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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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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Reborn seven days before my mate stole my acceptance letter, I rejected him. I had been Dominic Gray’s perfect Luna for thirty years. He was the Alpha of Moonstone Pack, a powerful businessman, respected across the werewolf territories. Everyone praised me for being understanding and dutiful, calling me the perfect Luna by his side. I believed them. Until I was organizing his study and found a yellowed acceptance letter for Lunar Medical Academy tucked inside a journal. My name was on it. In his journal, he wrote that Serena Blake’s brother Sean had died for him. He owed the Blakes. So he hid my acceptance letter, told the Academy I’d declined, and gave my spot to Serena—the next candidate on the waitlist—to repay the debt. Lunar Medical Academy was the most prestigious medical school in the werewolf world. Every graduate went on to achieve greatness in medicine. I should have been standing among them, saving lives in the operating room. Instead, my husband trapped me in his shadow for thirty years. My chest tightened. The room spun. When I opened my eyes, young Dominic stood in front of me. “Elara, what’s wrong now? You look awful.” I was back. Back to seven days before the Lunar Academy acceptance announcement. …… The irritation in Dominic’s eyes made me flinch. I stepped back from his reaching hand. “Nothing. Bad dream.” He dropped his hand, his voice cold. “Then get up. Serena’s not feeling well. Go pick up her prescription from the pharmacy.” Serena again. She was always unwell. In my previous life, I’d done this exact errand on this rainy evening. I got caught in traffic, came home late, caught a cold, and was sick in bed for three days. By the time I recovered, the Academy decision was final. “It’s pouring outside,” I said. “The pharmacy closes in an hour. If you go now, you’ll make it.” No room for argument in his tone. “She can order it online. Delivery takes an hour.” Dominic’s jaw tightened. “The medication she needs isn’t available for delivery. You know the pack pharmacy stocks specialized suppressants. She needs them tonight.” I looked at him. This man always had reasons when it came to Serena. “Can’t someone else go?” “Elara!” His voice sharpened. “Sean died for me. Taking care of his sister is my responsibility. As my fiancée, it’s yours too.” He grabbed his car keys and tossed them at me. “Take the car. Now.” I didn’t move. “Dominic, my medical school application materials—they’re with you, right?” He froze. Then nodded. “Yes. I’m handling your submission.” “I want them back.” His eyes went guarded instantly. “Why? I told you I’d take care of it.” “I want to submit them myself.” He went quiet. After a moment: “Elara, you’re pre-med with decent grades, but this is competitive. We can’t risk anything going wrong. Serena’s the hero’s sister—her family reputation is spotless. Her application is stronger.” “So mine isn’t good enough?” “That’s not what I meant.” He avoided my gaze. “Just get her prescription first. We’ll discuss this later.” He turned and walked out, heading toward Serena’s place next door. I heard his voice soften through the wall. “Serena, don’t worry. Elara’s getting your medication. You’ll feel better soon.” I grabbed the keys and walked into the rain. But I didn’t go to the pharmacy. I drove to Pack House and found Elder William in his office. “Elder William, I need to collect my medical school application materials. All of them.” He looked surprised. “Didn’t you give those to Alpha Dominic to submit?” “I want to review them myself.” He didn’t question further. Pulled a thick folder from his filing cabinet. “You’re such a dedicated girl. Dominic’s fortunate.” I gripped the folder tight, tucked it under my jacket, and walked back to my car. I didn’t go home. I drove to my grandma, Nana Rose’s apartment. I handed her the folder. “Grandma, keep this safe. Don’t give it to anyone.” Grandma looked at my rain-soaked clothes. “What happened? Another fight with Dominic?” “No.” I shook my head. “Grandma, if I don’t get into Lunar Academy… will you be disappointed?” Grandma touched my cheek. “Silly girl. What matters is that you’re safe and happy.” I buried my face against her shoulder. Tears fell. Grandma was all I had left. That evening, Dominic showed up at my door, furious. “Where the hell were you? Serena waited all night for her medication!” “Traffic was bad. Couldn’t make it before closing.” “Traffic?” His voice rose. “It’s a fifteen-minute drive! Elara, did you do this on purpose?” “Yes.” I met his glare. He went still, shocked by my answer. His chest heaved. “You—” “Dominic, I’m not one of your pack warriors. And I’m not Serena’s personal servant.” He stared at me, words grinding through clenched teeth. “Fine. Just fine.” “Don’t you dare regret this, Elara.” He slammed the door on his way out. I knew exactly where he was going. To find those application materials. He wouldn’t find them. This time, I was taking control of my own future. My wolf stirred, restless and approving.

