Category: English

On the day we were supposed to register our marriage, Ryan Thorne’s men blocked me outside City Hall. Then he walked up to me, hand in hand with his first love, Camilla Reign. “Camilla’s child needs a legal identity. I’m marrying her first. Give it a month—once the divorce is finalized, I’ll come back for you.” Everyone who knew me was certain: Elina Morandi would wait. After all, I’d already waited seven years for him. But that night, I accepted the arranged marriage my family had brokered and boarded a flight to Geneva. Three years passed before I accompanied my godfather husband, Gregor Volkov, back to the States to handle family business. But something urgent came up at the last minute, and he sent the New York branch to pick me up from the airport instead. The person they sent was Ryan—whom I hadn’t seen in three years. He tilted his head, sizing me up, that familiar arrogance curling at the corner of his mouth—the same look I’d once grown so tired of. “Three years gone. Had enough of your little tantrum yet? Perfect timing—Camilla’s kid starts school soon. You’ll handle drop-off and pick-up.” … … In the arrivals hall, I spotted someone in the distance holding a sign with my code name on it. As I got closer, I realized the person holding the sign was Ryan Thorne—my ex-boyfriend of three years ago. Beside him stood Camilla and a few of his lackeys I vaguely recognized. The whole group was craning their necks toward the exit, scanning the crowd. One of them—a gaunt-faced man—spotted me first. “Hey—isn’t that the little leech who used to follow Ryan around? Elina?” Ryan turned at the sound, his gaze sliding from my face down to my clothes before one corner of his mouth hitched upward. “See? What did I tell you—she was always going to come crawling back.” Laughter erupted from every direction. “Vanishes for three years, and now that Ryan’s made it big, she’s kicking herself.” “If you’re going to stage a coincidental run-in, at least clean yourself up first. What are you even wearing?” “Don’t tell me you can’t even afford a decent outfit without Ryan. How far have you fallen?” The old me would have presented nothing less than perfection whenever I went to see Ryan. But now, there was absolutely no need for that. Since the pregnancy, Gregor wouldn’t let me touch cosmetics—only let me wear whatever felt comfortable. This loungewear was something he’d had custom-made for me; the fabric alone cost a fortune. But hearing their comments, I understood immediately—they only knew the code name on that sign. They had no idea the person they were here to collect was me. I was about to set the record straight when Camilla beat me to it. “Elina, don’t blame Ryan. He arranged things this way for your own good. After all, you disappeared for three years—God knows what you’ve been up to out there.” She swept her eyes over me, a thread of pity leaking from the corner of her lips. “Looking at the state of you… honestly, even if Ryan gave you my position as his personal assistant, you wouldn’t be able to handle it.” “Just help me look after the child.” Three years, and Camilla still had that same insufferable, holier-than-thou expression. Still just as capable of making my stomach turn. Ryan, meanwhile, misread my grimace as jealousy over him. A flicker of satisfaction passed through his eyes. “Come on. You couldn’t even hack it out there on your own, and you’re still putting on airs?” “Just be a good girl, take care of the kid, stop making a scene. Know your place.” “Don’t worry—I’ll set aside a servant’s room for you.” The crowd erupted into shameless laughter again. “Elina, look at that—Ryan’s being more than generous. He’s giving you room and board; all that’s missing is a paycheck.” “It’s just picking up Camilla’s kid. That’s better than roughing it out on the streets, isn’t it? Hurry up and thank the man.” Camilla flicked her earring, adopting a magnanimous pose. “Don’t worry. If my son misbehaves, I’ll discipline him myself. I’d never put you in an awkward position.” Ryan shot me a derisive glance. “What’s she got to feel wronged about? She vanished over some trivial nonsense, and now she’s back because she can’t survive on her own. If she suffers a little, she brought it on herself.” Hearing that, every inch of my body recoiled. Even now—he still thought marrying Camilla that day was just “some trivial nonsense”? The Ryan Thorne who once loved me was truly gone. He was no longer the boy who, battered and bleeding, had carried injured-me across half the city. No longer the young man who had nothing but swore he’d give me the best of everything. And certainly not the man who, even after making his fortune, still cooked for me with his own hands. But maybe that was fine. It was all in the past now. After all, I was about to give birth to my second child.

I pressed my emotions back down and looked at Ryan, my voice flat. “Aren’t you here to pick me up? Let’s go.” A beat of silence. A few of them exchanged glances, then burst into raucous laughter. Camilla scoffed, her voice ice-cold. “Wait for you? You think you’re worth waiting for?” She jabbed a finger at the code name on the sign. “Read it clearly. We’re waiting for the Godfather’s wife—the Donna of the Volkov family.” That was my code name. I was perfectly aware. “The Godfather rules the underworld with an iron fist—ruthless, untouchable—but for his wife alone, he’s utterly devoted. They say he refused to marry for years, just to wait for her.” “Everyone in the circle knows: if you want to win the Godfather’s favor, you’re better off winning over the Godmother first. She’s the one he cares about most.” Listening to them chatter, the corners of my mouth lifted involuntarily. Three years of marriage, and Gregor’s influence had only grown. His reputation as a man obsessively devoted to his wife had spread through every corner of the underworld. And Camilla would never pass up an opportunity to show off in front of me. “To win the Donna’s heart, the Godfather bid on a ‘Heart of the Ocean’ necklace at a world auction. Thirty million dollars.” She paused, and her gaze suddenly locked onto my neck. Her voice shot up an octave. “That’s the exact same one!” The room went silent. Every pair of eyes dropped in unison to the deep blue stone resting against my collarbone. Ryan seized my shoulder, glanced down at the necklace, then let out a derisive laugh. “Decent knock-off, I’ll give it that. Which broke loser bought you this flea-market junk? Gifting a fake—how embarrassing.” “Let go.” I shook off his hand, my fingertips lightly tracing the pendant. Remembering the night Gregor gave it to me as his proposal gift—the reverence and adoration in his eyes—I still felt a rush of sweetness. Seeing the happy smile spread across my face, Ryan’s pupils contracted sharply. “Smiling over garbage. How cheap can you get?” Before I could react, he reached up, clamped his fingers around the chain, and ripped the necklace off me. I hadn’t expected him to do that. I didn’t have time to stop it. Camilla was already striding forward, taking the necklace from his hand, turning it over and over beneath the light. “Even more convincing than my replica. Though I’d never actually wear mine out—too humiliating.” Then she laughed, fixing me with a look full of insinuation. “Unless—Elina, are you the legendary Volkov Donna?” The moment those words landed, the group around her howled with laughter. “Are you joking? The Godfather’s woman? Her? Three years ago Ryan kicked her out of their own wedding.” To them, the idea was utterly absurd. Gregor Volkov was an underground emperor whose reach spanned continents, feared by both sides of the law. And three years ago, I’d still been part of their circle—publicly discarded by Ryan. There was no conceivable way I could be connected to Gregor. Camilla dangled the chain. “Elina, let me have this necklace. I’ll pay you double.” Terrified she’d let it slip and shatter, I reached out instinctively. “Give it back. Gregor gave me that—” Before I could finish, a slap cracked across my face with enough force to snap my head sideways. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. “Shut up!”

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I clutched the pregnancy test results in my hand,heart pounding in my chest,the word“positive”still ringing in my ears like a distant melody of hope.I had to tell him—William had to know. I rushed toward the construction site of the amusement park he was overseeing.The carousel gleamed in the distance,spinning slowly under the early morning sun. That’s when I saw them. William…and Quinn. His arms were wrapped tightly around her,his face buried in her hair.And her belly—Swollen.Pregnant. I froze. His voice floated toward me,sharp and careless.“So what if she finds out?” The ground shifted beneath my feet.Loose stones crunched,giving me away. Both their heads whipped in my direction. William’s eyes widened when he saw me.He let go of her like he’d just been caught stealing.“Caroline?What are you doing here?” Quinn turned too,a smug expression blooming across her face like a poisonous flower. William stepped forward,his voice trembling with guilt—or maybe just fear. “How long have you been standing there?Look,it’s not what it looks like—don’t misunderstand—Quinn and I,we just—” “Save it.”I wiped the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand.“What exactly are you going to explain,William?That you’re just comforting her?That this is all some…big misunderstanding?” “I—Caroline,I—”He stuttered,scrambling for excuses,but the look in his eyes said everything. I raised the envelope in my hand,shaking slightly. “I used my money to save Ember Claw Pack.I didn’t do it to buy you.If you didn’t want the Moon Ceremony,why didn’t you just say so?Why go through with it and then do this behind my back?” His mask slipped.The lies,the shame,the rehearsed apologies—he dropped them all. “Caroline,please,”he said,his voice quieter now.“I never meant to hurt you.I didn’t plan for this to happen.” I stared at him,my chest hollowing. “When did it start?”I asked,my voice barely more than a whisper. William looked away. “After my brother died,”he said finally.“Quinn jumped into the river.Everyone thought she drowned.” I nodded slowly. “So you started sleeping with her after that?After we were married?” His silence was an answer enough. A bitter laugh escaped my lips.Of course. I had been a fool—believing that love could grow where betrayal already had roots.I thought if I worked hard enough,sacrificed enough,he’d eventually see me.If I became his Luna,his mate in every way that mattered,he would learn to love me. I was wrong. I was always the second place.A consolation prize.Gratitude in the shape of a bride. The wolf inside me howled in pain,clawing at the walls of my soul.But the grief was too heavy.It choked out my shift,drowned out my strength.I could feel something breaking inside me—something deep and primal. A year ago,William’s brother died of cancer.And Quinn—his fated mate—threw herself into the river in grief.Nobody was ever recovered.William spiraled into a darkness I couldn’t reach. So I tried.God,I tried. I organized search teams,begged elders for blessings,scoured the banks myself until my feet bled.I searched for her,mourned her with him. All this time…she wasn’t dead.She was alive.Living in secret.Sleeping with my mate. And now she was carrying his child.

William watched the rage bloom in my eyes,shifting from hurt to fury.Finally,he opened his mouth,as if that could fix what was already broken. “Don’t twist things into something they’re not,”he said,his tone sharp and defensive. He looked at Quinn,then back at me. “She was alone.Wandering the streets.I only took her in because she loved my brother so much.I pitied her—nothing more.” “And what?One drink too many and you accidentally slept with her?”I snapped,my voice rising. His lips parted.“I wasn’t thinking clearly.I—I thought she was you.” I stared at him,stunned.But he wasn’t finished. “It wasn’t intentional,”he continued,his voice cracking.“Just think of it as me…forcing myself on her.It’s all my fault.Every bit of it.” Quinn’s eyes welled up with tears as she clung to his arm. “Don’t say that,William!This isn’t your fault,”she cried,the picture of innocent guilt.“If anyone should be blamed,it’s me—for being stupid enough to jump into that river in the first place!” I snapped.“Shut up!” My voice echoed through the open space,stopping her fake sobs in their tracks. “You don’t get to speak.This isn’t your business—it’s ours.” I turned back to William,my blood boiling. “You’re unbelievable.You waited until she was almost due to show me this?To rub it in my face like I’m nothing?” “I’ve spent the past year tearing myself apart trying to find her,thinking she was dead.Comforting you.Nursing your mother like she was mine.And this—this—is how you repay me?” “You’re despicable.” When his older brother died,William’s mom collapsed from grief and ended up in the hospital.For over six months,I stayed by her side,practically living in that cold hospital room.I bathed her,fed her,watched over her night and day. In her second month there,her organs started to fail.The hospital issued a critical notice.It was touch-and-go.I was terrified. I called William all night.He didn’t answer.Not once. I paced outside the operating room alone for hours,clutching my phone until my fingers went numb.And when he finally showed up the next morning,he reeked of whiskey—and there was a hickey on his neck. A goddamn hickey. He’d told me he was at a client banquet.He looked me in the eyes and lied. Then he saw his mother and started sobbing—calling himself a bastard,slapping himself in front of me. And I forgave him.Because I loved him.Because I was stupid. I didn’t even realize Quinn was already back…already in his bed. William said nothing now.Just stood there,head bowed,letting me pour it all out. I pulled myself together and met his gaze with ice in my veins. “You want to fix this?”I said,my voice low but clear.“Then get rid of the pup.Tell Quinn to leave.” “Or I swear to the goddess,I will never forgive either of you.” Quinn gasped like she’d been stabbed.She bolted toward the door—but William grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind him like a shield. “Caroline,are you outta your mind?”he snapped.“The pup is almost full-term!You want her to abort it now?” “You’re acting like some bitter woman—jealous that someone else can give me what you can’t!” I blinked,stunned.“What…did you just say?” “My brother is gone.You can’t have children,”he said,like it was some damning fact.“Do you want Ember Claw Pack to lose its only Alpha heir because of your insecurities?” “You’re cruel,Caroline.And selfish.There’s a limit.” His words hit me like a slap across the face.Each syllable was a poisoned dagger. I laughed.A bitter,broken sound.Then tears came. “Tell me something,”I whispered.“Why can’t I have a pup?” He didn’t answer.He didn’t need to. “You don’t remember?”I asked softly.“That day…You were an hour late.That was all it took.An hour.” “Your mother was attacked.By a rogue.If you’d been there,William—if you’d shown up when I begged you to—I wouldn’t have had to jump in front of her.I wouldn’t have been stabbed three times by a Feral Wolf.” I lifted my shirt slightly,revealing the scars along my abdomen. “The Pack Doctor said I was lucky to survive.That if he hadn’t arrived in time,I would’ve died.And even if I lived,I’d never be able to shift again.” “You cried at my bedside,remember?You held my hand and told me you didn’t care.You said we didn’t need children.That we could adopt.That you’d walk away from the Pack if the Council didn’t accept us.” “You swore to protect me.To fight for me.” “But now?Now I’m cruel?Selfish?”I shook my head,my voice trembling.“No,William.You’re the one who’s changed.You’re the one who betrayed everything we built.” The man standing in front of me wasn’t my mate. He was a stranger.

