Category: English

I was 30,000 feet in the air when I saw the post. My flight back to Dayton was halfway done. I was scrolling Facebook out of boredom when a post in a local community group stopped me cold. “My sister-in-law is almost 30, still single, and keeps coming home to visit. Am I wrong for being over it?” The comments were going nuclear. I almost kept scrolling. Then I saw the original poster fire back at someone defending the sister-in-law. “She has zero boundaries. I’ve been planning this for months.” “Update: I turned her bedroom into a walk-in closet. Let’s see how long she wants to keep showing up now.” I closed the app. I told myself it had nothing to do with me. My name was on the deed of my parents’ house back in Dayton. Nobody was going to gut my bedroom. Then my phone buzzed. A text from Mom. “Honey, I went ahead and booked you a hotel for this visit. The house is a little messy. You’ll be more comfortable there.” The screen dimmed. The cabin hummed around me. Outside the window, Ohio was somewhere below the clouds. I sat very still for a long time. …… The Uber driver from the airport was chatty. “Whoa, Ridgewood Estates? That’s a nice development. My cousin tried to buy there when it opened. Way out of his price range.” “It’s a nice neighborhood,” I said. He wasn’t wrong. I’d put down $180,000 as a down payment. My mortgage was $2,200 a month. I had spent ten years in New York City grinding through every sales job that would have me. I ate lunch at my desk, skipped vacations, watched my bank account crawl upward one commission check at a time. I bought that house because I wanted my parents to have something better than the cramped rental they’d been in since Dad’s back injury. I figured I’d move back eventually. I figured it would be home. My phone buzzed again. “I’m running errands, just go straight to the hotel. I’ll meet you for dinner.” I typed back: “I have the door code. I’ll drop my bags off first.” Then I stopped. I opened Facebook again and found the post. Single at 30. That fit. I only came home once a year, twice at most. But last Christmas, I grabbed a yogurt from the fridge without asking. I was jet-lagged and starving and it was my parents’ house. Ryan’s wife Natalie had spent the rest of that evening dropping comments at the dinner table. “Chloe, not all of us have that New York salary.” “It must be nice to just take whatever you want.” I went out the next morning and bought her a 12-pack of yogurt just to end it. She accepted it without saying thank you. The post had more replies now. “Who bought the house? If it’s the husband’s family’s house, the sister-in-law has every right to be there.” “It’s OUR house. She has no claim here. She’s basically a guest.” I put my phone in my pocket. The Uber turned into Ridgewood Estates. My name was on the title. Every mortgage payment had come from my account. I had nothing to worry about. I kept telling myself that all the way up to the front door.

My fingerprint didn’t work. I tried again. The little red light blinked. I punched in the code I’d set when I bought the house. My birthday and Mom’s birthday combined. The lock beeped twice. Wrong. My chest went tight. I called Ryan. He didn’t pick up. Mom answered on the fourth ring. “The code changed?” “Oh, yeah.” She sounded uncomfortable. “Natalie thought the old one was too easy to guess. She went ahead and updated it.” “Give me the new one.” “Well, I’m not sure I remember it exactly. Why don’t you just check into the hotel and I’ll —” “Mom.” I kept my voice level. “I am standing outside my own house. Give me the code or I’m calling a locksmith.” She gave it to me. I looked at the number. Ryan’s birthday. I typed it in. The lock clicked open. The house was warm. Someone had the heat cranked up. I stepped into the entryway and opened the hall closet looking for my spare flats. They were gone. My backup Nikes were shoved all the way to the back corner, covered in dust. I walked down the hall. The master bedroom door was open. Pink throw pillows on the bed. A vanity mirror I didn’t recognize. My parents’ taste ran to plain wood furniture and quilts they’d had for twenty years. This was not them. My bedroom was at the end of the hall. I pushed the door open. My queen bed was gone. Floor-to-ceiling shelving units covered three walls, all white, all new. Dresses on velvet hangers. Shoes in clear boxes stacked to the ceiling. A makeup vanity with a ring light where my desk used to be. My books were gone. My high school debate trophies were gone. The framed photo from my college graduation was gone. I stood in the doorway and didn’t move. The Facebook post. The yogurt. The locked door. The code set to Ryan’s birthday. The woman in that post was not hypothetical. I was the sister-in-law. My face went hot from my throat to my forehead.

The front door opened behind me. Natalie came in with a designer bag on her arm, heels clicking on the hardwood. She stopped when she saw me. The smile dropped off her face. “How did you get in?” Her voice sharpened fast. “You can’t just walk into someone’s home without announcing yourself. Did nobody teach you that?” “This is my house,” I said. “Why would I knock?” Natalie made a dismissive sound. “Your house. Right. You bought it, so you think you can barge in whenever you feel like it? That’s not how families work, Chloe.” She dropped her bag on the entryway bench. She crossed the room and planted herself in the doorway of what used to be my bedroom, arms folded. Her eyes moved over me, slow and deliberate. “Your mom booked you a hotel. What are you even doing here?” “I came to drop off my bags.” I looked past her at the wall of shelving. “And to see this, apparently.” “You look like you slept in those clothes. I hope you’re not bringing that into my closet.” I pulled out my phone and hit record. I moved the camera slowly. The shelving. The shoes. The vanity. The empty space where my bed used to be. Natalie lunged forward. “Stop recording! This is my private space, you have no right —” I stepped to the side. She stumbled, caught herself on the doorframe, and her face went from pink to red. “Give me that phone.” “No.” She was still sputtering when the front door opened again.

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Three nights before the Luna Ceremony, I was run down by a rogue. My spine was shattered. Damien Blackwood, my mate—the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack—ensured the rogue was executed. But as I lay there in the healer’s den, unable to move, none of it mattered. I didn’t want to wake up. I didn’t want to face the reality of never running with my pack again. Somewhere between the agony and the numbing fog, I heard Damien speaking to the pack healer. “We still have time for an advanced healing ritual. But if we wait a few more days, Selene’s paralysis will be permanent. If you truly want Lilah as your Luna, fine, but why put Selene through this?” Damien sighed, as if my life was nothing more than a burden to him. “If she’s permanently injured, she’ll have no choice but to stay in the packhouse. If she recovers, she’ll fight back.” My breath caught in my throat. “I swore to Lilah that I’d make her my Luna,” Damien continued, his voice eerily calm. “If Selene is disabled, she’ll have no choice but to accept my child as her own. She won’t have the strength to oppose me.” A single tear slipped down my cheek. So that was it. The ceremony, the bond I had cherished, the future I had believed in—it had all been a lie. I was nothing more than a stepping stone for Damien’s ambitions. Fine. If this was what he wanted, I would give it to him. “Just follow the plan,” Damien ordered. “Make sure the suppressant is given at the right dose. She can’t find out.” The healer hesitated, his voice uneasy. “Are you certain? Selene is already paralyzed. If you strip away her ability to shift, if you sever her wolf from her entirely… What will be left of her? She’s your fated mate, Alpha. The Moon Goddess chose her for you.” Silence. Then, Damien spoke, his voice like ice. “She won’t find out. As long as she remains weak, she’ll have no choice but to stay here. She won’t be able to leave, let alone challenge me.” The healer exhaled slowly, a sound filled with unspoken words. “And what about your child with Lilah? The girl is three. She has your eyes, your scent. If Selene ever discovers the truth—” “She won’t.” Damien’s tone hardened. “Make sure the suppressant is clean. No mistakes. Do it while she’s still unconscious.” The healer lingered for a moment, then turned away. Damien pulled out his communicator crystal and sent a quick message. “Did the rogue cover his tracks? Ensure his family is relocated to another pack. Selene can’t ever find out.” A fresh wave of tears slid down my temples, disappearing into my hair. My wolf whimpered weakly inside me, caged and helpless. Damien dipped a cloth into warm water and wiped my skin. His touch was steady, his movements almost tender. But no matter how much warmth he pressed into my body, I couldn’t stop shivering. The Luna Ceremony I had dreamed of for years had never been mine. It had always belonged to Lilah. And that rogue attack… it wasn’t an accident at all. My mate had planned it all. He had set me up, broken me, caged me. I was nothing more than an obstacle in his way. The love, the bond, the promises… they had all been a lie. I tried to open my eyes, to fight back, but before I could, a sharp sting spread through my veins. The suppressant. As they wheeled me toward the ritual chamber, Damien leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. His voice was gentle, almost affectionate. “Just rest, Selene. It’ll be over soon.” The cold magic seeped into my bones, and my wolf’s cries faded into silence. The pain barely registered. My heart had already gone numb.

When I opened my eyes, the sterile scent of the pack’s infirmary filled my lungs. The numbness hadn’t changed—I still couldn’t feel anything below my waist. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, restless and weak, trapped in the same helpless state as me. Damien sat beside me, his expression tense. The second he noticed I was awake, his face softened into an illusion of concern. He took my hand and pressed it against his cheek. “Selene? You’re awake. Do you feel okay? If anything hurts, I’ll call the pack healer right now.” His voice was gentle, his touch careful—just like always. But his eyes… they were empty. It was almost impressive how well he could fake it. I gave him a small smile, reaching up to brush my fingers over the rough stubble on his chin. “You didn’t sleep, did you? I’m fine, Damien. You should rest.” He exhaled, nodded slightly, and within minutes, he was fast asleep. His grip on my hand loosened just enough. I glanced at his phone on the nightstand. Without thinking, I picked it up and unlocked it. The wallpaper was still the ceremonial mate-bonding photo we had taken in advance. It felt ridiculous now. His message app was still open in the background. At the top of his chats was Lilah. I tapped in. The messages were simple, but each one felt like a gut punch. [Rhea called for her dad again today. She already knows how strong you are. She’s going to be trouble when she grows up.] [Rhea ate the treats you sent, finished every last bite.] [She won’t stop asking to run with the pack at full moon. I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn’t listen. Come if you can.] Damien hadn’t replied with words, but under every photo, there was a two-hour video call log. I remembered when he once told me he didn’t want pups yet. Now I knew the truth. It wasn’t that he didn’t want children. He just didn’t want them with me. I checked his gallery. There was a private album for Lilah. The password? The child’s birthday. Over five thousand photos. Three years of memories that had nothing to do with me. Damien was there for every holiday, every special occasion. The second chat in his messages was with the pack elder overseeing the mating ceremony. From the very start, he had put Lilah’s name down. The ceremonial robes were her size. The invitations had both their names on them. I was never meant to be his Luna. I let out a quiet laugh and closed the app. No point reading any further. Instead, I reached out to my best friend Mira, asking her to find me a healer outside our territory. I filed to renounce my position within the pack. She didn’t question it. She just assumed I had finally woken up, finally seen Damien for who he was. She was relieved. Every message she sent was full of excitement, happy that I was finally letting go. I set my phone down and drifted off to sleep. When I woke up, Damien was crying. He was gripping a hospital report, his whole body trembling. “Selene.” His voice cracked. “The healer found something during your exam. You—” He swallowed hard. “You were born without a womb. You can’t have pups.” I didn’t react. Just stared at him. “It’s okay,” he said quickly. “I don’t care about that. You’re still my mate, and that won’t change. Once you’re discharged, we can adopt. A pup will help you recover, I promise. Everything will be fine.” I was the one who had supposedly lost something, yet he looked more devastated than me. His performance was almost flawless. I didn’t call him out on it. I just let the silence stretch, watching him clutch that report like it was the worst thing that had ever happened to him. After a long pause, he wiped his tears and nodded, as if making some kind of deep, emotional decision. Then he pulled me into his arms. “I swear, I’ll take care of you,” he whispered. “No matter what the pack says, I’ll always stand by your side. And once we’re bonded, I’ll transfer all my assets to you. I just want you to be safe.” His chest was pressed against mine, but our heartbeats weren’t even close to matching.

Damien hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. “The mating ceremony is already planned. Since you’re still recovering, you might have to…” “Find someone to stand in for me so the Silvercrest Pack doesn’t lose face,” I cut in, already knowing what he was getting at. Rather than waiting for him to put me in a weaker position, I took control. At least this way, I could keep some dignity. His golden eyes flickered with something unreadable before he masked it with a sigh. “You don’t have to say it like that, Selene. The pack needs a Luna, and with your condition…” I let out a humorless chuckle. “My condition? You mean the injuries from the accident? Or the fact that I can’t shift anymore?” He looked away, not answering. That was answer enough. Then my phone buzzed. Damien’s ears twitched as he caught the sound. His gaze flickered to the screen, and his brows furrowed. “Selene, what documents did you cancel?” I quickly deleted the message and kept my voice steady. “Nothing important. Just some old pack records. I updated them online.” He didn’t question it, just pulled me closer, his voice full of concern. “You’re still recovering. If you need anything, just tell me. I’ll handle it for you.” I looked up at him and smiled. “Damien, I want to be discharged.” His expression darkened instantly. “No. You’re not fully healed yet. I can’t agree to that.” I tugged on his arm, forcing my voice to be light and playful. “Didn’t you say we should adopt a pup? There’s a caretaker at home, I’ll be fine. I just want to visit the orphaned pups at the sanctuary and look around, okay?” In five years, this was the first time I had ever acted sweet with him. Damien hesitated, then gave in. On the way, he reached into the backseat and pulled out a bag of wrapped treats, placing them in front of me one by one. “I got these just for you,” he said, but then I noticed the packaging—soft biscuits and honeyed treats, things that young pups would love. I closed the bag, tossed it aside, and leaned back. “My stomach feels off,” I muttered, shutting my eyes. This five-year lie had gone on long enough. It was time to end it. As soon as we stepped into the sanctuary, I sat in a wheelchair, playing the role of the fragile Luna-to-be. A little girl with silver-streaked hair came bounding over, her scent warm with familiarity. She threw her arms around Damien’s legs, clinging to him like she had known him forever. “Dad!” she called out excitedly. Damien stiffened. His expression changed for a split second before he quickly composed himself. Worried I might get suspicious, he rushed to explain. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I sponsor this sanctuary and have visited a few times. She’s just a pup who started calling me that.” I inhaled sharply, taking in the girl’s scent again. There it was—his scent, mingled with hers in a way that only blood ties could explain. She wasn’t just some orphaned pup. She was his.