The next morning, Serena came to my apartment. Pale face. Red-rimmed eyes. “Elara, please don’t be angry with Dominic. This is all my fault.” Same performance as always. I ignored her, focused on my medical textbook. “I know you don’t like me,” her voice cracked, “but my brother died saving Dominic. It’s only natural he’d want to help me…” “So I have to help too?” I cut her off. She froze. “I… I didn’t mean that. I just hope you can understand him.” “I understand perfectly.” My tone was flat. “That’s why I’m stepping aside.” Serena’s face went white. The door opened. Dominic walked in carrying takeout bags from an expensive restaurant. He saw Serena’s tears and immediately set the bags down, striding over. “What happened?” He glared at me. “Dominic,” Serena grabbed his arm, “it’s not Elara’s fault. I just… thought about my brother.” His expression softened. He patted her hand. “Don’t think about it. I’m here for you now.” He held up the takeout. “I got your favorite. You need to eat.” “I can’t,” Serena glanced at me. “You got this for Elara, didn’t you?” “She can get her own food. You need this more.” No room for discussion in his voice. I watched them. Thirty years of this act in my previous life. “I don’t need it,” I said. Dominic frowned. “Elara, are you done with this attitude?” “No.” I stood and walked over to him. “Dominic, let’s break the engagement.” Silence filled the room. Serena stared at me, shocked. Dominic’s face darkened. “What did you just say?” “I said, let’s break the engagement.” I repeated clearly. “You care about her so much—why not make her your Luna instead?” “Smack!” The slap landed hard across my face. Burning pain. “Elara, say that again!” Fury blazed in his eyes. I touched my stinging cheek and smiled. “Make her your Luna.” He raised his hand again. “Stop!” Grandma rushed from the kitchen, her cane tapping sharply as she stepped between us. “Dominic Gray, how dare you hit her!” “Mrs. Rose, stay out of this!” His eyes were wild. “She’s lost her mind!” “I’m perfectly clear.” I stepped out from behind Grandma. “Dominic, this engagement is over.” I turned and walked to my bedroom, locking the door behind me. Outside, Dominic’s shouts mixed with Grandma’s pleading. I leaned against the door, my whole body shaking. That slap woke me up completely.