After William’s brother passed,everyone in Ember Claw Pack whispered the same thing behind closed doors:William needs an heir. And I heard every word. I watched the pressure weigh him down,and even though my heart broke for him,I pushed my own pain aside.I became a woman on a mission:hunting down every Pack Doctor,every healer,every witch rumored to possess ancient magic.I paid in blood,gold,and sleepless nights. And for what? To earn his love? To become more than just a placeholder in his life? To thank me,William handed over all his passwords—his phone,his laptop—telling me he wanted transparency,that he had nothing to hide.I believed him.Goddess,I believed him. When I found out I was pregnant,I thought…maybe now,he’ll see me.Maybe now,he’ll be happy. But nothing could have prepared me for what came next. William’s eyes were ice-cold when he turned to me. “I’ll do anything you want,”he said flatly.“Except ask Quinn to abort the pup.” Then he actually added,like it was a gift,“Once she gives birth,I’ll let you raise him.He’ll carry my bloodline,and it’ll be like you had him yourself.” He was serious. “And from now on,you won’t have to see any more doctors or take those disgusting herbs.This is the best outcome for everyone.You’re not losing anything,Caroline.Nothing.” He stepped closer,eyes hard.“Unless you want to be cursed forever as the Luna who couldn’t bear an Alpha heir?” I felt the air leave my lungs. Then he had the nerve to check his watch. “I still have to prep for Mom’s discharge banquet,”he muttered.“You should head back.” Like we’d just had a polite conversation. Quinn stepped toward me,her voice syrupy and fake.“Please don’t be mad at William.This was all my idea.I—I didn’t mean for things to get so messy.” “I promise,once the pup’s born,I’ll disappear.You won’t ever have to see me again.” Behind her,William paused and looked over his shoulder.For a split second,guilt flickered in his eyes. Then he took her hand and walked away with her. And just like that…the sky darkened. Thick clouds rolled in,throwing shadows over the half-built amusement park.It felt fitting.The place we once dreamed of building together now stood hollow,just like us. I bent down and picked up the crumpled pregnancy report from the dirt,brushing it off with shaking hands. I walked away. Alone. — The recovery banquet was held at Ember Claw Pack’s luxury estate hotel.I sat silently in the back of the taxi,watching the familiar streets blur past. It all looked the same.The city hadn’t changed. But I had. Memories hit me like a wave. I’d chased William for four years in college.He was already the crown jewel of Ember Claw Pack—the Alpha heir every she-wolf wanted.To stay close to him,I turned down a prestigious graduate program my parents had arranged.I worked at his side,watching him shine,while he barely noticed I was there. Then the crisis hit.Ember Claw Pack nearly collapsed. And me? I sold everything—my parents’inheritance,my future—to keep the pack from falling apart.To save him. When the deal closed,and Ember Claw Pack was safe,William dropped to one knee and proposed with a diamond ring. I thought it was love.I thought I had finally earned my place beside him. But now I know…it was gratitude.Nothing more. Our Moon Ceremony was broadcast for three days.Three whole days of joy I thought was real.I stepped into the role of Luna,ran the pack’s affairs,buried my own dreams just to stand by him. And now…I was just another disposable woman he had to manage. A pawn to be blamed for her own broken womb. Tears welled up,but I blinked them away. I picked up my phone and made the call. “Hello?I’d like to schedule a termination.” — By the time I arrived at the hotel,the banquet was already winding down. Laughter echoed through the hall.But when I stepped in,it died. My mother-in-law was beaming.She grabbed Quinn’s hand like it was a lifeline. “Quinn is a blessing to this family,”she declared,loud enough for everyone to hear.“She’s carrying the only Alpha heir Ember Claw Pack has left!” She cast a sharp glance in my direction. “Not like some people,”she snapped.“Three years of marriage,and not even an egg to show for it.” The crowd laughed. Then she reached down and removed a gleaming jade archer’s ring from her finger—Ember Claw Pack’s Luna ring. She placed it into Quinn’s hand with reverence. “From this moment forward,”she said with pride,“you are Ember Claw Pack’s Luna.And if anyone dares question it,they’ll answer to me!” Applause broke out.Cheers.Congratulatory words. And then silence,as everyone turned to me. Their expressions were a mix of disgust and pity. “She’s actually here,”someone muttered. “How shameless can one woman be?” “I heard she’s barren.Poor William,he must’ve been suffering these last three years.” “She should’ve left ages ago.She’s clinging to the Pack like a leech.” “She’s cursed.I swear it.Everything went wrong the moment she showed up.” My nails dug into my palms until they bled. But I didn’t flinch. Because I had already made my decision. This was the last time they’d ever look down on me. The last time they’d ever laugh behind my back. I may have walked in alone…But the next time I came back—They’d all kneel.

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I seduced the billionaire who ruined my brother’s life. The moment he abandoned his fiancée for me, my revenge was complete. Everyone in Ashworth City had heard their story. Dominic Ashford and Serena Blackwell, the most twisted couple in the city’s elite circle. Dominic Ashford was the sole heir to the Ashford empire, one of the most powerful billionaires in Ashworth City. Serena Blackwell was the crown jewel of the Blackwell dynasty, Ashworth City’s princess. She and Dominic had grown up together, and everyone assumed they’d end up married. But they had a toxic game they liked to play. Every time they fought, Serena would find some unsuspecting, decent man and get engaged to him. She loved the thrill of it — watching those men fall for her. And she loved watching Dominic lose his mind with jealousy. Every time he showed up to wreck the wedding, it proved he was still hers. It was their sick version of a love language. Ninety-nine times. And the ninety-ninth groom was my twin brother, Ethan Mercer. He thought he’d found true love. He’d poured everything he had into planning the wedding — Only to have Dominic Ashford kick down the chapel door on his wedding day, break both his arms, strip him bare, and dump him in the street like garbage. My brother couldn’t survive the humiliation. His mind shattered. On a rainy night, he dragged his broken body up the longest bridge in Ashworth City, one agonizing step at a time. And jumped. I was standing in the morgue, identifying his body, when my phone buzzed. It was Serena’s latest IG story. Wedding crash #99 — success! Dominic really is crazy about me! One more to go and I can finally marry him for real! The photo showed her in a white gown, tucked against Dominic’s chest, smiling like the world was hers. I looked down at my brother’s stiff, frozen body. And I laughed. So this was how they played. Other people’s hearts were disposable toys. Then this time — I’d bet my life to make them lose. I spent three months studying Dominic Ashford. His habits, his weaknesses, his obsession with Serena. I knew which club he went to every Thursday. I knew what kind of woman caught his eye. I carved a scar beside my own eye — ugly and jagged, but enough to mask the resemblance between me and Ethan. Three months later, I walked into the most exclusive private club in Ashworth City and got hired as a hostess. And just like I’d planned, I finally laid eyes on Dominic.

“Strip.” Dominic sat deep in the sofa, spinning a blood-stained Swiss Army knife between his fingers. A handful of trust-fund boys lounged around him with girls draped over their arms, their eyes crawling over me with lazy amusement. I didn’t move. Dominic raised an eyebrow. The knife came down and sank into the table. “You deaf?” “Didn’t you say you needed money? Didn’t you say you’d do anything for the right price?” “Serena’s overseas getting ready for the wedding. Those dead eyes of yours remind me of the look she gets when she’s ignoring me.” Laughter broke out around the room. “She’s a bit rough, boss, but that dead-inside energy? Definitely reminds me of Serena.” “Boss is one wedding away from finishing the bet. While Serena’s gone, this one could pass the time.” I looked at Dominic. The knife was centimeters from my hand. I could even smell the dried blood on it. Then I lowered my head, clutched the hem of my skirt, and let my voice go small, looking every bit the helpless girl. “One million.” Dominic paused. Then he burst out laughing. “One million?” “Bold mouth on you. You know what happened to the last person who tried to set terms with me?” “Though… something about your face looks familiar.” His hand reached up and touched the corner of my eye. Right where I’d carved that scar — ugly, deliberate, just enough to bury any trace of the resemblance I shared with Ethan. He didn’t recognize me. The plan held. The next second, a slap cracked across my face. “I do love the ones who’d sell their soul for a dollar.” “Ten thousand per piece. Whether you walk out with a million depends on whether you last the night.” Eyes circled me from every direction, hungry for a show. “Boss, I think you broke her. If she can’t take it, this won’t be any fun.” “Then again, nobody holds a candle to his girl. That woman’s got real nerve.” Dominic stared at me, already losing interest. He was about to speak — But I pointed at the table full of liquor first. “How about a game instead?” “You lose, you drink. I lose, I cut myself.” “Ten cuts for a million. Deal?” Every man in the room stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “Boss, does she know how you and Serena first met? Is she trying to pull the same move?” “Everyone knows you two hit it off over a drinking table. She’s doing this on purpose while Serena’s away — trying to play stand-in.” Dominic studied me for a long time. Then he smiled. “Interesting.” “That’s real fucking interesting.” I was yanked hard into his lap. The tip of the knife pressed against my cheek. “I’d hate to ruin a pretty face.” “So tell me — besides money, what are you really here for?” I held his gaze steady. “What if I said I’m here for your heart?” Something flickered behind his eyes. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and hauled me upright. “You? A hostess?” “You’re not even close to worthy.” The force of it nearly tore my hair out. He dragged me across the table and bottles went crashing to the floor. Glass bit into my arms and blood seeped through instantly. Dominic’s hand closed around my throat. He slammed me to the ground. “You like games?” “Then let’s give everyone a real show tonight.” That whole night was a blur of pain. They poured liquor down my throat until I choked. Dominic kicked me hard enough to crack my ribs. Cigarette burns dotted my arms, one after another — each one met with laughter or the click of someone’s phone. Nobody told him to stop. When I was barely breathing, Dominic crouched down and asked if it hurt. I didn’t answer. I just lay there with blood on my lips, staring straight at him. Something in Dominic shifted. “Serena…” His voice dropped to a murmur. The violence left his hands, replaced by something almost worse — a shaking, obsessive tenderness, like he was touching someone who wasn’t there. “Why won’t you ever listen to me? Why do you keep running to those worthless men just to get under my skin?” “Am I not enough? I’d give you my goddamn life. Why do you keep doing this to me?” He thought I was Serena. The woman he loved to the point of madness, and hated just as much. The first crack in his armor. I fought through the pain, raised a shaking hand, and gently stroked his hair. “I was wrong. I won’t leave. I’ll do whatever you say from now on.” Those words — Serena Blackwell would never say them. Not in a million years. She was Ashworth City’s princess, a rose made of razor wire. She didn’t apologize. She didn’t yield. She ground Dominic’s dignity under her heel and watched him spiral. That’s why those words cut straight through him. Dominic froze. Every muscle locked. The haze in his eyes shattered in an instant. He shoved me away. “Get out!” “You’re a goddamn hostess. Who gave you permission?” His foot slammed into my stomach. I curled up on the floor, coughing blood. Through the blur I watched him rip off his tie and light a cigarette with unsteady hands. “Boring.” He blew out a cloud of smoke and flicked a check at my face. “Take the money. Get yourself to a hospital.” “Don’t die here. I don’t need that mess.” I clutched the blood-soaked check against my chest. And smiled without a sound.

I spent a week in the hospital. Dominic never showed up once. But he sent over boxes of high-end nutrition kits, along with a message: “Once you can stand, drag yourself to the estate. You wanted money — here’s your chance.” “Once Serena’s hundredth wedding game is done. After that, you’re out of uses. So don’t waste my time.” I stared at those expensive packages and dumped them all into the trash without blinking. These two psychopaths treated crashing weddings like a game and other people’s dignity like a punchline. The ninety-ninth victim had been my brother. What he only got instead was Dominic’s fists and a public humiliation. And Serena? She had stood in her white bridal gown, nestled in Dominic’s arms, laughing. “Ugh, this groom is so boring. Didn’t even put up a fight.” “Dominic, don’t go too hard — don’t kill him. I still need him for my IG story.” That rainy night, my brother had dragged his broken arm up the longest bridge in Ashworth City, one agonizing step at a time. And jumped. I closed my eyes and forced the tears back down. …… When I arrived at Dominic’s private estate, I had changed everything about my appearance. A white cotton dress. Hair down. No makeup. This was what Serena Blackwell had looked like at eighteen. I’d studied every old photo of hers, every habit, every version of her smile. I knew how she used to walk, how she’d tilt her head, how she’d brush hair from her face without thinking. The moment Dominic saw me, the glass in his hand hit the floor. Shards scattered everywhere. A piece sliced across the back of his hand, but he didn’t notice. He stared at me, and his eyes went red in an instant. “Ser… Serena?” I stood in the doorway, fidgeting with the hem of my skirt, looking up at him with wide, timid eyes. “Mr. Ashford, it’s me. Ellie.” Dominic kept me. Not as a punching bag anymore — as a proper stand-in. He stopped letting me wear cheap clothes. He had an entire wardrobe made up for me, every piece styled exactly the way Serena used to dress. He stopped hitting me. He even started putting food on my plate at dinner, clumsy and a little awkward about it. “Serena used to love blueberry pancakes.” “The way she ate — cheeks all puffed out, like a little squirrel. Cutest damn thing.” “But then she changed.” “She started smoking. Drinking. Flirting with every man who looked her way.” “She called it fun. Said it kept things exciting.” “I hated it. I just wanted the old Serena back. The clean, simple version of her.” I swallowed a bite of that sickeningly sweet pancake and nodded like a good girl. “Whatever Mr. Ashford likes, I’ll learn.” Dominic smiled, satisfied, and patted my head. “Good girl.” …… Days passed like that, one after another. I played the perfect gentle girl, chipping away at Dominic’s walls one sliver at a time. Until one day. I was cleaning his study when I bumped the mouse by accident. The screen lit up. An encrypted folder sat in the center of the desktop. My fingers hovered over the keys. On impulse, I typed in Serena’s birthday. Part of me already knew what I’d find. It opened. Ninety-nine videos. Each one starring a different man. Some had been stripped naked and thrown into the street. Some had been forced to drink their own piss. Some had their limbs snapped and were left crawling on the ground like worms. These were Serena’s trophies. Medals she used to prove how far Dominic would go for her. My hands were shaking as I clicked on the latest one.