Three Years Later… A week before our mating ceremony, I overheard Damien speaking with his Beta. “Alpha, there are other ways to claim control over the Silvercrest pack. Is marrying Selene really necessary? If she finds out the truth, it could be dangerous.” Damien exhaled sharply. “This is the only way to make her lower her guard. Florence deserves to rightfully inherit the Silvercrest name. If I have to involve myself, so be it. For her, I will do anything.” My breath hitched. The salvation I had clung to—the mate bond I had convinced myself was real—was nothing but a carefully laid trap. I pressed myself against the wall, my wolf trembling in rage and betrayal. Damien’s voice was calm, almost affectionate. “Luna Eleanor won’t last much longer. Selene will insist on having her at the ceremony, but once she’s gone, the Silvercrest pack will be weak. She will have no choice but to rely on me. That’s when I will strike.” The Beta hesitated. “Are you sure about this, Alpha? Florence is just an omega-born bastard. Isn’t this too cruel to Selene? Over the past three years, she has fallen for you.” Damien’s voice turned cold. “Do not call her a bastard again. Florence is the rightful second daughter of the Silvercrest family. And Selene…” He let out a sigh, as if I were nothing more than a burden. “Marrying her is a form of compensation. Even when the Silvercrest pack falls, she will still have me. Her life won’t be difficult.” The Beta still looked uneasy. “Your brother—” ” Arthur always loved competing with me. Now that Florence has chosen him, I will make sure their future is secure. As for me… I don’t matter.” My claws dug into my palms. The bond between us, the years we had spent together, had all been a lie. The lawyer sighed. “I’ll finalize the agreement. Just… make sure you won’t regret this.” “Oh, and delete the video from the funeral three years ago,” Damien added as an afterthought. “Selene can never find out it wasn’t Arthur who leaked it.” My heart turned to ice. The video that ruined my life—the betrayal I had blamed Arthur for—hadn’t been his doing. It was Damien’s. The man who swore to protect me, to stand by my side, had orchestrated it all. He had never been my savior. He had been the executioner, waiting for the right moment to deliver the final blow. The footsteps in the hall grew louder. I swallowed my panic and hurried back to my room. The hot tea I had been carrying spilled onto my hands, but I barely felt the burn. I had spent the last three years believing in a mate bond that never existed. I had trusted him with my pack, my mother’s dying wish, my heart. I had been a fool. The sound of a door clicking shut signaled the lawyer’s departure. A moment later, Damien entered. His scent, laced with the faint bitterness of alcohol, filled the space. He found me standing by the door, his golden eyes softening. “Why are you just standing there?” I forced a smile, masking the rage boiling beneath my skin. “I was bringing you tea, but I spilled it.” He stepped forward, cupping my face with warm hands, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “You’re too good to me.” I closed my eyes, suppressing the urge to rip him apart. Soon, Damien. Very soon, I would return the favor.

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It was my fifth year after being dumped in Pine Creek. My family finally remembered I existed. When they found me,I was sitting outside the old grocery store,playing bridge with two elderly ladies. My father,Robert Bennett,looked at me with open disgust. “Ava,you really are hopeless now.You’re actually spending your time with two old women from a small town.” “Emily is in trouble.Come back to Boston with us and take responsibility for the car accident for her.” My mother,Caroline Bennett,stood behind him.There was no warmth in the way she looked at me. “As long as you’re willing to help Emily,we’ll let you return to the Bennett family and enjoy your old life again.” My former fiance,Caleb Shaw,came over and took my hand. “Ava,how can you mix with ignorant old women like this?Hurry up and send them away,then come back with us to help Emily.” What a joke. I could send anyone away,but not them. The two elderly ladies in front of me. One was Grace Lin,who had taught me investing. The other was Mrs.Hart,the true power behind the Hart family. She controlled the largest private bank and charitable foundation on the East Coast. And she was also the mother of my current fiance. … I pulled my hand back and kept playing my cards. “Pair of aces.” My father’s face darkened at once. “We sent you here so you could reflect on yourself.” “And look at you,wasting your days playing cards with old women in this miserable place.Do you have any ambition left at all?” My mother spoke too,her voice full of contempt. “Picking up the bad habits of poor small-town people.You have completely embarrassed the Bennett family.” I felt nothing. Because five years ago,I had already heard words a hundred times uglier than these. I slowly looked up and smiled. “So playing cards is an embarrassment.” “Then should Emily get a medal for killing someone while driving drunk?” All three of them fell silent for a moment. My father was so furious that the veins at his temples stood out. Caleb quickly warned them with his eyes not to lose control,then came to my side and said gently, “Ava,don’t be so harsh.” “Emily is in poor health.She can’t survive prison.” “As long as you’re willing to come back and help Emily,I can honor our engagement again and marry you.” I had heard that line too many times. Emily didn’t mean it. Emily is weak,so you have to give way to her. Emily was just too scared. Five years ago,Emily falsely accused me of pushing her down the stairs. Caleb had been standing at the end of the hall. He saw the whole thing with his own eyes. But he did not say a single word for me. Instead,he held Emily in his arms and encouraged my parents to send me to this remote town. In five years,not one of them had come to see me. No money,no emails,not even a single greeting. They left me here to live or die on my own. Thinking of that,I gave a cold laugh. “Five years ago,weren’t you the one who called me vicious,said I wasn’t worthy of you,and broke off our engagement?” “Now that you see I still have some use to Emily,you’ve come running back to talk about marriage?” “Caleb,don’t you think you’re fake?Don’t you think you’re disgusting?” Caleb’s face flushed instantly. “I came here in good faith to discuss this with you,and this is your attitude?” “Spend long enough in the country,and I guess people really do become poor,crude,and unreasonable.” My face went cold. “Are you done?If you are,leave.I’m not going back.” My father was so angry that he stepped forward and suddenly slapped me across the face. He pointed at my nose and cursed, “How can you be so unfilial?You’ve held on to one small thing for five years?” “Your mother and I gave you your life.” “You are part of this family.You should sacrifice for this family.” My mother looked at me as if her heart were breaking. “Emily is in trouble now,and instead of helping your sister,you’re mocking her here.Ava,do you have a conscience at all?” I held my burning cheek and froze for a second. Then I laughed. “When you dumped me here and ignored me,did you ever think I was part of the family?” “Now you remember me?” “Am I your daughter,or am I Emily’s scapegoat?” My father flew into a rage from humiliation and raised his hand to hit me again. But someone caught his wrist in midair. “Enough.”

Mrs.Hart released my father’s hand. “Making your biological daughter take the blame for your adopted daughter.” “The Bennett family’s upbringing is truly eye-opening.” Mrs.Grace laid her cards face down on the table. “Isn’t it?If their brains aren’t being used,they might as well donate them to a hospital.” My father’s neck turned red with anger. “I’m disciplining my own daughter.Since when do two old hags get to interfere?” My mother looked just as disdainful. “The Bennett family has status in Boston.And two small-town old women dare lecture us?You really don’t know your place.” Caleb glared fiercely at the two elderly ladies,then looked at me with disgust. “Ava,look at the low-class people you know now.” “In manners and in perspective,Emily is miles ahead of you.” “It looks like sending you away back then was the right decision.Someone like you should be grateful for the chance to shoulder responsibility for her once.” At those words,the two elderly ladies burst out laughing. Mrs.Hart looked at Caleb,obvious mockery at the corner of her mouth. “You’re the Shaw boy,aren’t you?” Caleb immediately frowned,wary. Mrs.Hart went on. “You were engaged to Ava,yet from beginning to end,you stood on Emily’s side.Back then,you watched Ava get driven out and said nothing.Now Emily has committed a crime,and you’ve come to force Ava into prison for her.” “How cruel and stupid.” Caleb exploded at once. “What nonsense are you saying?” He stepped forward and shoved the two elderly ladies hard. Seeing that they were about to fall,I rushed over and grabbed Caleb’s wrist. “Enough!” “If you want to do something,come at me.Don’t touch them.” Caleb twisted his hand around and clamped down on my arm. “You’re coming back to Boston with me right now and taking responsibility for Emily’s car accident.” With that,he dragged me hard toward the SUV parked by the road. Just then,a familiar voice came from not far away. “Caleb.” Everyone turned around. Emily was standing there. A white cashmere coat,a pale face,tears shining in her eyes. The moment Caleb saw her,he shoved me aside and ran over. I fell straight onto the gravel,and blood seeped from my palm at once. Caleb did not even look back. “Why did you get out of the car?” “The doctor said you need to rest properly.You can’t be out in the wind.” Caleb looked heartbroken as he spoke,taking out a handkerchief to wipe Emily’s sweat. My so-called family did not notice me either. My father and mother hurried to Emily’s side. “Emily,this place is cold and filthy,and it’s full of low-class people.Get back in the car.” My mother’s eyes reddened with worry. My father also coaxed her in a low voice. “Yes.Don’t worry.We’ll make Ava take the blame for you and send her to prison.” Emily shook her head,her voice choked. “Dad,Mom,Caleb,I’m fine.Please don’t fight with Ava.” She looked at me with tears in her eyes,wronged yet strong. “Ava,I was the one who made the mistake.I’ll go to the police station myself.” “Only,if I can’t come back,I hope you’ll take good care of Mom,Dad,and Caleb for me.” After saying that,she turned as if to leave. My mother immediately stopped her. “No,Emily.You can’t go.” My father’s eyes reddened with panic too. “You’re too weak.Your sister grew up outside the family.She can endure hardship.Let her go.” Caleb protected Emily in his arms. “I will never let you go to prison.” “Today,we will take Ava to the victim’s family and make her confess and face the law.” Each of them spoke as if I were the one who had killed someone today. I thought that after so many chilling disappointments,I had long since gone numb. But watching the scene in front of me, my heart still hurt so badly I could hardly breathe.

Mrs.Grace looked at Emily and suddenly smiled. “Beautiful speech.If you truly wanted to go to the police station,you wouldn’t have come here.” “I’ve seen shameless people,but I’ve never seen anyone put on an act as well as you.” Mrs.Hart shook her head. “It is a clever trick.She gets to play the good person and get rid of the thorn in her side.” “Too bad the performance is overdone.Even an old woman like me isn’t fooled.But it can’t stop a pack of fools from being taken in together.” Emily’s face stiffened,and she immediately lowered her head,looking as though she had been wronged. My father shook with anger and turned back to roar, “Drag those two old hags over here and teach them a lesson for spouting nonsense.” Four bodyguards rushed forward at once. “Stop!” I threw myself in front of them. The next second,a heavy punch slammed into my face. Right after that,a kick landed hard in my stomach. Pain folded me over,and my knees struck the ground.Blood dripped from the corner of my mouth and soon gathered into a small red puddle. “You dare defy me?”my father roared.”Beat her until she gets into the car and goes back to take the blame for Emily.” Fists and leather shoes rained down on me. I curled up on the ground,protecting my head with everything I had. My mother not only failed to stop them,she said coldly from the side, “She’s been like this since she was little.She never listens unless she’s beaten.” A flicker of hesitation crossed Caleb’s face,but it vanished quickly. And Emily stood behind him,the corners of her mouth slightly raised,her eyes full of triumph. Mrs.Grace and Mrs.Hart tried to rush over. “Stop!” “She is your biological daughter.” But before they could take two steps,two other bodyguards pinned them to the ground. Mrs.Grace’s face was pressed into the mud. Mrs.Hart’s arms were wrenched behind her back. I heard a dull thud from over there. In panic,I struggled to get up,only to be kicked back down. I forced myself to lift my head and shouted with red eyes, “Let them go!This has nothing to do with them.” Emily walked over and crouched in front of me,her face arranged into a look of difficulty. “Ava,look.They’re being hurt because of you.” She sighed softly. “As long as you apologize to Mom,Dad,and Caleb,I’ll have them released.” I reached for my phone. I was going to call 911. Caleb snatched the phone away and smashed it on the ground. He lifted his leather shoe and stamped hard on the back of my hand. “You still want to call the police?” “Ava,if you dare bring the police here,” he pressed down on the back of my head and forced my face toward the ground, “I could have these two old women beaten to death today,and no one would dare collect their bodies.Do you believe me?”

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I helped my best friend, Clara Bellamy, climb out of poverty and become a parish schoolteacher. Now she was glowing, graceful, confident. No one would ever guess that five years ago, she was still picking eggs in a backyard chicken coop. But she was still frugal. She always said money shouldn’t be wasted. So whenever I was too busy, she gladly took the things I couldn’t use: free couple vacations I’d won, movie tickets about to expire, romantic restaurant reservations I’d already booked. My fiancé, Vincent DeLuca, never complained when I canceled on him. Even though he was the next heir to the mafia family, he was always gentle with me. He always said, “I’ll support your work, no matter how long it takes. I’ll wait for you.” Until that day. I had just applied for a six-month leave from the hospital to prepare for our wedding. While helping Clara fix her computer, her photo album synced automatically. The screen filled with photos. My best friend and my fiancé sitting side by side on a ski lift. Her leaning on his shoulder during a midnight movie. The two of them kissing under an island sunset. So all those dates I missed, she had gone in my place. Then a Signal voice message popped up. Vincent’s voice came through, low and amused. “She’s sleeping at the hospital tonight. Bring a few boxes of condoms when you come over, baby.” My hands shook as I shut the laptop. Then I grabbed my car keys and walked toward the hospital parking lot. … I sped all the way to our wedding house. The second I pushed the door open, the air was thick with smoke and the smell of sex. The two people on the bed didn’t even have time to separate. Clara saw me first. She screamed, her face turning white. “Evelyn…” Vincent turned to look at me, then instinctively shielded her behind him. Clothes and wrappers were scattered all over the floor. I froze in place, so shocked I forgot how to breathe. I watched Vincent pick up Clara’s clothes from the floor and help her get dressed, piece by piece. He was gentle. Familiar. Then he walked her to the door and comforted her in a low voice. “Someone’s waiting downstairs. I’ll handle this.” I hadn’t even done anything yet. But he was already afraid I’d lose control and hurt his precious Clara. Something in my chest went hollow, like everything inside had been carved out. Then it was just me and him in the room. I stared at the face I had known since childhood. We had known each other for over twenty years. He once said he wanted to be my shadow and follow me forever. But now, that face felt so strange. Vincent took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag before looking at me. “You have nothing to say?” He was the one who betrayed me. So why was I the one standing there, lost and being questioned? “Vincent DeLuca. How could you two do this to me?” He flicked the ash from his cigarette. His tone was calm. “I admit I messed up. But Evelyn, ask yourself. What have you given me these past few years?” “You’re always busy. Always in surgery. I ask you to dinner, you have surgery. I ask you to watch a movie, you’re on duty. I can’t even argue with you unless I book a time three days in advance.” He sounded wronged when he said it. As if I was the one at fault. As if I was the one who cheated. “Clara is different.” His voice softened when he said her name. “She cares about how I feel. She remembers what I say. She does the things I want to do.” “She went on every date you missed.” “To her, I come first.” Every word cut into my heart. “Vincent DeLuca! I was already like this when you met me. I never changed!” He frowned, like I was being unreasonable. “Right. You didn’t change. But I’m tired of waiting.” My voice shook. “So you slept with my best friend?” He was silent for two seconds. “I told you. This isn’t her fault.” I took a deep breath, walked up to him, and slapped him across the face. “You really have no heart. How could you do this to me?” He didn’t dodge. The cigarette fell from his fingers, sparks landing on the sheets. He looked up at me. Finally, there was some emotion in his eyes. “Is that enough? If not, hit me again.” “When you’re done, don’t go after Clara.” I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, my phone rang. It was the hospital. “Dr. Moretti, surgery starts in half an hour.” Vincent suddenly gave a soft laugh. It was quiet, but it pierced my ears like a needle. “Go on, Dr. Moretti. Your fiancé just slept with your best friend, and you still have to go back for surgery.” “You really are the most tolerant woman I’ve ever seen.” I gripped my phone so tightly my fingers turned white. Afraid my tears would fall, I turned and left.

