscles to lock. My claws twitched, itching to break free. “You bastard!” I snarled, my breath ragged. Fabian barely blinked. Instead, he let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head . “She’s dying, and you can’t even show a little compassion?” His tone dripped with disappointment, as if I were the villain here. “You’re only losing a wedding, but Yolanda… Yolanda is losing her dreams and her life.” I was adjusting the hem of my dress when Alpha Fabian walked in. My white gown shimmered under the dressing room lights, the fabric hugging my figure perfectly. In just a few minutes, I’d walk down the aisle and officially become Luna of the Silver Claw Pack. Everything was perfect. Until I saw his face. “Salena, I…” Fabian’s voice wavered—and that was odd. I turned, smiling, reaching for his hand. “Why is the Alpha more nervous than the bride? Don’t tell me you’re going to cry from excitement later.” Normally, he’d roll his eyes and smirk, maybe pull me in close and whisper something entirely inappropriate for a pre-wedding conversation. But not this time. His usual sharp, confident aura was replaced by something… hesitant. “What’s wrong?” My stomach tightened as I smoothed my dress. “Did something happen at the wedding?” When I tried to step past him, he grabbed my wrist, stopping me. His fingers were warm, but his grip was tight—like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. I frowned. “Fabian?” A long pause. Then, finally, he met my gaze. “Salena, Yolanda… she’s terminally ill.” My breath hitched. Yolanda Porter. His childhood friend. His beautiful, always conveniently present childhood friend. The same Yolanda who had spent years lurking in the background, reminding everyone how she and Fabian grew up together, how they understood each other in a way I never could. The same Yolanda who had smiled sweetly in public and sabotaged me in private. She had been my biggest thorn, never missing a chance to remind me that I wasn’t worthy of the Silver Claw Pack’s Luna. But I had won. I had Fabian. And now— I swallowed hard. “She’s sick?” Fabian nodded, jaw clenched. “She doesn’t have much time left.” A strange mix of emotions twisted in my chest. Guilt? No—why should I feel guilty? Jealousy? Maybe. Fear? Definitely. Because I knew that look in Fabian’s eyes. I’d seen it before. “I only see her as a sister,” he’d told me a hundred times, exasperated, brushing off my concerns. It wasn’t until his birthday this year, when Alpha Fabian proposed to me, that Yolanda finally faded from our lives. “Yolanda has a terminal illness?” I blinked up at Alpha Fabian, my fingers instinctively tightening around the fabric of my wedding dress. My wolf stirred, sensing the tension radiating from my mate, but I didn’t panic. Not yet. “That doesn’t mean you need to rush to the hospital right now, does it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even. “The wedding starts in ten minutes—” Fabian cut me off, his voice urgent. “Yolanda is already here. She said…” A pause. I folded my arms. “What did she say?” He exhaled, rubbing his temple. “She said she’s never been in a relationship her whole life and wants to experience being a bride… before she passes away.” Silence. The kind that made my wolf growl low in warning. Sadness filled Fabian’s dark, stormy eyes, his tone so reverent it was as if Yolanda had ascended straight into sainthood. Meanwhile, I sat down, slowly, like a queen lowering herself onto her throne, staring at him. “Don’t tell me she expects you to ditch our wedding and take her to a bridal shop?” Fabian shook his head. I sighed in relief. For a moment, I thought the little green tea snake had finally grown some self-awareness. Then, Fabian opened his mouth again. “There’s no time to go outside. Salena, why don’t you lend your wedding dress to Yolanda?” A bolt of lightning crashed through my brain. I stared at him. Did my Alpha mate just get possessed by sheer stupidity? “What, is she not going to survive until tomorrow? Or have all the bridal shops in the city suddenly gone out of business, leaving her no options but to take the dress right off my back?” “Salena.” Fabian’s face darkened, his eyes filled with disappointment—like I was the unreasonable one. “Yolanda is already so pitiful. Why would you curse her like that?” I laughed in disbelief, standing so fast my chair scraped against the floor. “Alpha Fabian, did a door slam on your head? Or did you hit it against the packhouse walls for fun? She’s terminally ill, and you think lending her my wedding dress is going to cure her?” I placed a hand over my chest dramatically. “What, is my dress some kind of divine elixir? More effective than a healer? Will she ascend straight to the Moon Goddess in couture?” My wolf was practically snarling inside my mind, tail flicking in rage. “Yolanda has spent years using these little tricks to pull you away, and I let it go before. But today is our wedding day—do you understand what those words mean?” My breath was shaky, but my tone was firm. Fabian, however, wasn’t listening. Instead, his expression grew even colder. “Salena, I never expected you to be such a heartless person.” And then he looked at me—no, through me. Like I was nothing. Like I was a burden instead of his mate. My wolf fell silent. And just like that, the bond that once made my heart race with love… felt like a chain tightening around my throat. Chapter 2 “Fabian.” The air was thick with tension, our standoff silent but charged. My wolf, restless inside me, paced in my mind, ears pinned back. Then, the door swung open. Yolanda stepped in, her long hair cascading over her frail shoulders, her lips trembling as crystalline tears shimmered in her wide, doe-like eyes. She looked like the Moon Goddess herself had personally crafted her to inspire pity. Her voice was soft, weak, as if merely speaking was draining the life from her. “Don’t fight with Salena because of me,” she murmured. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have gotten sick and then clung to life instead of just… dying right away…” I blinked. Did she really just say that? Fabian gently covered her mouth, like she was the most precious thing in the world. His eyes were brimming with so much raw tenderness . “Don’t be afraid,” he said, voice low, soothing. “No matter what happens today, no one will stop me from granting your wish.” A growl rumbled deep in my chest. My wolf was furious, tail flicking in agitation. Fabian turned toward me then, his towering figure casting a shadow over me. Alpha presence rolled off him in waves, oppressive and suffocating. “Salena, I advise you to show some kindness.” I crossed my arms. “And what if I say no?” Fabian paused, his jaw tightening. Then, without another word, he turned and took Yolanda’s hand, leading her out. For a second, I thought he had finally come to his senses. I was wrong. He returned. And this time, he locked the door behind him. My wolf’s ears flattened. “Salena, don’t blame me for this.” Something in his tone—a chilling finality—sent a sharp spike of alarm through me. I shot up, ready to run, but he was faster. His Alpha reflexes kicked in, his grip iron-tight as he spun me around and pinned me against the vanity. My wolf snarled, but Fabian’s strength overpowered mine. “Are you insane?! Fabian, let me go!” My frantic struggles meant nothing. I felt the zipper of my wedding dress sliding down, scraping against my skin like a brand. “Stop!” I cried out, pain flashing through me as his grip dug into my waist. My wolf whimpered, but Fabian didn’t let go until the dress—my dress—was completely gone. When he finally released me, I crumpled onto the floor, my arms wrapping around myself. My meticulously styled hair was now a wild mess. My body—bare, vulnerable—felt like a broken relic of what should have been my happiest day. Fabian, breathing heavily, held my wedding dress in his hands like a damn trophy. His voice was cold. “Does it hurt? You brought this on yourself.” I stared up at him, my wolf silent—too shocked to even growl. Then, I spoke. “Alpha Fabian, we are done.” His brows furrowed. I pushed myself up, chin high, and let my next words tear through the bond like claws through flesh. “I, Salena Carlson, reject you, Fabian Parkinson, as my mate.” The rejection hung in the air. For a second, he simply blinked at me, as if he hadn’t heard right. Then, irritation flickered across his face, and he let out a short, humorless laugh. “Stop acting out. I’ll make it up to you with another wedding.” He turned to leave. “But today, Yolanda’s dream must come true.” My vision blurred, my heart hollowing out as he disappeared. Then— Click. The sound was quiet. But the moment I heard it, my blood ran cold. I rushed to the door. Locked. I pounded on it, but no one answered. A bitter laugh escaped me. He really did it. I turned back, my gaze landing on a white T-shirt draped over a chair. Desperate for something to cover myself, I grabbed it and pulled it over my head—only for the collar to get stuck. Frustrated, humiliated, trapped—I could do nothing but fall onto my knees and cry and cry. “Tsk. Looking this miserable?” A deep, smooth voice cut through my despair. I lifted my tear-streaked face, my breath hitching. The moment I saw the man leaning against the doorframe, casually elegant in a crisp white suit, I knew trouble had arrived. Alpha Halbert. Fabian’s archrival. The Moon Goddess really had a twisted sense of humor. His eyes, sharp and mischievous, flickered with amusement as he took in my ruined appearance. My makeup was a mess, my hair tangled beyond saving—I probably looked like a rogue that had lost a fight with a tornado. His lips quirked, but for just a moment, his teasing faltered. Then, his voice dropped to a sultry whisper. “Want to get some payback?” My wolf’s ears perked up. I narrowed my eyes. “What are you doing here?” Everyone knew Alpha Halbert and Fabian had been close once, back in college—before something ripped them apart, turning them into bitter enemies. No one ever talked about why. “I don’t recall inviting Alpha Halbert.” Halbert, unfazed, simply raised a brow and took a slow, deliberate step forward. His scent—crisp pine and the kind of danger that lured people in—drifted over me, sending a shiver down my spine. My wolf stirred, intrigued. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” His voice was smooth, tempting. “Opportunities like this don’t come twice.” He extended a hand toward me. My wolf growled softly, uncertain. Before I could even decide, Halbert moved. In a blur of movement, he pulled me to my feet—so effortlessly it was like I weighed nothing. His strength was undeniable. Then, before I could protest, he lifted a pristine white handkerchief and wiped my face clean. His touch was gentle, careful, as if he were handling something delicate and breakable. His golden eyes assessed his work before giving a small, approving nod. “Much better.” I blinked, momentarily stunned. Then, his grip tightened around my wrist, his warmth steady, grounding. “Let’s go.” His voice was quiet but firm. “Revenge is best served fresh. Bottling it up will only hurt you in the end.” For the first time since this disaster started, I didn’t feel alone. Chapter 3 “Fabian Parkinson, for richer or poorer, will you stay by Yolanda Porter’s side, never to part?” The officiant’s voice rang out over the crowd. Onstage, Alpha Fabian gazed at Yolanda with a tenderness so nauseating it made my wolf bare her teeth. “I do not.” The words ripped through the ceremony like a thunderclap. Gasps filled the air. Every head in the room snapped toward me. I saw it then—the exact moment realization dawned on Fabian’s face. His smile froze, his fingers twitching against Yolanda’s hand. “Where’s security?” Fabian growled, voice low and commanding. “Escort the troublemaker out.” Halbert, standing beside me, handed me the microphone with an amused smirk. I didn’t even look at Fabian. Instead, I turned up the volume to max and let my voice ring across the hall. “Everyone, I am Salena Carlson. Tonight’s bride, Salena Carlson.” Chaos erupted. A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire. The sharp rustling of guests flipping through their invitations was almost comical. Fabian’s expression darkened, his jaw clenching so tight it could snap a bone. “Hey, she’s right! The invitation says the bride is Salena!” “Then who the hell is the woman onstage?” “Fabian’s wedding was so rushed, I didn’t even question it. But this…?” The murmurs grew louder, sharp whispers turning to judgmental glares. Yolanda’s fake innocence cracked, her wide doe eyes filling with crocodile tears. Fabian tightened his grip on her hand, his voice low but authoritative. “Everyone, there was a typo on the invitation.” His lips curled into a forced smile. “This is the real bride.” A laugh burst from my throat before I could stop it. “A typo?” I drawled, arching a brow. “Right. And let me guess—my name embroidered on the wedding dress? Also a typo?” More gasps. A few guests exchanged pointed looks. Fabian’s pathetic attempt at damage control had done nothing but pour gasoline on the fire. “The venue? The photography? The décor? Paid for with my money.” I pulled out my phone and, with a single tap, projected the receipts onto the massive screen behind the altar. “13.14 million.” I smiled, slow and deliberate. “Alpha Fabian, will that be on your credit card or by check?” Silence. The air was thick with tension, the scent of unease rolling through the room like a storm cloud. Fabian’s gaze flickered toward the doors, searching. Probably for security. “Don’t bother looking.” My smirk widened. “The security staff? Paid for by me. They don’t answer to you.” Fabian’s nostrils flared, frustration rolling off him in waves. And then, because the universe loved giving me more reasons to hate her, Yolanda decided to play her final card. “Salena, I know you have issues with me.” She sniffled, stepping forward. “It was wrong of me to borrow your wedding, but I have a terminal illness.” She paused for dramatic effect, gauging the crowd’s reaction. And just like that, a few whispers started up again. “She’s dying, though…” “Maybe Fabian was just trying to be kind.” “Is Salena really this heartless?” Yolanda lowered her gaze, trembling ever so slightly—but not before I caught the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. I felt my wolf bristle beneath my skin, a growl curling low in my throat. Oh, this little actress wanted a show? Fine. I’d give her one. I swatted Yolanda’s hand away, my wolf thrumming beneath my skin, urging me to rip through her pathetic act. “Oh, a terminal illness?” I arched a brow. “What’s the diagnosis? Which hospital declared it?” Silence. “Funny how someone on death’s doorstep has enough energy to steal my multimillion-dollar wedding and act like she deserves it.” Yolanda stumbled back, clutching her chest, her breath turning shallow. Her wide, watery eyes flitted around the room, as if searching for sympathy. Cue the dramatic coughs. She hacked so hard that her pale face turned ghostly, as if she might crumple to the floor at any moment. And, right on cue, Alpha Fabian was there in an instant, shielding her with his broad frame, his scent sharp with irritation. “Salena.” He growled my name like a curse. “You’ve only lost a wedding, but Yolanda—she’s losing her life.” His voice dripped with righteous fury, like I was the villain here. “How can you stoop so low as to bicker with someone who’s dying? Where’s your compassion?” I stared at him. For a brief moment, I remembered the man I once loved—the one who whispered promises under the moonlight, who swore I was his forever. Now?