It was Ethan. In the video, my brother was on his knees with blood streaming down his face, bowing over and over, forehead slamming the concrete. “Please — I’m begging you — let me go. I was wrong. I should never have gone near Miss Blackwell…” Dominic’s foot came down on his face and ground it into the floor. He was laughing. “You think you’re worthy? You think Serena is someone a nobody like you gets to want?” “Since these arms touched someone they shouldn’t have — you don’t need them anymore.” The camera shook hard. Then came my brother’s scream — raw, animal, the kind of sound that doesn’t leave your head. The last thing on the video was Serena’s voice, off-screen. “God, Dominic, that was so hot! Love you! That’s number ninety-nine — next one better top this!” I closed the video. I pulled a bottle of pills from my pocket, shook a handful into my mouth, and chewed them dry. Antidepressants. My doctor had told me that stopping them cold could make things spiral — violent episodes, possible psychotic breaks. I didn’t care anymore. …… The next morning, Dominic was dressed to the nines, ready to go crash Serena’s hundredth wedding. I blocked the doorway with my arms spread wide, eyes red and swollen. Dominic shoved me aside with one hand. I fell — and as I hit the floor, something spilled out from inside my clothes. Dozens of photographs, scattered all over the ground. I’d spent a fortune collecting them before I ever set foot in this city. His foot was already mid-swing toward my ribs. It froze in the air. He stared at the photos like they’d burned him. The photos were all of him. On a basketball court, jersey dark with sweat. Asleep in a library corner, cheek pressed against a bookshelf. At a restaurant, arms thrown around his friends, laughing like he didn’t have a care in the world. A younger Dominic. Bright, alive, full of fire. Not the twisted, hollowed-out thing he’d become — the kind of man who got off on breaking people. Dominic bent down slowly and picked up one of the photos. His eighteenth birthday. Frosting smeared across his face, eyes squeezed shut in a grin. “Where did you get these?” I scrambled to grab them back, tears pouring down. “Give them back! Don’t look at those!” “These are all I have left of you. Don’t you dare take them.” “So you didn’t come to me for money?” Something shifted in his expression — something I couldn’t read. “Dominic, I just had a crush on you, that’s all! Why is it always Serena? Why can’t you ever see me?” “You came because… you’re in love with me?” I didn’t answer. And as it turned out — he didn’t make it to Serena’s wedding that night. Dominic didn’t say a word. He just looked at me like he was seeing someone for the very first time. Then he kissed me. Not rough. Not possessive. I didn’t push him away. His fingers threaded through my hair and slowly tightened. His breath turned hot and uneven, trailing from my ear down the side of my neck. He pressed me into the couch cushions, and his full weight followed. Shirt buttons came apart — the metallic sound cut through the silence like a blade. His mouth burned against my skin — the kind of heat you don’t pull away from. My fingers dug into the edge of the sofa. My body was shaking. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes. Not from desire. From hatred so thick it nearly strangled me. His palm traced up along my waist, heat bleeding through the thin cotton of my dress. He whispered against my throat. Not Serena. Ellie. I opened my eyes and met his bloodshot gaze. Hunger. Greed. Pathetic. The same hands that had crushed my brother into the pavement were trembling on my body now. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his shoulder. Later — in bed. Then against the floor-to-ceiling windows. Moonlight poured in, casting our tangled shadows across the glass. He called my name over and over. Ellie. Ellie. Like a man in prayer. And I closed my eyes, silently mouthing my brother’s name. Ethan. I’m here for you.

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The director called,“Cut!”for the third time,but Darius,my celebrity husband,remained locked in a passionate kiss with Seraphina. The crew stood frozen,tension thick in the air. I stepped forward,keeping my voice steady.”Darius,we’re done for today.Wrap it up.” Seraphina pulled away,tears glistening in her eyes.“I’m just so deep into this role,”she sobbed,clutching Darius’s arm. I forced a smile.Darius’s eyes flickered with irritation as he turned to me.“Lyanna,you have no right to interfere.You see filth in everything.Can’t you just trust me?” The sting of his words barely registered. I had already seen the paparazzi photos—him and Seraphina entering a five-star hotel together that night. The marriage I had spent five years protecting was over. I just hadn’t signed the papers yet. After a quick call to my lawyer,I returned to the lounge. Darius walked in shortly after. His face softened when he saw me—for a second. Then his gaze turned cold. “Lyanna,this lounge is for lead actors.Why are you here?” I grabbed the thermos from the makeup table,my voice flat.“Just getting my stuff.” He hadn’t touched the meal I made him.Not a single bite. “Don’t bother making food for me anymore,”he muttered.“It’s unpalatable.” In the past,I would have argued,reminded him how he used to love my cooking.But this time,I just nodded.“Hmm.”Then I walked out the door. Darius called after me,irritation laced in his voice.“There’s a crew dinner tonight.The director wants me to discuss the script with Seraphina.” I didn’t miss the guilt in his tone.“Okay,”I said,closing the door behind me. Later that night,he came home around 1 AM.I wasn’t waiting for him like before. He pushed open the bedroom door,frowning.“Lyanna,I have trouble sleeping.Why didn’t you brew my calming tea?” I pulled the blanket over my head.“Ran out of tea leaves last night.Order takeout.” The door slammed shut behind him as he stormed into the study. In the past,I would have stayed up,apologizing.But this time,I let him be. The next morning,Darius allowed me to ride in the van with him to the set. It was unusual.I should have known something was coming. As we pulled up,Seraphina approached. She was dressed in a backless,low-cut dress,her every movement calculated. “Darius,do you have any bug spray?I always attract mosquitoes,”she purred. Then she saw me.Her expression shifted.“Oh,Lyanna,you’re here too?I’d better take the other car.” Before she could move,Darius spoke,his tone sharp.“Lyanna,can’t you be sensible?Stop causing trouble.Go sit in the assistant’s car.” I didn’t argue.I simply stepped out.My movements were slow,controlled. As I walked away,I felt his gaze on me.A few minutes later,my phone buzzed. A message from Darius: Today,Seraphina will have a scene where she shows her legs.Don’t misunderstand. I stared at the screen for a moment before typing back: Understood. The day dragged on.By the time filming wrapped at 11 PM,I was exhausted.Then—disaster. The scaffolding collapsed.I watched as Darius shoved Seraphina out of harm’s way.They fell,tangled together—lips colliding. The crew cheered,mistaking it for part of the scene. I stood frozen,my wolf stirring within me,urging me to claim what was mine. But I held back. I didn’t have to fight. Because Darius had already made his choice.

I had been away on business for years,focusing on the needs of my pack and family. But when I heard that Darius,my son,got married,I dropped everything and rushed back home. That night,Darius posted a series of photos on Facebook from our reunion dinner. The caption read,”You’ve been by my side all the way.Thank you,the most important woman in my life.”It seemed harmless enough,but Lyanna,Darius’s mate,mistook me for someone entirely different. The next morning,I stepped into the beauty salon,needing a moment of peace after my long flight. I barely had time to sit before the doors burst open. Lyanna strode in,flanked by her packmates,her wolf barely restrained beneath her skin. Her voice sliced through the air like a blade.“You shameless woman!” The other customers went silent.The staff froze.I slowly turned,meeting her burning gaze. “You dare seduce my mate?”she spat,stepping forward. Her fingers curled into fists,nails elongating slightly. Her packmates stood behind her,their presence a silent but clear threat. I blinked,confusion flickering through me.“Excuse me?” Lyanna’s eyes darkened.“Don’t play innocent.You think I don’t know?Sneaking into his life,taking pictures,making him post about you?” Realization hit me.Darius’s Facebook post. I exhaled sharply.“I think there’s been a misunderstanding—” “There’s no misunderstanding,”she cut in.“I’ll make sure you never seduce another man again.” Her packmates moved at her command. One lunged forward,claws extended. Instinct kicked in,and I dodged,but another caught my arm,nails raking across my skin. A sharp pain burned through me. The salon erupted into chaos.Customers screamed. Staff backed away,too afraid to intervene. I gritted my teeth. My wolf stirred,but I was exhausted from travel,weakened. Lyanna’s laughter rang out as she stepped closer,her heel pressing against my shoulder,shoving me down. “You think Darius could ever fall for you?”she sneered. My blood boiled.I wanted to fight,to push back—but I was outnumbered.The odds weren’t in my favor. And this was their territory. Lyanna had made sure of that. Then a presence filled the room.A familiar power.Strong.Commanding. Darius. The air shifted instantly as he stepped inside. His gaze swept over the scene,his Alpha aura tightening around the space.Pack members stiffened,recognizing the shift in dominance. Lyanna turned,a smug smile on her lips.“See?”she taunted.“This is the woman you’re choosing over me.” Darius’s expression was unreadable. His wolf flickered behind his eyes,sensing the tension. Then he spoke,voice even,but firm.“The engagement banquet may end now.” A beat of silence. Lyanna’s confidence wavered.“What?” “You heard me.”His tone was final. Lyanna’s face twisted with fury.“You’re breaking off our engagement?Over this—this woman?!” Darius’s gaze flickered to me. For the first time in years,his expression softened—if only briefly. Then his walls came back up.“You’ve gone too far.” Lyanna’s hands clenched at her sides.“Darius,I did this for us!She’s trying to take you away—” “I said enough.” His voice echoed through the salon,silencing her. Lyanna trembled with rage,but she knew better than to challenge his authority here. Not in front of everyone. She turned on her heel and stormed out,her packmates following. The tension in the room didn’t ease until they were gone. Darius looked at me.“Are you alright?” I hesitated.Then nodded.“I’ll survive.” His jaw tightened.“I’ll handle this.” I didn’t respond.Because deep down,I knew—this wasn’t over.Not even close. That night,I sat in my temporary home,staring at the untouched dinner before me. The day replayed in my mind,Lyanna’s words,Darius’s reaction. A knock on the door broke the silence. I opened it to find Darius standing there,his expression unreadable. “Can we talk?” I stepped aside,letting him in. He took a deep breath.“Lyanna misunderstood who you were.” I crossed my arms.“No kidding.” “She’s…possessive,”he admitted.“The bond between us—it’s always been complicated.” I studied him.“Then why stay with her?” His jaw tightened.“Because it was expected.Because it was convenient.Because I thought it was the right thing to do.” “And now?” His eyes met mine.“Now,I’m not so sure.” A beat of silence stretched between us. I exhaled,shaking my head.“Darius,I didn’t come here to break you two apart.” “I know.”He stepped closer.“But that doesn’t change things.” I could hear his wolf in his voice.A deep,lingering growl,something primal,something unresolved. I swallowed hard.“Darius—” He reached out,gently brushing his fingers against the wound on my arm.“She hurt you.” “I’ve had worse.” “That’s not the point.”His gaze darkened.“She crossed a line.” Silence. I looked away.“What happens now?” Darius was quiet for a long moment.Then he said,“I don’t know.” And for the first time,I saw the hesitation in his eyes. The weight of years. The burden of choices that could no longer be ignored. The engagement was over. But the war had only just begun.