The lights in the operating room were blinding. I held back my tears and kept my hand steady on the scalpel. No one could tell that half an hour ago, I had caught my fiancé and my best friend in my bed. By the time the surgery ended, my wrist was so sore I could barely lift it. “Dr. Moretti, congratulations,” the anesthesiologist said with a smile while filling out the records. “I heard you’re taking six months off for your wedding. Everyone in the department is saying Mr. DeLuca, the man who sends you flowers every single day, finally got our ice queen Dr. Moretti to marry him.” My grip tightened around the paper cup. For the past few months, I had used up all my saved vacation days for that six-month wedding leave. I scheduled every surgery I could in advance. I worked until I passed out from low blood sugar in the changing room, then got up, drank a bottle of glucose, and went right back to work. One day, Vincent came to pick me up and saw how pale I was. For once, he frowned. “Can’t you be nicer to yourself?” I smiled and asked, “Worried about me, Mr. DeLuca?” He pulled me into his arms. “Eve, I can’t wait to marry you. I want to spoil you every day.” Now I realized, by then, those arms had already held someone else. Everything I had done these past few months was a joke. “Yeah.” I only said one word. I was afraid if I said one more, I would break down. I went into the changing room. The moment I locked the door, I slid down against it and sat on the floor. My shoulders shook hard. Tears slipped through my fingers, and I couldn’t stop them. I had never been able to get rid of Vincent since we were kids. He followed me everywhere like a shadow. When I was nine, I snapped at him, “Can you stop following me?” He lowered his head and said, “I want to be your shadow. Wherever you go, I’ll go.” At eighteen, he handed me a note. “I don’t want to be your shadow anymore. I want to stand beside you.” That was when we got together. From eighteen to twenty-eight, for ten whole years, he kept every promise. If I worked late, he came to pick me up. If I got sick, he took leave to take care of me. He remembered every word I said. Everyone said this was what love should look like. And I believed it. I took out my phone and saw the message Clara had sent two hours ago. Clara: Evelyn, I know I wronged you. But I really love him. I’ll do anything you want. Please let us be together, okay? I stared at those words and almost laughed. Clara must have forgotten how she got out of that chicken coop in the first place. Back then, her grandmother was seriously ill. She couldn’t afford the medical bills and knelt in the hospital hallway, crying helplessly. I paid for the surgery. I arranged everything for her. I paid her tuition and encouraged her to get her teaching license. She once said I was the person who changed her life. She said, “Evelyn, you’re the last person I would ever betray.” And now? She was sleeping with my fiancé, asking me to bless their so-called love. But who was going to give back the ten years I gave him? My phone screen blurred. I wiped my tears and was about to stand up. Just then, I heard nurses talking outside. “Did you hear? A patient came into the ER. She was pregnant and had heavy bleeding after sex.” “The baby survived. But her husband looked like someone important. He said if the baby didn’t make it, he’d make sure this hospital shut down.” “No wonder he’s mafia. So arrogant…” “That’s not even the point. The point is, that man looked exactly like Dr. Moretti’s fiancé!” “Oh my God. She’s already pregnant? Then is Dr. Moretti the mistress?” Their footsteps slowly faded away. I leaned against the door, my whole body cold. My nails dug into my palms so hard they drew blood. Then I shoved the door open and rushed out.

Through the glass window of the ward, I saw them. Vincent’s voice was soft, like he was coaxing a child. “Drink slowly. It’s hot.” I pushed the door open. Clara saw me first. “Eve… Evelyn…” Vincent turned around. The second he saw me, he instinctively shifted to block Clara behind him. His voice turned cold. “I told you. Don’t come after her.” I stared at Clara’s flat stomach. “You’re pregnant?” Clara’s tears fell. She turned her face away, too afraid to look at me. “Yes,” Vincent answered for her. “It’s mine. Three months.” Three months. Three months ago, Vincent said he had to go out of state for family business. Then an earthquake hit there. No messages. No calls. Nothing. I took leave overnight and drove there to find him. Halfway there, an aftershock hit. I was thrown forward, my stomach slamming into the steering wheel. The baby I hadn’t even had time to tell anyone about was gone in that chaos. When Vincent arrived, he knelt by my bed and held me, his voice shaking. “I’m sorry, Eve… We’ll have another child. We will…” That was the first time I saw him cry. I touched his hair and said, “As long as you’re safe. We can have another baby later.” So he hadn’t gone for business at all. He had been with Clara. That was when they had their child. And I lost ours on the way to find him. “Evelyn…” Clara’s voice pulled me back. Her eyes were red. She looked pitiful. “The baby can’t grow up without a father… Please let us be together…” Slap. My palm landed hard across her face. The ward went quiet for a second. Then Clara covered her face and started crying. Vincent shot to his feet and grabbed my wrist. “Evelyn Moretti! That’s enough! If you’re angry, take it out on me!” His eyes were full of rage. In twenty years, he had barely ever lost his temper with me. And every time, it was because I worked too hard and didn’t take care of myself. But now, he was angry at me because of the woman he cheated with. “Take it out on you? Vincent, do you even deserve that?” I shook off his hand and stepped back. Something slipped out of my pocket and fell to the floor. It was an Italian dagger. Vincent and I both froze. Three years ago, on the day he proposed, he put the ring on my finger. Then he placed that dagger in my hand. “Evelyn, you’re the only woman I’ll ever choose. If one day I betray you, take this knife and stab me to death.” I looked down at the knife, my head buzzing. Then I bent down and picked it up. In that moment, all the hurt and rage in my chest rushed up at once. My eyes burned red. I really wanted to stab him. I wanted to press the blade against his heart and ask him why. How dare he? I wanted him to hurt too. I wanted him to know what it felt like to be stabbed in the back by the person he loved most. Clara screamed and spread her arms in front of Vincent. “Evelyn, don’t hurt him! I’m the one who wronged you. This has nothing to do with him!” I held the knife and took one step toward them. Just one step. Vincent’s eyes changed. He yanked Clara behind him and shoved me hard. I flew backward. The back of my head hit the floor, and my ears rang. When my vision cleared, I saw him holding Clara in his arms. His voice was soft. Gentle. “Did you hurt your stomach?” Clara cried and shook her head. From beginning to end, he never looked at me once. The hallway was full of people. “Oh my God, is that Dr. Moretti? Poor thing…” “Dr. Moretti always seems so calm. Why is she acting like a lunatic…” I lay on the floor, the back of my head throbbing. When I was eight, my mother left me with my alcoholic, abusive father. I knelt on the floor, grabbed her hand, and asked her why until I cried myself unconscious. After that, I never broke down over anyone again. I didn’t cry when a surgery failed. I didn’t even cry when I lost my baby. Vincent was the one who warmed me little by little. He spent twenty years making me believe I could be loved and cherished too. And he was also the one who turned me back into a lunatic. I pushed myself up from the floor and walked out. It was fine. I only had myself left. And that was enough.

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One month before our wedding, my fiancé told me he was going to marry his first love in secret. “Celeste has cancer. The doctors say she has less than a month. All she wants is to give her family some peace before she goes. Why do you have to make everything so complicated?” I said no. So he went behind my back and married her at the courthouse anyway. My opinion never actually factored into his calculations, did it? Enough. This ends here. I’m done. I packed my things. Before the wedding, I joined a classified research project. The kind that requires an NDA and federal security clearance. After that, we had nothing to do with each other. *** One month before the wedding, my fiancé went behind my back and married his first love. They announced it on Instagram like it was some kind of victory. The photo showed Celeste tucked against his chest, marriage license in her hand, smile dripping with sugar. “We did it! ❤️” That single line hit like a public slap. Everyone saw me become the punchline. Friends started reaching out, asking what happened. “How did Hayden end up marrying Celeste? Wasn’t he your fiancé? Weren’t you two supposed to get married in a month?” Facing my closest friend’s question, I answered calmly. “He married his dying ex. So I took out the trash before it rotted in my life.” Someone leaked my words back to Hayden Pierce. He called me, demanding answers. “What the hell, Sage? We broke up? Since when?” “You married Celeste. Did you expect me to be the other woman in your marriage?” That set him off. He launched into a full-blown tirade over the phone. “How can you be so heartless? Celeste has cancer. She has less than a month to live. All she wants is to leave without regrets, Sage. One small wish. Can’t you be the bigger person just this once?” “I thought we talked about this already. You didn’t put up a fight back then, so I assumed you understood. Sage, I know you’re upset, but is fighting over these details really worth it right now? Celeste is dying.” I nearly laughed out loud. Wait. He said “notified.” Not “discussed.” When exactly did I agree to anything? So I asked him. “When did I ever agree to you marrying another woman?” Hayden froze. He clearly hadn’t expected me to push back. After all, in all the time we’d been together, I almost never told him no. No wonder he said I agreed. In his mind, I was supposed to just go along with it. Why the hell should I? “I thought we talked about this already. You didn’t put up a fight back then, so I assumed you understood.” Hayden’s voice was tight with restrained fury on the other end. He took a deep breath. “Sage! I’m at the hospital. I don’t want to fight with you. Can you swing by Whole Foods and grab Celeste some of that organic vegetable broth? She’s post-chemo and can only handle liquids right now. Oh, and grab me a black coffee while you’re at it. I haven’t slept in days.” “We’ll talk when I get back—” “Hayden? What are you doing? Cough… cough… I… I’m dizzy. Can you get the doctor?” Celeste’s frail voice drifted through the receiver. Hayden’s tone dropped to a murmur instantly. “Celeste? What’s wrong? I’ll get the doctor right now.” The line went dead. He’d hung up to tend to Celeste. I stared at the ended call screen. The last thread of attachment I had for Hayden snapped clean. Five years. I gave this man five years of my heart. I believed if I gave enough, he’d eventually see me. But now, looking down at the call-ended screen on my phone, the silence that followed was louder than any scream. Something cold and final settled in my chest. He wasn’t worth another tear. Hayden didn’t call back until the afternoon. “Sage! Where’s the soup I asked for? Why haven’t you delivered it yet?” I hung up. I had no desire to engage. It was the first time Sage had ever hung up on him. He called again. And again. And again. Until his phone died. He tossed it onto the hospital bed, irritated. She hung up on me. Sage. Hung up on me. He’d done one thing to fulfill Celeste’s wish. That was it. And Sage was reacting like this? Not long after, a message from Celeste appeared on my phone. “Hey Sage. How does it feel watching your fiancé marry someone else? Satisfying, isn’t it?” “This is just the beginning. I’ve got an even bigger surprise waiting for you.” Right after that, I received a pregnancy test result. I opened it. Celeste’s name was on it. She was three weeks pregnant. The father was obvious. Three weeks. Right around the time he and I had a fight. The time he stayed out all night. No wonder he’d been avoiding me back then. And I’d been stupid enough to think he was just sulking. Throwing a tantrum. He’d been out sleeping with someone else. A guilty conscience keeping him away. No wonder he was in such a rush to marry Celeste. She was pregnant. She was actually pregnant! “How do you like the surprise, Sage? You’re a total loser! You mean nothing to him! What are you even good for?” In that moment, the world spun. Hayden had told me he wanted to save our first time for the wedding night. “I want to wait until we’re married. Is that okay?” Back then, I thought he just took that kind of thing seriously. I didn’t push. He didn’t want to wait. He just didn’t want to do it with me.

About a month ago, Hayden and I had a fight. Also about Celeste. He was going to the hospital to take care of her. I told him how I felt. “We can hire her a professional nurse. You don’t have to go yourself.” “More than that. You’re my fiancé. Running off to the hospital to play full-time caretaker for another woman? What does that make me?” I tried to make him see my side. In Hayden’s eyes, it became me trying to control his life. Me being jealous of Celeste. “Sage! Celeste is sick! What’s wrong with me going to take care of her? What good is a nurse?” “And anyway, this is my business. What does it have to do with you? We’re not even married yet and you’re already trying to control everything I do?” I let out a breath. “Control? No. I’m drawing a boundary. The kind where my fiancé doesn’t run off to play house with his ex-girlfriend. If you can’t understand that, then our problems are a lot bigger than Celeste.” “Yeah, yeah, I get it. It’s all about saving face for you. You’re just jealous of Celeste. I can’t believe you’re like this! Let me tell you something. Celeste is important to me! You don’t get a say in this. Not today. Not ever.” His words sent a chill through me. He actually said Celeste was someone important to him. “Important?” I stared at him. For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel heartbreak. I felt disgust. I wasn’t some side character in his cheap drama. I was the damn lead in my own life. I pointed at my chest and looked at Hayden. Hayden froze. A flicker of guilt crossed his face. “I… I don’t have time to waste here with you!” He grabbed his bag and left. I watched his back disappear, step by step, until there was nothing left to see. That night, I don’t even know how I managed to fall asleep. I was drifting in and out when my phone rang. I answered on reflex. A bright female voice came through. “Sage. Dr. Miller’s research… we’re short-staffed. I shouldn’t be bothering you with this… but we’re really desperate. Do you think… can you come?” I jolted upright in bed. Every trace of sleep vanished. Dr. Miller’s project? “Didn’t that start six months ago?” I asked. Anya, my postdoc cohort-mate from the lab, now technically my project supervisor, sighed. “We ran into some issues. The project never hit its first milestone.” I went silent. Six months ago, Dr. Miller received a federal research grant commission. A highly classified, cutting-edge project. Since it was the first exploration in this field, it had drawn significant attention at the national level. At the time, Dr. Miller thought of me first. He sat me down and tried to talk me into it. “Sage! You’re one of my most brilliant students. I want you on this team. This is monumental. For you. For scientific progress in this country.” Back then, I was still basking in the joy of being with Hayden. I turned Dr. Miller down. He was deeply disappointed. He tried again and again to persuade me. “Dr. Miller called me personally. He said, ‘Sage is the only person who can solve the Casimir resonance equation. Without her, the project stalls.’ That’s not flattery, Sage. That’s the truth.” I shook my head. Once the project began, it meant cutting off all contact with the outside world. At least a year. Maybe two. No coming home. “I’m sorry, Dr. Miller. I don’t want to be separated from Hayden for that long.” Dr. Miller sighed. Frustration and care mixed in his voice. “Sage! Are you sure you want to pour all your energy into a relationship? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Once the research succeeds, you can get married then. You’d be able to marry him with honors, wouldn’t you? Or is your boyfriend not willing?” I shook my head again. “I haven’t told my boyfriend. It’s me. I don’t want to leave him.” Dr. Miller finally gave up trying to convince me. “Sage, you’re not a child anymore. Dr. Miller respects your decision. But I hope you won’t regret it.” After that, we lost contact. Until today. Anya’s call was the first I’d heard about Dr. Miller since. “Hello? Sage, have you thought about it?” Anya’s voice pulled me back to the present. I exhaled. “Of course I want to go. But… me and Dr. Miller… I’m afraid he won’t want to see me.” Anya’s relief was audible. “Don’t worry about that. Dr. Miller’s all bark. His heart’s soft. If you come, he’ll welcome you.” That gave me more comfort than I could say. Dr. Miller. The mentor I respected most in this world. Worst case, he’d scold me again. With that thought, I gave Anya my answer. “Okay, Anya. When do I leave?” “Originally, the sooner the better. But aren’t you about to get married? Maybe… you should discuss it with your fiancé first. Once you sign the NDA and pass the federal security review, you’ll be gone for at least three to five years. Can you give me an answer in two weeks?” I nodded, so excited I forgot she couldn’t see me. “Yes. I won’t need two weeks. I can give you my answer tonight.” Anya laughed and added one last thing. “Talk it through with your boyfriend. Properly.” Then she hung up.