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Introduction: “When he marked my sister in public, I swore – one day, I will make him kneel down and lick my high heels.” At the funeral three years ago, my destined partner tore my dignity apart in public. I thought his brother was salvation, but I didn’t know that I was just the most ridiculous pawn in the game of power. Now, I broke the wolf badge, and my red lips brushed his Adam’s apple: “Dear, now it’s my turn… to play with you.” When the flame of revenge is ignited, when the former enemies tremble and bow their heads – I want to let them know that the abandoned female wolf will eventually become the queen of the entire wolf pack. At my father’s funeral, a moment that should have been dedicated to mourning our fallen Alpha was instead desecrated by the ultimate betrayal. Before the entire Silverhowl Pack, my mate, Kael, cast me aside without hesitation. He didn’t whisper his rejection in private, nor did he offer even a shred of dignity—no, he made a spectacle of it. Right there, in front of my father’s casket, he knelt before Lyra, my father’s bastard pup, and claimed her as his. The hush that fell over the pack was broken not by murmurs of sympathy, but by gasps and sneers, and then—the final cruelty—a screen flickered to life. The recording left nothing to the imagination. Lyra and Kael, tangled together in the throes of their bond, moving with primal desperation. Every moan, every whispered promise of devotion, rang through the ceremonial grounds like a death knell. My death knell. I stood motionless, my heart pounding against my ribs like a caged beast. The humiliation was suffocating. Wolves exchanged glances, some in amusement, others in pity, but none intervened. I, Selene Nightbane, the true heir of the Moonveil Pack, had been reduced to nothing more than a discarded promise. Then came a voice, deep and commanding, slicing through the oppressive weight of my disgrace. “Get. Out.” Stormfang stepped forward, radiating dominance, his golden eyes burning with something unreadable. A single word from him sent Kael flinching, his smug expression faltering. Lyra shrank behind him, but Stormfang’s authority left no room for defiance. “You’ve dishonored this pack enough,” he said, voice devoid of warmth. “Leave now, before I make you.” Kael hesitated, but Lyra tugged at his sleeve, whispering something that made his jaw tighten. Without another word, they turned and slunk away, the weight of Stormfang’s presence crushing them beneath its force. Then, to my utter shock, he turned to me. He sank to one knee, his gaze steady and unwavering. “Selene,” he murmured, his voice softer now, meant only for me. “Let me stand beside you. As your Alpha. Your protector. Your mate.” I had lost everything. And so, with shaking fingers, I took his hand. Three years later… A week before the mating ceremony, fate once again delivered its cruelty. Passing by Stormfang’s study, I heard voices—low, tense. I should have walked away. I should have ignored it. But something in my blood went cold, and I lingered by the door, ears straining. “Alpha Granville, there are other ways to claim the Moonveil Pack. Binding yourself to Luna Nightbane is too dangerous. Isn’t this too great a risk?” The voice belonged to his Beta, uncertain yet cautious. A pause. Then Stormfang’s reply, calm and deliberate. “Once she is mine, she will lower her defenses. Lyra was meant to have her place in the pack long ago. If I must claim Selene to secure it, then so be it. For Lyra, I will do whatever is necessary.” A sharp, numbing chill seeped into my bones. Three years of loyalty. Of trust. Of believing that I had found salvation in the arms of a mate who had saved me when no one else would. And it had all been a lie. The tea in my hands trembled, sloshing over the rim. Scalding liquid spilled over my skin, but I barely registered the pain. If I was nothing more than a stepping stone, then perhaps it was time I let them have what they wanted. Inside the study, Stormfang sat at his desk, absently flipping through the territory transfer agreement, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “Luna Nightbane’s mother is nearing the end. She won’t make it much longer. Selene will insist on her attending the ceremony, and when she’s gone, the Moonveil Pack will be vulnerable. She’ll come to me, desperate, with no one else to turn to. That will be the perfect moment to strike.” “Are the agreements in place?” Stormfang’s gaze flicked to his Beta, who hesitated, fingers gripping the stack of documents. “Alpha… Lyra is still an Omega-born pup. This is brutal, even for us. Luna Nightbane has been nothing but loyal to you. She trusts you. If she finds out that all of this was just to put Lyra in power…” “Enough.” Stormfang’s voice dropped to something colder, deadlier. “Lyra is the rightful heir. If I hear ‘Omega-born pup’ from you again, I’ll strip you of your rank myself.” The Beta exhaled slowly. “Understood. I’ll finalize the paperwork. I just hope you don’t regret this.” Stormfang leaned back, expression unreadable. “Erase the funeral footage from three years ago. Selene must never find out the truth.” Then—a creak.The hair on the back of his neck rose.A shadow flickered past the doorway. Selene. I stumbled back, my breath uneven, my pulse roaring in my ears.So the public humiliation, the mating video, the whispers and jeers—they hadn’t been Kael’s doing alone.Stormfang, the mate who had saved me, had orchestrated it all.A strangled laugh built in my throat, bitter and hollow. I thought of my mother’s final moments, the way her frail fingers clutched mine, whispering, “Trust Stormfang. He will protect you.” Safe? I had spent three years believing a lie .A faint click echoed from the study as the door opened. I barely had time to wipe my face before his voice reached me. “Selene?” I turned, forcing my lips into a brittle smile. “I… I brought you tea, but I spilled it.” Stormfang’s brows furrowed as he stepped closer. The scent of whiskey clung to him, his movements slow but deliberate. He cupped my face, his thumb brushing along my cheek. “You’re trembling.” His golden eyes searched mine. “Are you unwell?” Yes. I was sick—sick of being played, sick of being manipulated. But I simply shook my head. For now.

“These tasks are better left to the Omega attendants. You’ve been at Luna Mother’s bedside every day, tending to her yourself. That’s more than enough. If you exhaust yourself, I won’t be able to bear it.” Stormfang’s voice carried its usual warmth, his tone gentle yet firm. He leaned in, brushing his lips against mine—a familiar gesture, one meant to soothe and reassure. But the comfort I once found in his touch had long since faded. His warmth no longer reached me. Could someone truly go to such lengths for another? Could they sacrifice their own desires, weave an intricate web of lies, and play the role of a devoted mate for years, all while their heart belonged elsewhere? I shut my eyes, but it didn’t stop the sting in my chest. Silent tears traced cold paths down my cheeks. Stormfang barely noticed. His steps were unsteady, the scent of whiskey clinging to his breath. I guided him to the bed, covering him with a thick fur-lined blanket. The alcohol did its job quickly—his breathing slowed, deepened, and within minutes, he was lost to sleep. Still kneeling by the bedside, I reached for his phone, my fingers hesitant but steady. One try. That was all it took. The screen unlocked instantly. The passcode was Lyra’s birthday. My breath hitched, but I pushed the rising dread aside and opened their messages. The screen was filled with confidential documents—pack land records, alliance agreements, strategic reports. From the moment my father, the Alpha of Moonveil, took his last breath, it had never ceased. Not for a single day. Every territorial dispute he had mediated, he had sent to Lyra, preparing her. Every negotiation with rival packs, he had passed along, laying the groundwork for her future. Even the Alpha authority transfer contract had been drawn up years ago. Stormfang wasn’t waiting for Luna Mother’s condition to improve. He was waiting for her to die. Waiting for me to step aside and surrender my birthright into his hands. I opened his private album, my heart hammering painfully against my ribs. Every image, every captured moment, was of Lyra. She was radiant, basking in the glow of pack gatherings, standing by Kael’s side at strategic meetings, her smile ever-present. And Kael—he looked so much like his brother, so much like Stormfang, it was no wonder the deception had been seamless. Beyond the pictures were endless records of rare artifact acquisitions. Jewelry, ancient relics, ceremonial trinkets—all purchased at rogue auctions, all sent to Lyra under Stormfang’s name, falsely credited as gifts from his Alpha-brother. A love hidden in plain sight. Subtle. Extravagant. Woven into every insignificant detail. It was a knife lodged deep in my chest. I recognized the jewelry brands, the auctioned artifacts. They were nothing more than tribute from the black market traders, gifts to secure Stormfang’s favor, yet he had given them to me, spun them into romantic gestures. I let out a breathless, humorless laugh, one that tasted of self-mockery. There was no point in searching further. Instead, I picked up my phone and sent a message to the Elders’ Council, summoning them for an Alpha succession meeting in three days. By then, I would claim what was mine. For three years, Stormfang had stolen from me—my trust, my future, my place in the pack. It was time he returned everything. I didn’t sleep. When dawn arrived, I washed my face, letting the icy water erase all traces of emotion. As I finished, a message popped up in the pack’s work chat. Stormfang’s reaction was immediate. “Selene? Since when did you take an interest in pack affairs? Luna Mother’s health is still fragile. Didn’t we agree that I’d handle things for you? You shouldn’t burden yourself. If you fall ill, she’ll blame me for not taking better care of you.” I stared at his message, at the concern so effortlessly woven into his words. Lies came naturally to him. I set my phone down and let a slow, unreadable smile stretch across my lips. “It’s nothing. I must’ve accidentally turned on notifications. I’ll switch them off. You have a meeting for the territory expansion today, don’t you? You shouldn’t keep them waiting.” He studied me for a moment, his sharp golden eyes searching mine. Then, as if reassured, he exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing. Gently, he pulled me against him, his arms firm around my waist. “Thank you for understanding, my Luna-to-be. I need to finalize these alliances so we can focus on our mating ceremony.” I said nothing. Simply lowered my gaze and powered off my phone. “You’re going to the clinic today, right? Pick up the meal I ordered from the packhouse kitchen. I had them prepare something special for you. You’ve lost weight.” “I’ll bring some for Luna Mother too.” I used to believe his attentiveness was love. That his concern was real. Now, I saw it for what it was—an excuse to keep me out of his way. If he truly cared, would he have barely visited Luna Mother in an entire year? Would he have left her care to outsiders, refusing to even check on her himself? He hadn’t done it for my sake. He had done it to keep me distracted. To make sure I never turned my gaze where it truly mattered. He had orchestrated everything—ensuring I never stood in Lyra’s way. No more. This three-year deception ends today. I rushed to the clinic, but I hadn’t even stepped into the ward when hushed voices drifted through the hallway. The nurses’ gossip stopped me in my tracks.

“The Moonveil Pack holds one of the strongest bloodlines in all of Silverhowl, yet after a full year of so-called treatment, they still haven’t arranged a proper healing ritual for their Luna? When I went in to change the bandages, I could barely stand the sight—she looks as though a strong wind could carry her away. How can her own pack be so indifferent?” “Shh, lower your voice! Don’t ask questions that will get you into trouble. The Granville Pack has already given orders—even the Pack Healer knows better than to intervene. It’s obvious they’ve decided to let her waste away instead of giving her a real chance at recovery. They even replaced her wolfsbane antidote with diluted herbal tonics. At this rate, she won’t survive the next few days.” “The strongest pack in Silverhowl… and yet, they refuse to save their own Luna. How heartless can they be?” The words clawed through me like jagged fangs sinking into my chest. My vision blurred as I bolted down the hallway, barely aware of the startled whispers left in my wake. I burst into my mother’s den at the pack clinic, my heart hammering violently against my ribs. The woman who once commanded warriors with a single glance now lay motionless, her frail form swallowed by the oversized furs draped over her. The vibrant energy that had once made her the heart of the Moonveil Pack was nothing more than a flickering ember, struggling against the dark. I had been by her side every day. I had watched over her, spoken to her, held her hand through the worst of it. And yet—I had still failed to see how quickly she was slipping away. The monitors beside her blared warnings in frantic bursts, each alarm tightening the noose around my throat. Even as the strength faded from her, even as the scent of death loomed ever closer, she reached for my hand. “Selene…” Her voice was barely a whisper, her fingers cold as they curled around mine. “I won’t be able to see you take your rightful place as Luna… but Stormfang is a strong Alpha. After I’m gone, he will protect you. Call him… I need to speak with him one last time.” Tears streamed freely down my face, but I forced myself to nod, pressing a trembling kiss to her knuckles before tucking the blankets securely around her. Then, without wasting another second, I ran to find a healer. The Pack Healer’s face was grim as he examined her, his fingers pressing lightly against her wrist. When he finally spoke, his voice carried the weight of inevitability. “She’s too weak. Her wolf has receded beyond our reach. At this stage, she wouldn’t survive a full healing ceremony. The best we can do now… is prepare for her farewell ritual.” The words sent a deep, searing pain straight through my chest, but I swallowed my anguish and drove straight to Stormfang’s territory. Just as I reached the doors to his war room, I halted, my breath catching as Lyra’s voice drifted toward me, silk-smooth and laced with feigned concern. “Stormfang, you’ve done so much for me these past few years. But the former Luna still lingers. If you let me oversee the expansion project, my sister will surely take issue with it.” Stormfang’s voice followed—low, steady, but edged with something I couldn’t quite place. “She is my Beta’s sister. Helping her is only natural. Sign the papers. You’ll need to get accustomed to handling pack affairs sooner or later. As for the Luna… she won’t be a concern for much longer.” A flicker of triumph flashed in Lyra’s tone before she masked it with a carefully crafted sorrow. “The former Luna won’t recover? That’s truly unfortunate… I should visit her today. Even if she never saw me as her daughter, I still want the chance to say goodbye properly.” My fury ignited in an instant, tearing through my veins like wildfire. I shoved the door open with enough force to send it slamming into the wall. “Don’t bother with your fake sympathy,” I spat, locking eyes with her. “She doesn’t want to see you.” Stormfang’s chair scraped against the floor as he rose to his feet, his expression shifting from unreadable to outright alarm. He was already walking toward me, hands slightly raised in placation. “Selene, why are you here? You’re misunderstanding. Lyra only mentioned it in passing. There’s nothing for you to be upset over.” Lyra remained seated, an infuriatingly composed smile playing at her lips as she waved a delicate hand. “Nightbane,” she purred, as though we were old friends, “long time no see.” I didn’t acknowledge her. Didn’t even look at her. Without another word, I turned and made my way toward the stairs. But Stormfang wasn’t willing to let it go. “Selene, wait!” He followed after me, his voice filled with urgency. “You’re taking this the wrong way—Lyra has nothing to do with Luna Mother’s condition. Don’t let anger cloud your judgment.” I stopped walking, turning my head just enough to meet his gaze. He looked… desperate .How ironic. This was the same male who had stood before the entire pack three years ago, offering me his hand in my moment of humiliation. The same male who had promised me security, promised me loyalty. Now, I knew the truth. He hadn’t saved me. He had merely positioned me as a pawn. I forced a smile, one that barely reached my eyes. “Relax, Stormfang,” I said softly. “I’m not unreasonable. I won’t meddle in the affairs of the Granville Pack. I was just on my way to visit Luna Mother and thought I’d stop by to see you. Since you’re busy, I won’t take up your time.” The tension in his shoulders visibly loosened, and he exhaled, even offering a small nod. “I appreciate your understanding,” he murmured, personally escorting me to the door. I left without another word. But before I could reach the clinic, my phone rang. I barely had to glance at the screen before dread coiled in my stomach. It was the Pack Healer. His voice came through, quiet yet devastating. “Luna Nightbane… I’m sorry. Your mother… she’s gone.” I slammed on the brakes, my car skidding to a halt at the side of the road. A wave of anguish and fury crashed over me all at once, a storm so violent it nearly swallowed me whole. For a long time, I sat in silence, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. Then, with painstaking resolve, I turned the car around. Not to the clinic. Not to my mother’s lifeless body. To the Moonveil Pack’s ancestral home. It was time to reclaim what was mine. I packed my mother’s belongings in silence, my movements careful, reverent. And then—just as I was placing the last item into a wooden chest—a shadow fell over me. Lyra stood in the doorway, her arms crossed, a slow smirk playing on her lips.