The slap hit hard,sharper than I expected,and the sting of it spread across my face like fire. The pain from the impact was intense,but what hurt more was the humiliation—the laughter of the guests around me,the cruel whispers filling the air. “Look at this,the mistress getting slapped by the legitimate mate,”one voice sneered,its tone full of contempt. “She seems so well-mannered.Who would think she’d sink so low?”another voice mocked,though I could hear the smug satisfaction beneath it. I gritted my teeth,my wolf howling inside me,ready to tear through the room and silence them all. But I held back. I had to hold back. The last thing I wanted was to give them the satisfaction of seeing me lose control. “Lyanna,you misunderstood,”I managed to say,my voice shaking with the effort to keep calm.”I’m not—” But I didn’t get a chance to finish. Lyanna,her wolf clearly in control now,grabbed a handful of my hair and jerked me down to the ground,her claws digging into my scalp. Her packmates surged forward,joining her in their aggression. I could feel their strength,their loyalty to her fueling their violence,each blow like a dagger aimed not just at my body,but at my spirit. The pain blurred my vision. I could barely breathe,the strikes coming from every direction,my body trembling as it fought to withstand the onslaught. “You slut!”Lyanna spat,her voice venomous,laced with the harsh growl of her wolf.”How dare you seduce my mate?If you’re not his mistress,then why do you know my name,huh?Tell me that!” The words cut through me like ice.Her mate? I didn’t know how to answer. The bond between Darius and Lyanna was…complex,confusing. But in this moment,it didn’t matter. “I told you,I’m not his mistress!”I cried out,my voice raw.”Ask Darius yourself.He knows the truth.” But she didn’t care. Lyanna wasn’t listening. She pulled me by my hair again,forcing me to the ground as her packmates punched and kicked me. “You really think you have a chance?”Lyanna sneered,her eyes wild with fury.”A lowly woman like you?Don’t think for a second that Darius will ever choose you over me.I’ll make sure of it.When I marry into a rich family,I’ll make you regret ever crossing me.I’ll sell you to a brothel,let you serve hundreds of men—let everyone have their turn with you!” Her words were cruel,meant to break me,and for a moment,I felt my spirit falter. But my wolf refused to let her win. I clenched my fists,forcing myself to focus. I wasn’t just some weak woman she could trample on. I tried again.”Lyanna—Lyanna,please…I’m telling you the truth.I’m not his mistress.Darius—” “Shut up!”she yelled,her voice rising with each word,the fury of her inner wolf palpable.”You filthy slut.You’ll never admit what you really are,will you?You’re nothing to Darius.You’re just some woman who thinks she can play in a world she doesn’t belong in.” I didn’t know what to say. Was it really over? Had Darius already chosen her?T he doubt gnawed at me,but I refused to let it show. I couldn’t. “Later,”Lyanna said with a sneer,”I’ll take you to the engagement banquet.We’ll see who Darius chooses.You,or me.You’ll never belong in his world.” The words hit me harder than the blows. She was right. I would never belong in his world. Lyanna’s pack had claimed their place,and my presence,my bond with Darius,meant nothing to them. But the worst part was hearing the vicious laughter around me. The crowd had gathered,eager to witness the spectacle. “Take her clothes off,”Lyanna’s friend shouted.”Let’s see if she has any shame left.” I was overwhelmed. They tore at my clothes,pulling at the fabric until my dress was ripped apart,exposing my skin. Blood mixed with the tears on my face as I struggled to cover myself,my dignity slipping further from my grasp. The pain was unbearable,but it wasn’t the physical pain that broke me—it was the way they gawked at me. They were enjoying this.The guests,the packmates,all of them. My suffering was entertainment for them. I cried out in desperation,clutching what remained of my dress around me.But I was too weak to fight them off. Too small.There were too many of them. The pain blurred my senses. I could feel my wolf pushing against the restraints,desperate to break free. I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t let them win. But just as I was losing myself to the darkness,I saw something. My mind was clouded,my vision spinning,but I saw her—Lyanna. She was pulling out her phone,capturing every moment. “Your reputation is ruined,”she said,her words filled with malice,her wolf’s growl low and threatening.”No one will ever believe you now.” But just as the last shred of my dignity was being ripped away,I gathered my strength.”Lyanna,”I cried,”I am Darius’s mother!” The room went silent for a moment. I could see the shock in Lyanna’s eyes as she looked down at me,the confusion and uncertainty flickering behind her cold gaze. “His…what?”she whispered,a flicker of doubt flashing across her face. For the first time since this nightmare began,I saw a crack in her armor. My wolf growled softly,and I could feel Darius’s presence,faint but there,his bond with me pulsing in the back of my mind. But Lyanna wasn’t going to let go so easily. “Don’t lie,”she spat,but there was hesitation now in her voice. I could see it now. She was afraid.She had believed she had everything under control,but I wasn’t just a mere woman. I was the Alpha’s mate.Darius’s mother. “I swear,”I said,my voice shaky but firm.”I am Darius’s mother.And I will not let you tear our family apart.” Lyanna’s expression darkened. “We’ll see about that,”she said,her tone low and threatening. But I didn’t care anymore. This wasn’t just about us anymore—it was about Darius. And whatever happened next,I was going to fight. I would not let her break me.

Darius stormed into the hall,his aura suffocating. The entire pack went silent. Lyanna froze,her hand still tangled in my torn dress. “What the hell is going on?”Darius’s voice was low,but the growl in it sent shivers through the crowd. Lyanna straightened,chin high.”She’s a liar.A fraud!She claims to be your mother.” Darius’s gaze snapped to me.”Is that true?” I wiped the blood from my lips.”Yes.I am your mother.” Gasps rippled through the room.Lyanna’s expression twisted in disbelief. Darius took a step toward me.”Prove it.” I pulled out a pendant from under my ripped dress. A silver wolf,identical to the one hanging around his neck. His fingers curled into fists. “Where did you get that?”His voice was dangerously soft. “Your father gave it to me.When we were mates.Before…before everything was taken from us.” Silence.Then,Lyanna laughed,sharp and cruel.”She’s lying!Anyone could have that pendant.” Darius ignored her. He took the pendant from my palm,his fingers brushing against mine. The touch sent a jolt through my wolf,the bond between mother and son undeniable.His brows furrowed. “Why now?”His voice was rough,guarded.”Why come back now?” I swallowed hard.”Because I had no choice.Because I thought you deserved the truth.” Lyanna stepped forward,grabbing his arm.”Darius,don’t let her manipulate you.She’s here to destroy us.She wants to take you away from me!” His eyes flicked to her,cold and unyielding.”Take me away?From what,Lyanna?This?”He gestured to the torn remains of my dress,the bruises on my skin.”You humiliated her.Attacked her.If she is my mother,you’ve just assaulted an Alpha’s mate.” Lyanna paled.”I-I didn’t know—” “You didn’t care,”he snapped.”All you saw was a threat to your position.” She tightened her grip on him.”I did this for us!For the pack!She’s a stranger,Darius.She abandoned you!” I flinched.”I never abandoned him.He was taken from me.” Darius’s breath hitched.”Taken?” I nodded.”Your father lied to you.He told you I was dead,didn’t he?That I left?” His silence confirmed it. “I searched for you.For years.But by the time I found out where you were,you were already Alpha,and Lyanna…she was by your side.” Darius clenched his jaw.His entire body was trembling.Then,he turned to Lyanna.”Leave.” She stiffened.”What?” “I said,leave.” “Darius—” “Go.Before I make you regret everything you’ve done.” Lyanna’s lips parted,as if she wanted to argue,but the look in his eyes silenced her. She spun on her heel and stormed out,her packmates hesitating before scrambling to follow. The room was silent.I stood there,my breath unsteady. Darius turned back to me,his gaze unreadable.”Come with me.” He led me out of the banquet hall,away from the eyes of the pack.We walked in silence until we reached his private quarters. He closed the door behind us and exhaled.”Tell me everything.” So I did.About his father. About the lies. About the years I spent searching for him. He listened,jaw tight,fists clenched. When I finished,he looked at me for a long moment.”You should have told me sooner.” “Would you have believed me?” He hesitated.Then,finally,he sighed.”I don’t know.” I placed a hand on his arm.”I know I can’t change the past.But I want to be here now.If you’ll let me.” He didn’t answer right away.Then,his hand covered mine.”We’ll see.” It wasn’t forgiveness.But it was a start.

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On my wedding day, my wife’s crew of guy friends cornered my little sister in the bridal suite. I grabbed a chair and tried to smash the door down to save her. My wife wrapped her arm around my throat and threw me to the floor. “It’s our big day, babe. The boys are just having a little fun.” Her father sat on the couch across the room, rolling a pair of walnuts in his palm, watching like it was entertainment. When the door finally opened, my sister stumbled out — clothes torn, blood running from her mouth. She had bitten through her own tongue trying to end it. Her father called in favors to have it ruled an accident. They told me to keep my mouth shut for the sake of both families’ reputations. I came at them with a kitchen knife. My wife kicked me square in the chest. I choked on my own blood and died right there in the hallway outside the bridal suite. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment the wedding cars pulled up. The first thing I did was send my sister away — told her to go find our aunt. I watched her walk out the front gate of the estate and finally let myself breathe. I thought we were safe. I thought we’d escaped. Then, a few minutes later, a scream tore through the ceiling above me. I looked up in horror at the locked door of the bridal suite. My sister was gone. So who the hell was inside? A scream from upstairs. Then a heavy thud — the kind that vibrates through the floor and makes the crystal chandelier in the foyer sway. My head snapped up toward the second-floor landing. The door to the bridal suite was shut tight. I straightened my jacket and bolted for the stairs. An arm shot out from nowhere and shoved me hard in the shoulder. I lost my footing and slammed my lower back into the banister, the pain punching the air out of my lungs. Linc was leaning against the railing, chewing gum, casually wiping his hand on the lapel of his groomsman suit. “Easy, brother-in-law.” He grinned. “Big day like this, you don’t wanna go killing the vibe upstairs, do you?” “Something goes wrong up there and you cause it? That’s on you.” I stared at the grease on his face and said nothing. Another sound from above — glass shattering, clean and sharp. Then fabric tearing. Then a woman’s muffled, broken sobbing. The sounds filtered through the door like they were coming from underwater — heavy, suffocating, hopeless. I shoved Linc aside. “Move. Someone up there is screaming for help.” He didn’t budge. He shoved me back, his knuckle dragging a raw line across my forearm. “Help?” He laughed. “That’s just Zane giving the place some good luck. That girl should be thanking him.” “Half the women in Florida would kill to get Zane’s attention, and she just stumbled into it. Lucky her.” “Especially since it’s your wedding night. She’s riding your coattails.” I shook from head to toe and raised my fist. Someone caught my wrist mid-swing. Cassidy — my bride — reeking of champagne, wrenched my arm down and stepped between us. I stumbled backward and nearly went down. She adjusted the neckline of her wedding dress, her expression flat with irritation. “Ethan. What the hell is your problem?” “That’s the boys blowing off steam. Why would you go up there and ruin it for everyone?” “They came out today as a favor. You should be grateful.” “The more chaos, the more blessing. It’s tradition, babe.” I pointed at the ceiling. “Tradition? Tradition is rape?” “That is a crime, Cassidy. Open that door. Right now.” She let out a cold laugh and planted herself at the foot of the stairs. “Rape.” She said the word like it tasted ridiculous in her mouth. “That’s just fun. That’s just a good time between grown-ups.” “Your uptight little sister has been acting holier-than-thou her whole life. I bet she’s having the time of her life up there.” “Getting Zane’s attention? She won’t have to worry about money for the rest of her life.” Her father — Hector — was spread out on the leather sectional, cracking open pistachios with his thumbnail, dropping the shells on the floor. He didn’t look up. “Enough. You’re embarrassing yourselves.” He gestured lazily. “This is a gift. That girl getting Zane’s attention? That’s good fortune for this family.” “You’re her brother and you’re standing there screaming like a lunatic. You’ve got no manners.” Then the scream from upstairs shifted — higher, more animal, ripping through every wall in the house. “Help me! Please — somebody help me!” My heart pounded so hard it hurt. I lunged again. “I’m calling 911.” Cassidy’s eyes went hard. She spun and drove her stiletto heel straight into my gut. I folded, gasping. My phone skidded across the tile. She crossed to it in three steps and brought her heel down on the screen. The crack was clean and final. She picked up the broken shell of it and dropped it into the fish tank by the entryway. It sank slowly, trailing a string of small bubbles. Cassidy walked to the front door and turned the deadbolt. She pocketed the key. Then she got in my face, her cheeks flushed and shaking. “Nobody leaves this house. Not until Zane is finished. You hear me?” “If you do anything — anything — to mess this up for me, I will put you in the ground myself.” Hector spit a pistachio shell at my chest. “Pathetic. You married into this family and the first thing you do is try to sic the cops on your own wife.” “Men like you deserve everything coming to them.”

The noises from the second floor went on for a full ten minutes. I tried to get to a window to signal someone outside. Linc grabbed me by the collar and hauled me back. Buttons popped off my shirt and scattered across the floor. I gritted through the pain and drove my fist into the side of his face. He yelped. His cheek went red immediately. Cassidy came at me from behind, grabbed my shoulders, and slammed me onto the couch. Hector was up now, wielding a feather duster like a whip, raining it down on me. “You hit my nephew? In my house? On my daughter’s wedding day?” “You piece of trash — your own parents didn’t even want you!” He kept swinging. The feathers hissed with every stroke. I covered my head and pushed into the corner of the couch. And then the sounds upstairs changed. A single dull impact. Like a skull meeting a wall. Then a faint, faint trembling — barely audible. Then nothing. Total silence. The kind of silence that makes your skin crawl. Linc straightened his jacket, grinning. “Well. Sounds like she finally came around.” “Told you. They all act tough. Then they get in the room and their whole attitude changes.” “Brother-in-law, your sister knows a good opportunity when she sees one.” “When she’s rolling in Zane’s money, don’t forget who set it all up.” Hector dropped the feather duster on the coffee table and picked up his drink. “Young girls today.” He sipped, satisfied. “They say no with their mouths and yes with everything else.” “Zane’s a real man. Not every guy can handle a firecracker like that.” I stared up at the closed door, my palms slick with blood from where my fingernails had dug in. I had watched my sister walk out the gate with my own eyes. But what if she’d come back? Cassidy checked her watch, smoothed out her gown, and smiled like she’d just closed a business deal. “All right. We’re about due. Zane’s probably wrapping up.” “I’ll go check in. We’ll bring him down for a toast.” “The construction contract hits our account by Monday. Vega Construction is going to own this whole city.” She started up the stairs. Each step she took landed somewhere inside my ribs. She reached the door — painted a deep colonial red — and turned the handle. A click.