After the call, I started packing. Two weeks. More than enough time to settle everything and leave. When Hayden came back that evening, he saw the closet half empty. He frowned at me. “Sage! What are you throwing a fit about now? I’ve told you a thousand times. Celeste and I are doing this so her family can have peace. Can you stop making a federal case out of everything?” I kept folding clothes into my luggage. My voice was flat. “Yeah. I know. I understand.” Hayden blinked. Surprised. It was the first time since he’d brought up marrying Celeste that I’d discussed it without a fight. “You… you’ve come around?” I nodded. “Yeah. It’s your choice. I have no right to interfere. I was making myself too important before. From now on, I won’t control you anymore.” Hayden frowned. Something felt off about Sage today. But before he could think it through, a phone call pulled him away. “Mr. Pierce, it’s bad! Your wife collapsed at the hospital. She needs surgery. Please come immediately.” Hayden hung up and rushed out the door. Before he left, he tossed one more instruction over his shoulder. “We’ll talk when I get back. I have to go to the hospital first.” I went along with it. Same as before. “Yeah. You should hur—” He was gone before I could finish. Anything involving Celeste. He was always that attentive. People really are different. I remembered when I was hospitalized. Hayden left me with a few dismissive words. “The hospital has doctors and nurses. If that’s not enough, I’ll hire you a caregiver. I have my own things to handle. Where would I find the time to take care of you?” But with Celeste, suddenly doctors, nurses, and caregivers weren’t good enough. Hayden and I met in college. Before that, he and Celeste had been together. She ended it. Said she couldn’t handle the long distance. Though “ended it” isn’t quite right. It was more of a one-sided freeze-out from Celeste. Hayden chased after her relentlessly. Until she found a new boyfriend. Hayden fell apart after that. He started drinking heavily at the bar where I worked part-time. That’s how we met. Back then, what I felt for him was more of an inexplicable curiosity. A quiet pull. How could anyone hurt someone this good? We existed in parallel. Doing our own things. The shift came late one night. Hayden was passed out drunk. A few guys nearby were eyeing him with bad intentions. “This dude looks loaded. We could use some cash.” “Let’s check it out.” One of them, some guy with dyed-red hair, grabbed a drink and walked over to Hayden. “Drinking alone, buddy?” When Hayden didn’t respond, the guy got bold and started rifling through his pockets. Even drunk, Hayden fought back on instinct. But his mind was a blur. His resistance was useless. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” My voice stopped the guy. He turned to me, scowling, annoyed. “None of your damn business. You got nothing better to do? Get lost.” I set my glass down and looked straight at him. “I’m a student of Dr. Miller.” Dr. Miller. His son was the district attorney for this city. DA Miller was known for his aggressive stance on crime. And Dr. Miller was known for being fiercely protective of his own. Red hesitated for a beat. “Prove it.” I pulled out my student ID and tossed it to him. “There. My ID. If you don’t believe me, you can go ask around at my school.” He examined it carefully, then threw it back. “What’s this guy to you? You two together?” I glanced at Hayden, completely unconscious, and made up a lie on the spot. “My cousin.” Red snorted. “Your cousin? What’s his name?” That stumped me. I looked at Hayden and pulled a name out of thin air. “Distant cousin.” He let it go. Reluctantly. “Out of respect for DA Miller, I’ll let this slide.” After they left, I stayed at the bar with Hayden until he sobered up.

After that, we got closer. Until the day Hayden confessed. He said he liked me. Asked if I’d give him a chance. I looked at the sincerity in his eyes and nodded. Just like that, we were together. Hayden loved teasing me about the cover story I’d invented that night. He kept calling me “cousin” until my ears turned red. He’d lean in close and ask, “Why didn’t you just say I was your boyfriend? Or that I was chasing you?” Every time he asked, my ears would burn. He never let it go. “If I’d said that, they wouldn’t have believed me. And besides, it wouldn’t have been good for your reputation.” When he heard that, his laugh was wide and unrestrained. Watching him laugh warmed something inside me. I thought I could pull him out of Celeste’s shadow. I overestimated myself. And I underestimated Hayden’s obsession with her. He never forgot her. The moment he heard she was sick, he dropped everything to take care of her. He threw away years of us because of one word from her. Married her behind my back. And got her pregnant. The next morning, Hayden came back looking exhausted. He looked at me and gave an order. “Fix me a bowl of oatmeal. Add cinnamon and apple chunks. I’m going to sleep for a bit. I need to go back to the hospital later.” I ignored him. I was busy preparing for the lab. When I didn’t answer, he didn’t blow up. Unusual for him. He just told me not to overthink things. Same as always. I watched him walk away. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt. Tomorrow. We were supposed to get married tomorrow. I’d already picked out my wedding dress. But now he had a family. A child. Where did I fit in any of that? One word from Celeste and he discarded me without a second thought. The love was never there. That much was obvious. I was done hemorrhaging energy into this relationship. It wasn’t worth it. I deserved better. “Oh, there’s something I need to discuss with you,” Hayden said. He stopped walking. Turned around. His eyes wouldn’t meet mine. “What?” I looked at him. Nothing good, I was sure. “So… tomorrow’s pre-wedding dinner… can we cancel it? Celeste, she…” He finally looked at me. “Fine,” I cut him off. “Whatever you want.” My response threw him off. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I met his eyes. “It doesn’t mean anything.” That’s when he noticed my luggage. “What are you doing?” I brushed him off. “Oh. Just packing up some clothes I don’t wear anymore.” Funny thing. When you stop loving someone, lies roll off the tongue without effort. Hayden frowned. “You have that many clothes you don’t wear?” “Yeah. Plus some old stuff. Clearing it all out.” I looked up at him. “Didn’t you say you were going to rest?” He snapped back to the present. “Yeah. Celeste has more tests tomorrow. I need to rest up so I can be there for her.” I nodded. “Got it.” He’d already made his decision. Why would I waste my energy caring?

Hayden went to the bedroom. Before he went in, he reminded me again. “Tomorrow’s pre-wedding dinner is canceled.” I looked at the calendar on the table. Tomorrow’s date was circled in red Sharpie. The words “Pre-Wedding Dinner” written in bold letters. I didn’t know why he wanted to cancel it. But I wasn’t planning on going through with this wedding anyway. Even if Hayden hadn’t said it, I would have found a reason to cancel. Him bringing it up first saved me the trouble. I nodded. “Alright. I’ll call the restaurant and cancel.” The words landed. Hayden paused. He hadn’t expected me to agree this easily. He’d assumed I’d demand an explanation. Every detail of this wedding had been meticulously researched and finalized by me. Even the photographer was someone I’d stalked on Instagram for six months, refreshing his booking page daily until I snagged a cancellation slot, just to get the perfect wedding photos. But after he spoke, I just agreed. Quietly. Hayden looked at me. His expression was complicated. “Don’t cancel.” “Celeste says she’ll never have a wedding of her own. She wants to do a bridal shoot with me. To pretend, just once, that she got married. So she won’t have regrets.” “Tomorrow, let Celeste do the shoot with me. We can always do our own photos later.” His tone was casual. Like he was discussing what to have for dinner. Same tone he’d used a month ago when he told me he and Celeste would hold a commitment ceremony. Let her walk down an aisle in a wedding dress one last time. On the surface, it sounded like a discussion. But every word told me he’d already decided. He was just informing me. I kept my eyes down. Hid the disdain. Later? Hayden didn’t know I only had thirteen days left in this city. There wouldn’t be a later. I murmured a quiet “okay” and headed to the bedroom to rest. If the wedding wasn’t happening, then who Hayden did his bridal shoot with was none of my concern. Hayden watched my back. An uneasiness crept up on him. I was too calm. Not a single question. None of the arguments he’d prepared had been needed. Then Celeste called. He shoved the unease aside and walked onto the balcony to answer. I woke up just as Hayden was heading out the door. He gave instructions while putting on his shoes. “After the shoot, Celeste and I are going on a trip. She’s always wanted to go to Hawaii. I’m taking her.” “Let’s keep the wedding simple. I don’t have time to deal with details. You decide. Don’t ask me.” I swallowed my bite of toast. “Okay.” Simple. Very simple. This wedding would have no photos. No guests. No officiant. No bride. Hayden watched me eating breakfast in silence. So calm. A strange feeling stirred in his chest. He thought for a moment, then added, “After the wedding, let’s honeymoon in Europe. You’ve always wanted to go.” Before, if Hayden had suggested a honeymoon on his own, I would have been ecstatic. Immediately planning every detail. I’d asked him to travel with me so many times. He’d always said no. Said he didn’t like it. Said traveling was exhausting. Now I just focused on my toast. Didn’t respond. There wouldn’t be a wedding. Where exactly would this honeymoon come from? Hayden gave me an odd look. Started to say something else. His eyes caught the clock on the wall. He rushed out, leaving only a “We’ll talk when I get back” behind him. I picked up the calendar. Took the red Sharpie. Drew a giant X over “Pre-Wedding Dinner.” Twelve days left. After breakfast, I started packing. Time to clear out everything unnecessary. A photo album with fewer than five pictures. A dusty projector. Matching pajamas that had never been worn. Five years. Every item in this house had been carefully chosen by me. Slowly turning an empty space into something warm and lived-in. But looking closer, so many things had never been touched by Hayden. He’d told me that even in a relationship, he was still his own person. He hated couple items. Said they made him feel tied down. I pulled my thoughts back and kept clearing. No point leaving this stuff behind to clutter his space after I was gone. Better to get rid of it now. Destroy all the memories along with it. Hayden didn’t come home for the next week. I still knew exactly what he was doing. With a girlfriend like Celeste who posted everything on Instagram, it would’ve been harder not to know. Surfing together. Sunset walks. Sunrise selfies. On my phone screen, I saw a different Hayden. So he was capable of acting like a normal boyfriend after all. Just not with me. I didn’t obsess over their daily adventures. I glanced and scrolled past. I wasn’t idle. The apartment was full of things. It took days to finish clearing. I also made time to go home. Told my parents I’d be leaving for the lab soon. That I wouldn’t be able to contact them for long stretches. My father was surprised. “You and Hayden are about to get married. Won’t this mean you’ll be separated for a long time?” Worry settled in my mother’s eyes. She held my hand. “Think this through carefully, Sage. You and Hayden have come so far. If you go to the lab, Hayden might not agree. Your wedding…” I understood what they meant. My parents had watched my devotion to Hayden for years. They’d also watched how he treated me. Before he proposed, they’d gently tried to warn me. They didn’t think I held much weight in Hayden’s heart. Asked me to reconsider. Back then, I was confident. I believed I could change Hayden. Make him fully accept me. So my parents gave their blessing. Now the wedding was approaching. They were afraid that if I went to the lab, Hayden would object. Might even cancel the wedding and break up with me. They feared I’d get hurt. That’s why they wanted me to think it through. But the person canceling this wedding was me. I told them. They went quiet for a long time. I didn’t tell them about Hayden getting another woman pregnant. They didn’t need that blow. I just said I wanted to focus on making a contribution to scientific research. My parents exchanged a look. If their daughter had made her decision, they’d support her fully. In the end, my father sighed. Clapped me on the shoulder. Said as long as I didn’t regret it. Back home, I called my best friend Riley to help haul everything down. Boxes stacked up in the living room. Took up so much space. We went up and down the stairs over and over until every box was gone. The apartment felt empty. Riley looked around. A little wistful. She remembered two months ago. When Hayden had said yes to my proposal. I’d dragged her out to drink all night. Kept saying I’d finally gotten what I’d always wanted. Barely two months later, I was calling off the wedding. “Honey, you’re actually doing this. I thought you were joking when you said you were canceling.” “I’ve watched you chase after Hayden for years. Tell me what’s really going on.” Maybe it was because I was about to leave. I actually felt like talking. I told Riley everything that had happened over the past month. Including that Celeste was pregnant with Hayden’s child. Riley had witnessed everything between Hayden and me. When I finished, she let out a string of curses. “You gave him everything. And he gets another woman pregnant before your wedding? Then expects you to just nod and smile? What the hell is wrong with him?” I shook my head. Swallowed the bitterness. “Who knows. He says Celeste saved his life. He has to fulfill all her wishes.” Riley’s face was full of indignation. “You saved his life too! How can he treat you like this!” I didn’t say anything. Maybe he just didn’t love me. But it didn’t matter. Soon, I’d be gone.

Five days left. I submitted my resignation to the university. Back when I chose Hayden, I’d turned down Dr. Miller’s invitation to continue working with him. I stayed at a local university as a teaching assistant. Following Hayden’s path. My colleagues were shocked. “Why are you leaving, Sage?” “You just sent us wedding invites a few days ago. Are you going to be a stay-at-home wife? Hayden’s so lucky.” Some teased me. I held my box of things and smiled. “No. The wedding’s off.” When I got home and opened the door, I found Hayden and Celeste on the sofa. I hadn’t seen him in a week. Hayden saw the box in my hands. “What’s all that?” I gave him a random excuse. “Just some stuff I don’t need. Brought it back.” He nodded. Scanned the room. A confused look crossed his face. “I’ve only been gone a week. Why does it feel like so much is missing?” I carried the box to the bedroom. Answered flatly. “I cleared out some things I don’t use anymore.” Hayden opened his mouth. Celeste cut him off. “Sage. Hayden worked so hard taking me on this trip. And thank you for letting him do the bridal shoot with me. You made my dream come true. You’re so generous. I told Hayden, ‘You must have married a saint. Any other woman would’ve keyed your car by now.’” “Let me treat you both to dinner. To thank you for taking care of me. I’ll probably need to trouble you both for a while longer. I hope you won’t resent me.” I saw the smug victory in Celeste’s eyes. She was getting impatient. Ever since I’d received that pregnancy test, I hadn’t reacted at all. I hadn’t even confronted Hayden. But I had no desire to play her games anymore. Five more days and I’d be gone from Hayden’s life forever. Right now, I just wanted to wrap things up and leave clean. When I didn’t answer, Celeste’s eyes instantly reddened. “Hayden, is Sage upset? I know you two are about to get married, but…” Hayden’s brow furrowed instantly. He rounded on me. “Celeste is kind enough to thank us, and you put on that face? It’s just dinner. It won’t kill you. You’re going.” I hadn’t said a single word. In Hayden’s mouth, I was already the villain. In the end, he dragged me there. At the restaurant, the server came to take our order. I’d just opened the menu when Hayden spoke. “Nothing too oily. Easy on the seasoning. No onion in any dish.” When the food arrived, Hayden carefully served Celeste. Placed food in her bowl. Then he pushed a seafood dish toward me. “Celeste can’t eat seafood right now. I ordered this specially for you.” I stared at the plate. Every bit of appetite I had died. “I’m allergic to shellfish.” What a joke. Five years together. Hayden didn’t know his own girlfriend was allergic to shellfish. But he knew every single one of Celeste’s dietary restrictions. Even something as small as no onions. He remembered that. A brief flicker of confusion crossed Hayden’s face. When he looked at me again, there was a rare trace of guilt in his eyes. He ordered a few more dishes. I didn’t touch my fork again. Just sipped water. After the meal, as we stepped off the front steps, Anya called. “Sage. Dr. Miller asked me to confirm. You’re following the standard project timeline, right? The first phase involves classified work. There’s a strong possibility you won’t be able to contact the outside world for one or two years.” My gaze fell on Hayden and Celeste ahead of me. Walking side by side. Hayden’s hand carefully supporting Celeste’s waist down the stairs. My voice was perfectly level. “I’m certain.” Anya exhaled in relief. “Good. Dr. Miller was so afraid you wouldn’t be able to leave your boyfriend.” I pulled my eyes away. Turned in the other direction. “The wedding’s off.” “I’m ready to leave.” A confused voice sounded behind me. “Who’s leaving?”