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Before the wedding, Alpha Lawrence’s first love, Sandra Barlow, was betrothed to none other than Emmett Wright—the most infamous rogue Alpha along the Mississippi River. A wolf so ruthless, even the werewolf Council preferred to pretend he didn’t exist. Alpha Lawrence, ever the noble hero, couldn’t bear to see his precious white moonlight thrown into the fire pit. So, what did he do? With the werewolf army of the Blue Moon Pack, he stormed into the rogue den and snatched her away from Alpha Emmett. That very night, they registered their marriage and held a wedding. And me? Oh, the entire Blue Moon Pack was practically at the thought of watching Gamma Audrey Gilbert—the strongest female warrior in the pack—get humiliated. After all, my years of loyalty, my unmatched skills, my blood spilled for this pack? Worthless. Why? Because their beloved Alpha had chosen another. I braced myself for the whispers, the pitying glances. But then— The very next day, Alpha Emmett, the same rogue who’d been so cruelly robbed of his mate, climbed onto my villa’s security wall like a damn cat burglar. He perched there, arms crossed, watching me with an infuriatingly lazy smirk. “Wife pays for her husband’s debt,” he drawled, his voice carrying the rough edge of a wolf who lived lawless and free. “Alpha Lawrence stole my mate. So I figured—you should compensate me by becoming my rogue Luna.” He grinned, canines flashing. “ That’s fair, isn’t it?” I nodded. “Fair.”

“I’ll marry you and become your Rogue Luna.” Alpha Emmett seemed completely taken aback that I would agree to such an absurd condition.he stood there, frozen like a statue, his jaw slack, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion. “You… you, you—are you serious?” he finally stammered, his eyes wide as if he’d just seen a ghost. “Three days from now, I’ll come to marry you. No backing out.” I shrugged with a smirk. “Yes，I said it, Never take-backs.” The poor guy practically tripped over his own feet as he scrambled down the wall, clearly terrified I might change my mind. Just as he reached the ground, he stumbled and almost faceplanted. I laughed, the sound light and genuine. For someone with the reputation of being a rogue Alpha to the core, Emmett was unexpectedly… charming in an awkward kind of way. Not the arrogant brute the rumors painted him to be. My amusement was cut short when a voice interrupted my thoughts, sliding into my mind through the pack link. “Gamma,” came the calm, measured voice of my servant. “Alpha Lawrence is waiting for you in the living room.” The laughter vanished from my face in an instant. My wolf, usually heard this will be happy or wag her tail, but now went deathly silent. By the time I reached the living room, my smile was gone, replaced by a mask of cool detachment. Alpha Lawrence was standing there, his posture as confident as ever, but the forced smile on his lips gave him away. “Alpha Lawrence,” I said evenly, “shouldn’t you be at home with your new Luna? What urgent business brings you here?” His grin faltered for a split second before he forced it wider. “Audrey, you know I wouldn’t come if it wasn’t important.” I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe with an arched brow. “Important enough to leave your honeymoon?” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Sandra’s too soft. She’d be ruined if I let her marry that rogue. You know she wouldn’t survive in a life like that.” I tilted my head, my tone laced with mockery. “And yet, you didn’t hesitate to ruin me and my family’s reputation. Funny how that works.” His face fell, but he quickly recovered. “Audrey, let’s not do this. I didn’t have a choice. You know I care about you.” “Alpha Lawrence,” I said, voice cold and steady, “our engagement is over. There’s nothing more to say.” He took a step closer, his hand reaching out as if to placate me. “Audrey, don’t be rash. Just because I married her doesn’t mean things have to change between us.” I stared at him, incredulous. He actually believed the garbage coming out of his mouth. “Sandra won’t mind, She’s sweet, understanding. You just need to be patient for now. Be my girlfriend until things settle. When you have my pup, I’ll bring you back to my estate. We’ll be together—all three of us.” ““You and Sandra are both important to me, and I swear I’ll treat you equally. Neither of you will feel neglected.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The audacity of this man, to ask the strongest female Gamma in the pack to be his mistress. Even if I were willing, my family would never tolerate such humiliation. I laughed, a sharp, humorless sound that made him flinch. “I, Audrey Gilbert, won’t be anyone’s mistress.” His smile faltered, annoyance flickering in his eyes. “Audrey, don’t make this difficult. Being my mistress isn’t as bad as you’re making it out to be. I’ll make sure no one disrespects you.Why make this so difficult for me?” I’m making it difficult for him? I almost laughed in disbelief. Was I the one who had disrupted someone’s wedding, dragged another woman to the registry office, and left my family in disgrace? I looked at him mockingly and repeated, “I said, I, Audrey Gilbert, will never—never—be anyone’s mistress.” He scowled. “You’re being unreasonable! The entire Blue Moon Pack knows you’re my mate. Do you think anyone else would want you now? You’re already ruined.” His words were like a dagger, but I didn’t flinch. My wolf growled low in my mind, her hackles raised. If she had her way, she’d rip his throat out for daring to speak to me like that. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control. I stood taller, my voice steady and unwavering. “I, Audrey Gilbert, would rather live alone for all of my life than settle for being your second choice.” “Beta Audrey,Without me, no one else will ever want you.” “He stormed out, his word lingering like an unwelcome guest. The slam of the door echoed in the room, but I didn’t move. My hands clenched into fists and a bitter ache in my chest. From the moment I turned 18, I had taken over my father’s Gamma position, thanks to my rare white wolf. That same day, I found my mate. When I first saw Alpha Lawrence, my wolf howled with joy, “Mate!” The golden boy of the Blue Moon Pack was my destined mate. Even now, years after we graduated, we were still the star couple of the Blue Moon Pack’s No 1 Academy. But the Alpha Lawrence who once adored me, who couldn’t bear to see me suffer even the slightest pain—that Lawrence was gone. The man before me now was Sandra’s mate. The moment he chose Sandra over me, ignoring my love and trampling on my heart, I should have let go. But I couldn’t. Ten years of history between us—I couldn’t believe it would lose to their mere six months of knowing each other. Yet, I was wrong. Completely, utterly wrong. chapter 2 Alpha Emmett didn’t give me a chance to change my mind. The very next morning, a convoy of wolves from the Rogue Den arrived at the gates of my villa. Their cargo? Twenty-five chests of gold. Yes, you heard that right—one chest for every year of my life. When Alpha Emmett opened those chests in my living room, the dazzling gold nearly blinded me. Honestly, I didn’t know if I should be impressed or worried about getting robbed. My parents weren’t thrilled about Alpha Emmett. “Are you sure about this, Audrey?” my mom asked for the tenth time. “Alpha Emmett’s reputation isn’t exactly… spotless,” my dad added. But my mind was made up. “Love or power,” I replied with a shrug, “at least I’ll have one of them.” Now, was Alpha Emmett’s reputation as the Rogue Alpha of the entire Rogue Den a little intimidating? Sure. But he was powerful. His pack is tucked away in the remote Mississippi River region, but it was vast and fiercely strong. That kind of strength came with its own allure. And besides, if Sandra Barlow hadn’t turned him down, I wouldn’t even have this opportunity. Just as I was contemplating how to store all this gold , the door swung open. In walked Alpha Lawrence with Sandra trailing behind him. Upon seeing the scene before them, both seemed to jump to conclusions. Alpha Lawrence raised his chin with an expression that practically screamed, “I knew it.” Sandra, on the other hand, had a glint of greed in her eyes. “Audrey,” she cooed, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, “is this all your dowry?” Sandra Barlow is the unwanted product of a drunken night between Delta Kingsley and a stripper. The Barlow family barely tolerated her existence, sending her off on her wedding day with nothing more than a box of pastries. I frowned. “No, it’s not.” Lawrence scoffed. “Come on, Audrey, drop the act. Yesterday, you were all about not getting married, and now you’re stockpiling your dowry?” “Yes, Audrey,” Sandra chimed in, her voice sickly sweet. “We’re all family now that you’re marrying Lawrence.” Before I could tell her to shove her idea of “family,” she turned to Lawrence. “Didn’t you prepare a gift for Audrey? Go on, show her!” she said, tugging on his arm. As she moved, a glint of green around her neck caught my eye. My chest tightened. That necklace—a stunning emerald piece—was an heirloom from Lawrence’s family, meant for the future Luna. I’d dropped more hints about it than I cared to admit, but he’d always dodged the subject, refusing to part with it. Yet there it was, now sitting smugly on Sandra’s neck. Noticing my stare, Sandra adjusted her collar, ensuring the necklace sparkled under the light. And then, as if that weren’t enough, Lawrence pulled out a small box from his pocket, opened it, and tossed its contents at me. A ring. A cheap, ugly ring made of stainless steel. “Here,” he said, his tone laced with mockery. “It’s for you.” I picked up the ring, its chipped rose-gold paint flaking off in my hand, and couldn’t help but laugh. He was so generous with Sandra, yet so miserly with me. “Wow, Alpha Lawrence,” I said, handing it back to him. “This masterpiece should definitely go to your Luna.” Alpha Lawrence’s face darkened instantly. Furious, he snatched the ring and hurled it out the window. “If you don’t want it, then it’s trash!” Sandra pouted dramatically, stomping her foot. “Audrey, this ring was chosen specifically for you by Lawrence and me. It’s a token of our goodwill.” “Oh, and Audrey,” she continued with a saccharine smile, “I designed a wedding dress for you myself. I hope you’ll like it.” She gestured to a maid, who handed her a pink gown. I was so angry, I laughed. In Blue Moon Pack tradition, pink wedding dresses were reserved for second marriages or mistresses. Watching Sandra’s smug expression, I finally understood their purpose for coming today. They wanted to humiliate me. Without caring whether I agreed or not. Sandra handed me the dress with a smug grin, clearly enjoying herself. In front of Alpha Lawrence, I reiterated, “I’ve already told you, the wedding is off.” “If there’s nothing else, you two may leave.” But it was clear they didn’t take my words seriously. Sandra grabbed my arm, trying to drag me toward the fitting room. “Don’t be ridiculous, Audrey. At least try it on!” Annoyed, I shoved her hand away. “Get out. Don’t touch me.” I hadn’t even used much force, yet Sandra dramatically staggered backward, collapsing to the ground with the dress in hand. Tears quickly welled in her eyes. “Audrey, I… I was just trying to help,” she whimpered, clutching the dress like I’d ripped her heart out. Alpha Lawrence, seeing this, shoved me hard. “Audrey Gilbert, This dress was Sandra’s gift to you,She spent days designing it and made sure it was finished in time for the wedding. And this is how you repay her?” “An ungrateful, jealous shrew like you deserves to be alone forever.” With that, he scooped Sandra into his arms and stormed out. Sandra glanced over his shoulder, smirking triumphantly. That smirk reminded me of the first time I met her. chapter 3 Back then, she was just the illegitimate daughter of the Barlow family, a stray among nobles, tolerated but never truly accepted. At a grand banquet, her sister, Miss Fiona, treated her like a mere servant. When she accidentally spilled wine on Fiona’s silk gown, the entire hall fell silent. A hush of anticipation rippled through the crowd as Fiona, ever the perfect lady in public, cracked her fan shut with an audible snap and delivered a sharp slap across Sandra’s cheek. “Know your place,” Fiona hissed. “Kneel.” Sandra hesitated, her hands trembling. No one moved to help her. No one ever did. That was when Alpha Lawrence stepped forward. His golden eyes flashed with barely restrained fury as he caught Fiona’s wrist mid-swing. “Enough,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “She’s still your sister.” The crowd gasped. Fiona’s face burned with anger, but she swallowed it down, retreating with forced grace. From then on, Lawrence became Sandra’s silent protector. He offered her food before anyone else, took her on runs through the pack lands, even made sure she had the best training gear. I should’ve seen the signs. Whenever I pouted about it, he’d ruffle my hair and laugh. “I just feel sorry for Sandra,” he’d say. “She’s had it rough.” And I believed him. Like a fool. Until the day Sandra was set to marry Alpha Emmett, the most feared rogue Alpha along the Mississippi River. Lawrence stormed the rogue den like a man possessed, challenging Emmett in broad daylight. He didn’t just stop the wedding. He married her himself that very night. And to make sure no one could ever take her away, he marked her under the moonlight. That was when I finally understood. Pity had nothing to do with it. The night before my wedding, the Blue Moon Pack held its annual harvest festival—my favorite time of the year. Every year, Lawrence and I would set off fireworks together, laughing like pups as they painted the sky with streaks of silver and gold. But this year, I stood alone in the empty streets. The vendors were gone. The familiar scent of caramel apples and roasted nuts was missing. Something was off. Then, I heard two women chatting nearby. “Alpha Lawrence really went all out for Luna Sandra this time. Did you hear? He bought every single firework on this street just for her.” “No kidding. If I were Luna Sandra, I’d be moved to tears.” “That’s not even the best part. Alpha Lawrence went as far as offending the Rogue Alpha for her and even made Gamma Audrey to be a mistress. Alphas this good only exist in TV dramas!” Hearing that, I scoffed mockingly. I was about to leave when a familiar voice called out from behind me. “Audrey.” Instinctively, I turned around and saw Alpha Lawrence and Sandra standing not far away. Sandra was holding a sparkler and ran over to me, beaming. “Audrey, are you here to set off fireworks too?” Alpha Lawrence was still angry about what happened yesterday. Seeing me, he let out a cold snort. Sandra, ever the show-off, extended the sparkler in her hand toward me. “I’m sorry, sister. Lawrence bought all the fireworks on this street for me. Why don’t you take this one?” “No, thank you.” I stepped back, wary of her trying to frame me again. Besides, I had no interest in using something that had already been touched by someone else—whether it was an object or a person. Hearing my response, Alpha Lawrence’s expression turned icy, and his tone dripped with sarcasm. “Gamma Audrey wouldn’t deign to accept anything from us. Leave her be, Sandra. Let’s go.” With that, he pulled Sandra toward the riverbank. As they walked away, a man in a suit approached me. “Gamma Audrey, this is from Alpha Emmett,” he said.

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The day I found out I was pregnant, Ryan was tenderly cradling Chloe, who was supposedly blind. Then, he turned and *slammed* my pregnancy test report right into my face. “You abandoned me without a second thought when I crashed my car. If Chloe hadn’t given me her cornea, I probably would have died, left for dead in the middle of nowhere.” “Now you’ve gone to all this trouble to get pregnant with my child. You just want to use the baby to climb your way back into my life and resume your role as the lady of this mansion, don’t you? Let me tell you, forget it. Only Chloe deserves to be the wife of the CEO of *my* family!” Tears streamed down my face as Ryan’s hand clamped tightly around my neck, his voice a low growl. “I’ll give you a chance to make things right. All you have to do is seduce my older brother—the one who’s already married—and force him to marry you. Grandpa will definitely kick him out of the family business then, and I’ll be the sole heir.” But later, when the truth was finally revealed, and I became his sister-in-law, just as he’d wished… He knelt on the ground, begging for my forgiveness. I simply smiled, and took back the cornea I had once given him.