The door swung open. Cassidy stepped inside and disappeared. Several seconds of absolute silence. Then a shriek — not a scream, a shriek — from upstairs. Cassidy’s voice, completely unraveled. “Oh my God—” Then Zane, furious and snarling. “Would you shut up? Jesus Christ. What is wrong with you people?” “The girl is out of her mind. She threw herself headfirst into the damn wall.” “I barely touched her and she loses it. I almost got blood all over my shirt.” Downstairs, Hector’s hand jerked and tea sloshed down his front. He was on his feet. “What happened? Is someone hurt? Oh God, don’t tell me someone’s dead in this house.” He scrambled for the stairs. Linc followed, loosening his tie. “Cass! Talk to me!” I was alone in the foyer. I dragged myself to the front door. Still deadbolted. No key. I grabbed a vase from the console table and hurled it at the window. Glass exploded outward — but the security bars bolted to the frame didn’t move. I turned and stared at the staircase. Five minutes passed. Footsteps coming down — uneven, stumbling. Cassidy came first. Face drained of color. Sweat on her forehead. Hector behind her, clutching the railing, knees buckling. Linc last, hand pressed over his mouth, gray-faced. Zane came down with his shirt hanging open, something dark spattered across the fabric. He didn’t look at anyone. The woman from the room — she wasn’t with them. Cassidy reached the bottom of the stairs and sat down hard on the couch. Her hands were shaking too badly to unlock her phone. She tried three times before the screen responded. Zane dressed himself with aggressive, impatient movements, like the whole thing had just been an inconvenience. “Cassidy. Your girl has problems. I barely touch her, and she starts acting like she’s dying.” “She ran her own head into the wall. I couldn’t even stop her.” “If this gets out, people are going to think I’m some kind of psycho.” I crossed the room and grabbed Cassidy by the neckline of her gown. “Where is she? Why didn’t you bring her down? I need to call an ambulance.” Cassidy jerked her head up. Her eyes were red, wild. “Shut up. There is no ambulance.” “She’s resting. She passed out. Nobody goes in that room.” Linc was across the room, pressing his hand to his chest like he’d nearly had a heart attack. “Scared me half to death. Face all swollen, blood everywhere. I couldn’t even tell who—” He stopped. “Brother-in-law, your sister is one dramatic girl.” “Is she trying to set up a lawsuit? Destroy her own face just to get money out of Zane?” “She’s trying to trap him. Has to be.” Hector straightened up, his triangular eyes narrowing. “Exactly. Classic shakedown. Trying to use this to claw her way into Zane’s world?” “Zane, this has nothing to do with you. She lost her footing. We all saw it. We’ll all swear to it.” Zane pulled a card from his wallet and slapped it on the coffee table. “Five hundred thousand. Get her face fixed — or don’t. That’s not my problem anymore.” “Cassidy. Clean this up. If even a whisper of this gets out, your whole family disappears. You know what I mean by that.” Cassidy stared at the card. Her eyes went from terrified to hungry in the span of a second. She snatched it off the table. “Done. Handled. Nobody will ever know.” “This was an accident. A family matter. You have nothing to worry about.” I lunged for the landline by the kitchen. “There’s a woman bleeding out upstairs. I am calling 911.” Cassidy grabbed an ashtray and brought it down on the phone like a hammer. Plastic and circuitry exploded across the counter. She spun on me, her mascara running in dark rivulets. “Ethan. Do you want to get us all killed?” “Zane is running for president of the Chamber of Commerce. This cannot come out.” “We handle this in-house. Private doctor. No hospitals.” “Until the doctor gets here, that door stays closed.” A sound from above — barely there. Like a fingernail, scraping slowly across hardwood. In the dead silence of the house, it sounded like a scream. Hector flinched so hard his glass hit the floor. “That girl is… she’s still moving? After all that blood?”

Cassidy pulled a notepad and pen from the kitchen drawer and started writing. When she finished, she dropped the paper in front of me. It was a settlement agreement. “She pressed the pen into my hand, eyes flat and cold.” “You’ve seen how this sits, Ethan. Zane cannot be touched. I cannot be touched.” “You sign this — you confirm it was consensual, confirm it was an accident — and I call the best private doctor in the state right now.” “You don’t sign it, and she bleeds out up there. That’s your choice.” Linc crouched down to my eye level with a fake-sympathetic look. “What are you waiting for? Every second you don’t sign, that’s on you.” “Half a million dollars. She could buy a house back home. Even with a messed-up face, she finds a good man, she’s set.” “You love her? Sign the paper.” Hector was staring at the card in Cassidy’s hand, practically drooling. “Sign it. We’re helping her. This is us looking out for her.” “Stop being dramatic and put your name on it.” The scraping from upstairs had stopped. The kind of silence that feels like a door closing. Linc glanced up at the ceiling and made an exaggerated face. “Uh oh. She’s gone quiet, brother-in-law.” “You better hurry up, or you’re going to be signing a death certificate instead.” My hands were shaking. I picked up the pen and signed my name. Pressed my thumb in the ink. Left a print. Cassidy ripped the paper from the table and actually kissed it. “There you go. Smart man. We are going to be rich.” “Zane, we’re good — it’s done.” Zane gave a single approving nod. “Good. Now I’m going to walk out that front door, and this never happened.” I was on my feet immediately. “You said you’d call the doctor. Call him.” Hector grabbed Cassidy’s arm before she could dial. “A private doctor costs a fortune. You know what those house calls run?” “The girl isn’t even that bad. Shock, probably. Let her sleep it off upstairs, and in the morning we drive her to the walk-in clinic and they stitch her up.” “The face is already done. What difference does it make where she heals?” I stared at him. “You just promised—” Cassidy slipped her phone back into her pocket and looked away. “Dad’s right. The doctor might report it. We wait. She’s not going to die.” “Don’t push it, Ethan.” While the three of them started talking about how to divide the half-million dollars, upstairs the person in that room was alone and bleeding. And then — three hard slams against the front door. BANG. BANG. BANG. Like someone trying to take the door off its hinges. Cassidy’s head shot up. “Who is that? Who’s here?” Linc swung around toward me. “Did you tip someone off? I knew it — I knew you had a backup plan—” The person outside started kicking. “Cassidy Vega, you open this door right now!” Cassidy, afraid the neighbors would hear, had no choice but to go to the door. “Who is it? This better be important!” She unlatched the deadbolt and the door burst inward, catching her across the forehead. She staggered back with a cry. In the doorway stood seven or eight people — some of them holding bats. My relatives. The ones I’d quietly called to the wedding from out of town. Cassidy took one look at them and immediately shrank. “Oh — hi, everyone. Today’s been a little chaotic, it’s not really a great time to—” She was already sidling toward the stairs, trying to block the bottom step with her body. Linc ducked behind her and poked his head out. “You can’t just break into a private residence! This is trespassing!” “We will call the police on every single one of you!” I stood in the center of the foyer. “I asked them to come.” I said it quietly. “They’re here to take someone home.” Hector jumped to his feet, pointing. “Nobody is taking anyone anywhere! My family’s guest is resting upstairs!” “Get out of this house! All of you!” The group parted. A clear voice came from just behind them. “Resting upstairs?” A young woman stepped through the door, grocery bags looped over both arms, looking around the room with open confusion. “Sir, who exactly are you talking about?”

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To spare his omega mistress the agony of delivering pups, my alpha father had bound a witch’s curse to my mother — a pain-transfer spell. The ninety-seventh transfer had just completed, and all of it had been dumped onto Mom. Inside the hospital room, she lay barely conscious, crumpled like a rag doll someone had wrung out and tossed aside. Out in the hallway, my father and his mistress were laughing — full-throated, shameless laughter — celebrating the birth of their child. My eyes burned red. Despair settled over me like a second skin. His mistress, Serena, looked down at me with pure contempt. “Save the pitiful act. Your mother owes me this.” “She’s just taking on a little pain. It’s not going to kill her.” My father’s voice was ice-cold, each word landing like a blade. “Your mother brought this on herself. She’s the one who pushed Serena down the stairs and nearly caused a stillbirth. A little pain is getting off easy.” I thought of every time Mom had screamed and writhed alone in a room while they celebrated outside. I curled my fists until my knuckles went white. I wanted to burn everything down with them still inside. And then — I heard it. A voice, crystalline and otherworldly, rising inside my mother’s mind. “My child. I offer you the gift of rebirth, and the power to return every wound to those who gave it.” “From this moment forward, when the one hundredth pain transfer is complete —” “All harm will be returned to its source, doubled.” “The witch’s curse will shatter. Every fortune, every title, every glory belonging to those who hurt you — all of it will be surrendered to you.” Silence. Then, slowly, color crept back into Mom’s pale cheeks. The despair that had clouded her eyes dissolved. Serena noticed. She let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Damien, what did I tell you? She’s faking. Look at her — color in her face already. She’s been performing this whole time.” My father stared at the woman in the bed. Whatever flicker of guilt had been in his eyes went out entirely. “Elara Voss, you disgust me. Pulling a stunt like this just to make me feel sorry for you?” “Since your body’s so fine, drag yourself out there and kneel in front of Serena. You stay on your knees until she forgives you.” My face went cold. A year ago, Serena had heard that winter swimming could help with weight loss. She had waded into a frozen lake, pushed herself too hard, and spiked a fever of a hundred and four. She could barely stand. My father had coaxed my mother with honeyed words, transferred Serena’s fever and pain directly into her. Mom had spent three days and three nights unable to sleep, rolling across the bed in agony. She never fully recovered. Her joints ached every time the temperature dropped. And now he wanted her to kneel on cold stone floors with those ruined knees. He knew. He knew exactly what that would do to her — and he was asking for it anyway. There had been a time he was gentle with her. All of that gentleness now belonged to Serena. Over the years, he had transferred pain into Mom for everything — Serena’s surgery recoveries, Serena’s gym injuries, even once when Serena clipped her fingernail too short and nicked the skin. Every ache, every inconvenience, tunneled straight into my mother. Mom, who had once had bright, clear eyes — she had grown dim under the weight of it all. I was about to step forward and say something. Mom caught my arm and shook her head, once, quiet and firm. She looked directly at my father, her voice low and hoarse. “Damien Ashford. Sever the bond.” He blinked, startled. Then his hand shot out and he yanked her upright from the bed, his grip vicious. “Is that a threat, Elara?” Her face went paler. He saw it. His grip loosened just slightly, his voice dropping half a degree. “You are and will always be my luna. But the fact remains — you put Serena in danger. You nearly cost her and the baby their lives.” “Kneel before her and mean it, and I’ll have ginger broth and a heating salve sent up. I’ll protect your legs.” When she heard that, Mom let out a smile — hollow, heartbroken — as though she had just remembered the punchline to a very old joke. The rage I’d barely tamped down flared back to life. Even now, after everything, he was still dangling the title of luna over her head like bait on a hook. Hadn’t that title already taken enough? Because of it, she had run every ceremony in Ashford Pack — every coming-of-age ritual, every pack feast, every full moon gathering — organized by her hands alone, while he stood at the front and took the credit. Because of it, she had taught herself to cook from scratch, never having set foot in a kitchen before the bond. Her hands were maps of old scars from burns and cuts. And Serena — Serena had everything except the title. Money. Devotion. His time. His protection. And when it came to bearing his children, he wouldn’t even let her feel the pain of it. I had begged him. On my knees, I had begged him not to put Mom through it again. She was a werewolf — she could heal — but there were limits. Do it enough times and it would kill her. He had told me Mom had already been through childbirth. She could handle it. Serena, he said, was too delicate. Too delicate. Serena was a full year older than my mother. She only looked younger because she had spent years wrapped in his affection like a hothouse flower, while Mom had aged in his shadow. I tightened my fists. Every nerve in me screamed to go at him. Mom held me back again. Then she reached for the fruit knife on the bedside table and pressed it to her own throat.

“Kneeling isn’t enough. Take my life instead. Will that satisfy you?” The blade was thin but sharp. A line of red opened across Mom’s neck, and blood slid down the pale column of her throat. My father’s pupils blew wide. For the first time tonight, he looked genuinely afraid. “Elara, have you lost your mind? Lyra — don’t just stand there! Do you want to watch your mother bleed out?” Mom looked at him, and the bigger his panic grew, the calmer her smile became. “Damien, wouldn’t it be easier if I were gone? Then there’s nothing standing between you and Serena.” His face tightened, words stumbling over each other. “That — you’re being ridiculous. I have never thought of Serena as anything but a sister—” A sister. Right. A sister he had shared a bed with for three years and fathered a child with. “Elara, stop making a scene. If someone reports this to the Lycan King, we’ll lose our honored pack status before the year is out.” And there it was. Three years he had been with Serena. Three years, and now he wanted to play devoted mate? No — he was afraid of the scandal. Afraid the rumors would reach the throne and undo everything he’d spent years building. His reputation. His pack’s standing. His perfect image as a faithful, noble alpha. He wanted Mom to stay because she kept everything running and made him look good. He wanted Serena because she made him feel good. He didn’t want to lose either one. I looked at the blood on Mom’s neck, my eyes burning, and pressed a fold of gauze against the cut to slow the bleeding. “Mom. Don’t do this to yourself. He isn’t worth it.” She lifted her hand — slow, effortful — and brushed the hair from my forehead. She looked at my red eyes, and gently wiped the corner of one with her thumb. “Don’t cry. It will all be over soon. And then… we’ll be free.” She swayed. I caught her before she could fall. But Serena wasn’t finished. “Damien—” Her voice went honeyed and pitiful. “It hurts. I think my incision tore open.” Damien crossed the room in three steps. He lifted the hem of Serena’s hospital gown, and there it was — the surgical wound, split open in a way that did not look accidental. His jaw hardened. He spun toward the nurses. “Transfer Serena’s pain to Elara Voss. Now.” And in the same instant, the voice returned — crystalline and cold — inside my mother’s mind. “The ninety-eighth transfer is complete.” Serena sagged against Damien’s chest and pressed her fingers delicately to her eyes. “Elara, I’m so sorry. I hate to keep putting this on you.” Mom shuddered — the full-body kind, the kind that meant the pain had arrived in a wave. Her face went white as paper. But she clenched her jaw and made no sound. Her lips curved into a cold, anticipatory smile. I understood. She had done this on purpose. She had pushed them — goaded them — into triggering the transfer. Two left. Only two more. But God, the thought of her enduring two more— I gripped the hem of her sleeve, blinking hard against the sting in my eyes. “Mom… we can walk away. Leave everything. I don’t care about any of it.” Mom tried to smile. Serena cut in before she could speak. Her voice dripped sweetness, laced with poison. “Elara, I know you blame me for taking Damien away from you.” “But what could I do? We fell in love. I gave up everything — I didn’t even ask for the title of luna. I’ve been so patient. And then you nearly killed me on that operating table.” She paused and sighed, theatrical as a stage actress. “All I’m asking for is an apology. Why play the victim?” “Fine. Maybe it’s my fault for everything. Maybe I deserve to die.” She turned — and her foot swung, hard and deliberate, straight into my mother’s body.