Hayden had just gotten Celeste into the car when he caught those last words. I realized he hadn’t heard what came before. Made up an excuse. “A friend of mine. She’s leaving soon.” Hayden nodded. Didn’t press. Four days left. Hayden brought home the bridal photos. His and Celeste’s. Phone in one hand, video-calling Celeste. The other hand holding the framed photo out to show me. His expression soft with tenderness. “Celeste, our photos came back. The staff at the studio said they turned out beautifully.” I walked out to get water right as he said it. A flicker of embarrassment crossed Hayden’s face. He looked at me like he wanted to say something. I glanced at the photo. Gave an honest comment. “They do look nice.” I’d paid a premium for this photographer. I wanted to capture the most loving moment between Hayden and me. I’d imagined the overwhelming happiness I’d feel when I finally saw the results. Hayden in his suit looked exactly as handsome as I’d dreamed. The only difference was the bride beside him. Not me. But it didn’t stir a single ripple in my chest anymore. From the moment I learned about Celeste’s pregnancy, I’d taken every ounce of my feelings for Hayden back. Hayden, on the other hand, was frozen. It suddenly hit him. I hadn’t initiated a single conversation with him in a long time. Even during that whole week he was traveling with Celeste, not one message. It unsettled him. On the video, Celeste was still chattering away. He shook off the unease and told himself I was just exhausted from wedding prep. Two days left. I went to the hospital to pick up some medication. And ran straight into Hayden and Celeste coming out of her OB appointment. A rare flash of panic crossed Hayden’s eyes. His mouth opened. Celeste beat him to it. She walked up, grabbed my hands, and started to kneel. Her voice thick with tears. “Sage. I know you still haven’t agreed to Hayden and me having the commitment ceremony. But I can’t wait any longer. The doctor says I have a year at most. I really want to see myself in a wedding dress.” “After the ceremony, I’ll leave Hayden forever. I won’t interfere with your relationship.” Before I could open my mouth, Hayden pulled her up. His eyes full of concern. “Your body is fragile. You shouldn’t be doing this.” Then he turned to me. “Since you know, I won’t hide it anymore.” “Don’t worry. This won’t affect our wedding.” The me from a month ago would have raged. Broken down. Spun into despair. Questioned everything about myself. Was I not good enough? Was that why Hayden was so willing to do this ceremony for another woman? But after everything, I’d figured it out. It wasn’t that I wasn’t good enough. It was that Hayden didn’t love me. He didn’t love me. That’s why he could disregard my feelings completely. I’d already known about the commitment ceremony. I’d already let go of every feeling I had for Hayden. They didn’t need to put on this tragic act for me anymore. I gave them one blank look. Looked away. “I understand.” I walked away with my prescription. My departure date was close. My luggage still needed organizing. They clearly hadn’t expected me to be so calm. Especially Hayden. He stared at my retreating back with a complicated expression. I’d fought him for a month over this ceremony. Now I knew it was happening and gave nothing. An inexplicable unease took root in Hayden’s chest. As if something had shifted without him knowing. I reached the stairwell when Celeste caught up and grabbed my sleeve. Hayden was still far behind. Celeste dropped the mask. “Sage Morrison. How does it feel? Watching your fiancé do a commitment ceremony with another woman?” I had no interest in pointless fights. I shook her off and moved to leave. The moment I pulled away, her body tilted. She started falling down the stairs. Reflex kicked in. I grabbed her hand and stopped her fall. My hand hadn’t even let go when a furious shout came from behind. “What are you doing!” Hayden had been confused by my calm. Now he thought he understood. I’d only been pretending. Deep down, I couldn’t accept it. When Celeste saw Hayden, her face instantly morphed into hurt. Eyes red-rimmed. Hand protectively over her stomach. “Hayden. I just wanted to thank Sage for being so understanding. I didn’t expect her to…” Hayden’s face went dark. “Sage Morrison. I didn’t think you were capable of this.” “Apologize to Celeste. Now.”

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After the soul-extraction mission ended, I finally woke from my vegetative state. Alpha Kael, my mate, embraced me with bloodshot eyes, “Elena, you’re finally awake.” My eight-year-old son, Leo, also cheered happily, calling me mother. Just as I celebrated the return of my life, the ward door was pushed open by a girl who looked seventy percent like me. Kael shielded her behind him, “Elena, things between Sarah and me are innocent.” Leo quickly explained, “Mom, Aunt Sarah was just kind enough to take care of me and Dad for you.” After returning to the pack house, Kael and Leo treated me with utmost care. But I could always feel that I didn’t fit in. Until I saw my mate and son making wishes with Sarah under the New Year fireworks, and the resentment in my heart finally erupted, as I smashed the entire house to pieces. Leo sensibly bandaged Sarah’s wound and muttered that I was being excessive. Kael’s face darkened, “Elena, stop being so unreasonably troublesome!” I forced back the tears in my eyes and gritted my teeth, “In this pack, it’s either me or Sarah—you choose one!” …… The entire room suddenly fell silent. Kael stepped forward, trying to pull me into his arms as he used to. His face was filled with hesitation. “Elena, Sarah has sacrificed a lot for this family. If it weren’t for her… Leo and I might not have survived.” Leo’s eyes were red as he tugged at my hem, acting spoiled. “Mom, I want to stay with Aunt Sarah, please don’t drive her away.” Looking at their deep affection for her, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I rushed into the room and threw the divorce papers I had prepared long ago at Kael. “Since you can’t choose, then we reject the bond!” Kael retreated two steps, his voice trembling. “I won’t reject it…” He kept saying he wouldn’t reject the bond, saying he loved me, saying how much he missed me. But all the layouts in the house had already been changed. The blue-and-white curtains I liked were replaced by the deep gray ones Sarah preferred. Even our mating photos were taken down and replaced with a portrait of the three of them as a family. Sarah approached with tears, trying to grab my hand. “Elena, things between Kael and me are pure.” “I’m just a placeholder he paid for; I’ve never dared to cross the line. If you don’t like me, I can leave anytime.” I brushed her hand away with pure disgust. “Since you’re going to leave, why are you still here? Are you waiting for me to kick you out!” Sarah bit her lip hard, and her tears finally fell. Leo frantically dove into her arms. “Aunt Sarah, I don’t want you to go!” Kael pulled me aside with a grim face. “Elena, there’s a limit to being unreasonable. Don’t give Sarah a hard time during the New Year!” Looking at how they protected Sarah. I swung my hand away from Kael in despair, “If she won’t leave, I will!” Seeing me truly turning to leave, Kael panicked. He reached out to grab me. In my hurry to dodge, I accidentally pushed Sarah, who was trying to block me. My own head slammed heavily against the nearby bookshelf. Blood trickled down through my hair. In a daze, I saw Kael frantically picking up Sarah. Leo’s eyes were also full of careness. “Aunt Sarah, are you okay?” My heart went cold. I walked past them, step by step, heading outside. Seeing this, Kael hurriedly put Sarah down. “Elena, I…” Before he could explain anything, my vision went black, and I fainted. Before sinking into darkness, I summoned the system: [System, was it a mistake for me to come back?]

When I opened my eyes again, I was already lying in bed. The tears on Leo’s face hadn’t even dried yet; seeing me wake up, he immediately threw himself onto me. “Mom, you’re finally awake! I was so scared you wouldn’t want me anymore!” My heart trembled. Just as I was about to wipe his tears, Kael stepped forward and gripped my hand tightly, his voice shaking. “Is there anywhere else you feel unwell?” I tried hard to pull my hand away, but he held it tighter. “Elena, it’s New Year. Let’s not fight, okay? As long as you don’t leave me, I’ll do anything.” I curled my lips, “Fine! Make Sarah leave! This is my home; I don’t want her here!” Kael froze, hesitation and conflict flashing across his face. He turned his head away, trying to avoid the topic. Suddenly, Sarah pushed the door open and walked in. Her eyes were red, and her voice choked with emotion: “Elena, don’t fight with Kael. I was always the extra person in this house; the one who should leave is me.” She took a protection charm from her bag and stuffed it into Leo’s hand. “Little Leo, I prayed for this for you a while ago. I hope your life is smooth.” Then her gaze lingered on Kael. But fearing she would provoke me, she quickly withdrew her eyes, forcing a smile that looked more painful than crying. “Thank you for your care, Alpha Kael. We shouldn’t see each other again.” After saying that, she turned and left before we could react. Leo gasped and rushed out crying. Kael instinctively wanted to chase her, but when his gaze swept over me, he stopped himself. He held me tightly in his arms as before, gently stroking my hair: “Elena, look, Sarah is gone. Don’t overthink things anymore; you’re the only one in my heart.” I looked down at the name “Sarah” sewn onto the bedsheets and smiled bitterly. Sarah moved out, and all her things were cleared away. It was as if she had never appeared. Our mating photos were hung back on the wall. Just as I was happy that our family of three could finally be together. I discovered that Kael, who never smoked, now smelled of tobacco every day since Sarah left. Leo also locked himself in his room all day, staring dazed at that protection charm. I heard the pack servants whispering: “The Luna is so petty, actually driving Miss Sarah away.” “Does she think that by kicking her out, she can actually fit into this home again?” My face instantly turned pale. [System, was I wrong?] [This is clearly my home. Sarah occupied it for so many years; shouldn’t she leave?] The system sighed: [Host, when people spend time together, it’s hard not to develop feelings.] [It’s natural for them to miss Sarah.] I pursed my lips and said nothing more. I stubbornly thought that if I treated Kael and Leo well, they would gradually forget Sarah. I personally took care of everything for them, even waking up at five in the morning to prepare breakfast. Until one day when I had a fever, the system’s voice rang in my ear again: [The breakfast you made was thrown into the trash by them!] I gritted my teeth and walked out of the room, just in time to see Leo throwing away the buns I had steamed. He muttered: “If only Aunt Sarah were here. I don’t like buns; I want steak!” Kael, standing nearby, didn’t scold him. Instead, he smiled and took his hand. “Dad will take you to find Aunt Sarah right now!” Even though I had a fever, I felt a chill all over my body. With a pale face, I followed Kael to another nearby villa. The door was slightly ajar. Leo threw himself into Sarah’s arms, acting spoiled: “Aunt Sarah, I missed you so much!” Kael naturally took the dishes from her hands. “I’ll do such trifles like cooking; you can rest.” It turned out Sarah had never left. Kael had secretly hidden her here. I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my flesh before I finally regained my senses. I pushed the door open expressionlessly: “So you three really are the real family!”

The air in the villa was filled with awkwardness. Leo quickly pulled back from Sarah’s arms, a flash of panic in his eyes. “Mom, why… why are you here?” Kael’s face, which had been smiling, instantly froze, and he instinctively stepped in front of Sarah. “Elena, don’t give Sarah a hard time. Leo and I were the ones who wanted to find her.” Looking at how they avoided me like the plague while racing to protect Sarah. I felt a sudden pang of heartache. All my logic collapsed in that instant, and I screamed at them almost heart-wrenchingly: “Didn’t you say you’d never contact her again? Why did you come here! Do you want to be with her that badly!” Sarah pushed Kael aside and rushed to explain to me. “Elena, don’t misunderstand, we…” “I didn’t misunderstand!” Before Sarah could finish, I pushed her away. “You knew I was back, yet you still tried to take my place! Sarah, do you like being a homewrecker that much!” Sarah didn’t stand firm and fell to the ground. Leo hurried to help her up with heartache, his eyes filled with more resentment toward me. “Mom, why do you have to make things difficult for Aunt Sarah!” Kael frowned, looking at me with total disappointment: “Elena, when did you become so vicious? How could you say such things!” “If it wasn’t for Sarah these past three years…” Hearing Kael mention those three years, tears finally poured out uncontrollably. I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. “If it wasn’t to save you back then, how would I have been in a coma for three years?” “This is clearly what you owe me, yet from your mouth, I’ve become the sinner!” The motivation that kept me going in the other world for three years was Kael and Leo. But now, they were telling me with their actions. Just how stupid I was for wanting to come back! Kael’s expression changed instantly! Leo glared at me angrily: “It’s your fault for bullying Aunt Sarah. You must apologize to her! Otherwise, I’ll pretend I don’t have a mother!” I stood there stunned. My son’s words shattered the last bit of hope I had for this family. After a while, I laughed mockingly at myself, “Fine, then just pretend you don’t have a mother.” “Don’t you all like Sarah and want to be with her? I’ll fulfill your wish.” After saying that, I turned to leave. Kael tried to pull me, “Elena!” I shook him off mercilessly and walked out step by step. [System, I regret it.] [Take me back to the mission world tomorrow.] This home, Kael, and my son—I don’t want any of them anymore. The system was silent for a while, then finally agreed to my request. [Tomorrow I will arrange an accident to help you return to the mission world.]