“Ava, weren’t you madly in love with me? How can you refuse to do even this small thing for me?” “You went to all this trouble to get pregnant with my child, just to force me to marry you and become the Ryan family matriarch you’ve always dreamed of, didn’t you? Two years ago, when I had that car accident, you ran faster than anyone. And after I woke up, you shamelessly came back and tried to claim the cornea Chloe donated to me. Is there a single truthful word that comes out of your mouth?” Ryan, seething with fury, hurled the pregnancy report at my face. I crumpled to the floor, powerless, passively enduring his baseless rage. Chloe, seeing this, melted into his arms like a wilting flower, coaxing him, her eyes betraying a smug triumph when she looked at me. “Oh, Ryan, Ava must have had her reasons for leaving you after the accident.” Chloe pretended to be blind as she fumbled to help me up from the floor, forcing a grateful smile. “Actually, I should thank you, Ava. If you hadn’t abandoned Ryan, how else would I have had the chance to come into his life?” I scoffed, my gaze fixed on Chloe’s bright, clear eyes. “That year, was it *really* your cornea you donated to Ryan?” Chloe shrank back into Ryan’s embrace, startled and flustered, sobbing heartbrokenly. “Ryan, is Ava still upset that I stole your affection by being with you? But after I lost my sight, you were the only person I could rely on. You’ve already been abandoned once; I don’t want to leave you and make you experience the pain of being deserted by someone you love again.” Ryan fumbled to console the woman in his arms with soft words. When he turned back to me, his expression instantly shifted to one of disgust, and he yelled, “Ava, haven’t you caused enough trouble?! That year, you were afraid I’d hold you back from marrying into wealth, so you turned and left without a hint of hesitation. I was bleeding on the ground, begging you, but you were completely indifferent. If Chloe hadn’t saved me, I probably wouldn’t even be standing here now, looking at your accusatory glare.” Chloe snuggled into Ryan’s arms, a sneer playing on her lips. “Ryan, since Ava is so certain, maybe your cornea really *was* donated by her.” Ryan scoffed, “I might have been blind to the truth back then, but I’m not an idiot. If she really gave me her cornea, then how did she regain her sight? How can she now stand here so boldly, accusing you?” A wave of bitterness washed over me. I clenched the bone ring on my finger, tears silently falling. All these years, no matter how much I explained, Ryan always unconditionally believed Chloe, constantly mocking me and giving me the cold shoulder, as if I were his mortal enemy. “Ava, I’m giving you a chance to make things right. You went to all this trouble to get pregnant with my child, didn’t you? Well, I might as well put you to good use. Grandpa is on his last legs, and my older brother, who’s been overseas for years, is coming back soon. I want you to seduce him, get into his bed, and then use the child in your belly to blackmail him into marrying you.” “Why? This is *our* child!” I stared at Ryan’s eyes, filled with longing, and spoke in disbelief. “Ava, stop faking that sentimental look; it’s disgusting. I told you, only Chloe is worthy of carrying my child. You’re not.” “Grandpa despises disloyal men above all else. Asher is a married man. If you seduce him, pretend to be pregnant with his child, and blow the whole thing up, Grandpa will never let him become the heir to the Ryan family. Then, the entire family will be mine.” “After it’s done, I’ll allow you to give birth to this child and let you stay by my side to attend to my needs. But give up your foolish dreams. The position of Mrs. Ryan will only ever belong to Chloe.” Watching the couple’s intense display of affection, I sneered. “Fine, Ryan. As you wish.” Second Chapter

Watching Ryan carefully lift Chloe and turn to leave, my tears finally burst forth, uncontrollable. Ryan and I met in high school. Back then, he was the distinguished adopted son of the powerful Ryan family, and I was just an orphan with no parents. He was the one who chose me, who pulled me out of the depths of despair. Later, I became a scholarship student sponsored by the Ryan family, gaining the opportunity to attend a prestigious university. I no longer had to worry about money or struggle to survive. Ryan and I naturally met, came to know each other, and fell in love. Everything felt so right. Ryan introduced me to his family, and we ended our long courtship, preparing to walk down the aisle. Just when I thought such a happy and peaceful life would continue forever, an accident shattered my utopian dream. Ryan and I were out for a drive in the countryside when we got into a car accident. In that split second, he shielded me with his body. His eyes were severely injured and required a cornea transplant, but there was no compatible cornea to be found in such a short time. So, I secretly donated my cornea to him. Immediately after the surgery, my mother had an emergency. I rushed back to our old family home in the countryside, missing the day Ryan regained his sight, which gave Chloe the chance to falsely claim credit. My mother, heartbroken that I would live in eternal darkness at such a young age, gave me her cornea on her deathbed. When I regained my sight and stood before Ryan again, I discovered he already had Chloe by his side. No matter how much I tried to explain, Ryan only believed Chloe’s version of events, convinced that I had abandoned him and left, and now, seeing that he had survived, I had shamelessly returned to try and reclaim my status as a wealthy lady. In truth, Chloe’s acting was terrible. She constantly forgot her blind persona, and her façade would crack more times than I could count over the years. Yet, Ryan chose to ignore it all, indulging her every whim and showering her with boundless affection. “Asher’s flight lands at 3 PM the day after tomorrow. Go pick him up at the airport.” My phone screen lit up with a message from Ryan. I gave a bitter smile. Ryan, I’m dying to know if you’ll regret your decision today when the truth is finally revealed.

A sharp sting in my eyes made me understand. My mother had been quite old and suffering from many complications when she gave me her cornea, so the transplant had left me with lingering side effects. I needed monthly check-ups and treatment at the hospital. Today was my scheduled appointment. “Ms. Yu, our examination shows a risk of retinal detachment in your eyes. You need a new transplant as soon as possible.” I gently shook my head. If finding a new pair of corneas were that easy, then Ryan wouldn’t have fallen for Chloe’s deception all those years ago. Seeing my indifferent expression, the doctor frowned, earnestly trying to persuade me. “Ms. Yu, you can’t take this surgery lightly. If you delay treatment, there’s a risk of permanent blindness.” The doctor sighed heavily. “I’ll start conservative treatment for now. Please go pay the fee.” Ten thousand dollars, a mere dinner bill for Ryan, became the last straw for me. I returned to the Ryan family mansion. The moment I opened the door, I saw Ryan, his eyes sparkling with delight, gazing at Chloe, who was surrounded by towering piles of luxury goods. I clenched my hands, lowering my head as I walked towards him. Third Chapter “Ryan, the doctor said there’s a problem with my cornea. I need ten thousand dollars for treatment. Could you please…?” “Enough!” Ryan impatiently cut me off. “Chloe was right. You’re just a greedy, unscrupulous woman who’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants. You’re only with me for my money, aren’t you?” I opened my mouth numbly, feeling utterly speechless. Chloe pouted, snuggling into Ryan’s arms and whimpering. “Ryan, if Ava wants it, just give her ten thousand dollars. That amount isn’t even enough to buy the cheapest bag I’m holding.” “But, Ava, you shouldn’t just lie to get money. Today, I clearly saw you getting into a strange man’s luxury car. How could you have been going to the hospital?” Chloe produced a blurry photo, a face barely discernible. Ryan’s anger instantly flared. “Ava, have you ever told me a single truth? A money-hungry, unfaithful woman like you—if you weren’t still somewhat useful, I’d be disgusted just looking at you.” Ryan seemed to recall something, and he suddenly clamped his hand around my throat, staring intently at my slightly swollen belly. “My child? Is that *my* baby in there?” I incredulously raised my head, my voice cold as ice. “Ryan, is that truly how you see me? As some kind of fickle, dishonest woman?” I remembered that night. Ryan had burst into my room, reeking of alcohol, clutching my waist like a large dog, burying his head in my neck. A few hot tears had fallen onto my skin, searing my heart. He’d held me tightly, pulling me into a deep, desperate embrace. It wasn’t until the heavy rain outside had finally stopped that he allowed me to catch my breath. I had thought that night was the turning point in our relationship, a naive belief that we could go back to how things were, that we were still the only ones in each other’s worlds. But I never imagined that what I’d perceived as sweet, uncontrollable passion was just his drunken mistake. If it hadn’t been me, it would have been anyone else. “Ava, since you want this money so badly, then open your eyes and watch me and Chloe make love.” With that, he pulled Chloe closer and kissed her passionately. Ryan’s strong, bony hands roamed over Chloe’s body, stripping off her clothes in a few swift movements. I watched their entwined bodies in the distance, listening numbly to the intimate gasps. I don’t know how long it lasted. As dawn broke, Ryan finally wiped his lips with a sated expression, then slammed a card down in front of me, his voice laced with venom. “Ava, for money, you actually watched me make love to another woman right in front of you.” “Take my money, then do what I tell you. You need to handle seducing Asher perfectly, or don’t even think about staying by my side.” I slowly picked up the bank card he had trampled under his foot. My heart felt like a gaping wound, a cold wind sweeping through, leaving behind an empty, hollow ache. Ten thousand dollars. Enough to sever our past and all our grievances. I had already repaid Ryan’s financial support with a pair of corneas. From now on, I owed him nothing. I opened my phone and scheduled an abortion for tomorrow. I gently stroked my slightly swollen belly. I had thought this child was the crystallization of Ryan’s and my love. Now, it seemed it was anything but. I didn’t want my child to come into this world burdened with stigma and humiliation. Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, her face filled with pity, helped me up from the cold floor and then went to the kitchen to make me a warm mug of tea. “Ms. Ava, have some to warm yourself up.” I hadn’t cried when Chloe falsely accused me, nor when I endured Ryan’s baseless accusations and humiliation. But at that moment, receiving a long-overdue act of kindness, I felt an overwhelming urge to cry. Mrs. Jenkins sighed. “I’ve seen everything between you and the young master all these years. He has a sharp tongue, but a good heart. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed you to stay by his side for so long.” I gave a faint, bitter laugh and shook my head. “No, he has no heart. No matter how much I burn myself, I still can’t warm him.” “I’ve decided to give up. To let him go, and to let myself go too.”

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The day my daughter was admitted to the ICU, Damien boarded a flight to the States, his first love, Seraphina, and her daughter right by his side. The man who once swore he’d be my and Chloe’s safe harbor had fled, taking every last penny with him. When the private investigator finally tracked him down, he only had one message for me. “Seraphina already lost her husband. I can’t let her lose her daughter too.” “When I return, I’ll give you the grand wedding you deserve.” Three years later, Damien returned. And I saw the news of Damien’s wedding… on TV. “Mommy, why is Daddy marrying someone else?” “That’s not your dad.” I put my phone away, my mind swirling with the image of Damien, Seraphina, and her daughter, their faces beaming with joy. Frozen in place, my vision blurred. “Mommy, hug.” It wasn’t until Chloe spoke that I realized it was pouring rain. And Chloe and I didn’t even have enough money for an umbrella. I scooped her up, and we huddled under the awning of a bakery. The rain was coming down in sheets. My face was soaked, but I couldn’t tell if it was the relentless downpour or my own silent, endless tears. “Mommy, was that Daddy on your phone just now?” Chloe leaned against my knee. “If it was Daddy, why is he marrying another woman?” For a moment, I had no idea how to explain. I touched Chloe’s face, wiping away the raindrops. The chime above the bakery door jingled. The door swung open, and out stepped Seraphina and Stella. “Mommy, the rain is so heavy! When is Daddy coming?” “Daddy’s almost here. He said he couldn’t bear to let his little princess get wet, so he’s driving all the way to pick us up himself.” Just as she finished speaking, a car pulled up nearby. The moment the car door opened, Damien stepped out, holding an umbrella, and walked gracefully towards Seraphina and Stella. “Mommy, it’s Daddy!” Chloe, ecstatic, started to jump up and down, but I gently pulled her back. “That’s not your dad.” Damien’s expression froze the moment he saw me. He tightened his embrace around Stella, his gaze slowly shifting down to Chloe. Then, Damien’s brows furrowed, and a displeased sound escaped him. Three years. This was the first time we’d seen each other since he left. A bitter, hollow laugh escaped me. In a twisted, heartbreaking way, I actually *understood* Damien. He was successful, about to get married. Chloe and I? We were just… excess baggage. “Aria, I genuinely didn’t recognize you. What happened to you?” Seraphina feigned a gasp, her eyes immediately welling with theatrical sympathy. She pulled a wad of cash from her purse and pressed it into my hand. “Honestly, if it weren’t for Damien back then, I might have ended up just like you.” I looked at her expensive clothes, her flawless skin, and remembered the woman I used to be. If Damien hadn’t run off with all our money, Chloe and I would never have fallen so low. What Damien didn’t know – or maybe he just didn’t care – was that he’d also taken the money for Chloe’s life-saving treatment. To save Chloe, I’d borrowed money from every corner. These past few years, I’d aged more than a decade, and Chloe hadn’t known a single day of true happiness. I threw the money to the ground and picked up Chloe. But Stella suddenly burst into tears, wriggling in Damien’s arms like a spoiled brat. “You mean witch! You hurt my mommy! And three years ago, you hurt *me*! If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have needed surgery! You’re both evil!” Damien’s face changed dramatically. He spun to face me, demanding to know what had happened back then. “Stella’s sudden illness back then… was it because of you?” His eyes were like cold blades, pulling me into an endless abyss. Chloe tried to explain, but Stella suddenly grabbed Chloe’s hand and bit her. My instinct was to shield Chloe, but Damien shoved me away with surprising force. Chloe and I slammed against the wall, the dull ache blossoming into a full-body throb. My eyes instantly burned with tears. Seraphina looked triumphant, even feigning an apology to Chloe and me. A bitter tang spread through my heart. He once promised to be our safe harbor, our shield from the world’s storms. Now, he *was* the storm. I sniffled, forcing back my tears, and gazed at Damien.