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Three days before my wedding, clearing out some old boxes jogged my memory of the time capsule Julian Brooks and I buried ten years ago. He stiffened at the mention of it and tried to talk me out of going. “It’s been a decade. Someone’s probably dug it up by now.” I brushed him off and drove to our old school alone. But at the spot, I unearthed exactly five tin boxes of varying sizes. Two were rusted shut—the ones Julian and I had buried back then. Of the three extras, one was equally rusted, while the other two were brand new. The old extra box had Lily Miller’s name etched into it. Inside, a note read: [My secret crush was a solitary emotional turmoil. I wish you happiness, Julian.] I recalled her—a mousy girl who used to sit behind us. The two pristine boxes bore Julian and Lily’s names. The burial date was today. Julian’s note: [My life’s biggest regret is that I can’t give you a wedding.] Lily’s note: [My life’s biggest regret is that I can’t openly wish you a happy wedding.] *** Standing under the same old oak tree, clutching those five freezing tins, I felt like an absolute joke. A gust of wind whipped up some dead leaves, chilling me to the bone. So, another woman had been fighting her secret war, hidden in the shadows. All while my fiancé harbored his unspoken regret. His biggest regret was not getting to marry her. Then what about me? What about our wedding in two days? A monstrous lie? Or just a heartfelt consolation prize for her? I reburied the three boxes that weren’t mine and only took the two belonging to Julian and me. It was pitch-black by the time I got home. The living room lights were on. Julian jumped off the couch the second I walked in. “Why are you so late? Where did you go?” I kicked off my shoes, answering flatly, “Went by the old high school.” “High school?” A flash of panic crossed his face before he forced a casual look. “What for? You should have told me, I could have tagged along.” “Nothing much. Was in the area and dropped in on some old teachers.” He relaxed, stepping up to wrap his arms around me from behind. Resting his chin on my shoulder, he murmured sweetly, “You scared me. Thought you made a run for it. The wedding’s in two days, no more wandering off.” I let him hold me. A suffocating silence hung in the air. After a long beat, I asked softly, “Julian, do you really want to marry me?” He tensed slightly, then squeezed me tighter. “Of course. It’s been ten years. What else would we do but get married?” “Audrey, what’s gotten into you?” Right. Ten years. Yet my mind kept flashing back to the scrawl on that tin box. [My life’s biggest regret is that I can’t give you a wedding.] He let go and started buzzing about tomorrow’s rehearsal. He even mimicked the priest’s vows. “For richer, for poorer… ” “To take Audrey Sterling…” “To marry…” Every word pricked my heart like a needle. “Do you like this bouquet? Or would you prefer white roses?” He held up his phone, eyes shining with anticipation. A blind rage flared up, burning away my sanity. “Whatever.” I turned away, voice freezing. “Do what you want. I don’t care.” Julian’s smile dropped. “Audrey, what is that supposed to mean? What do you mean you don’t care? It’s our wedding!” “Our wedding?” I scoffed, turning to glare at him. “Is it really ours?” He blinked, then scowled. “What the hell is wrong with you today? You’ve been speaking in riddles since you walked in.” “I’m busting my ass for our wedding, and you give me this attitude?” “My attitude?” My chest felt dangerously tight. “What about yours? Is your attitude supposed to be…” I cut myself off, biting back the truth. I knew I’d regret it if I laid it all out now. Julian’s eyes went red. He snapped: “What about my attitude? Haven’t I been running myself ragged for this wedding?” “Are you out of your mind, Audrey? If you don’t want to get married, then let’s call the whole damn thing off!” He spun around and stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. I stood alone in the dead-quiet living room, tears finally spilling over.

Julian and I had been together for ten years. Fighting was practically a daily routine. We were both stubborn as hell, neither willing to cave first. But him storming out and leaving me alone like this? That was a first. Wait, no it wasn’t. I remembered. There was one other time. It was our high school graduation party. We had just made it official and were joined at the hip. One of the guys, Kevin Smith, got drunk and joked that a wallflower like Lily Miller would never find a husband. Julian’s face darkened instantly. I didn’t overthink it at the time, assuming he just hated the tasteless joke, and even grabbed his arm to tell him to chill. Instead, he yanked his arm away and walked out without a word. Leaving me stranded, humiliated under the stunned stares of everyone at the table. His mom told me he never came home that night, and his phone was turned off. I finally tracked him down the next day at a local arcade. He brushed it off, saying he was just in a funk, and offered a half-assed apology for ditching me. And I bought it. And now? God, what a joke. Lily’s time capsule had contained a diary. One entry was entirely about that night. [Kevin mocked me again today, saying I’m unmarriageable. It hurt, but I’m used to it. What I didn’t expect was Julian getting mad for my sake. He actually shook off Audrey and chased after me. He stayed with me on the roof all night, telling me I was a good girl and they were just blind. In that moment, my whole world lit up. Sorry, Audrey. I didn’t mean to steal him, even if it was just for one night.] So his “funk” was actually comforting another girl. While I spent the night worried sick, he was playing knight in shining armor on a rooftop for someone else. The tin also held our senior trip group photo. Julian and I were dead center, beaming. Lily stood in the far corner, her eyes glued to Julian, heavy with longing and adoration. On the back, in Julian’s handwriting: [May your smile always be as bright as the sun.] The exact same words he wrote in my yearbook. There was a bracelet, too—identical to the one currently on my wrist. He’d sworn he hit up five different stores to find this “couple’s set.” Turns out, it wasn’t a set for two. It was a set for three. Ten years, Julian. My youth, my love, my entire blueprint for our future. A total illusion from day one. I was never your one and only. I was just your official front. The heartache was paralyzing. I curled up on the couch, totally drained. My phone buzzed. A text from Lucas Wright, Julian’s old roommate and buddy. It was a photo taken in a VIP club booth. Julian was slouched in the middle, clutching a beer, eyes glazed over. Wasted. And the woman glued to his side, tenderly wiping his face with a damp towel? Who else but Lily Miller.