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I had just lost my mate,Alpha Zachary Blackthorn,Alpha of the Silverfang Pack. As the Luna-in-waiting and pregnant with his child,I was granted temporary sanctuary in the Blackthorn estate. My in-laws,the former Alpha and Luna,treated me kindly on the surface—but I could feel the shift in their auras,the unease in their glances.Perhaps they pitied me. Or perhaps,they already knew the truth I was yet to uncover. After the Moon Rite that honored Alpha Zachary’s death,the elders suggested something I could barely believe—they proposed that his twin brother,Beta Ethan Blackthorn,should”unite the bloodlines,”and take responsibility for both females under the ancient law of Dual Protection. Without formal mating bonds,he would serve as guardian and provider to both me and his existing mate,Sophia Hale. Sophia,who had always treated me like a walking curse,exploded with rage upon hearing it. Her amber eyes turned feral,and before I could utter a word,she collapsed into unconsciousness. Her wolf,fragile and unstable,had taken a toll on her health long ago. That night,I approached the Alpha quarters,desperate to plead with Alpha Zachary’s parents to abandon such a humiliating idea. But just as I reached the wooden door carved with the sigil of the Moon,I heard voices from within. “You’re sure it was your brother who died?”my mother-in-law asked,her voice trembling slightly. The man who answered was not Alpha Zachary. A heavy sigh followed. “Sophia’s wolf is too weak to endure such pain.If she knew I was the one truly gone…she’d unravel.So I took my brother’s place.For her,”he said. “I never stopped loving her.I only accepted the bond with Rachel so my brother could be free.Now that she carries a pup,my duty is done.I owe her nothing.Don’t speak again of me caring for both females—it would tear Sophia apart.” The air left my lungs. The man I had grieved,the one I’d mourned and buried…wasn’t my mate. Alpha Zachary was alive. And the one who had died protecting me—was Beta Ethan. At the next family dinner,I lifted my chin and looked the elders in the eye. “You’ve been urging me to move forward,”I said calmly.“I’ve thought it through.I’ll terminate the pregnancy.And start a new life.” The male across the table—Alpha Zachary—froze mid-motion.He had been serving me stew like nothing had happened,as if he hadn’t betrayed me with a lie that reshaped my entire existence. After the funeral rites of“Alpha Zachary,”I found out I was carrying his child.For the sake of the pup,I bottled every tear,every howl of grief.My own wolf,Lyra,urged me to hold on—for him,for his legacy. Because of Alpha Zachary’s weak lycan bloodline,conceiving had been nearly impossible. This pup was a miracle.I needed injections daily to stabilize the fetus,while morning sickness wracked my body until I dropped forty pounds.I hovered between life and death. Even the elders began to soften. They advised me gently:“You’re young,Rachel.Let the past go.Heal.Abort the child,and we will guide you to a better path.” But how could I? Alpha Zachary—no,Beta Ethan—was the one who truly saved me. Years ago,I had been promised to Beta Ethan through a sacred mate-marking.But three nights before the ceremony,I was kidnapped by a rogue pack.Abused.Torn. Beta Ethan called off the bond,disgusted that I was no longer“pure.” It was Alpha Zachary—his gentle twin—who risked his life to save me.He bled for me.He knelt before my father,sword in hand,and asked for my hand in marriage,claiming he had loved me from the beginning. And under his kindness,I healed.Slowly,painfully.And I thought we had found peace. Until the car crash took his life—or so I was told. And now,the child I was desperately trying to protect was not Alpha Zachary’s,but Beta Ethan’s.Conceived during a moment of confusion,of duty—not love. I almost collapsed under the weight of it all. Still,I held on.For the child. Until,during lunch,they suggested the ancient rite of Twinned Guardianship—a ritual where the surviving twin would become protector of the deceased’s mate and offspring. Sophia lost control. “You whore!”she screamed,slapping me across the face.“You think you can seduce him just because your mate’s dead?!You’re shameless!” Before I could explain,her wolf took over,and she fainted. Alpha Zachary—no,Beta Ethan—looked at me with scorn.Then swept her into his arms like a hero from an old wolf tale,leaving me alone with the taste of blood and betrayal.

Sophia’s Slap Caused Pregnancy Complications Again Sophia’s slap made my vision go black,and a sharp pain shot through my abdomen,as if I had been sliced open. I pressed my hand to my stomach,trying to ease the overwhelming pain,but my body couldn’t control itself,and the world seemed to tilt. “Rachel!Calm down!”I heard a familiar voice by my ear,filled with urgency.”Breathe!Breathe deeply!” “Pack doctor,what should I do?”I spoke with difficulty,my voice broken by the pain. The voice belonged to our Pack doctor,Faron Ashcroft,one of the most respected healers in our pack.He moved quickly to my bedside,lowering his head to check my pulse,his expression serious.”You need to stay calm,Rachel.You have to relax so that your wolf spirit can regain its balance,”he said,placing a cold hand on my forehead,gently pressing down. “But…”I groaned in pain,my hands gripping the bedsheet tightly.”I feel it…it’s restless,it’s uneasy.” “Your wolf spirit is agitated,”Faron whispered,”If you lose control of your emotions,it will harm the baby.I’ll prepare some herbs to keep you calm.” “Thank you,Faron.”I closed my eyes with difficulty,though his touch brought a brief sense of coolness,it didn’t ease the storm of emotions inside me. “Relax,Rachel.Breathe deeply,”he reassured. I nodded,trying to quiet my mind,though the turmoil inside me still threatened to explode. Two days later,I was finally able to get out of bed. After recovering a bit of strength,I decided to go speak to my in-laws,hoping to convince them to abandon that absurd idea and never bring it up again. I slowly walked to my in-laws’room.As I reached the door,I overheard my mother-in-law’s voice,filled with confusion. “Alpha Zachary,it was clearly your brother who died.Why are you insisting it was you?” Alpha Zachary? My heart skipped a beat,and I froze in place.Did that mean it wasn’t Alpha Zachary who had died,but Beta Ethan? I was struck with shock,unable to process the words.My hands gripped the doorframe,my whole body tense as if I had been struck by lightning. I shook my head,trying to convince myself it was a hallucination.“It can’t be…it just can’t be.” But the next words shattered the fragile belief I held. “Mom,don’t let Sophia know about this.She’s always been weak,with a bad heart.If she knew it was my brother who passed away,her body definitely couldn’t take it.” Beta Ethan—no,it should be Alpha Zachary. My husband,Alpha Zachary. He paused for a moment,seemingly considering his words carefully,then continued in a cold tone,“Actually,the person I’ve always loved is Sophia.I only married Rachel to let her be with my brother.” I widened my eyes,my heart pounding.It was as if everything I believed had begun to collapse. “Now,Rachel is carrying my child,so I don’t owe her anything anymore,”he said.“From now on,I will take care of Sophia for the rest of my life,in place of my brother.Don’t mention taking care of both families again,it will only upset her.” “You…”I couldn’t help but yell.”What are you saying?What are you really saying?” Just as I was about to storm into the room,the door opened.I froze as I saw Alpha Zachary standing there,his expression serious,his eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. “Rachel,”he said,his voice heavy with fatigue,“You heard everything,didn’t you?” “You lied to me!You’ve known everything all along…”I shouted,my voice filled with anger.“You’re living as your dead brother,aren’t you?You never told me the truth!” He remained silent for a moment before lowering his head.“Yes.I had to replace him to protect Sophia,”he said,his voice low.“Rachel,you don’t understand,this is all about our family’s legacy.” My rage almost consumed me.It felt like my entire being was on the verge of exploding.My wolf spirit was seething with fury.I could feel it stirring inside me,ready to break free,but I forced myself to take a deep breath to calm it. “I don’t need your explanations.I don’t need you to take anyone’s place,”I retorted,my voice trembling with a mix of fury and heartbreak. “You don’t understand,”Alpha Zachary’s voice deepened.“You don’t have a choice.We,as wolves,have our responsibilities.You’re carrying my child now,that’s a bond between us,a responsibility.” “Responsibility?”I sneered.“I thought it was love between us,not responsibility.” Just as I turned to leave,Faron suddenly appeared in front of me.“Rachel,calm down,”he said softly,his expression full of concern.“The air here is wrong.The situation is becoming urgent.” I turned to look at Faron.There was something in his eyes,a warning that I couldn’t ignore.“You know your wolf spirit is on the verge of losing control,don’t you?”he said,his voice tight. I froze,looking into his eyes.Faron’s gaze was filled with a deep,unspoken anxiety.“I understand your pain,but right now,you need to stay calm,or we won’t be able to protect you and the child.” “I understand,”I whispered,my voice quiet but firm.“I’ll stay calm.”

“But Rachel has already suffered enough.Back then,to break off her engagement with your brother and let your brother be with Sophia,you deliberately had someone kidnap Rachel for three days and nights,causing her to be abused.Now that she’s finally moved on and is carrying your child,it’s only right for you to take care of her…” My mother-in-law’s voice was trembling as she continued to argue,but Alpha Zachary interrupted her sharply,his voice tinged with frustration and something darker. “Enough,Mom!”Alpha Zachary’s tone was harsh,filled with frustration. He stood with his arms crossed,his gaze cold and distant.“To make up for what happened,I married her even though I knew everyone would mock me for accepting a‘tainted’woman.I took care of her for three years,helping her heal.Isn’t that enough?” I could hear the bitterness in his voice,like a snarl that was barely held back. “Do you want me to spend my whole life repaying her?I’ve suffered for three years,pretending for three years.I’ve had enough!”Alpha Zachary’s eyes flickered for a moment,and I saw something primal in them,something raw and angry. His wolf spirit seemed to be clawing at the surface,desperate to break free. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.“Living with her every day,watching her struggle…it’s been torture.Now,heaven has given me a chance to be with Sophia again.I’m not going to throw that away.” His words hit me like a slap,and the pain in my chest intensified. I heard more muffled voices from inside,but I couldn’t make out the words.All I could focus on was the deafening silence that followed. The coldness seeped into my bones,and I felt as if the very air around me had frozen. It was as though my heart had stopped beating,and every word they spoke was a dagger that cut deeper into my soul. I stumbled backward,my feet barely holding me up. I turned and staggered down the hallway,not caring about the tears that fell freely down my face. The sharp,biting cold of the night air met me as I reached my room,but it couldn’t freeze the burning pain in my chest. I fell to my knees,gasping for breath,my body trembling uncontrollably. It wasn’t just the cold,though.It was the realization—everything was a lie. The man I had trusted,the man I thought loved me,had been playing me all along. The truth hit me harder than I had imagined. Alpha Zachary hadn’t been my salvation—he had been my tormentor all along.It wasn’t just that he had pretended to love me for three years—it was that he had orchestrated everything.The kidnapping.The suffering.All of it was to push me aside for Sophia. I couldn’t breathe.I couldn’t think.The reality of it all left me paralyzed,and my mind raced back to those dark days. The kidnapping.The three days and nights of hell. I had been taken because they wanted me broken.They wanted me ruined.Alpha Zachary—no,both he and Beta Ethan—had planned it all. But why?Why hadn’t they just called off the engagement openly?Why hadn’t they simply walked away from me? Why did they have to destroy me instead? I collapsed onto the floor,my body wracked with sobs.Everything I had believed,everything I had fought for,had been shattered.And the worst part?I had trusted him. I had believed in him so completely. “I’m carrying his child…”I whispered to myself,but it felt like a cruel joke.My body was still shaking,my wolf spirit struggling to hold control.It was as though my emotions were pulling at my soul,threatening to tear me apart. The image of Alpha Zachary’s eyes—cold,indifferent,with that familiar but hidden wolf-like hunger—flashed in my mind. Meanwhile,Inside the Room Alpha Zachary’s back was to the door,his posture rigid as he spoke to his mother,voice laced with frustration. “Why do you insist on this?You think I don’t know how to carry the weight of this family?My brother’s death wasn’t just a loss for me,Mom.I’ve been pretending for years that I didn’t want to be with Sophia.I’ve been living a lie.And now,you want me to keep pretending?” His voice lowered,growing darker,raw with emotion. “You don’t understand,”he said softly,almost to himself.“She doesn’t belong with me.She never did.My wolf…”He clenched his fists,his nails biting into his palms,“She’s not my true mate.” His mother took a step back,clearly taken aback by the rawness of his words.“But Alpha Zachary,what about Rachel?She’s already suffered enough.You can’t just—” Alpha Zachary spun around,eyes flashing with a dangerous light,and his wolf instincts began to bleed into his voice.“I’ve done more than enough for Rachel.Do you think I owe her my life?Do you want me to spend my days pretending to care when all I can feel is the pull to be with Sophia?To return to my true mate?” His mother remained silent,unsure of how to respond. Back in Rachel’s Room I lay there on the floor,my body still trembling. Suddenly,the door creaked open,and Faron,the Tribal Doctor,stepped in. “Rachel,you need to calm down,”Faron’s deep voice broke through the haze of my thoughts. His presence was steadying,but I could see the concern in his eyes as he knelt beside me. His calm demeanor was a stark contrast to the chaos in my heart. “Faron…”I gasped,struggling to hold back tears.”Why?Why did they do this to me?Why did Alpha Zachary—why did he—” His voice softened,and he placed a hand gently on my shoulder.“I don’t have all the answers,but I know this—your wolf spirit is fighting,Rachel.You’re not alone in this.” “But my child…”I whispered through the tears.“I can’t lose him.I can’t lose everything I’ve been fighting for.” Faron nodded,his expression grave but compassionate.“You won’t lose him,Rachel.You have the strength of your pack,and the strength of your wolf.Together,we can protect him.But first,you need to control your emotions.If you don’t,both you and the child could be in danger.” “I…I’ll try.”My voice was shaky,but something inside me stirred. It was faint,but it was there—my wolf.Lyra.Her energy was faint,but her presence was still with me. Faron stood and placed a hand over his heart,a gesture of peace and protection.”Trust yourself,Rachel.The path ahead may be dark,but you have the power to change your fate.”

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My husband, Lorenzo, was supposedly killed in a setup by a rival family. His dying wish was for me to take good care of the baby he had adopted. His parents and my best friend, Rosalie, all cried as they begged me. “Dinah, just sign the adoption papers. “It was Lorenzo’s last wish!” I agreed. What I never expected was that the child had severe leukemia. For the next twenty years, I handled family business by day and avenged Lorenzo, then cared for the child at night. I kept going through it all, even when I was so exhausted I coughed blood. Even the child Lorenzo and I had conceived was lost in an accidental miscarriage while I was drowning in work. But on the day the child recovered and inherited the Don’s position, someone shoved me from the eighth floor. My skull burst open on the ground. The last thing I saw before I died was Lorenzo holding Rosalie in his arms. “Useless thing. It took her twenty years to cure our child’s illness. She kept our family of three apart all this time.” Rosalie was gentle and vicious at once. “Forget it. At least that idiot did cure the child.” “Let’s go home and celebrate. Today is the day our family is finally reunited!” Watching them leave with smiles on their faces, I died with resentment burning in my chest. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of Lorenzo’s funeral. … “Lorenzo, how could you die and leave behind such a tiny child? How are Salvatore and I supposed to go on?” The shrill wail of Lorenzo’s mother, Bianca, and the crying of an infant slammed into my ears. Before I could react, someone forced a baby into my arms. “The baby was crying just now, but the second you held him, he stopped. You really are meant to be, Dinah!” The family members around us clicked their tongues in wonder and instinctively gathered closer. “Yes, maybe the child likes Dinah.” “What a shame the Don died so young. Otherwise, this would have been such a happy little family.” “In a way, this child is something Lorenzo left behind for Dinah.” A jolt went through me. I realized I truly had been reborn on the day of Lorenzo’s burial. The child in my arms cried weakly. His features faintly resembled Lorenzo’s, and his body was so thin he almost weighed nothing. Beside me, Rosalie’s eyes were full of love, so obvious it was practically spilling out. I sneered inwardly. In my past life, I had been trapped in the pain and despair of losing Lorenzo and had noticed nothing. And the child had clearly been born with severe leukemia. He was nearly out of breath now, which was why he had stopped crying, yet they twisted the truth and called it fate between us. Bianca’s usually elegant, soft gray hair now hung in a mess over her shoulders as she stared at the baby with tears streaming down her face. “The day before yesterday, Lorenzo told us he had found a baby who looked just like him. He said it was a bond sent by God…” Lorenzo’s father, Salvatore, wrapped an arm around her shoulders. His voice shook with barely contained sobs as he spoke to me. “He was on his way back to find you. Who could have known he would run into an ambush halfway?” “But since this is the child Lorenzo wanted to raise, he is the heir of the Moretti family!” As he spoke, his gaze slowly hardened with resolve. “Dinah, from now on, you will take care of this child. Otherwise, even in death, Lorenzo will never be at peace!” The old couple clung to each other and wept over the infant. Everyone present looked pained. Rosalie gripped my arm, her eyes red as if she had been moved to tears. “Dinah, accept him.” The family members who knew nothing joined in. “That’s right. The child looks like Lorenzo too. “Maybe he really is your destiny.” “Old Don, please don’t cry. I’m sure the Don wouldn’t want to see you this heartbroken from below.” “With the Godmother here, taking care of this child won’t be a problem.” I noticed that while everyone spoke, Rosalie kept stealing glances at the coffin. Looking more closely, I suddenly saw several air holes in the side of the coffin. If I watched carefully, I could even make out tiny movements inside. Sure enough, Lorenzo was not dead at all. This funeral was a fraud he and Rosalie had conspired to stage so they could dump the child on me. For eighteen years in my previous life, I had given everything for that child and for the Moretti family, only to die with my eyes open. Meanwhile, their family of three stepped over my corpse and reunited. I shoved the baby straight into Rosalie’s arms. Then I looked at everyone and spoke each word clearly. “I will not claim this child.”