Chloe scrambled up from the ground and stood in front of me. Her face was etched with hurt as she looked at Damien. “Daddy…” Hearing Chloe’s soft voice, Damien’s heart seemed to melt for a moment. I hugged Chloe tight, checking her for any injuries. “Oh my! How could you be so careless? Look at that huge scar on her arm! What will she do when she grows up?” Seraphina shrieked, pointing at the wound on Chloe’s arm. Chloe tugged down her long sleeve, lowering her head. “Look at our Stella. Not a single scar on her.” Saying this, Stella even spun around triumphantly in front of Chloe. I remained silent. How did Chloe get that scar? Well, it was all thanks to Damien. After he left, kids at school called her names, whispered about her not having a dad. They called her a ‘nobody,’ and even the teachers turned a blind eye. I hated Damien. But the one I truly despised was myself. Damien’s face clouded over. He gently pulled Chloe closer, kneeling to meet her gaze. “Does it hurt, sweetheart?” he asked, his voice softer than I’d heard in years. Chloe looked at me, then bravely replied. “Daddy, it doesn’t hurt.” Stella, on the other hand, looked ready to explode. Her eyes narrowed into slits of pure venom as she glared at Chloe. Damien shielded Stella behind him, taking a deep breath before speaking to me. “Perfect timing. Let’s discuss Chloe’s custody.” Chloe didn’t understand what that meant, but she could read Damien’s tone. She struggled free from behind Damien and ran to me, hugging me tightly. “You walked out on us! You *abandoned* us! And now you’re talking about custody? Do you even have the right to breathe the same air as us?” I looked at Damien with cold contempt. My words were a direct hit, a verbal slap across his arrogant face. I could see the disgust for me deepening in his eyes. Seraphina dramatically crumpled, her shoulders shaking with carefully orchestrated sobs. “I know you hate me, but the situation was urgent back then. If you want to hate someone, hate me, just don’t hate Damien.” Seeing Seraphina cry, Stella instantly clung to Damien’s leg. “Daddy, did Mommy and Stella do something wrong?” Damien looked at me with palpable irritation, but the moment his gaze shifted to Seraphina and Stella, his face softened into a tender, sickeningly sweet expression. I couldn’t stand it. I picked up Chloe, ready to leave. Damien reached out to grab Chloe, but I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. “How could you hit Damien? Don’t you know how much Damien sacrificed for you all these years?” My palm tingled, and I realized my face was already streaked with tears. Sacrificed for us? What did Damien sacrifice for us? Chloe almost *died*! She was clinging to life in the hospital because we couldn’t afford her surgery! I couldn’t even afford her medicine, she never had a new toy, and every single item of clothing she owned was a hand-me-down. And Stella? A single one of her outfits probably cost more than Chloe’s entire course of treatment. I hugged Chloe tighter, biting my bottom lip, and said each word slowly: “Stay away from us.” “The day you left three years ago, I considered you dead.” Chloe touched my face. “Mommy, don’t cry. Chloe’s heart hurts.” Damien, still reeling from the slap, slowly composed himself. Then, he grabbed my arm, squeezing with brutal force. He looked as if he wanted to crush me, his eyes blazing with fury. “You can’t take care of Chloe! She’ll have a good life only if she’s with me!” “You selfish woman! You don’t deserve to be a mother! If you truly love Chloe, you’ll let her come with me, where she can have a real life!” His words were nothing but accusations. The past three years, all my hardship and tears – he saw none of it. Just as I felt myself collapsing, Chloe hugged me tighter in my arms.

The day Damien left three years ago was a bright, sunny day. I was watering flowers at home as usual when the front door was suddenly violently flung open. In my panic, I learned that Damien had borrowed a huge amount of money and then fled with the last of our savings. I simply couldn’t believe he would do such a thing. But that day, strangers were moving into our house, taking everything we owned. Pregnant with Chloe at the time, I went into early labor. From the moment she was born, Chloe was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition. Being premature on top of that, she was rushed straight to the ICU, her tiny life hanging by a fragile thread. Bringing Chloe up these past three years was nothing short of a miracle. I knew I couldn’t give her better material conditions, and often, in the dead of night, I would cry with regret. Once I started earning some money, I even hired someone to find Damien. He left me two sentences, not a single word of concern for me. “Seraphina already lost her husband. I can’t let her lose her daughter too.” “When I return, I’ll give you the grand wedding you deserve.” He even forgot the very promise he made. Seeing me lost in thought, Damien’s face grew even darker. “Are you even listening to me?” Damien lost all patience and yelled at me. Chloe choked back a sob. “You’re not allowed to yell at my mommy! You’re not my daddy anymore! I don’t want you!” Pouting, Chloe buried her face in my shoulder, heartbroken. She had always longed for a dad. Only I knew how much courage it took for Chloe to say those words. “Chloe, Mommy can’t take good care of you. Will you go with Daddy, okay?” An awkward expression flitted across his face, but he quickly composed himself, opening his arms and cooing softly at Chloe. “Mommy said you’re not my daddy! Stay away from us!” After saying that, Chloe cried until she was sobbing uncontrollably. Stella let out a snide, dismissive sound, making Chloe cry even harder. She bravely wiped away her own tears, a silent strength I didn’t possess. My heart, though, was being shredded into tiny pieces. We had waited for Damien to return. But he now had his own wife and daughter. Thinking of their grand wedding, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. “I will take good care of Chloe. You don’t need to worry about us.” “Go take care of your own wife and daughter.”

Damien’s eyes were bloodshot, his hands falling helplessly to his sides. He finally snapped back to reality and pulled us into the coffee shop next door. Seraphina, leading Stella, picked up the menu and ordered with practiced ease. Chloe, meanwhile, looked utterly out of place. She knew I didn’t have money to pay for this meal. She looked up at me. “Mommy, why are the cakes here so cheap?” “How can the cakes here compare to what Stella eats in the States?” Seraphina and Stella smirked, then Seraphina lifted her eyes to look at me. “What would you two like to order?” The menu was written in elegant cursive, every item a string of French words. Chloe and I stared blankly, not understanding a single thing. Damien made a phone call, then called over a server and ordered some desserts. Seraphina looked utterly blissful. “Damien, I can’t believe you remembered Stella and I are allergic to mango!” “Daddy, I knew you loved Stella the most!” Stella burrowed into Damien’s arms, showering him with affection. Chloe sat forlornly, her head drooping. The desserts arrived, and every single one had almond slivers. My heart felt half-empty. I had foolishly believed Damien would remember I didn’t eat almonds. He didn’t notice my disappointed expression. He simply sent Seraphina and Stella off. “Mr. Damien, I’m not interested in your family’s happy life. Can Chloe and I leave now?” Hearing my words, Damien looked utterly disbelieving. “I was forced to make that choice back then! Why can’t you understand me?” “‘Forced to,’ huh? What a pathetic excuse.” I scoffed, turning my head away. “Were you ‘forced’ to marry Seraphina too?” “No one forced you to do any of this. These were all *your* choices.” After I finished speaking, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Damien fell silent, his expression wounded. But I was the one who should be hurting the most. I’d clung to the foolish hope that when Damien finally returned, I’d get my wedding, the one that was rightfully mine. That we’d just… go back to how things were, to our quiet, peaceful life. But I was wrong. Terribly, horribly wrong. I was so wrong that Damien already had a whole new family, and I was still holding onto a ghost. The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous I felt. “Chloe, let’s go.” “I’ve already called my lawyer! We *have* to talk about Chloe’s custody!” But Damien was insistent, as if he was afraid I’d run away. I struggled twice, but Damien wrapped his arms around me and Chloe. A wave of violent nausea churned in my stomach, and I shoved him away with all my might. Damien’s hands froze in mid-air. Noticing the disgust in my eyes, he stood still, stunned. “Aria,” he whispered, his voice laced with disbelief, “do you truly hate me that much?” He mumbled, his body swaying slightly. Just as he reached out again, Seraphina’s shriek echoed through the cafe. “Damien! Stella’s gone! Help me find her!” Damien didn’t hesitate for a second. He spun around, abandoning us, and rushed out of the shop. Outside, Seraphina watched me with a smug, triumphant smirk. And peeking from behind a parked car, a supposedly “missing” Stella was barely suppressing her giggles. Their mockery made me feel utterly humiliated. I forced myself to appear calm, picked up Chloe, and walked away.

Back home, I gave Chloe a warm bath. Halfway through filling the tub, the lights and water stopped. That’s when I remembered. Chloe had a fever last month, and we hadn’t been able to pay the water or electricity bill. Chloe, ever so practical, cheerfully lathered herself with shower gel. “Mommy, this little bit of water is plenty!” she chirped. “Let’s not waste it!” She looked utterly delighted, never once making me feel like I’d deprived her. Thinking of Damien’s words, perhaps Chloe really would have a better life with him. Perhaps Chloe didn’t need a dad, but rather… money. Besides, the money Seraphina and Stella were spending? Some of it was rightfully mine. The thought solidified my resolve. I quickly finished bathing Chloe and helped her into clean clothes. Our landlady, Mrs. Gable, knocked on the door, bringing a small cake and a few candles. She knew we were always struggling, yet she’d never been anything but kind, even when we fell behind on rent. Chloe thanked Mrs. Gable, and I smiled with relief. “Is your son a lawyer?” Mrs. Gable nodded, her face etched with concern. “Did something happen?” “Damien’s back. I need to file a lawsuit. I want him to pay child support.” Mrs. Gable looked surprised, and then puzzled. “Your husband is back? Why hasn’t he taken you two in?” I stayed silent, simply smiling. Because he already had his own family, of course. Chloe and I were just… redundant. If that was the case, I wouldn’t cling to him. But what was rightfully Chloe’s and mine, I would not let go of a single penny. Mrs. Gable murmured, feeling for Chloe and me. “You’re so beautiful, and Chloe is such a sweet girl. You’ve both been through so much because of him. How could he just… leave you like that?” “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure my son does everything he can to help you.” Once Mrs. Gable left, I closed the door and sent a text to Damien’s creditor. **[Want your money? This month’s payment. Meet at the entrance of The Grand Estates tomorrow. Someone will be waiting for you.]** The creditor called, asking if Damien was back. I answered vaguely. He cursed under his breath, then agreed to meet tomorrow. I hung up, feeling satisfied, and saw Chloe’s face smeared with cake like a little kitten. Looking at my daughter, my heart felt more at peace. Damien, I’m sorry, but if you want your money, this is the only way. This is what Chloe and I deserve. And you, too, should pay for your actions.

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After summer break kicked off, my twin sister, Brooke, announced she was heading out to sea with some “hot shot” she’d met at a club, working as a yacht girl. I scrolled through my Ins feed and found a post from that exact girl, Cassie. “Tomorrow, an 18-year-old, fresh-out-of-high-school girl is joining me for a yacht trip. Dark-skinned gentlemen, reserve your spots now!” In my previous life, I was so worried about Brooke going down the wrong path that I tried everything to stop her. But she just laughed at me, calling me an old fossil, saying I deserved to be broke my whole life. I couldn’t control her, so I secretly told our parents. Brooke was grounded for the entire summer. But Cassie, that yacht girl, ended up pregnant with the CEO’s child during her gig. She transformed into a rich socialite overnight, even coming to brag in front of Brooke. Brooke went absolutely insane with jealousy, convinced I had ruined her chance. Our parents also came to hate me for losing out on a CEO as a son-in-law. They stripped me naked, tied me up, and left me on our outdoor balcony, exposed to a scorching 104-degree heat all day. I died from severe heatstroke, my organs cooked alive inside me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Brooke said she was going for that gig. I looked at Brooke, her eyes holding that look of pure, unadulterated stupidity, and I smiled. This time, I’ll watch you fall, becoming a toy for those “dark-skinned gentlemen” with my own eyes.

“Skylar! I was only born three minutes after you, can you stop trying to control my life?!” Brooke’s furious, humiliated voice made me flinch violently. My consciousness snapped back. One second ago, I was on that scorching metal balcony where you could fry an egg. Now, I was in a club, every pore radiating a sense of cool comfort. I’d actually been reborn! In my previous life, after seeing Cassie’s post on Ins, I dug through her profile. That’s when I realized she operated in the gray area as a “yacht girl,” often taking on different groups of clients. And this time, it was a bunch of rough, dark-skinned men with… specific tastes. For Brooke’s safety, I tried everything to stop her from getting on that yacht. For that, she verbally abused me for two months straight. That hatred reached its peak when Cassie became the CEO’s wife. Brooke stubbornly believed she was younger and prettier than Cassie, And if she had taken that yacht girl gig, the CEO would surely have noticed her instead. She was confused, but my parents were even more clueless. To punish me, they stripped my clothes and locked me on that metal-plated balcony. It was 104 degrees Fahrenheit outside, and I was exposed to the sun all day. My internal organs were cooked through. The agony before my death sent shivers down my spine, making me tremble. “Brooke, your sister here is a straight-A student, practically drowning in scholarship funds. Of course, she wouldn’t stoop to earning money herself.” “Let me tell you, if you ditch me this time, finding another gig won’t be so easy.” Cassie’s words, half sarcastic, half threatening, rang out above my head. Brooke stamped her foot in anger. She was already jealous that I got into a top-tier university and received so many scholarships. Hearing that, she panicked. “Cassie said one yacht gig pays at least ten thousand dollars! You wouldn’t buy me a designer bag, so I’ll earn the money myself, what’s wrong with that?!” I chuckled as if I’d heard the funniest joke. Brooke wanted me to give her twenty thousand dollars from my scholarship money to buy a designer bag. But Mom and Dad had already declared that after college, Brooke would get five thousand a month for living expenses, but I wouldn’t get a single dime. That twenty thousand in scholarships was my tuition and living expenses. How could I possibly give it to her for a bag? My parents had always favored Brooke since we were little, which is why she grew up so vain, superficial, malicious, and selfish. Now that I had a second chance at life, I wouldn’t interfere with anyone else’s fate again. Thinking this, I offered Brooke a small smile. “You’re right, I was too narrow-minded. Go ahead. If you want to earn your own spending money, I really shouldn’t stop you.”

Brooke froze for a moment, then her face lit up with wild joy. The music in the club was pounding, giving me a headache, so I frowned, wanting to leave. But as soon as I stood up, Brooke and her little posse of friends pushed me back down onto the booth seat. A sharp pain shot through my shoulder as she yanked my bag off, pulling out my phone. Seeing the phone still on the recording interface, her face instantly changed. “I knew you weren’t that nice! You act all sweet in front of me, but you’re secretly recording me, planning to run home and tell Mom and Dad, aren’t you?!” I sighed. “You can delete the recording. I promise I won’t tell Mom and Dad.” In my previous life, I had indeed used that recording to convince Mom and Dad that this job wasn’t legitimate. That’s why they locked Brooke at home. But this time, I was determined to just observe, so the recording no longer mattered. Brooke quickly deleted the recording and was about to hand my phone back when Cassie snatched it away. “Your sister is so smart. They say a cunning rabbit has three burrows, she probably doesn’t just have one recording device, does she?” Brooke suddenly understood, pointing at me and cursing, demanding I hand over all recordings. I was pinned to the seat, trying my best to calmly explain to her. Brooke turned my bag inside out but didn’t find any other devices. Cassie smirked, a cold smile playing on her lips. “We have quite a few clients on the yacht who hide tiny cameras on themselves. Could it be…?” Brooke’s face instantly darkened. She pounced on me, tearing off my dress. The little tough girls nearby cheered, pulling out their phones to take pictures. “Whoa, Brooke, your sister has a banging body!” Humiliated, I desperately covered myself, an overwhelming sense of shame washing over me. It wasn’t until I was completely naked that Brooke finally snorted and let me go. “Brooke, you came to the club to meddle with me, so you brought this humiliation upon yourself!” I huddled under the table, trying to cover myself with the dress, begging them to let me leave. Cassie’s gaze lingered on my body, full of meaning, and she suddenly suggested I come along for the yacht gig too. She hesitated for a rare moment. “But… wouldn’t that be a bit much?” Cassie flashed a wide smile. “Twin yacht girls as gorgeous as you two? The price would be at least five times higher, you know.” “Besides, if she comes with us, we can make sure she won’t run back and tell tales, right?” Brooke was instantly convinced. Then, under Cassie’s direction, the tough girls force-fed me a large amount of alcohol. My limbs felt weak from the drunkenness. Cassie had Brooke and me pose for a set of sexy twin photos. “If you don’t want your family, friends, or even your future college classmates to see these photos, You’d better behave tomorrow and perform well, understand?” That idiot Brooke even seemed a little displeased. “Cassie! You said I’d be the main attraction tomorrow!” Cassie casually brushed her off, a hint of disdain in her eyes. By the time I fully sobered up, it was already late into the night. Everyone lay sprawled across the sofas, deeply asleep. Thinking of the consequences of being taken onto that yacht, I gritted my teeth and knocked over the drinks and scented candles on the table. The club room was filled with highly flammable items, and the flames quickly turned into billowing smoke. Security guards rushed in frantically with fire extinguishers. The moment the room door burst open, I crouched low and dashed out. Ignoring the roars and piercing screams behind me, I ran like mad, tearing out of the club. After running for what felt like ages, I finally reached home. Before my tensed nerves could relax, the living room lights suddenly flickered on. “Why are you back alone?! Where’s your sister?!” They seemed oblivious to my disheveled appearance, relentlessly hounding me about Brooke’s whereabouts. I was just about to speak. Dad raised his hand and viciously slapped me across the face. “Don’t tell me your sister met bad people out there! I’m telling you, Brooke *has* to go out to sea! She’s going to be the CEO’s wife…” In that instant, I confirmed that Mom and Dad had also been reborn. They showed no remorse for having caused my death. All they wanted was to send Brooke off to sea. Mom quickly nudged Dad’s arm, signaling him not to let slip. A mix of bitterness and resentment swelled in my heart. I took a deep breath and insisted I had no idea where Brooke went. They exchanged confused glances. The next second, the phone rang. A strong sense of unease rose within me. While Dad was on the phone, I quietly began to retreat towards the door. “What! You’re taking your sister to the gig tomorrow?!” “No, you can’t take her! You go alone… Dad means that kind of good fortune isn’t for your sister…” I immediately turned to run. Unexpectedly, Mom mercilessly kicked me hard in the lower back. I cried out in pain, clutching my waist as I collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down my face. After Dad hung up, he whispered a few words to Mom. Mom immediately turned and fetched a plate of peanuts. Alarm bells screamed in my head.