Lucas’s texts rapidly followed: [Audrey, I know the wedding’s in two days, but I can’t stomach this anymore.] [Julian dragged us all out tonight. Said you two fought and he was upset.] [But then he immediately called Lily.] [Those two… they’ve been like this for years.] [We’ve all seen it. We were just too gutless to tell you.] [They’re at Neon Sun, Room 302. You need to see this for yourself.] I stared at the photo. Lily’s eyes were practically dripping with heartache and devotion. And Julian wasn’t pushing her away. I took a deep breath, peeled myself off the couch, and grabbed my keys. I navigated to Neon Sun and found Room 302. The door was cracked open, familiar laughter spilling out. I stopped dead, hesitating to go in. “Come on, Julian, don’t sweat it. Audrey’s just a spoiled princess. Sweet-talk her a bit and she’s fine. You’re tying the knot, after all,” a guy urged. Another chimed right in. “Exactly. Why even bother arguing with her?” “If you ask me, our Lily is the best. Sweet, attentive, and never gives Julian grief.” “Right? Man, if it wasn’t for that time when—” “Whatever, man. Julian, honestly, seeing you marry Audrey makes us all feel sorry for Lily.” “Feel sorry for what? Isn’t it obvious who Julian really wants? He’s getting married, but the second they fight, Lily’s on speed dial.” The room erupted in roars of laughter. I slumped against the wall, my blood running cold. I knew every single one of those voices. Julian’s ride-or-die bros. Guys I had considered friends for a decade. Guys I had personally handed wedding invitations to. So to them, I was just a demanding woman, while Lily was the flawless, understanding sweetheart. And Julian? I stared intensely through the crack in the door. He lounged in the center, letting Lily feed him fruit and wipe his mouth. Moving together like honeymooners. He didn’t defend me. Not a single word. He just sat there in silence, tacitly endorsing their mockery while soaking up Lily’s affection. In that exact moment, it clicked. I finally understood why I never fit into his circle for the past ten years. Because I was the intruder. Lily was the one they had always crowned as “the girlfriend.” I couldn’t bring myself to push that door open anymore. I pointed my phone at the gap, hit record for a few seconds, and walked away. I bumped into Lucas right around the corner. He took one look at my bloodshot eyes, sighed, and handed me a napkin. “Saw everything?” I nodded. “Thanks.” “Don’t mention it.” Lucas rubbed the back of his neck, looking guilty. “I just thought it was totally messed up. Julian is… ugh. Look, just try not to let it break you.” I forced a hollow smile. “I’m fine. Never better.” How could I be fine? A decade of love, incinerated in a night. The man I loved had played me for ten years. The friends I trusted had been laughing at my stupidity.