“Ahh—” For the first time all night, Mom couldn’t hold it in. The cry tore out of her, raw and broken. My father flinched. He started to raise his hands toward her — Then Serena threw herself into his chest, eyes shimmering, bottom lip trembling. “Damien — it hurts—” One look at her face, and whatever fragment of conscience had stirred in him was gone. “Elara! She stepped back to give you room and you shoved her? After everything she’s done to accommodate you?” “Transfer the pain. Do it now.” He never even glanced at my mother. He didn’t see her face going the color of ash. He just held Serena and murmured into her hair while the nurses scrambled to carry out his order. Within minutes, Mom’s breathing had gone shallow and ragged. My eyes flooded red. I fixed my gaze on Serena, still nestled in my father’s arms, and watched the corner of her mouth pull up in a small, triumphant smirk. I was already moving when Mom grabbed my wrist and held on. Her lips barely parted. Four words, barely a breath. “One more. Just one.” I stopped. My whole body went still. One more transfer. That was all that stood between us and one hundred. Serena caught the pause. She shifted deliberately in my father’s arms and pressed a hand to her abdomen, right over the incision, rubbing it in slow circles. My father tensed immediately. He opened his mouth — Mom lifted her eyes. The ruin of her face held no expression at all. Her voice came out like iron. “Damien Ashford. After this one, there is no going back.” Serena’s eyes filled on cue, her chin wobbling. “Elara, even if you don’t want to take on my pain, you don’t have to keep threatening Damien with things like that.” She turned to him, voice breaking. “Damien, let’s just stop here. I can’t keep watching you be torn apart like this.” She made to walk away. My father’s brow creased. He looked at Mom with open disappointment, then immediately reached out to pull Serena back against him, his voice a sharp crack aimed at Mom. “Elara, enough. If you don’t want to be luna of Ashford Pack, fine — I’ll release you from it. But even if I dissolve the bond, you’re not leaving this pack. You will continue to take on Serena’s pain. That is what you owe.” He paused, and his eyes hardened further. “I was going to authorize pain medication for you. I’m rescinding that.” “Let’s see how long you can hold out.” He had them lock us in the room next door. No food. No water. No medication of any kind. I pressed cloth against Mom’s wounds, watching them multiply — wounds that had no source, opening on her skin from nowhere, blooming red. “Mom, let me stop the bleeding—” “Silly girl. Don’t cry. It doesn’t hurt. Not compared to the other ninety-eight times. This is nothing.” She could barely lift her arm. But she tried again and again until her hand found my face, and she touched my cheek — so softly. “Lyra… when it’s done… I’m taking you away from here.”

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With more than ten patents, I smoothly earned me my tenure. At the faculty honors ceremony, my husband Ryan suddenly turned on me in front of everyone. “Does this university have no standards? You’d give tenure to someone who abuses animals?” I had no idea what he was talking about, but Ryan pointed to the dog beside him, his voice dripping with contempt. “The vet said the dog had internal injuries, obvious signs of deliberate abuse. Do I need to throw the proof in your face?” “Stella, what kind of person beats an animal behind closed doors? A sick one.” “Now it all makes sense, you keep a dog nobody else wanted just so you have something to hurt when no one’s watching.” The room exploded. My tenure was revoked on the spot. I was suspended, reprimanded, and within the hour, I was everyone’s target. I pushed through the crowd and got in Ryan’s face. He looked back at me, unbothered. “You should’ve let Zoey have the award. Consider this a lesson.” “She’s young. You’re a grown woman. Stop being so petty.” Zoey? That talentless pretty girl? I stepped away and called my father overseas, the anger burning through my chest. “Dad. It’s time to bury his company.” — The students who used to greet me in the hallways now had fire in their eyes. “Get out of Columbia! Get out of this country!” “Sick freak! Someone punishes her!” Reporters swarmed me with cameras and microphones. Rotten eggs and garbage rained down. I was soaked, my forehead split open and bleeding. Zoey pushed through the crowd, clapped a hand on my shoulder, and put on a show. “Stella, just admit what you did. Don’t worry. I’ll put in a good word with the president.” She turned to face the crowd, all righteous and composed. “Everyone, please go home. I’ll talk some sense into Professor Stella.” The rage shot straight to my head. I wanted to rip her apart right there. “Save the crocodile tears, Zoey.” My vision blurred at the edges. My voice came out louder than I intended. “I did not do anything illegal.” “If you have actual evidence, take it to court—stop throwing accusations with zero proof.” Ryan crossed his arms, jaw tight. “Evidence? You think I’d make this up?” “Stella, marrying you is the biggest mistake of my life.” Everyone praised him for it and said he had the guts to expose his own wife, that he’d torn off my mask and saved more innocent animals from me. Seven years. And he was hell-bent on burning me down for that girl toy. All those years, when Ryan wanted to start his company, I stayed in this city under a false name, feeding him patents, technical support, everything I had, working myself into the ground for his business. The early days were tight, but back then, his whole world was me. I still remembered his arms around my waist, his voice quiet and certain. “Stella, you’re going to be the youngest tenured professor at Columbia. And when that day comes, I’ll light up the whole city for you.” I could still hear it. But that man was gone. I slipped away from the crowd and headed to the president’s office. But the situation was already out of control. People online had dug up my phone number, my home address, everything. My phone wouldn’t stop ringing the entire walk over. “You call yourself a teacher? You’re not even fit to be human.” “I swear to God, if I see you, I’ll cut you myself.” When I finally walked into the office, President Janet took one look at me and covered her nose, disgust all over her face. “You have the nerve to show up here?” Something sour rose in my throat. I kept my voice level. “President Janet, I understand the school needs to act. Suspend me—I’ll cooperate. But you cannot publish a formal disciplinary notice. That’s a false accusation.” She slammed her hand on the desk, grabbed a folder, and threw it at my face. Her finger jabbed at my nose. “False accusation? Your own husband said it. How is that false?” “Stella, either shut up and take it or get out.” “Columbia isn’t appropriate for someone like you.” I pressed my back teeth together. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Then the door opened. Zoey walked in on Ryan’s arm, chin up, heels clicking like she was walking into a room she already owned. President Janet’s whole face rearranged itself. She scrambled forward, voice slick. “Mr. Ryan, you didn’t have to come yourself—” “I promise, Zoey will have the tenure offer locked in within three days.” “As for Stella, she’s already suspended. Whatever happens next is entirely your call.” Ryan gave a slow, satisfied nod. “I’ll add three million on top of the original donation.” I stood there, frozen. There was nothing left to figure out. This wasn’t just a suspension, wasn’t just a disciplinary notice—they had planned the whole thing. The goal was to destroy my reputation and clear the way for Zoey. But none of Ryan’s success would exist without me. Where did he think all those patents came from? Years of my work turned into the knife they used to stab me. My chest heaved. I bit down and said it through my teeth. “Forgetting qualifications, Zoey graduated from a third-rate school, has zero patents, zero research output. She doesn’t meet a single requirement for this award.” “And this is bribery. This is a crime. You think I won’t take you to court?”

Zoey’s face crumpled into something wounded. “It’s all my fault, Ryan. I don’t deserve this honor. I’ll step down and give it back to Stella—” She wiped at tears that weren’t there. Ryan’s face flooded with concern. He turned and shot me a hard look. “Take us to court? With what?” “Even if the cops showed up, all they’d find is you smearing innocent people.” “Apologize to Zoey. Right now.” President Janet looked me up and down, voice flat with contempt. “Stella, you can’t win this one. Apologize to Mr. Ryan and maybe you’ll still have a place at Columbia. Otherwise—” I looked at all three of them. Then I laughed. “No need. I quit.” Janet ran her mouth plenty, but she got one thing right—Columbia wasn’t good enough for me. I turned and walked out through their cursing without looking back. When I got home, someone had spray-painted my door. The smell burned my eyes. The hallway was full of neighbors staring at me like I was something that crawled out of a gutter. “Living next to something like this is so disgusting.” “Anyone with pets, keep them far away from this freak.” I walked in without expression and pulled the divorce papers out of the desk drawer. When I’d given them to Ryan before all this, he’d been too busy throwing Zoey a birthday party to even look at them, just scrawled his name and handed them back. I picked up my phone and scrolled straight into Zoey’s latest Instagram post. [Grateful for Ryan’s incredible gift! As Columbia’s new tenured professor, I’ll keep working hard and won’t let anyone down!] In the photo, she was leaning against a Maybach, grinning ear to ear. The comments were a pile of praise. [Insane!! Youngest tenured professor in history!] [So talented! Professor Zoey, please look after us!] I zoomed in. It was the car I’d ordered last week. I hadn’t even picked it up yet. My blood ran hot. I typed a comment. [Stealing cars now? Do Columbia professors really make that little?] I hit post. Ryan called before the screen even dimmed, his voice sharp. “What is that comment supposed to mean?” “Do you know Zoey just got publicly announced? She can’t have any scandals right now.” “Delete it. Record a video apology. Now. Or we’re getting divorced.” I almost laughed. Why? Why did I have to hand over everything I had to that woman? I gripped my phone. “Fine. Let’s get divorced. I’ve been waiting.” “And if that car isn’t returned to me within two hours, I’m calling the police.” I hung up. In the comments, my Columbia colleagues had already picked a side. [Someone is just bitter. Can’t earn tenure yourself so you trash-talk everyone else.] [Oh she definitely earned something. The dog can confirm.] I pressed my palm flat on the table and started packing. A while later, the restaurant called to confirm my reservation. I’d booked a private room to celebrate my tenure. But Ryan had burned that. And my colleagues had scattered the moment the wind changed. I went alone, sat down in front of a full table of food, and drank. Shot after shot. The liquor went down hot, and everything from that day got sharper, not duller. From the private room next door, cheering broke through the wall. “Congratulations, Professor Zoey, Columbia’s newest tenured professor!”