“Brooke says if you two sisters go out to sea together, you can make at least fifty thousand dollars.” “This is such a rare opportunity, you wouldn’t intentionally steal your sister’s thunder, would you?” Mom’s voice was gentle as she approached me, while Dad flanked me from the other side. One of them held my body down, the other pried open my mouth, frantically stuffing peanuts into it. I struggled with all my might. “No! I… I’m allergic to peanuts… I’ll die…!” By the time I swallowed the last peanut, the final shred of kinship in my heart vanished. They knew I was deathly allergic to peanuts, which could cause anything from full-body rashes to death. The allergic reaction hit fast; I could barely breathe. I desperately clawed at Mom’s pants leg, struggling to speak: “Why… I’m your daughter too…” Mom forcefully kicked my leg away, the flash of disgust in her eyes piercing me deeply. They locked me in the room, refusing to give me medicine or water, no matter how much I begged. Only when dawn broke did Mom open the door and make me change into a swimsuit. It wasn’t until I was shoved into the back seat of the car, and Mom and Dad squeezed in after me, that I realized they actually intended to come out to sea with us. Watching them excitedly fantasize about becoming the CEO’s in-laws, I couldn’t help but turn my head, a cold sneer playing on my lips. They still didn’t know that in my past life, Cassie wasn’t actually chosen by the CEO. She got pregnant after this particular yacht trip, which attracted a group of men with peculiar tastes. She took on jobs day and night, earning a lot of money, but her body simply couldn’t handle it. So, she set her sights on Brooke, trying to trick her into working with her again. My parents and Brooke were so blinded by wealth that they couldn’t even see through such a clumsy lie. They were still dreaming of becoming the CEO’s wife. When we got out of the car, Cassie saw me covered in red rashes and frowned deeply. She furiously slapped Mom. “Who told you to mess her up like this?!” “If this ghastly appearance scares off the clients, can you afford to pay for it?!” “Either fix her, or give me back my money!” Mom and Dad were stunned by the sudden turn of events. They stammered for a long time, repeatedly promising that if I took allergy medicine, I’d recover in half an hour. After much pleading, Cassie finally agreed to let me board the extremely luxurious super yacht. Dad glanced back at me, saying haughtily, “You better behave. Once your sister marries the CEO, all this will be ours!” “Then you can drop out of college and become the CEO’s wife’s nanny. It won’t be that bad for you.” I nodded, feigning obedience. About ten minutes later, Cassie walked into the guest cabin to select the first batch of yacht girls. She looked at my still not fully subsided rashes with disgust and clicked her tongue. Ultimately, she only took Brooke and eight other young girls. After they left, only Mom, Dad, and I remained in the guest cabin. I feigned surprise, pointing at the red wine in the wine cabinet. “Oh my god, each bottle of red wine in this cabinet is at least five hundred thousand dollars!” They half-believed me, half-doubted, and spent a long time searching online. When they discovered I was telling the truth, they excitedly opened the most expensive bottles and chugged them straight from the bottle. Not long after, both of them were dead drunk. I quickly got up and left. I hadn’t gone far when Brooke’s heart-wrenching scream suddenly echoed. “No! Let me go! Waaah…!” “It’s too big… it’ll tear…!” “Cassie, save me! Ahh…!” Then came a few extremely miserable shrieks. Followed by Cassie’s nonchalant warning. “Keep it down, don’t disturb the VIPs upstairs.” The screams from inside the room instantly died down, replaced by muffled sobs. Fearing I’d be discovered, I didn’t pause and continued quietly walking towards the upper deck. In my previous life, I had seen some incredibly revealing comments under Cassie’s Ins post. “Hope this batch is more durable; they sent a lot of people to the hospital last time.” “Some guys are kinky, they like older women, can you arrange that too?” “Treat these dark-skinned bodyguards well, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely.” Unfortunately, she deleted that post just a few minutes after posting it. When we boarded, Cassie specifically instructed us to only move around on the yacht’s lower deck and not go to the third floor or higher. After that, over a dozen dark-skinned men dressed as bodyguards entered the lower deck. These yacht girls were just “appetizers” to distract the bodyguards. The real VIPs were on the top deck of the yacht. Just as I was about to step onto the third floor, I heard Mom’s incoherent cries for help from below, along with the lewd laughter of men with exaggerated accents. I didn’t look back and continued upward. I just wanted to find a safe place to hide until the ship docked, then leave. But the moment I stepped onto the third deck, the scene before me nearly scared me out of my wits: A tall man raised a pistol at another person. “Bang,” the suppressed gunshot was barely a whisper, and the man dropped. “Bang,” a second shot, and a bullet whizzed past my arm. I instantly froze, my limbs rigid with terror. The man who fired the gun was none other than Julian Harrison, the CEO! The true owner of this yacht! Oh no, am I about to be silenced…? But when Julian Harrison saw my face clearly, his pupils instantly dilated. He staggered and lunged towards me. I was already rigid with fear, so he just turned my head, revealing the red mole behind my ear. After a long moment, he embraced me, tears streaming down his face. “I’m so sorry, daughter, Dad scared you…”

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The day I took our daughter, Lily, for her check-up, Damon, my husband, who had been away on a business trip for days, drove to pick us up. The moment he saw us, he pulled both me and Lily into a tight hug. My nose twitched. A faint, unfamiliar scent hit me. Lily snuggled into him, giggling. I stood by, smiling, watching them play-fight. It wasn’t until we settled into the car that I noticed another woman in the back seat… The woman had a small, round face and wore a crisp business suit. She smiled sweetly. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Thorne. I’m Chloe, the new assistant from Damon’s office.” I glanced at Damon. He said calmly, “She was on my way, so I offered her a ride home.” But since when did Damon, the CEO of Thorne Enterprises, personally pick up an employee? Especially when he was on his way to get *us*. Chloe explained earnestly, “Please don’t misunderstand, Mrs. Thorne. I just wanted a chance to apologize to you.” She handed me a gift bag containing a tube of my favorite hand cream. “When I was on the business trip with Mr. Thorne, I forgot my hand cream. You happened to have some in the car, and I… accidentally used it all up.” “This is a new one I bought. I hope you’ll accept it.” I didn’t reach out for it immediately. A hint of nervousness flickered across her face, and she couldn’t help but glance at Damon beside her. “Take it,” Damon said, his voice soft but firm. I took the bag and tossed it onto the seat beside me. Lily, strapped into her car seat, stared curiously at this new lady. Her eyes lit up when she spotted candy in Chloe’s hand. Just as Chloe prepared to unwrap a piece of candy for Lily, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “She just saw the dentist. No candy.” “But this is imported! Not just any cheap brand. You can rest assured—” “So imported candy isn’t candy?” Damon, who had been focused on driving, frowned. “Elara, she’s just trying to be nice.” I fell silent. But Lily, ever the sensible one, nodded. “Lily will listen to Mommy. No candy.” Chloe had no choice but to withdraw her hand, her expression stiff. The car soon pulled up smoothly outside an older apartment complex. She got out, apologizing profusely once more. I just nodded slightly in acknowledgment. On the way home, Damon’s tone softened. “Don’t be mad at her. She’s a young woman, fresh out of college, too much of a perfectionist. Sometimes when she’s stubborn, even I can’t talk her out of it.” A faint smile played on his lips. “Quite strong-willed, actually.” As the car pulled up to our house, he suddenly leaned over and kissed my cheek. I didn’t pull away. From the back seat, Lily suddenly piped up, “Mommy, the lady’s scent smells like Daddy’s.” Damon’s smile froze for a moment. I pretended not to notice, laughing lightly. “That’s because Daddy’s car should naturally smell like Daddy. It has nothing to do with anyone else.” “Oh,” Lily said, sounding half-convinced, half-confused. I got out and lifted her from the car. Looking up at Damon beside me, he spoke calmly. “If taking care of Lily makes you feel tired, I can hire a professional.” His voice was even. “She’s a Thorne, our little princess. She shouldn’t be neglected or anything less than perfectly cared for because *you’re* tired.”

From the moment I married into the Thorne family, I knew I’d have to put up with Damon’s wandering eye. He’d had casual flings, even scandals. The year Lily was born, I had a huge fight with him. It was the first time I’d ever seen him truly angry. His eyes turned icy, making the air around us freeze. He said, “You need to remember, Elara, the status I gave you, I can take away just as easily.” For Lily’s future, I didn’t argue anymore. That storm ended quietly, without even a ripple. Later, I learned my lesson. Because no matter how many women he brought into his life, he always knew this home existed. Sometimes I even felt a genuine attachment in his gaze when he looked at me. After all, I was his wife, and I held a different place in his heart. He drew an invisible line between his family and his girlfriends. I pretended to be oblivious inside that line. They, outside the line, played out one romantic escapade after another with him. Until Chloe appeared, that balance was shattered— She brazenly climbed over that wall and stood right in front of me. After putting Lily to sleep, I returned to our bedroom. Damon stood by the balcony, flipping through documents, a slight smile on his lips. “You’ve had a long week. Get some rest.” He rarely spoke so gently to anyone. A flash of Chloe’s delicate face from earlier that day flickered in my mind. I didn’t respond, walking straight into the bathroom. The water was barely running when a warm, strong body pressed against me from behind. His husky voice whispered from above, “Did you miss me these past few days?” I gently turned, grabbing a towel and wrapping myself tightly. “I’m a bit tired. Not tonight.” As I turned to leave, my wrist was suddenly yanked back. He raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of playful mischief. “I’ve been saving myself for you. If you won’t take it, should I give it to someone else?” He loved to make lewd jokes like that in bed. No matter how I reacted, he always seemed so sure I wouldn’t truly push back. When I pushed him away again, the smile in his eyes only deepened. “Jealous?” “There’s nothing going on between me and her. It’s just that she looks a lot like you…” “If you don’t like it, I won’t do it again. Alright, just for you.” As he spoke, he kissed my neck. What should have been a burning touch sent a chill through me. “Damon, please, don’t touch me.” The bathroom filled with steam, and his expression instantly darkened. “Don’t be difficult, Elara. Not while my patience is wearing thin.” I froze, my fingers slowly turning white. Seeing that I wouldn’t soften, he simply scooped me up, tossing me onto the bed. In the dark, he gritted his teeth and said, his voice quiet but chilling, “If you want things to go smoothly, just behave.” My entire body stiffened. I couldn’t utter a word. Much later, tears silently streamed down my face. The next morning, Lily burrowed into my bed, kissing my face. “Mommy, Daddy’s taking me to the park today!” I was surprised. Damon never liked taking her to places like that, let alone personally. Damon leaned against the doorframe, a gentle smile on his face. “Come on, my little princess. Time to get up.” The moment they left, I went to the hospital. Last night’s events still felt off. When I received the test results, I was stunned myself. The doctor said calmly, “You’re four weeks pregnant. The first few months are unstable, so try to avoid intercourse. If you don’t plan on keeping the baby, decide soon. Waiting too long can have a significant impact on your body.” I clutched the diagnostic report tightly, sobbing uncontrollably in the car.

In the two years I was most infatuated with Damon, I once thought of using a child to keep him. So I got pregnant with Lily. He did start coming home more often, and his care and thoughtfulness slowly returned. It felt like we were back in college, during that period when he was actively pursuing me. But everything changed completely the day Lily was born. I was alone in the delivery room, in pain and terrified, while he suddenly went unreachable. I later found out that on that very night, he had finally succeeded in winning her over. He was with that woman, enjoying a night of passion in the penthouse suite of the city’s tallest skyscraper. In that moment, I truly hated him. Five years were enough to completely erode any expectations I had of Damon. During this time, there were many who urged me to have another child. “The more powerful a man is, the more women he’ll have around him. Especially in that kind of circle. Damon’s actually not bad.” “You should just have a few more kids. No matter what he does outside, as long as you’re firmly in place as the primary wife, that’s what matters.” The Thorne family had only ever had one male heir for generations. If I could have another child, boy or girl—even if Damon intended to make things difficult for me, his parents wouldn’t allow it. Right. No one would act against their own interests. Besides, I had Lily. She was almost the entire meaning of my life. I carefully put away my pregnancy report, drove home, and started a pot of slow-simmered soup, waiting for Lily to return. As dusk settled. After failing to reach Damon for the tenth time, I felt increasingly anxious. I couldn’t wait any longer. Grabbing my car keys, I decided to go look for them myself. I went to his office first, but he wasn’t there. The amusement park was closed. Just as I was about to turn toward the Thorne family estate, our housekeeper, Maria, called. “Mrs. Thorne, Lily just got back. Mr. Evans dropped her off. She’s fast asleep now.” I leaned back in the driver’s seat, closed my eyes, and felt my entire body relax. Maria added, “Mr. Evans also asked me to tell you that Mr. Thorne won’t be home tonight.” I responded with a quiet “Okay.” Hanging up, I started the car and drove back. Just as I turned onto another street, I saw Damon’s car.