Julian didn’t come home. The next morning, a random friend request popped up. The profile picture was Lily’s innocent face. We rarely crossed paths. I just knew her as Julian’s “platonic bestie.” I had no idea what she wanted, but morbid curiosity made me hit accept. Zero preamble. She immediately fired off a photo. A hotel room. Julian was out cold in the bed, shirtless. Lily, wearing nothing but his white dress shirt, was curled up against him, flashing a peace sign at the camera. Her smile was pure, gloating poison. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind them, the sun was blazing. Time, place, players—the ultimate checkmate. Staring at the screen, my heart iced over and shattered. From the club last night straight to a hotel bed this morning—what a seamless transition. I killed the screen, walked into the kitchen with dead eyes, and downed a glass of ice water. The freezing liquid slid down my throat, doing absolutely nothing to kill the inferno inside me. At 10 AM, Julian walked in, reeking of stale beer and cheap perfume. He froze when he saw me on the couch, then quickly plastered on a guilty, boyish grin. “Audrey, come on, you’re not still mad, are you?” I looked at him calmly, offering him one final lifeline. “Julian, where were you last night, and what did you do?” His eyes darted away. He reached for my hand. “I drank way too much and crashed at Lucas’s place.” “Babe, let’s stop fighting, okay?” “The wedding’s tomorrow. Let’s not ruin the vibe over stupid stuff.” Still lying through his teeth. That was it. I slapped his hand away and stood up. “Julian, I’m exhausted. Deal with the wedding yourself.” I walked into the bedroom and locked the door. I tuned out his confused, irritated pounding on the wood. Pulling up Lily’s chat, I typed: [3 PM. Downtown Starbucks. We’re talking.] She replied instantly: [Okay.] At 3 PM on the dot, Lily walked in. Seeing me, she pulled a flawless, apologetic face. “Audrey, I am so sorry. Julian was super drunk last night and refused to let me leave. I ended up taking care of him all night.” She said sorry, but her eyes were practically screaming victory. “Is that so?” I stirred my coffee casually. “Must have been hard work.” My coolness threw her off. She recovered quickly. “Audrey, don’t get the wrong idea. We’re just friends.” “I know you’re getting married, and I’m so happy for you guys.” “It’s just… Julian’s been really struggling. He can only vent to me. He said his biggest regret is—” “That he can’t give you a wedding, right?” I finished for her. Lily’s mask slipped instantly. I looked at her and smiled. “That little time capsule you two buried? I dug it up.” She dropped the innocent act entirely. “If you know everything, why are you still clinging to him?” “Audrey, I’m the one he loves. It’s always been me.” I put down my mug and looked her dead in the eye. “If that’s the case, I’ll bow out. You can have him.” Lily’s eyes bugged out in pure shock. “Wh-What did you say?” “I said, tomorrow’s wedding? You’re the bride.”

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On the F1 racetrack, Grayson, the man who is my girlfriend could never have in her youth, cut my brake line. I was about to floor the accelerator when the brakes suddenly gave out completely. His arrogant laughter crackled through the intercom. “This idiot — just like I figured, he hasn’t noticed we’ve sabotaged the brakes!” My girlfriend, Natalie, laughed along from somewhere beside him. Rage tore through me. “Natalie! Weren’t you the one who inspected my car?! Someone could die out here!” Her voice drifted through the intercom, dripping with disdain. “Grayson has depression. He doesn’t get to feel what you feel behind the wheel — the speed, the rush. Cutting the brake line was the only way I could think of to cheer him up.” “Aren’t you supposed to be the God of the Track? Consider this a test of your skills. Don’t be so selfish — I know what I’m doing.” I knew then that no one was coming to save me. I had to save myself. With everything I had left, I slammed the emergency distress button on my waist. “Now — activate the emergency protocol!” When she heard me calling for help, Natalie’s voice curled with contempt. “Seriously? I’ve never seen you care this much about your own skin before. You’re the God of the Track — scared of a little brake failure? You’ve been through this before. Why are you being so dramatic now?” That last time the brakes failed, I’d nearly died saving her. Three months flat on my back in a hospital. I almost lost my career entirely. If I hadn’t had nerves of steel, I might never have gotten behind the wheel again. And she’d glossed over it like it was nothing — then weaponized it against me. Now she wanted to put me through the same