The moment the words left my mouth, Salvatore’s expression froze. Bianca pointed at me, tears pouring down her face all at once. “Dinah, Lorenzo died because he was going to find you. You won’t even agree to this one request?” Salvatore’s eyes reddened. “When Lorenzo was alive, aside from handling family affairs, he gave you all his time and every asset he had. He even hired a nanny because he was afraid you would work too hard. He personally cooked the food you liked. In what way did he ever wrong you?” “You’ve been married for five years and your belly has shown no sign of life. Now you won’t even adopt a child?” “We’ve already lost our son. Are we not even allowed to keep one last reminder of him?” Tears shimmered in his eyes as his gaze swept over Rosalie almost imperceptibly. Rosalie gritted her teeth and viciously pinched the child in her arms. The baby instantly threw back his head and cried until his face turned bluish-purple. “Dinah! This child became an orphan at such a young age. If you refuse to raise him, you’re sending him to his death!” Her tears fell in streams. “Before Lorenzo died, he specifically told you to take good care of this child. Do you want him to die unable to rest?” “This is all your fault!” Bianca lost her mind, lunging at me and beating me with both fists. “If you hadn’t been lazy and slept until noon, why would he have rushed home to cook for you? Why would he have fallen into an ambush? Why would he have lost his life?” “You killed my son, and now you want to throw away the Moretti family’s only heir. You might as well kill me!” She collapsed on the floor sobbing. Even the family members around us could no longer watch in silence. “Godmother, the Don left so suddenly, but since he asked you to take care of this child, please accept him. It is not as though the Moretti family cannot afford one child.” “That’s right. The Don treated you so well. Don’t break his heart.” “And with the old Don and old Godmother helping, the child will survive somehow.” Everyone envied me for having such a husband, but they had no idea what the truth was. On the surface, Lorenzo was the strategist Don outside and the attentive, capable husband at home. In reality, I handled the Moretti family’s affairs behind the scenes while he merely announced the results to everyone at meetings. Otherwise, after he “died” in my previous life, I could never have held the entire family together. His so-called tenderness was an illusion too. He could not cook at all. He did not even know I was allergic to milk. Every time he brought me a glass of it, all I could do was stare at it in silence. Thinking of all the grievances from the past, I was so furious I blurted out, “That child is a bastard to begin with. He is Lorenzo and–” Before I could finish, Bianca slapped me across the face. Then she pulled out an adoption agreement and smacked it onto the table. “Lorenzo is dead. Whether you want to or not, this child must stay, and you must take good care of him!” “This was Lorenzo’s dying wish, and it is what you owe the Moretti family!” One glance showed me that my name had already been signed on the adoption agreement. All that remained was for me to press down my fingerprint. My mind exploded with a buzz. “What gives you the right to sign for me?” I screamed and lunged forward, trying to tear the agreement to pieces, but Salvatore yanked me away. My forehead slammed hard against the coffin. “You will sign this agreement whether you want to or not!” he shouted, pointing at me. “For all these years, Lorenzo loved you more than he loved himself. He spoiled you rotten. What right do you have to kill Lorenzo and then leave the Moretti family without an heir?” “Ungrateful wretch! You have no conscience at all! If I had known, I never would have let Lorenzo marry you back then!” The pain in my forehead and the noise around me made my nerves ring. Then I heard a soft laugh from inside the coffin. It was Lorenzo. He was laughing at me because I could not break free of this damned fate. I could only follow his script toward death. My chest felt so tight it might burst. Then I caught sight of Bianca taking the child from Rosalie. She rubbed her cheek tenderly against the child’s face and murmured. “…Don’t be afraid. I’ll find you good bone marrow…” Those words struck the crown of my head like a thunderbolt. Blood dripped from my forehead as I stared hard at Bianca. Lorenzo had supposedly found the child only the day before yesterday. This should have been their first meeting. How did she know the child was ill? How did she know he needed a bone marrow transplant? So Lorenzo’s fake death had been known to them from the beginning. The Moretti family and Rosalie wanted to use this funeral to turn me into that bastard’s blood bank.

I thought of my previous life, when I had been busy crushing the rival family that had “killed” Lorenzo, working myself into a miscarriage until I was so thin I weighed barely seventy pounds. Even when my grandmother died, I, her only family, had not made it in time to see her one last time. And before I died, Lorenzo and Rosalie had laughed and called me an idiot. My rage surged out in a roar, but my mind became calmer than it had ever been. They had staged this elaborate drama because they wanted me to be the sucker and still keep their good name, didn’t they? Fine. Then I would make sure they lost every scrap of reputation they had. I bit down hard on the tip of my tongue, forcing down the storm of emotion, lowered my head, and called 911. Then I turned to glance at the coffin and suddenly asked in a soft voice, “How exactly did Lorenzo die? What time, down to the minute? Is there a death certificate?” “What do you mean?” Salvatore immediately shot back. “Lorenzo died because of you. If he hadn’t been coming home to cook for you, how would he have walked into an ambush? And now you dare suspect him?” “Really?” I gave a faint scoff. “But after I heard the news of Lorenzo’s death, I fainted. When I woke up, I had not even seen his body before you tried to bury him. Isn’t that wrong?” The roomful of family members exchanged looks. “That’s true. I never saw the Don’s body either.” “I didn’t see a death certificate.” “He went straight from the hospital into the coffin. That is a little fast. At the very least, we should have been allowed to say goodbye.” A cold gleam flickered in Rosalie’s eyes. She handed the child to someone else, turned, and walked out. Bianca answered shrilly, “That’s because Lorenzo was covered in wounds. I was afraid it would frighten all of you!” Salvatore quickly picked up the thread. “This is life and death. Could anyone fake something like that?” At that, the family members who had begun to doubt nodded one after another. “True. Who would joke about the Don’s life?” “And there really was someone inside the coffin. I saw it when they closed the lid.” I sneered. “As his wife, I am not allowed to see him one last time? Then now–” “I will go say goodbye to Lorenzo properly.”

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My fiancée hired a new male assistant, a self-proclaimed good luck charm. When I landed my first million-dollar project, he claimed it was because he’d been “praying for my success.” When I pulled all-nighters with the team to win a bid, he said it was his good luck that sealed the deal. When I picked a plot of land that became a billion-dollar resort, he said it was thanks to some ridiculous “lucky charm” he gave me. After he’d taken credit for all my achievements, HR called me in at the end of the year. “All of your performance metrics were achieved thanks to Dylan Vance, so we’re canceling your year-end bonus.” “And all of your performance bonuses will go to Dylan!” I’d had enough. I started slacking off, just playing video games at my desk all day. The ‘lucky charm’ started to panic. Without me, how could an inexperienced intern like him take credit for anything? So, during the year-end review meeting, he smashed my computer in front of everyone, trying to throw his weight around. “If you keep slacking off and accomplishing nothing, I’ll have the boss fire you!” My fiancée chimed in to back him up. “The company’s success is all thanks to Dylan! How dare you not even try when you don’t have his luck?” “If it weren’t for the good fortune he brings, this company would’ve probably gone under by now.” I actually laughed. I spoke into my gaming headset to my dad, who happens to be the President of the company. “Did you hear that? He’s saying he can land projects with just his good luck!” “If that’s the case, let’s see if his ‘luck’ can land the hundred-million-dollar deal at the end of the year!” *** The company’s year-end meeting was underway. Every employee was there, from the management down, except for me. I was in the middle of a heated team fight at my desk when a colleague walked by. “Stop playing games. The Vice President is calling us into the meeting. You’ll get chewed out in front of everyone if you’re late.” “Not going,” I said flatly. “What’s the point? The company has its lucky charm, Dylan. Hard work doesn’t matter anymore.” My colleague was speechless. He knew what happened last time, when I closed a hundred-million-dollar deal only for Dylan to steal the credit with a single sentence. “It was my prayers that allowed you to land that huge contract.” That was the third time Dylan had stolen credit from me. I was completely done, just playing games on the company’s dime. “You’re skipping the meeting to sit here and play games?” My fiancée, Yvonne Sterling, stormed over in her high heels. “You don’t even show up for meetings, just slacking off all day. Do you have any ambition at all?” “Why can’t you be more like Dylan? Even though he’s a lucky charm, he was there early, focused on the company’s future plans!” I was in the middle of a heated boss raid and didn’t even look up. “Sorry, I’ve got no ambition. He does. So let him handle it.” “Besides, isn’t this meeting to honor him? What would I be doing there?” Yvonne frowned. “He landed a million-dollar contract. Aren’t you going to congratulate your colleague?” The irony was thick. My fingers flew faster across the keyboard as I took down the boss. “You, of all people, know how many sleepless nights I spent, how many client dinners I endured, drinking myself sick, just to land that contract. And your intern, Dylan, stole all that effort with a single, casual remark.” “And you want me to congratulate him? Congratulate some useless freeloader?” That infuriated Yvonne. She slammed my laptop shut and dragged me toward the conference room. “You’re going today, whether you like it or not!” As soon as we entered the conference room, I could hear the Vice President on stage, praising Dylan for bringing good luck to the company. “The new generation is truly impressive! We have interns landing million-dollar deals now! Everyone in the company should learn from Dylan. He’s our lucky charm!” Seeing me walk in, the VP shot me a contemptuous glance. “Unlike some people, who spend all day slacking off and playing games! Can’t close a deal after half a month, while an intern gets it done with just a few words!” My coworkers lowered their heads, whispering among themselves. Snippets of their ridicule reached my ears. “The intern lands a deal with a single sentence. He’s been here a year and is less useful than Dylan. What a loser…” “I heard Manager Sterling is Austin Miller’s fiancée, but she’s promoting Dylan instead. Shows you how useless Austin is, right?” I ignored them and found a seat in the corner. Just then, my dad messaged me to help him rank up in our game, so I immediately joined his party. I was so absorbed in the game that I didn’t notice someone tapping my shoulder. When I looked up, the entire conference room was staring at me. Only then did I hear Dylan on stage, pointing his finger at me. “This company will never move forward with useless deadbeats like Austin on the payroll!” “Your projects only succeeded because of my ‘suggestions.’ Otherwise, you’d never have achieved such high performance, would you?” “I suggest you turn off that game, or today, on behalf of the company, I’ll make sure you regret it.” I took off my headphones, completely unfazed. “And how are you going to do that? You’re just an intern. You think you can fire me?” “Do you even have that authority?” A murmur went through the crowd. No one expected me to confront Dylan directly, especially since everyone knew Yvonne had his back. I looked at Yvonne, but her gaze was icy cold. “What if I’m the one who gave him that authority?” “The company’s success is all thanks to Dylan! How dare you not even try when you don’t have his luck?” “If it weren’t for the good fortune he brings, this company would’ve probably gone under by now.” My expression darkened. I chuckled bitterly into my gaming mic at my dad. “You hear that? Turns out all the company’s deals are signed thanks to an intern’s good luck.”

No one had expected Yvonne to publicly turn on me for Dylan’s sake. Dylan looked even more smug, shooting me a provocative glance. I shrugged and stood up to leave. “Fine. Go ahead and process my termination today.” My complete indifference surprised Yvonne, and Dylan’s face turned ugly. All his achievements were stolen from me. Without me as his safety net, he had nothing. “Wait! Yvonne, firing him is too extreme.” Then, Dylan went to my desk and carried my computer into the conference room. “How about we just teach him a lesson he won’t forget!” In front of everyone, he lifted my computer high and slammed it onto the floor, shattering it. “I’m warning you, no more slacking off and goldbricking!” The loud crash silenced the room. My computer was a pile of scrap metal. Everyone stood up, their faces alight with anticipation for the drama. “He smashed his computer! Austin’s life here is going to be miserable now.” “People are dying to get a job at this company, and Austin doesn’t even care about being fired. You think he’s just playing hard to get, trying to make Manager Sterling beg him to stay?” “He’s been a bottom-rung employee for a year. So pathetic. There’s no way Manager Sterling is actually into him…” Shards of my computer landed at my feet. That was a custom, top-spec computer I had built overseas for ten million dollars. I looked at Dylan in his cheap clothes and said calmly. “You smashed my computer. Can you afford to replace it?” Dylan sneered. “You’re just a regular employee. How expensive could your computer be? Just go get a backup computer from the storage room.” I turned to Yvonne. “Are you just going to let an intern act this arrogantly? First, he steals my contracts, and now he smashes my property?” Yvonne moved to stand right beside Dylan, looking down on me. “He’s being merciful by not having me fire you and letting you stay here to earn a paycheck.” “Dylan smashing your computer was for your own good. He wants you to be more ambitious.” I shook my head, a cold smile on my face. The line on my gaming headset had gone silent. My hot-tempered dad and grandfather were fiercely protective. They were probably already on a private jet heading back. I had no energy to argue anymore. I crouched down to pick up the motherboard, but Dylan lifted his foot and stomped right on it. “Still trying to salvage it so you can keep playing games?” he said, grinding the motherboard under his shoe. “Yvonne is showing you mercy, and you’re still not sorry?” “You’re slacking off in public, ruining the company’s hardworking atmosphere. You deserve nothing more than the oldest backup computer we have!” “Also…” He produced a stack of project reports. “This data you prepared has a massive error in it! If I hadn’t caught it in time, you would have cost the company a fortune!” His words caused a stir in the room. “Oh my god, Dylan really is our company’s lucky charm! He can even find errors like that!” “Look at Austin, so shameless. Without Dylan’s blessing, his project would have failed ages ago, and now he’s talking back and giving him attitude!” “He’s doing it on purpose, trying to win back Manager Sterling’s heart. As if he’s got what it takes!” I picked up the report and realized it was one Dylan himself had prepared a while ago. He’d just replaced his name with mine. “I didn’t do this.” I shrugged, tossing the report on the floor. “I might play games all day, but I still meet my targets. I’m not stupid enough to make a mistake like this.” “Only an intern would make such a rookie mistake, don’t you think?” I gave Dylan a mocking look. His face paled, and he pointed at me, fuming. “Austin, you play games at work all day! Why wouldn’t you make a rookie mistake? Your name is on it. Just admit it!” “Don’t make me pull out the evidence and completely humiliate you!” I stared at his guilty face and found it hilarious. The once-clueless intern was now the company’s tyrannical ‘lucky charm’. “Evidence, you say?” I made a call. “Hey, could you come over right now? I need a handwriting analysis and a review of some security footage.” “You think you have the right to conduct a private investigation in our company?” Yvonne frowned. “Don’t think we’ll believe the results just because you hired some shady people off the street.” I ignored her, sat back down, and went back to my game. The Vice President’s expression grew even darker. “What’s the meaning of this, Austin? If you’re wrong, you’re wrong! Are you trying to cause a scene? Security, don’t let any unauthorized personnel into the building!” “No need to bother security. We’re already here.” Everyone turned toward the voice, and a collective gasp filled the room.