Damon’s figure cast a long shadow under the dim streetlights. A tiny red glow flickered between his fingers, and several cigarette butts lay scattered on the ground. This place—I’d been here just yesterday. It was Chloe’s apartment building. He looked up at a lit window, his gaze fixed, unblinking. Following his line of sight, a slender silhouette appeared vaguely through the curtains, like soft gauze fluttering in the wind. He looked like a man from a movie, utterly consumed by love, just standing there, watching her silently from a distance. Something inside me was slowly crumbling. I sat in my car all night. It wasn’t until the sky began to lighten that Chloe emerged from the building. She looked well-rested, and a startled expression crossed her face when she saw Damon. The man, who had been looking so dejected, seemed to get a jolt of excitement. He smiled, said a few words, and then stepped closer—she retreated slightly, but her cheeks flushed. Then, they got into the car together. I remained seated, feeling a thin thread wrapped around my heart, tightening until I could barely breathe. When Damon pursued me years ago, he was just like this—a smile on his lips, approaching step by step, giving no chance to escape. That aloof, arrogant rich boy act, when he was chasing someone… it was impossible to resist. Only this time, the leading lady in his eyes wasn’t me. I followed them to the company building. From a distance, I watched them walk to the entrance, instinctively putting a little space between them. Damon walked ahead, acknowledging greetings from colleagues, then nonchalantly waved to Chloe a short distance away. Drawing envious stares from everyone around, she stepped into his exclusive elevator. In that moment, it was as if she was telling everyone: *she* was special, treated differently. The scene stung my eyes. I sat in my car, trying to calm my emotions, until Maria called. Lily had woken up and was looking for me everywhere. I rushed home. The moment I walked in, Lily lunged at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, and my nose burned with unshed tears. She sat on my lap, swinging her legs, chattering away about the fun she’d had last night. “I even saw Aunt Chloe yesterday! She dressed up as a little bunny and played with me for a long time.” My breath hitched. So that’s why he suddenly decided to take Lily to that place that day—it was to be with Chloe. It was surprisingly easy to find out about Chloe. Her university, her humble family background, her job application process, her past part-time job at an amusement park… even her Ins account. When I clicked on her Ins, I saw a familiar sight—a photo of Lily and Chloe, faces pressed together. The string that had been tightly wound in my heart finally snapped. The reflection in the photo faintly showed Damon’s tall, strong silhouette; he was crouching nearby, diligently taking their picture. It was as if *they* were the truly happy family of three. Scrolling through her Ins posts, it was clear Chloe was genuinely infatuated. The warm brown sugar water Damon sent her when she was on her period; the image of him spending the night in her hospital room when she was sick on a business trip; even small trinkets she’d accidentally lost, he carefully kept them all… For some reason, a strong wave of nausea suddenly washed over me. Tears blurred my makeup, and the mirror showed a disheveled, haggard face. I looked pathetic. All this time, I’d believed that as long as I pretended not to care about other women, this superficial happiness could last forever. But in reality, someone who puts themselves in such a humble position in a relationship can never truly be happy.

In the evening, Maria brought me a bowl of soup, and it reminded me of my weekly habit of sending soup to Damon. Thinking of Lily, I decided I should talk to him directly. So I drove to his company. Night slowly fell. The lights in his office were on, the entire top floor glaringly bright. The door was ajar. The moment I reached out to push it open, the voices from inside made me stop. “…What do I have to do to make you stay with me?” Damon’s voice was low, filled with earnest pleading. “Stay and then what? Be your mistress?” Chloe’s eyes were red as she spoke softly. “Don’t I have any self-respect? Yes, I fell head over heels in love with you. I couldn’t stop myself from getting close to you, from depending on you.” “But every time I see another woman sitting next to you, I know you can’t give me the kind of relationship I want.” “I want a love that’s seen.” “So, we’re over.” Her voice choked with what sounded like deep grievance. Damon, however, sighed and pulled her into his embrace. My hand tightened on the doorknob. Just as I was about to leave, I heard his voice again: “What if I divorce her?” My heart plummeted into a bottomless pit. Falling, falling endlessly. When I came to, I was already in my car. My hands trembled uncontrollably on the steering wheel, and tears streamed down my face. I cried and laughed at the same time, like a pathetic fool. He said he wanted a divorce, and my first thought was to run. That night, Damon didn’t come home. Watching the sky slowly lighten, I suddenly wanted to go find him and make things clear. Was he really going to divorce me? At the very least, I had to protect Lily from being hurt. Having not slept for two days, my head was heavy as I did my makeup. Then I drove to Damon’s company building. His exclusive elevator went straight to the top floor. I heard he was in a meeting. I sat in his office, and unexpectedly, I saw Chloe. She politely brought me a cup of tea. The moment she bent over, I caught a familiar scent: cedarwood mixed with smoke. Just as Lily had said, it was Damon’s scent. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?” I suddenly asked. Her hand visibly twitched, and hot water splashed onto her hand, immediately turning it red. Her eyes darted around, looking terrified. She frantically squatted down to wipe up the spilled water. But she avoided my question. I watched the top of her head coldly. Suddenly, a man’s hand grabbed her, gently pulling her up. He spoke, his tone unkind. “Elara, did you come here this early just to show off?” “She’s my employee, not your servant.” “Mr. Thorne, Mrs. Thorne didn’t mean to…” I suddenly laughed. Perhaps he had forgotten that during my time as his wife, I was never someone to be easily manipulated. “Mrs. Thorne? I don’t recall when you became his sister.” “I just…” Chloe’s eyes were terribly red. “I just wanted to get closer to you. Perhaps you don’t know, but as a secretary, you have to be thoughtful about everything—” “And how exactly were you trying to get closer to me? By having the boss’s family drive you home? Did you feed your ‘thoughtfulness’ to the pigs?” He stood in front of her, his eyes chilling. “Apologize to her.” The people who had just emerged from the meeting room, whispering, all fell silent. I steadied myself and said calmly, “Damon, I have no reason to apologize.” His voice hardened further. “What did you say? Apologize.” It felt like a cold snake slithered down my spine, sending shivers through me. Yes, this was Damon. Once he made up his mind, no one could change it. Just like when he insisted on marrying me. Now, he was stubbornly infatuated with this new secretary. I had been slow to realize that leaving him was an inevitable outcome. I smiled faintly. “Damon, let’s get a divorce.” A flicker of surprise crossed his face. But it quickly morphed into a sarcastic smile. “Are you trying to use divorce to force me to compromise?”

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When I was 20, Caleb’s first love, Seraphina, was gravely ill. He begged me to donate a kidney. To finally marry him, I made a deal. “I’ll donate my kidney. In return, you give me the rest of your life!” He agreed. I got what I wanted and walked down the aisle with him. After we married, I helped him build an empire from scratch, turning him into a rising star in the business world. On our wedding anniversary, Seraphina tossed the five million dollars Caleb and I had earned right in my face. “Caleb gave me five million. I’m buying you out of this marriage.” It was then I finally understood. Caleb had agreed to marry me, but he’d never really cut ties with her. I took the card, my eyes burning. “Give me a hundred million, and I’ll leave Caleb willingly in seven days.” A delighted smile spread across her face. “Deal!” But she had no idea. Without me, Caleb wouldn’t be where he was today! I grabbed my phone and made a call. “Pull all investments from Caleb’s company. Now!” … After Seraphina showed her true colors, she stopped pretending. She moved right into my home. She clung to Caleb, looking frail and delicate, utterly unlike the woman who’d arrogantly thrown money at me just days before. “Maya, I’m so sorry to intrude on you two…” Before she could even finish, Caleb wrapped his arms protectively around her, his voice chilling. “Seraphina had to leave the city because of you, and she didn’t get top-tier medical care. Now, her condition risks a relapse. To be safe, she needs to come back to the city for treatment.” “I know you’ve always had an issue with her, but this time, I hope you won’t make a scene!” I slowly looked up at him, a wave of bitter sadness washing over me. I hadn’t said a single word, yet he’d already judged me. “She has no friends in the city, so she can only stay here for now. Don’t make things difficult for her during this time. Once the hospital confirms her condition is stable, I’ll personally send her away.” He’d said the exact same thing when he knelt before me, begging me to donate a kidney to save her. But he’d secretly kept in touch with Seraphina for four long years, hiding it all from me. I pressed my lips together, my voice catching. “So, was the million dollars last night to buy the right to use a room?” Last night, Caleb had been unusually gentle with me. He’d even, for once, prepared a Valentine’s Day gift for me. Even though it was just a bank card that required no thought, it had kept me awake with joy all night. But the moment I saw Seraphina, that bank card felt tainted. Now, it sat quietly in my bag, yet it seemed to burn my palm, making me tremble uncontrollably. He frowned, his face tight with displeasure as he retorted, “What kind of talk is that?!” “You’ve been a wealthy wife for so many years, yet all you talk about is money? Are you some insatiable pet I picked up?” I froze, unable to move. Caleb’s gaze on me was filled with utter disgust, as if he were looking at some ugly beggar. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I’d thought that four years of living together, experiencing ups and downs side-by-side, would have gradually warmed his feelings for me. But now, I finally understood. No matter what I did, I could never melt his heart, a heart that would never love me. Seeing my silence, he sneered. “Don’t worry. What happened between Seraphina and me is in the past. I can assure you, for now, no one can threaten your position!” “So, be a good girl. Go prepare a bedroom for Seraphina. She’ll need someone by her side once she moves in, and you’re idle all day, so you can take good care of her.” And in that instant, a flicker of triumph gleamed in Seraphina’s eyes, stinging mine. I bit down hard, slowly speaking. “What if I say no?” He hadn’t expected me to refuse. Caleb’s face turned as dark as thunder. “You’d rather do this the hard way, wouldn’t you?” “Since you’re so ungrateful, why should I show you any more mercy!” He barked an order. “Brenda, pack up all of Mrs. Maya’s things and move them to the storage room. Clear out the master bedroom for Miss Seraphina!” Seraphina’s appearance crushed my dignity instantly. I curled up on the small bed in the cramped storage room, tears streaming down my face. Remembering Caleb’s kindness during this time, I realized it was all just to pave the way for Seraphina. Suddenly, my phone rang. My brother, Jax’s, furious voice came through. “I heard the mistress has moved in, and you’re still not divorcing him? We let you indulge that jerk and his little company for years, but not to see you suffer like this!” “Seven days from now, if I don’t see you home, I swear I won’t let Caleb off the hook!” Jax always knew Caleb was my weakness, but soon, we’d have no connection at all.

Just as dawn broke, frantic knocks pounded on the storage room door. My eyes were swollen and red, but I painfully got up and opened the door to see Seraphina’s irritating face. She tilted her head slightly, glaring at me, her eyes full of displeasure. “Caleb’s already gone to the office. You’re still asleep? Are you really treating him like a complete fool, just keeping you around?” “Get up! I’m hungry. I want breakfast!” The storage room was too small. I hadn’t slept well at all, so I had no energy to deal with her. I frowned, raising my eyes sharply. “We have a housekeeper.” With that, I tried to close the door to shut out her incessant chatter. But she blocked the door with her foot. “Caleb told you to take care of me. If you don’t listen, I’ll tell him right away and have him come back and teach you a lesson, you little bitch!” Yesterday, Seraphina had been so timid and demure. Today, she was a total witch, like she’d had a double shot of espresso and a side of rage. Her nagging had completely ruined my sleep. I didn’t want to argue with her, so I started walking towards the kitchen. As I moved, she flashed a triumphant smirk. “First, pour me a glass of warm water. I’m thirsty!” I turned back, expressionless, poured the water, and handed it to her. “Here.” She took the glass and, without a moment’s hesitation, dumped the warm water all over my head. The warm liquid streamed down my face and dripped onto the floor. I gasped for air, my muddled brain suddenly crystal clear. She hooked a finger under my chin, forcing me to look at her. “You’ve occupied Mrs. Caleb’s position for so many years. I’m a little annoyed, so this is just a tiny punishment for you.” She chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll gather the hundred million within seven days. I promise you’ll leave smoothly!” “But you need to remember this: because of you, I was robbed of my right to be by Caleb’s side. So now, even if I want you dead, you’ll have to accept it!” I slapped her hand away without mercy, sighing at her stupidity. “You’re pathetically foolish. If I’d known you were this stupid, even if Caleb had died right in front of me back then, I wouldn’t have uselessly given up my kidney to save you!” Even now, she still believed everything Caleb had was solely due to his own efforts. But how could she know that without me, his biggest shareholder, backing him from behind, he would never have become a rising star in business! The next second, a stinging slap landed unexpectedly on my face. Caleb’s disgusted voice pierced the air. “Maya, how can you be such a malicious person!” I was stunned, my head ringing. In four years of marriage, Caleb’s concern for me had been rare, but he had never laid a hand on me. “Caleb, Maya didn’t mean it.” “She’s just upset that I’m in her master bedroom, that’s why she said those things. It’s okay…” Seraphina’s cloying voice drifted over, her eyes red as she feigned trying to stop Caleb. I instinctively spoke, my eyes blurred. “That’s not how it was…” Before I could finish, Caleb’s cold voice cut me off. “I heard it with my own ears! What more do you have to say? I can’t believe you’re so wicked you wished Seraphina dead!” “If I hadn’t come back in time, would you have put a knife to her throat?!” In Caleb’s eyes, Seraphina was always good and kind, and I was always malicious. He never listened to my explanations. Every word I spoke seemed to disgust him. I stood rooted to the spot, touching my burning cheek, silent. As long as Seraphina was around, he would never see my disheveled state, my humiliation. Perhaps realizing his attitude toward me was too extreme, he actually softened his expression and explained. “I already told you Seraphina wouldn’t threaten your position. Why do you still make things so difficult for her?” “When did you become so unreasonable?” Suddenly, he chuckled, meeting my eyes with a scornful look. “Oh, I forgot. You’ve always been like this.” With that, Caleb picked up Seraphina and turned, leaving me alone, bewildered. It was only then that I understood. For him, this marriage was just a transaction, a means to keep Seraphina alive. If there had been no Seraphina, if a kidney match hadn’t been found… Would I not have become a sacrifice between them?