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It was past midnight outside the bar when I got the Uber request from my ex-wife. When she climbed into the front seat and saw my face, her jaw dropped. “Ethan.” Her voice cracked. “Ethan Cole — you’re out. Why didn’t you come find me?” But Vivian had barely finished speaking before the drunk man beside her hauled her into his arms and pressed his mouth against hers. She fumbled to steady him, and that was when I recognized him. Derek Walsh. My best friend. The man who had accused me of sexual assault and put me behind bars. I tugged my cap lower and opened the rear door on autopilot. “Sir, let’s get you in. Please leave a five-star review when we’re done.” Vivian’s control shattered. She slapped the keys out of my hand, tears already streaming, and grabbed my shoulder with both hands. “Ethan, come home with me right now. Do you have any idea how much Mom, Dad, and I have missed you all these years?” I quietly pulled her hand off me and turned to pick up the keys from the ground. My prosthetic knocked against the bumper. Vivian stared at my leg. The tears came harder. I couldn’t understand what she was crying about. After all, she was the one who had believed I assaulted her best friend — and as a lawyer, she had personally handed me over to the police. ——— “Ethan, what happened to your leg?” Vivian’s question broke through Derek’s drunken haze. He squinted at me, a sneer curling his lips. “Well, well. If it isn’t brother Ethan.” “When did you get out? You should’ve told me, I would’ve come to pick you up.” Derek leaned against Vivian’s shoulder, eyes bleary with liquor. Vivian wiped her face and shot him a reproachful look. “Derek, you’re drunk. Stop talking nonsense.” Derek just shrugged, then hooked his arm around Vivian’s waist and pulled her against him. “What nonsense? Ethan did wrong, went in, and I was praying every single day he’d turn himself around.” He swung a kick at my fold-up walking cane. Vivian gasped and reflexively steadied Derek before he could topple over. “Derek, you’re drunk — stop moving around.” The tenderness in her voice was identical to how she used to speak to me. Once Derek was settled, she looked back at my prosthetic. “Your leg… Ethan, what did you go through in there?” Her eyes were red-rimmed. I ignored her and bent to pick up the cane from the ground. “Excuse me. Could you move?” The movement was clumsy, and a gust of wind lifted my trouser leg, exposing the cheap metal brace. Vivian pressed a hand over her mouth, tears falling freely. “Ethan, please. Come back with me. We need to talk — we need to clear everything up…” She reached for me. I stepped aside. “Ms. Grant, are we still doing this ride? If not, I’ll cancel it.” I held up my phone, businesslike, and looked at her. Derek let out a short, contemptuous laugh and yanked Vivian into his chest. “Vivian, why are you wasting your breath on this rapist?” “He couldn’t even keep his hands off your best friend Sophie. He got what he deserved.” “If you ask me, losing a leg is getting off easy.” Derek spat the words reeking of alcohol, every one of them driving straight into my chest. Five years ago, this man — my closest friend — had gotten me blackout drunk and left me in a hotel room. By the time I woke up, Sophie had run out in tears, her clothes in disarray. And Vivian had walked in with the police right behind her. She hadn’t let me say a single word. She slapped me right there in the doorway. What made it truly absurd was that she — the sharpest attorney in the city — had personally served as Sophie’s legal representative and put me away. I pulled myself back to the present and looked at Vivian. She was still pressed against Derek’s side. She frowned, but she didn’t push him away. “Derek, enough.” A soft reprimand. Then she turned to me. “Ethan. Let’s just do the ride.” “You need the money.” I didn’t say anything. She wasn’t wrong — I was broke. I adjusted the seat out of habit. By the time I finished, Vivian had already helped Derek into the back. The car was silent the entire way. Only Derek mumbled now and then. “Vivian… my head hurts… can you rub it…” Vivian murmured back to him, coaxing and gentle. I stared at the road ahead, expression blank, keeping the accelerator perfectly steady. Half an hour later, I pulled up in front of a gated luxury villa community. It used to be Vivian’s and my home. “Here we are. One hundred and eighty dollars.” I held out the receipt toward the back seat. Vivian handed me two hundred. “The twenty’s a tip.” I took it without a word. Derek pulled out a wad of hundred-dollar bills and flung them at my face. “Thank your lucky stars. Someone like you still getting paid — consider this charity. Buy yourself a decent prosthetic.” “Stop dragging that leg around in public like you’re begging for sympathy.” He smirked, then steered Vivian out of the car. Vivian stood there staring at the money scattered across the ground, her brow creased. “Ethan, don’t take it personally. Derek’s just like that when he’s had too much.” “Take the money. Tomorrow, come by the firm. I’ll find you something proper to do.” I stepped out and collected only my $180. “I’m not worth much, Ms. Grant. But I’m not worth Derek Walsh’s dirty money either.” “Don’t forget to leave that five-star review.” Derek lunged forward to swing at me, but Vivian caught his arm. And I started the engine, drove the car back to the rental company before dawn, and let the dark swallow me whole.

December in Houston. The wind cut like a blade. Where the prosthetic met my residual limb, blood had already soaked through. I gritted my teeth and made it back to my rented room. When I undid the harness, the stump beneath was raw and mangled. In the first weeks after my conviction, Derek had come to see me in the visitation room — grinning like he’d won the lottery. “Ethan, you have no idea how good Vivian is in bed.” “Don’t worry about a thing in there. Your wife, your house, your firm — I’ll take real good care of all of it.” I had thrown myself against the glass partition screaming until my throat tore. That same night, three inmates dragged me into a blind spot with no cameras. They used an iron rod. They broke my leg, inch by inch. “Somebody paid good money for this.” I spent six months flat on my back. The infection spread. In the end, amputation was the only option. I had hated, back then. But five years in prison had hollowed that hate into something closer to despair. The next morning I was woken by urgent knocking. I thought it was the landlord again about the rent. It was Vivian. “Ethan, I made lasagna. With the crispy pancetta you always loved.” She let herself in. “Don’t let Derek’s words get to you. That’s just his way.” “I came today to talk about your future.” I leaned against the doorframe, watching her coldly. “What future does an Uber driver have?” “Ms. Grant, you should head back. Don’t want to get that designer outfit dirty.” Vivian turned around and sighed. “Ethan, stop being stubborn. If you go to Sophie and apologize — sincerely — I’ll bring you back to the firm.” “You can’t practice law, obviously. But there’s a cleaning position. Five thousand a month. Enough to get by.” She raised her chin slightly, waiting for my gratitude. A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “Vivian. You want me to apologize to the woman who fabricated the entire thing?” The color drained from Vivian’s face. “Ethan! You still refuse to take responsibility?” “If I hadn’t argued for leniency — out of respect for our marriage — do you think you’d have gotten only five years?” She stepped toward me, reaching to drag me toward the door. I shoved her hand away. “Vivian. Did you ever actually read the case files carefully?” “Why did the security camera in that hotel corridor go down at the exact right moment?” “And what exactly was in the drink I had that night?” My questions made her hesitate. Then her impatience flared. “Enough, Ethan! Are you seriously suggesting Derek and Sophie conspired to frame you?” “I came here to help you. Don’t throw it back in my face.” I pointed at the door. My voice was flat. “I don’t need your help. Get out.” Vivian’s eyes went wide, as if she couldn’t believe I was speaking to her this way. “You are completely unreasonable! Do you think you’re still the hotshot lawyer you used to be?” “You’re a convict, Ethan. A cripple.” She slammed the door behind her. That afternoon, just as I was about to log back in to take rides, I got a notification from the platform. My Uber account had been permanently deactivated following a customer complaint. The stated reason: disabled pervert driver attempted to assault female passenger. I didn’t even need to think about who was behind it. Derek. He couldn’t even wait a day.

I hadn’t even locked my door before the landlord arrived with two large men blocking the entrance. “Ethan Cole, someone offered ten times the rent. Get your stuff and get out. Now.” Before I could process it, I was standing on the sidewalk. My belongings were thrown out after me. It had started raining. A downpour. The prosthetic throbbed in the cold water. A Maybach rolled up and drenched me in a wave of muddy runoff. “Look at that. The great attorney, brought this low.” Derek exhaled a lazy ring of smoke. “You really are an embarrassment, Ethan.” Vivian jumped out and held an umbrella over my head. “Ethan, stop fighting it. One apology. That’s all.” “I’ll give you a job. I’ll sort out your housing. Why do you keep driving yourself into a corner like this?” I pressed my palm to the wet ground and forced myself upright. “I don’t need any of it. So could you two please get the hell away from me?” Vivian flinched. “Ethan. When you went to prison, Derek was the only one who was there for me. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have made it through.” “I’m trying to help you. Why do you have to act like a wounded animal?” “Even if you don’t want my help — at least think about your parents. They’ve been looking for you.” As if on cue, two figures came running from the far end of the street. My parents. No umbrella. Rushing straight toward me. But the first thing they did when they reached me was each raise a hand and slap me across the face. “How dare you show yourself out here! You are no son of ours!” “Derek is our son now — you rapist. You should have rotted in that cell.” All this time, I hadn’t dared visit them. I was afraid the rumors had reached them, afraid they were being hurt by the talk. I hadn’t imagined they’d already adopted Derek as their own. Derek hurried over and guided my parents toward the car. “Mom, Dad — Ethan still hasn’t come to terms with what he did. He won’t even apologize to the victim.” “Let’s not worry about him. With me and Vivian running the firm, you two can retire in peace.” My parents looked at me with withering contempt. “Ethan. If Derek hadn’t been managing the firm all these years, our life’s work would’ve been gone.” “If you still won’t take responsibility, then you’re on your own from here.” The Maybach pulled away. I walked alone into the dark. Even my own parents didn’t believe me. What a failure I’d made of being alive. But to survive, I made my way to a construction site and asked for labor work. The foreman took one look at my prosthetic and shook his head. “No. We don’t take injured workers. Liability.” I grabbed his arm. “I’m strong. Half wages. Just feed me.” The foreman was about to shove me off when a cleaning woman nearby suddenly let out a sharp sound. “You… are you Mr. Cole?” I froze. I studied the woman. She grabbed my arm and pulled me around the corner, glancing left and right first. “Mr. Cole, I’m so sorry. Five years ago, Derek paid me a hundred thousand dollars to break the camera.” “But I secretly made a recording. The conversation between him and Sophie — where they planned the whole setup — it’s all there.” “My conscience wouldn’t let me destroy it. Please don’t tell anyone it came from me.” That night, I held the voice recorder in my hands. The tears came without warning. So that was how it was. Five years behind bars. A missing leg. A life in pieces. And now, finally — the truth.

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When the broke campus heartthrob confessed to my best friend for the tenth time, she pointed at me. “Elara’s poor too. You two would be perfect together.” He looked at me. The dead eyes flickered to life. Ten years later, he hit the Forbes list. The first thing he did was thank me for standing by him. Everyone knew he spoiled me rotten. Until he saw Jade pole dancing at a club. Turns out her rich husband had gone bankrupt and blown his brains out. Silas slid the divorce papers across the table. “If I hadn’t married you, she could’ve come to me.” We had our first fight in ten years. He froze my bank accounts. I’d rather die than sign. Then Mom’s condition turned critical. He wouldn’t give me a dime. I watched her die. Dad shoved me to the ground, tears streaming down his face. “Why did you fight him? If you hadn’t fought, your mother would be alive! The wrong person died. Why are you still breathing?” My brother Alex stared at me, eyes red and raw. My five years old son Leo tugged at my sleeve, sobbing. “Where’s Grandma? Where is she? Why didn’t you save her, Mommy?” That night, Silas smirked at me. “How much longer are you planning to insist?” I handed him the signed papers. I was done insisting. I was going to find Mom. …… When I pushed the signed papers in front of him, his hand went rigid, cigarette still between his fingers. He didn’t even notice the ash burning his skin. “Being obedient for once?” “Yeah.” He leaned in close. “What’s your game? Just say it.” “I’m going to find Mom.” Silas laughed. “What, transferring her to a new hospital?” I froze. Shock rippled across my face. “Your mother’s condition—only the hospital I set up can treat it. Where are you moving her?” He… didn’t know Mom was dead. A bitter smile ghosted across my lips. “Don’t worry about it.” I stood up and dragged my suitcase over. I didn’t own much. One suitcase wasn’t even half full. After all this fighting, I’d sold almost everything valuable. Still couldn’t scrape together Mom’s surgery fees. Maybe Dad was right. I killed her. Time to pay for it. I opened the door. A hand clamped around my throat. Slammed me against the wall. “Playing games?” Silas towered over me. “You wouldn’t sign for months. Now you’re so easy about it. What, gonna do something to Jade the second you walk out?” Always like this. He always assumed the worst of me. I used to smash things around the house just to remind him I’d been his wife for nearly a decade. But now I smiled. “Kill me. Perfect. You’ll be a widower. Marriage over.” His hand jerked back like my skin’d burned him. He stared at me, disbelief written across his face. I didn’t flinch. He spat out “Psycho” and walked away. I found a cheap apartment. I’d been stockpiling sleeping pills for months. Swallow them all, and I’d leave quietly. I stared at the gray branches outside the window. Smiled faintly. Twisted the cap off the bottle. A crash. My hand jerked. The bottle hit the floor. Pills scattered everywhere. Silas grabbed my arm, his grip bruising. A cold smirk twisted his mouth. “I knew you gave in too easy. You’re going after Jade, aren’t you?” Before I could speak, he dragged me out. The car stopped in an empty lot on the outskirts. He yanked me out and threw me at Jade’s feet. Her sequined mini skirt barely covered anything. Bruises covered her arms and legs. She glared at me through red-rimmed eyes. “Elara, I may have fallen on hard times, but I still have morals. I never tried to wreck your marriage. Why did you have those animals kidnap me and humiliate me? If Silas hadn’t shown up in time, they would’ve killed me!” I looked at the strangers surrounding us. “I didn’t do this.” “Still lying?” Silas grabbed my jaw. “These guys already said you hired them. What, you think Jade set herself up?” Jade shot the thugs a quick look. They broke into exaggerated sobs. “Mrs. Cross! You can’t just back out now!” “Yeah, Mrs. Cross! You said you’d cover for us if anything went wrong!” “You called her a whore! Said there’d be no consequences! If we’d known she was Mr. Cross’s woman, we never would’ve touched her!” Jade whimpered softly. Silas’s grip on my jaw tightened until I thought the bone would crack. “Keep lying, and you can forget about your mother’s medical bills. Forever.”

I stared at him, eyes burning. Then I laughed. “My mother? She’s dead. What bills?” Silas’s pupils contracted. The next second, his palm cracked across my face. “You’ll say anything now just to deny your crime, won’t you?” Jade suddenly spoke up. “Elara, Silas might have problems with you, but he’s never taken it out on your mom. Even I know he set up a medical account for her. He puts in hundreds of thousands of dollars every month.” I went still. Slowly looked up at Silas. His expression was ice-cold. Same as always. A man like him would never give Mom hundreds of thousands of dollars a month. If he had, she wouldn’t be dead. They were both lying. Threatening me with a fake account to force the divorce. Lying… Silas’s voice was arctic. “Gonna keep denying it?” I took a deep breath. “What do you want?” “Get on your knees. Apologize to her.” “Oh, there’s no need, we used to be frie—” Before Jade could finish, I dropped to my knees. Pressed my forehead to the ground. “I’m sorry.” Silas stared at me like I’d grown a second head. I stood up. Dusted off my knees. “If that’s all, I’m leaving.” The pills at the rental were still waiting. “Stop.” A knife clattered onto the table. Silas’s voice was flat. “Jade got hurt because of you. An apology doesn’t cut it.” I turned back. He sneered. “She got cut. So will you.” Jade clutched her scratched arm, eyes welling with tears. “Fine.” Dying was the goal anyway. I picked up the knife. Drove it straight toward my heart. “ELARA!” A hand clamped around mine, gripping the blade. Silas fought against my strength. I stared into his eyes. The tip inched closer to my chest. “ELARA!” I held the handle. He held my hand. “You want your kid in an orphanage? Then go ahead. Do it!” I froze.