Two men I had just seen on the news yesterday were standing at the conference room door— The Bureau Chief of the Riverdale Criminal Investigation Bureau and the CFO of Rontech Enterprises, a Fortune 100 company. The VP’s face went white at the sight of such important figures. He practically bowed, a strained smile plastered on his face. “What brings you two gentlemen here today? Is there something we can help you with?” The Bureau Chief and the CFO didn’t even glance at the VP. They walked straight toward me. “Austin, where’s the evidence?” “If someone is trying to frame you, we’ll make sure your name is cleared!” I nodded toward and pointed to the report on the floor. Trembling before the two powerful men, Dylan picked it up and handed it to them. They began examining it on the spot. Yvonne stared at me in shock, clearly not expecting me to have experts on call to investigate. “Who are you? How did you get them to come here?” I kept playing my game. “None of your business. As long as someone can prove my innocence, that’s all that matters.” Dylan shot me a venomous look, his face a mask of guilt, but he didn’t dare say a word. He was Yvonne’s junior from college. Right after graduation, she brought him into the company as her personal assistant. Dylan’s performance was poor, but he was good at saying the right things. Things like, “You’re about to get a promotion!” or “You’re definitely going to close the deal with this client.” Every now and then, he’d get it right by chance. Yvonne would praise him endlessly, and gradually, everyone in the company started to believe Dylan was a lucky charm, making him a minor celebrity. Then he started publicly claiming that my hard-earned achievements were the result of his innately lucky nature. Yvonne knew I had worked day and night on those proposals, yet she still looked at Dylan with adoration. “I knew it was your good luck that made him succeed.” Watching Dylan take the bonus that should have been mine and become the top performer made all my hard work feel like a joke. And now he was framing me in public? Did he really think I was a pushover he could just walk all over? After the examination was complete, the Bureau Chief looked at Dylan, his expression grave. “The handwriting on the incorrect parts of this report matches yours. I also checked the security footage. You were the only one who entered the office.” “The CFO also traced the data’s origin. You were the only one who handled it from start to finish. Therefore, you alone are responsible for this erroneous data!” A moment of silence fell over the conference room, followed by an eruption of excited chatter. “So it was a setup… My god, Austin was innocent all along.” “This ‘lucky charm’ really went too far. It’s one thing to steal credit, but to frame someone?” Dylan’s face went completely pale. He stammered. “Th-then… I must have made a mistake.” “A simple ‘mistake’ fixes everything?” I leaned back in my chair, watching him leisurely. “You did something wrong. Don’t you need to apologize?” The Bureau Chief and the CFO stood behind me, their eyes fixed on Dylan, ratcheting up the pressure. He had no choice but to reluctantly lower his head. “I-I’m sorry…” I stood up, shook hands with the Bureau Chief and the CFO to thank them, and after they left, I pulled out an invoice. “Now that the false accusation has been cleared up, let’s talk about compensation for my computer.” Dylan’s arrogance returned instantly. He crossed his arms and laughed. “I’m dying to hear how much a piece of junk computer is worth.” I held up one finger. “Ten…” “Pfft, what, ten thousand dollars?” He pulled out his phone. “I’ll Venmo you right now.” I shook my head. “Ten million dollars.” The room erupted in laughter. “I’ve never even heard of a ten-million-dollar computer!” “I was just starting to feel sorry for him. Turns out he’s just a blackmailer.” The VP slammed his hand on the table on stage, pointing at me and yelling. “Austin, how far are you going to take this!” “I just got a call from the President and the Chairman! They heard an employee was causing trouble and they’re on their way to handle it!”

“So what? The Chairman and the President are coming. Does that mean fairness goes out the window?” I calmly faced the VP. “I’m sure they’re more reasonable than you are. Besides, once they get here, Dylan is finished.” “Enough nonsense!” The VP pointed at my nose. “I’ll give you one more chance. Go to HR, get an old computer, and optimize the Brighton bid proposal before the President arrives.” “If you win the bid, I’ll let this slide!” Gasps rippled through the room. “Oh my god, they haven’t even finalized the site for that project. The bid is impossible to win. Mr. Lee is clearly setting Austin up to fail…” The tougher the project, the more I relish the challenge. Since he was giving me a chance to prove myself, I wasn’t about to refuse. “Fine. I’ll have it done by noon.” HR deliberately gave me the oldest, most decrepit computer they could find. The only thing it could run was Solitaire. It reminded me of the tough days when I first joined the company. After returning from abroad, I wanted to gain real experience at my family’s company, so I specifically told my dad and grandpa not to reveal my identity. I wanted to start from the bottom. But after a year of grinding away at the bottom, consistently hitting the highest numbers every quarter, all my achievements were stolen by an intern who claimed to be a good luck charm. This time, I was determined to reclaim my honor with this bid proposal. With my extensive experience and worldly knowledge, the bid proposal I created was flawless. The client was very impressed. As I closed my eyes to rest for a moment, I noticed a paper talisman on my desk. “What is this?” I frowned and tossed it in the trash. Not long after, we suddenly got news from the client that we had won the bid. The plot of land I had chosen suddenly skyrocketed in value a hundredfold. The government had just announced plans to build a new prime location near schools there. When the news broke, the entire company was stunned. No one expected me to be so capable. Even the VP was dumbfounded. He walked over and patted my shoulder. “Alright, I won’t report you to the Chairman and the President this time. You can have your old position back. Keep up the good work.” Suddenly, Dylan strode over, shouting, “Wait! Winning that bid was my doing!” He fished the talisman I’d thrown away out of the trash and showed it to everyone. “Look! To help him complete his task, I secretly placed my family’s ancestral talisman on his desk.” “I never expected that after winning the bid, he’d be so ungrateful as to throw my talisman away. I just couldn’t stay silent and had to expose him!” He looked at me. “If I hadn’t brought you good luck, do you think you could have chosen such a perfect piece of land?” It was the exact same script he used to steal my credit before. Just as I was about to retort, Yvonne started clapping loudly from a distance. “That’s our Dylan! Every time Austin succeeds on a project, you’re always there behind the scenes.” “Why haven’t you apologized to Dylan yet? If it weren’t for him, how could you have gotten so lucky to pick the perfect spot?” “Dylan is our company’s lucky charm!” With Yvonne’s enthusiastic support, the whole office burst into applause. The VP, as if seeing the light, nodded and clapped Dylan hard on the shoulder, his face full of admiration. “I knew you were special! My eye for talent is never wrong. The bonus for this bid proposal is all yours!” I almost laughed out of sheer anger. Such a blatant credit grab, they weren’t even trying to hide it anymore. “With people like you around, this company is only going to go downhill.” I called my dad, the president, directly. “I quit. This company is full of parasites!” Unexpectedly, Dylan snatched the phone from my hand and spoke sarcastically into it. “You must be Austin’s father, right? Your son is such a loser, running to his parents to complain. I suggest you come down to the office and teach your pathetic son some discipline!” With that, he hung up and roared with laughter. “Now your dad’s going to get even more gray hairs worrying about you!” Just then, the VP’s phone rang. He was answering it obsequiously when he suddenly let out a shriek. “What? You’re saying your son is here at the company?”

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After another defeat in the war, the Alpha of the rival Northern wolf pack captured Sabrina, the woman my brothers loved, and demanded that I, the strongest fighter among us, be sent in exchange. I had armed myself and was preparing to lead the guards out to rescue her personally when, just before I set off, my brother handed me a drink laced with drugs. When I woke, I found myself tied to a wooden bed. My three brothers – one was the leader of the wolf pack, one was an executive councilor, and one was commander of the guard. They had once been the proudest pillars at my back. But now, my second and third brothers were pinning me down with all their strength, while my eldest brother held an iron rod, his eyes filled with pain and grim resolve. “Jodie, don’t blame us. Sabrina can’t be allowed to come to harm.” As soon as he finished speaking, the iron rod came crashing down on my leg. Only in that agony did I finally understand. They were not sending me to rescue her. They were making sure I could not run – that I could be used to bring back their beloved Sabrina, safe and whole. … “Sabrina is in poor health. She can’t withstand the cold of the Northern snowfields, and she can’t survive their torture.” Harvey, my eldest brother, lowered his eyes. His voice trembled faintly, but the hand holding the iron rod did not shake at all. My mouth was full of the bitter taste of the drug, mixed with the metallic tang of blood rising in my throat. “So I’m supposed to endure all of that for her?” I stared at him and spoke in a hoarse voice. My second brother, Victor, pressed down hard on my shoulders, his grip so brutal it felt as if he would crush my bones. He avoided my gaze, the line of his profile drawn tight. “Jodie, we’re doing this for the Frostmoon wolf pack too. Their power keeps growing. We can’t beat them.” My third brother, Edgar, pinned my legs down. His charming eyes, which were usually full of laughter, were now ice-cold. “You’re the strongest Alpha in the Frostmoon pack. They may not be able to kill you.” I gave a cold laugh, my chest heaving violently. “So you decided to help them along and make sure I die faster?” I received no answer. I only saw the iron rod in Harvey’s hand rise again, cutting through the air as it came down without mercy on my other leg. “Crack-” The sound of bone shattering was so clear it was piercing. My vision went black. Cold sweat soaked through my clothes in an instant. Pain flooded over me like a tide, swallowing me whole. Through my blurring consciousness, I saw my eldest brother throw the iron rod aside and wipe the blood spattered on his face with his sleeve. He moved slowly, carefully. Then he came to the side of the bed and leaned down to look at me. “Jodie, you’ve suffered enough. Sleep for a while.” His voice was terrifyingly gentle. “Don’t worry. When you wake up, Sabrina will be back.” My fingers dug hard into the bedboards. With every last bit of strength in me, I called his name. “Harvey.” His body stiffened, and something complicated and pained flashed through his eyes. I smiled. Blood foam spilled from the corner of my mouth, staining my pale lips red. “You will regret this.” Victor and Edgar released me and stepped behind Harvey. On three similar faces was the same unyielding resolve. My gaze grew colder and colder. Back when our father fell ill and wanted me to inherit the position of leader, I had done everything I could to prove myself weaker, all so my eldest brother, whose ability was beneath mine, could take the seat. After Harvey inherited leadership, I went out to fight. I became the renowned “God of War” far and near, all to help him manage the pack and keep our wolves from being bullied. I never imagined that, in the end, this would be my fate. They did not look at me again. They turned and strode out of the room. The instant the door closed, I heard the lock fall into place. I had become a cripple imprisoned in my own room.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself shut inside a crude prison cart, being taken to White Wolf Gorge, the border between the Frostmoon pack and the Northern pack. The wounds on my legs had been given a simple dressing, but the bumps of the road had torn them open again. Blood soaked through the bandages and stuck them to my trouser legs. Every jolt brought a pain that drilled into my bones. The one escorting me was Edgar’s Beta. He kept his head lowered the entire way, not daring to look at me. Only when I was so thirsty I nearly passed out would he pass a waterskin through the bars of the cart, his eyes always carrying respect and shame. I took the waterskin and drank in silence. The hatred I felt toward my three brothers nearly burned me to ash. Seven days later, the prison cart stopped beneath White Wolf Gorge. The exchange site had been chosen in the open space before the two packs. Two men dragged me roughly out of the cart and threw me hard into the snow. The cold rushed into my wounds at once. The pain made the veins stand out on my forehead, yet I did not make a sound. I raised my head and saw the person who had brought me to this point. Sabrina. She wore a clean, soft white dress and a thick cloak over it, standing behind my three brothers as they guarded her. Her face was somewhat pale, but she was completely unharmed. Caelan, the Alpha of the Northern pack, was staring openly at me. In his ice-blue eyes were undisguised hatred and satisfaction. His warriors had suffered two crushing defeats at my hands. “Jodie.” He spoke slowly, his low voice laced with mockery. “So this day has come for you too.” I ignored him. My gaze passed over him and fixed on the people opposite me. Harvey stepped forward and addressed Caelan. “Alpha, the person has been brought. May we take Sabrina and leave now?” There was careful, almost pleading humility in his tone. He had utterly disgraced the Frostmoon wolf pack. Caelan suddenly laughed. He lifted the long whip in his hand and pointed it at me. “This is the strongest Alpha of your Frostmoon pack?” “A cripple who can’t even stand?” The Northern guards behind him erupted into mocking laughter. My three brothers’ faces turned horribly dark, but not one of them spoke to defend me. They only guarded Sabrina even more closely, afraid she might be harmed. Sabrina peeked out from behind Harvey, her eyes falling on my legs. In those eyes that always shimmered with tears, there was not the slightest guilt. Instead, a clear flicker of triumph crossed them. She even curled her lips at me, just a little. It was the smile of a victor. Silent, and blinding.

After Caelan lifted his hand to indicate that they could leave, Sabrina’s eyes reddened almost instantly and tears began to fall. “Harvey, I’m finally safe.” She threw herself into Harvey’s arms, trembling slightly as if she had endured endless wrongs. Harvey immediately took off his own cloak, wrapped it tightly around her, and soothed her in a low voice. “Sabrina, it’s all right now. We’ll take you home.” Victor and Edgar crowded around her too. “Sabrina, are you hurt?” “Did those Northern wolves bully you?” The three of them surrounded her so closely that it was as if she were some precious treasure recovered after being lost. And I, the bargaining chip whose legs they had broken with their own hands to exchange for her, had been completely discarded by them. Caelan watched enough of the show, then slowly walked over to me. “Take her away.” At his cool command, two Northern wolves immediately stepped forward and hauled me up from the ground. I was dragged forward. My broken legs scraped across the rough, icy snow, leaving long streaks of blood. The blood wound on behind me. As I passed by them, I suddenly spoke, my voice hoarse yet extraordinarily clear, calling their names. All three of their bodies went rigid at once. Even their movements as they shielded Sabrina stopped. Sabrina shrank in Harvey’s arms and looked at me, her smile growing brighter. “You used the Frostmoon pack’s strongest Alpha to exchange for an Omega who can’t even transform.” The air went instantly quiet. My brothers’ faces changed sharply. Sabrina’s smile froze for a moment too. Her greatest humiliation was that she could not fully transform at all – and now I had said it in front of everyone. I continued slowly. “One day, because of the stupidity you showed today, the Frostmoon pack will run with blood.” Harvey’s face turned iron-gray. Victor instinctively looked away from me. Panic appeared on Edgar’s face for the first time. “Take her away!” Harvey nearly roared the words through clenched teeth. The Northern wolves immediately quickened their pace and dragged me into Northern territory. Behind me, the gates slowly closed, cutting me off from my homeland completely. I was taken into Caelan’s room. He sat in the main seat, unhurriedly wiping the blade in his hand. “Jodie.” He lifted his eyes, his gaze cold and sinister. “Three years ago, at Blackstone Gorge, you personally killed ten thousand of my guards and cut down the Beta I trusted most.” “From that moment, I swore.” He slowly stood and walked over to me. The icy point of his blade lifted my chin. “I would make you live worse than death.” He leaned down to look at me, a cruel smile in his eyes. “Now, I have finally done it.”

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