Exhausted, I returned to the small storage room and saw the photo I’d worked so hard to get. My eyes blurred. In the picture, I smiled brightly. Caleb, though expressionless, still went through all the motions with me. It was one of the rare times he’d shown me a shred of patience. It was then I remembered the text message I’d seen on his phone that day: “I had the most amazing takeout today! Come home quickly, let’s try it together!” A simple takeout meal had brightened his mood. Yet, the meals I painstakingly cooked, even burning my fingers for, were met with his sneers. A thousand tiny ants seemed to gnaw at my chest, a searing, throbbing pain ripped through me. No matter how much effort I put in, I could never truly enter Caleb’s heart. I wearily looked around, realizing how few things I had that were truly mine. Everything in the villa had been arranged according to Caleb’s preferences. Now, it felt utterly ironic. My phone chimed. A text from Jax: “Don’t make me fly back and find you.” Just a few simple words, but they filled me with an inexplicable sense of security. I wiped away my tears, gathered my things, and left. Now, to leave, the only thing I needed was a visa to Country A. After my interview, I only had to wait five more days before I could leave this place. I could leave Caleb forever. On the way back, I saw a jewelry store and decided to pawn all the gold jewelry Caleb had given me. Each piece was laid out on the counter. I remembered the exact moment Caleb had given me every single one. Every piece, I had treasured like precious gems. I carefully ran my fingers over each engraving, my eyes welling up. Under the staff’s urging, I reluctantly let go. But the next moment, the staff member frowned, and his words plunged me into an abyss. “These are all fake. Only this necklace can be bought back.” How was that possible? I picked up the jewelry, disbelief written all over my face, inspecting them repeatedly. Still not convinced, I handed him the ring on my finger. “What about this one?” He took it, burned it with a flame, and after a moment, glanced at me sideways, sighing and shaking his head. The staff next to him looked surprised. Seeing my distraught expression, he tried to comfort me. “Perhaps your husband accidentally bought fakes. It’s common these days for people to be scammed into buying fake gold. It’s understandable.” “Please don’t overthink it…” By the end, he seemed to lose conviction in his own words, his voice trailing off. But even the ring we used for our wedding was fake. What, then, could possibly be real? Four years of genuine devotion, and I had been completely oblivious. I took the only genuine gold necklace, a bitter ache in my heart. I never would have thought that the only real gold among them was something I had practically begged Caleb for! “I’ll sell this one.” “You can dispose of the rest for me.” After the payment went through, I left the jewelry store, my expression numb. I looked up and saw Caleb and Seraphina walking into another jewelry store together. They were holding hands, smiling, looking so intimate, as if *they* were the real couple. I lowered my eyes and quickly walked away, my heart sinking as if a stone had been tied to it.

For the next four days, Caleb and Seraphina were nowhere to be seen. Perfect. It made it easier for me to bring people to view the villa. I was leaving anyway; there was nothing left to keep. When we first bought it, I had insisted on adding Caleb’s name to the deed. But Caleb, his face filled with disgust, pushed me away. “Your name doesn’t deserve to be written next to mine!” Thankfully, he refused. At the time, I hadn’t thought much of it. I even naively believed I could slowly melt his heart. Now, I saw it was just my wishful thinking. While showing the house to a client, my phone pinged. A text message. I clicked on it, my brows furrowing in surprise. Caleb had fired me from the company. The next moment, my phone rang. Caleb’s icy voice cut through the air. “Maya, you’ve been absent from work for five days without authorization. Starting today, you are officially terminated from the company.” “And, I’ll be reclaiming all the shares I gifted you.” I hadn’t even opened my mouth before the call abruptly ended, leaving me stunned. “Ms. Maya, I’m very satisfied with this house. When can we finalize everything?” “Don’t worry, the full payment will be deposited into your account one week after the process is complete.” The client’s voice pulled me back to reality. I forced a bitter smile. “I’ll arrange for an expedited process. Everything will be completed within 15 days.” I paused, looked around, and spoke again. “Do you need me to handle the interior renovations beforehand?” This villa was the first house Caleb and I bought since starting our business, so I treasured it immensely. Even during the renovation, to make Caleb happy, I had volunteered to oversee the project, waking early and sleeping late every day, putting my heart and soul into the design. But all I got in return was his sarcasm: “Is this the result of all your painstaking efforts?” My memories abruptly stopped. I suddenly realized that for four years, I had constantly chased after Caleb, almost losing myself in the process. The client, seeing my willingness to help with the demolition, looked delighted. “Of course! If you’re willing to help, Ms. Maya, I’ll gladly add an extra one hundred thousand dollars to the original price!” I waved a hand. “I’ve disliked these renovations for a long time, so I’ll handle them for free.” Soon, I arranged for a demolition team, and by that afternoon, all the interior renovations in the villa were completely stripped away. I gazed at the ruins before me, tears involuntarily streaming down my face. It was all over. Caleb, this is truly goodbye. [PayPal: One hundred million dollars received.] The next second, my phone rang abruptly. Seraphina’s haughty voice came through. “Maya, the hundred million you asked for has been transferred to your account. I hope you’ll keep your promise. Caleb and I don’t want to see any trace of you when we return tomorrow!” I spoke coldly. “Don’t you worry.” The villa was sold, the renovations were stripped, and Seraphina had transferred the hundred million she promised. Now, all Caleb owed me was this company. But soon, he would have nothing at all. How could he know that even if he reclaimed the few shares he gifted me, I was still the company’s largest investor? The moment I left, news of my withdrawal of funds would spread throughout the entire company. Pushing my suitcase, I stood at the villa’s entrance one last time. I wasn’t waiting for Caleb, but for a delivery guy. “Please deliver this document to XX Company.” Inside were divorce papers and a lawyer’s letter. Watching the delivery guy’s retreating back, I let out a quiet sigh. Caleb, goodbye forever.

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On our fifth anniversary, Serena’s lover showed up at our door with their secret son. Julian cried, looking innocent as hell, “Caleb, I’m not here to break you two up.” Serena looked guilty. “Caleb, don’t overthink this. The baby was just an accident. Besides, Julian has a terminal illness, only a month left to live. Once he’s gone, you can raise the child.” I stared at the five-year-old in front of me, my heart twisting in agony. Five years of marriage. I’d been severely injured protecting her, and our own child was lost in that car crash. Yet she already had a child outside, and now she expected me to raise *their* son! I didn’t say a word. I just quietly drafted the divorce papers, then dialed that long-dormant number. “You once said you’d marry me if I divorced. Does that still stand?” The person on the other end immediately burst into a smile. “It does!” Signing the last stroke on the divorce papers, my eyes burned. I quickly squeezed them shut to hold back the tears. It was supposed to be our fifth anniversary. I’d booked this restaurant a month in advance, wanting to celebrate with Serena. Now, it was pointless. But then the manager called me. “Mr. Stone, your wife, Mrs. Stone, has already been seated with two guests. She said you’d be covering the rest of the bill.” My fingers tightened around my phone. She didn’t just take her lover to the restaurant I booked; she expected *me* to pay for it? “Alright, I’ll be right there.” Twenty minutes later, I stood outside the restaurant. Through the glass, I saw Serena gently serving Julian food, carefully wiping Noah’s mouth. A happy family of three. It made my heart ache. We’d celebrated our first anniversary at this very restaurant. Back then, Serena had booked my favorite window seat in advance and ordered a table full of my favorite dishes. She’d meticulously served me, gently wiping sauce from my lips. But now, same scene, all that tenderness, all that care, was for another man. I pushed down the storm of emotions inside me and walked into the restaurant. Serena saw me and spoke coldly. “You’re here, good. Settle the bill.” “The restaurant’s pretty good. Julian likes the food here.” Serena didn’t even bother to look up at me. Julian, on the other hand, had a gleam of pure defiance in his eyes. “Caleb, don’t just stand there, why don’t you join us?” He turned to Serena, feigning innocence. “Serena, I really want their signature dessert. Could you ask if they still have it?” Serena smiled indulgently. “Alright, wait for me. I’ll be right back.” As soon as Serena left, Julian’s smile vanished. “Caleb Stone, it’s been five years, and you still lost to me.” He slowly wiped his mouth. “She’s always loved me, from the very beginning.” I looked at him calmly. “Are you done?” Julian seemed surprised by my composure. “You know what? I don’t have a terminal illness at all. It was all an act!” My heart fluttered slightly, and I gave a bitter twist to my lips. Five years of marriage, shattered so easily by a single lie. Did Serena know? Before I could even process it, Julian’s face suddenly changed. He grabbed the soup bowl in front of him and splashed it all over himself. He cried out in pain. “Caleb, I know you don’t like me, but how could you throw hot soup on me? I’m a patient, my body’s so weak…” Before I could react, Serena’s scream came from behind me. “Caleb! What are you doing?!” She rushed forward, pulling Julian protectively behind her, checking his injuries. “Serena, my hand hurts so much.” Julian’s eyes were red-rimmed, and he held out his scalded hand. Serena saw the red mark on his hand, and her fury surged. She picked up the cup of hot tea that had just been poured for me and, without hesitation, splashed it all over me! The scalding liquid hit my arm, instantly turning it red and swollen. A fiery, sharp pain instantly spread, making me almost lose my footing. Serena saw my reddened arm, but she just said coldly, “That’s your lesson!” “Julian can’t be left alone! I was even planning to spend two days a week at home with you, but I can’t believe how petty you’re acting for a grown man!” I looked at her and suddenly felt utterly pointless. “Serena, don’t bother. Divorce me, and you can be with him every day.” Serena snapped her head up, her expression complicated, but her impatience was practically spilling from her eyes. “How old are you, acting so jealous and throwing threats? I told you Julian’s sick, I’m just looking after him. Your mind is just twisted, you see everything in a dirty way!” With that, she stopped looking at me, shielded Julian and Noah, and walked away, leaving me standing alone amidst the mess.

“Need help?” A voice sounded behind me as I walked out of the restaurant. I turned around and met Harper’s deep eyes. I hadn’t expected her to arrive so quickly. Seeing the unhesitating worry and heartache in her gaze, my eyes finally welled up. I spoke, as if seeking solace, “Harper, I want a grand wedding.” “Okay, Caleb. As soon as your divorce is final, I’ll marry you. How about we set the wedding for four days from now?” “Caleb Stone!” Serena had returned at some point. Seeing me with Harper, her face twisted into a terrible expression. She rushed at us like a madwoman, raising her hand to slap Harper’s face. Harper, quick as lightning, caught her wrist. “Harper! You b*tch! You snake! Taking advantage of my misery!” Serena shrieked, her eyes bloodshot. “Caleb Stone, you’re already hooking up with your old flame? You couldn’t wait, could you?” “Serena, what right do you have to talk about Caleb like that?” Harper stepped in front of me, her voice colder than I’d ever heard it. “I gave you five years, but you failed to take care of him! Now it’s my turn!” That sentence completely choked Serena. She looked at me with a complex gaze, then at Harper. She was probably remembering the past. Harper and I were childhood sweethearts. Serena came later. Both pursued me, but in the end, I chose Serena. For five years of marriage, I poured my heart out for Serena, believing she did the same for me. I never imagined she still held a grudge about my past with Harper. “Let’s go!” Serena glared at us fiercely, dragging Julian away in a rage. I looked at Harper, my thoughts drifting back years ago. We grew up together, almost inseparable from kindergarten to high school. Everyone thought we’d naturally end up together. After I went public with Serena, everyone joked, “The childhood sweetheart never wins against destiny’s pick.” Back then, I just smiled and said nothing. Serena, to me, truly felt like a gift from heaven. If not for what happened later, if I hadn’t chosen Serena… Harper spoke softly, pulling me from my thoughts. “Caleb, let’s get your arm treated first.” I nodded and followed her. The next day, Serena’s father asked to see me. I hesitated, then agreed. If there was one person from the Stone family I was reluctant to let go of, it was this elder who treated me like his own son. At the coffee shop, Mr. Harrison pushed an ornate keepsake box across the table, his eyes brimming with tears. “This was for the baby,” he choked out. “I’ve kept it all this time.” I opened the box. Inside was a pure gold longevity locket, intricately carved. It had the traditional wishes for ‘Peace, Joy, and Long Life’ inscribed on it. My eyes welled up too. That child I never met was the deepest pain in my heart. When Serena was three months pregnant, Mr. Harrison excitedly dragged me to a jewelry store, saying he wanted to buy a gift for his future grandson. We spent an entire afternoon picking it out, finally settling on this locket. “Dad, actually…” I wanted to tell him I was getting divorced, but the words caught in my throat. “Serena let you down,” Mr. Harrison gripped my hand. “I never liked that Julian from the first moment I saw him. You’re the son-in-law I always wanted!” My tears finally fell. After that miscarriage, the doctors said Serena’s body was damaged, and it would be very difficult for her to have children again. Though she outwardly comforted me, I clearly saw the blame in her eyes. She believed it was my poor driving that caused the car crash. Only Mr. Harrison patted my shoulder, saying the accident was something no one could have foreseen, and told me to focus on my recovery. He still treated me like his own son. “Dad, I have to go,” I said, putting away the locket and forcing a smile. “Thank you for always taking care of me.” Mr. Harrison held my hand, his eyes filled with reluctance. He wanted to say more, but in the end, he just patted my hand. After leaving the coffee shop, I suddenly remembered the pair of baby bracelets still in the safe at home. They were my only keepsake. I had to get them back.

As I reached the front door, I heard Julian’s voice from inside. “Serena, remember that time? My cat went missing during a huge rainstorm. I called you, and you were in the middle of surgery. But you didn’t hesitate, you just got off the operating table and rushed back to help me find him.” My steps froze. “Of course, I remember,” Serena’s voice was indulgent. “Good thing we found the kitten in the end.” “What happened to that patient?” Julian asked. “Died,” Serena said, her voice eerily casual. “Their family raised hell, but the hospital shut them down.” My blood ran cold. At the time, Serena’s explanation was that she felt unwell and couldn’t continue the surgery, resulting in the patient’s death due to delayed treatment. The patient’s family was furious, rushing into the hospital with a knife, wanting to get to Serena. To protect her, then pregnant, I rushed in to block them. In the chaos, I took a knife intended for her. And it was because of that very chaos that she accidentally fell, losing our three-month-old baby. I couldn’t take it anymore. I violently pushed open the door. They were embracing on the couch. Seeing me, a flicker of panic crossed Serena’s eyes, and her voice unnaturally rose. “Caleb Stone, what are you doing here again?!” I stared at her, my voice trembling. “That surgery… you weren’t feeling unwell?” Serena was momentarily stunned by my question. “You heard all that?” Then her impatience returned. “That family was being completely unreasonable anyway, but you just had to get involved, making things worse!” “But you lost our child that time!” I screamed. Perhaps she remembered that child too, as a hint of emotion crossed her face. At that moment, Julian cautiously spoke up. “Caleb, don’t blame Serena so much. She certainly didn’t want to lose the baby.” As soon as Julian spoke, Serena’s softened expression vanished, her face hardening. “And you have the nerve to question me? It’s your own fault you’re useless! You couldn’t even protect your own wife and child!” I couldn’t believe my ears. She was blaming *me* for everything! This was the woman I had loved for five years! My heart died completely. “Sign it,” I said, handing her the divorce papers. Serena frowned. “Caleb Stone, I don’t have time for your drama! I’m already exhausted taking care of Julian these days. Are you trying to cause more trouble?!” “I’m not causing drama. Signing this is good for everyone. You’ll have more time to take care of him, and I can marry someone else in peace.” Serena scoffed, “Marry someone else? What woman would want a divorced man? Don’t tell me you’re trying to play hard to get now.” I felt a bitter irony. So, Serena was also capable of being so utterly repulsive. “I’m marrying Harper. I only just realized today, she’s a million times better than you!” “Enough!” Serena suddenly roared. “Divorce, you say? Fine! Let’s do it! Just don’t come crying back to me later!”

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