“I’m not raising that bastard, Elara.” My mouth opened. Blood trickled from the corner of my lips. “You—” He cut me off. “If you really wanna die, take the brat with you. Looking at his face—looks just like yours—makes me sick.” Right. Silas hated me. So he’d hate Leo too. If I died, no one would protect Leo. Silas might even hurt him. I yanked the knife out. Coughed up blood and stumbled. He caught me. The last thing I heard before I blacked out was his voice, sharp with panic. “Ambulance! Get a fucking ambulance!” When I woke up, I was in a VIP room. Silas sneered down at me. “Getting smarter with your tricks. Even faking suicide now.” I looked at him. His lip curled. “Jade was right. You should’ve been an actress.” He left. I lay alone in the white room. Stared at the ceiling. Pressed my hand to my chest. That afternoon, I knocked on my brother’s door. Mom’s photo still sat on the table. On the couch lay the unfinished scarf she’d been knitting for him. Winter was coming. She’d wanted him to wear it. When Alex saw me, he moved to slam the door. I shoved my hand into the gap. “I need to ask you something.” He turned his head away. I stepped inside. He sat on the couch and lit a cigarette. He never smoked. Never drank. After Mom died, he did both. “I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to you from the start.” He exhaled smoke. Said nothing. “I shouldn’t have held on for those ten years. I shouldn’t have fought with you and Dad over Silas. I should’ve let Jade have him when you first said so. I’m sorry.” My brother laughed bitterly. “Sorry? Will sorry bring Mom back?” My throat closed. He stared at me. “You were so obsessed with keeping him, Mom died because of you.” The last words came through clenched teeth. “Why do I have a sister like you?” I lowered my head, voice shaking. “But… I’m begging you. Take care of Leo.” He went still. “I’m not asking you to love him like your own. Just… don’t let anyone hurt him.” My brother stared at me. Then laughed coldly. “What, guilt-tripping me now?” I said nothing. “Leo’s unlucky to have a mother like you.” “Please.” “Get out.” “Please—” “GET OUT!” An ashtray shattered at my feet. “Get out! Don’t stand there and disrespect Mom’s memory!” I turned. Mom’s photo smiled gently at me from the table. I knelt. Pressed my forehead to the floor. Stood. Knelt again in front of Alex. “Please.” I left without looking back at his shocked face. Outside, I’d already reached the car when his voice rang out. “Don’t ever come back! Go die wherever you want! Don’t tell anyone you’re my sister! This family doesn’t have a sister like you!” I gripped the steering wheel. Tears slid down my cheeks. It was okay if he cursed me. I knew. In the end, he wouldn’t abandon Leo. I started the car. Drove away. The sleeping pills lay quiet on the table. I stretched out on the rental bed. Set a delayed message to the landlord. To send in twenty-four hours. Asking her to contact the funeral home. I’d sold my last pieces of jewelry. Twenty thousand dollars. Not enough for Mom’s surgery. But enough to cover the landlord’s trouble. I brought the pills to my lips. The door exploded inward. Someone grabbed my throat. I choked. Spat the pills out. Silas’s jaw clenched, his eyes wild. “What did you do? What did you and your mother do to Jade?!”

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I’d been in a secret relationship with my childhood best friend Ethan for six years when he dumped me without warning. A month later, my mom brought up gossip about him while taking jabs at me as usual. “Ethan’s about to be a father, and you still haven’t even held a guy’s hand.” “If I’d made you smarter or prettier, maybe he would’ve actually wanted you.” I scrolled through my work messages, barely paying attention. “He’s way out of my league anyway.” I remembered that day. Lying in a hospital bed with my leg in a cast, angry enough to end things. He didn’t try to stop me. Just let out a cold laugh. “Whatever. I’ve got plenty of girls throwing themselves at me who are better than you anyway.” “Besides, who else are you gonna find without me?” …… Hearing my self-deprecating comment, Ethan’s mom Mrs. Harrison immediately brightened up. “Don’t say that! If you two could make it work, I’d be thrilled!” “Ethan’s always been so withdrawn. I’ve never heard him mention a girlfriend once.” Mrs. Harrison sat down next to me, carefully fishing for information. “Maya, you two are close—has he ever talked to you about his girlfriend?” I shook my head. “We don’t really keep in touch much.” Which wasn’t exactly a lie. After all, Ethan hadn’t contacted me once in the month since we broke up. Mrs. Harrison turned to my mom with a sigh. “Daughters are so much easier. Sons are nothing but headaches.” “If I hadn’t been looking through his phone photos the other day and accidentally seen that ultrasound picture, I wouldn’t even know I’m about to be a grandmother.” My mom brought out a plate of strawberries and set them in front of Mrs. Harrison. “Ethan’s always been smart and capable. He knows what he’s doing. Don’t worry.” Mrs. Harrison’s face lit up. “Just the other day someone tried to set him up—apparently the girl’s father is a state senator. Thank god I turned it down, or this would be awkward as hell.” I stared at my phone for a long moment, completely forgetting who I’d been about to message. My mom suddenly kicked my foot. “The doorbell’s been ringing forever. Can’t you get the door?” I shuffled over in a daze. Ethan stood outside, looking down at his phone, a slight smile on his lips. Right before his screen went dark, I caught a glimpse of the pinned chat at the top—a pink profile picture. “Here to pick up my mom.” Not that he needed to explain. I already knew he wasn’t here for me. I looked down, fumbling for slippers for him. “I’m not coming in. Leaving in a second.” I looked up and met his cold stare. For a moment, I felt completely lost. The same person who’d whispered sweet things to me a month ago could barely look at me now without ice in his eyes. I turned to go back inside. He suddenly grabbed my hand. Shoved a paper bag at me. “These absorb better. Take them with vitamin D.” Mrs. Harrison’s voice drifted over. I yanked my hand back. “Don’t you have a flight assignment today? How do you have time to pick me up?” He smoothly tucked the paper bag behind his back. “Got canceled. Had nothing else to do, so I came to get you.” My mom came over too, chatting away as she walked Mrs. Harrison to the door. Ethan stood to the side, quietly waiting for them to put on their shoes. Mrs. Harrison suddenly noticed a pin on his bag. She asked casually, “That’s a unique pin.” “Old classmate gave it to me.” “A girl?” “Yeah. She’s a flight attendant for a private airline. Ran into her at the airport yesterday when we landed.” It clicked. That pinned chat with the pink profile picture—Michelle Shaw, our high school’s queen bee. Over the past six years, I’d given Ethan watches, wallets, ties. He never used any of them. Every time I asked, he’d say he couldn’t bear to use them, wanted to save them. But I knew the truth. He just didn’t want anyone knowing he had a girlfriend. Yet Michelle gave him a pin, and the very next day he’d clipped it to his bag. How desperate was he to show off his new relationship? Mrs. Harrison and my mom exchanged a meaningful look. “It’s good to stay in touch with old classmates! Tell her to come over for tea sometime!” Ethan looked at me, something challenging in his eyes. “What do you think?” I crossed my arms, forcing my lips into something resembling a smile. “I think it’s great. She’s gorgeous. You two look perfect together.” He froze. Something dark flickered across his face.

I started to head back to my room, but my mom called after me. “Maya, grab that bottle of wine for Mrs. Harrison. Take it down to the car so Mr. Harrison can try it too.” By the time I found the wine gift box, my mom and Mrs. Harrison were already at the elevator. Ethan let out a sigh and walked over. He knelt down, gently taking my ankle in his hands. Rested my foot on his knee. His hands were warm. The touch sent an unwanted shiver up my leg. “When did you get the cast off?” “Is it healing okay?” He examined my ankle with this serious, concerned look. The wrong ankle. He was holding the foot that was never injured. I could tell he was trying to make things right between us, patch things up. But what was there left to patch up at this point? He was about to be a father. The front door was wide open. My mom and Mrs. Harrison were right outside chatting. One glance back and they’d see us. I jerked my foot away, panic rising as I turned to put on my shoes. “Don’t worry about it.” He gripped both my shoulders, forcing me to turn and face him. “I had back-to-back flights that week. The next day I flew to Brussels—” I shoved his hands off. “Don’t. If someone saw us, they might get the wrong idea about our relationship.” He lowered his voice. “Maya, what the hell is that supposed to mean?” I finished putting on my shoes quickly. “We already broke up. No point letting people get the wrong idea.” “Especially now that you’ve got a new role to play.” Irritation crept into his voice. “What role?” I watched him play dumb, the words on the tip of my tongue. I swallowed them back. The whole thing was pathetic, really. Ethan didn’t have a single photo of us together on his phone. Not a trace of me anywhere on his social media. When we traveled together, he never let me post anything. Before, he always said our families were too close, that we’d go public when the timing was right. It wasn’t until we broke up and I heard what he really thought that I understood—he’d always been too embarrassed to be seen with me. Ethan frowned, forcing patience into his voice. “Maya, I just got back from an international flight yesterday. First thing this morning I went to buy you calcium supplements.” “You’re at a stage where you’re prone to calcium deficiency—” His phone cut him off mid-sentence. He pulled it out. Michelle’s name flashed across the screen. My voice came out flat, emotionless. “Better answer that. Don’t keep her waiting.” He stared at me, then deliberately hit speaker phone. A woman’s laugh came through first. “Ethan!” “Why’d you leave in such a rush yesterday?” “Your co-pilot got my number and texted me all night.” “He asked me to go to this bar tonight. You should come with me!” Ethan didn’t respond. Just watched me with an amused look, waiting. “Why are you looking at me? What does this have to do with me?” A soft laugh escaped his lips. “You’re the one who said it had nothing to do with you. Don’t regret it later.”

After they left, I grabbed the watering can and started watering the plants on the balcony. My mom chopped vegetables in the kitchen, calling out to me. “That Michelle girl—she’s a classmate of yours?” I answered without much interest. “Yeah.” “How come you’ve never mentioned her? Is she pretty?” “Gorgeous. Drop-dead gorgeous.” The chopping stopped abruptly. “Figures. Handsome pilots always end up with beautiful flight attendants.” “If they have kids, can you imagine how good-looking they’d be?” I zoned out for a second. Ethan probably thought the same thing. Last month at the high school reunion. Ethan deliberately sat half the table away from me to avoid looking suspicious. The moment Michelle walked in, she swapped seats with whoever was next to him. “I heard you made captain?” “Let me get a good look at you. Eye candy for the day.” “All the captains at my airline are ancient.” They had so much in common. Air traffic control, hotels, restaurants—they could talk for hours. Someone at the table teased Ethan. “I heard pilots always marry flight attendants. Is that true?” He answered completely seriously. “Yeah, there’s definitely some internal matchmaking that happens.” I shot him a glare and texted him under the table. **[Matchmaking my ass.]** **[angry emoji]** When everyone started leaving, my best friend Sarah and I walked ahead. Ethan and Michelle followed behind. Michelle was laughing about something, nearly doubled over. I glanced back without thinking and missed a step. Went tumbling down the stairs. “Maya! Are you okay?!” Sarah rushed over. My ankle swelled up almost immediately. A sharp, drilling pain shot through my leg. “Ethan…” His name left my lips on instinct. He started toward me, then stopped several steps away. I looked at him, silently begging. Even then, he chose to keep his distance. Sarah was freaking out. She had her husband carry me to the car and rushed me to the hospital. I gripped Sarah’s hand, my whole body shaking. “Sarah, I’m scared…” She held me tight, trying to soothe me. “Don’t worry. I’m sure the bone’s fine.” I clutched my stomach, tears streaming down my face. “I’m… I’m pregnant.” I’d just gotten the ultrasound confirmation a few days ago. Hadn’t had the chance to tell Ethan yet. But now this. My leg in a cast, a cold probe moving across my stomach. I silently prayed nothing was wrong. Then I heard the doctor’s verdict. “I’m sorry. There’s no heartbeat.” Lying in the hospital bed, I couldn’t sleep. Just stared at the ceiling, tears running silently down my face. Late that night, I saw Michelle post on Instagram. **[It’s been forever since a hot guy drove me home~ happy]** The next day, while Sarah was handling my discharge paperwork, Ethan finally showed up. I lay there numb, refusing to look at him. “Leave.” He didn’t say anything. Just moved to lift me into the wheelchair. I kicked him hard, voice rising. “Where were you when I actually needed you? What’s the point of showing up now?” He frowned. “Everyone from school was there yesterday. I didn’t want them to suspect anything if I acted too close to you.” “Besides, Sarah was with you the whole time. I didn’t think I should get in the way.” I stared at him as tears slid down my cheeks. “Ethan, how worthless am I to you? You’d rather leave me there bleeding on the ground than let anyone know I existed.” He took a deep breath. “It just happened so suddenly. I wasn’t prepared.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t worry about being prepared. We’re done anyway.” I shoved him aside and threw myself clumsily into the wheelchair. He stood there and let out a cold laugh. “Whatever. I’ve got plenty of girls throwing themselves at me who are better than you anyway.” “Besides, who else are you gonna find without me?” Then he turned and walked out. Disappeared from my life completely.

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