nightmare. Worse, even. I ground my teeth together. “Natalie, do you have any idea what you’ve done? My life matters too. Last time, I nearly died for you! And we’re on a race circuit right now — if the brakes are gone, I’m dead!” She sounded angrier than I was. “You’re not dead yet, are you? Ethan, stop being so dramatic. Do you have to throw that rescue in my face every single time? For your information, if you hadn’t jumped in, Grayson would have saved me anyway.” “You think you’re so impressive? Then prove it. How could someone like you possibly let himself die?” She had no idea — back then, Grayson had been too busy running to save himself. If I hadn’t been there, she’d already be a corpse. Her words hit like a slap. The car lurched; I nearly lost control. There was no time to dwell on it. I stopped wasting breath on her and tried to reach my teammates — but no matter how many times I hit the intercom, Natalie’s voice was the only thing that came through. She noticed and spoke flatly. “I modified the system so they can’t reach you. You’ve got me. That’s enough.” Another blow. Ice flooded my chest. “You know this is a team race, right? No one survives this alone. Have you lost your mind? You’re using me as a lab rat? Natalie, as team captain, I’m ordering you — fix this now. No brakes, no backup — that’s a death sentence. Do you actually want me dead?” “Stop whining. I told you, I know what I’m doing. You’re only thinking about yourself. If you’ve got nothing useful to say, don’t say anything.” And then Natalie cut the line. I clenched my fist and forced my voice steady. I had no choice but to beg. “Natalie, you can see what’s happening to me right now. Please — alert the teammates behind me. Tell them to force my car to stop. I’m begging you.” Then Grayson’s voice came through from the other side. “Babe, don’t stop. Keep going. I’m actually starting to feel it — the thrill of racing. I wish it were even more intense.” Natalie’s voice instantly transformed — bright, breathless, sweeter than I’d ever heard it with me. “Really? You don’t want to die anymore? Oh, thank God. I’ll speed things up right now.” The moment she finished speaking, my car surged completely out of control, accelerating wildly, swerving and lurching — and then it rocketed straight toward the cliff edge.

With a split second to spare, years of experience took over and I wrenched the wheel straight. But I was drenched in cold sweat, my heart monitor screaming. One lapse in focus and I’d have gone over the edge. Then I found a problem far more critical — my right hand was broken. The fractured bone had torn through skin and muscle. Blood poured freely, and still the car thundered on. With my left hand trembling, I reached for the full-body safety system — and stopped cold. Every protective mechanism had been gutted and replaced with cosmetic features. My car had become the flashiest, most eye-catching vehicle on the track. In racing, that was a death wish. Grayson kept cycling through the car’s color displays, pausing now and then to debate with Natalie about which shade looked better. They were laughing and joking around. Meanwhile, I was the lamb waiting to be slaughtered. Helpless and pathetic. The equipment that should have kept me alive had been stripped out and repurposed as a toy for Natalie to impress Grayson. My life meant nothing to her. Their excited chatter felt like a death knell — mocking my helplessness with every word. My knuckles went white. I bit down so hard I tasted blood. “Natalie, stop this. I genuinely don’t have this under control — people die when brakes fail. My right hand is broken. I can’t move it. Get me backup. Now.” A dull thud — Grayson threw down the controller, his voice sullen. “Babe, I’m done. This worthless life of mine isn’t going to last much longer anyway. I shouldn’t have upset him.” Natalie immediately turned on me, screaming. “Ethan, that’s enough! Could you show some compassion? Grayson is sick. He’s a patient. Why do you have to be so petty? You want out? Not until Grayson has had enough fun.” People around them chimed in. “Grayson, you’ve really hit the jackpot with Natalie — not every girl would bet her boyfriend’s career and his life just to keep her first love happy. Respect.” “Still — Ethan’s situation looks like it’s getting pretty serious. Aren’t you worried about him at all?” Natalie answered without missing a beat, her voice rock-solid. “He’s faking it. He’s pulling a stunt to get my attention. He tried the same trick last time — does he really think I’ll fall for it twice?” “You all know Ethan. Arrogant, self-centered. This is just my way of keeping him in line.” She was putting my life on the line as a “method of keeping him in line”? Did she actually think I was a god? What was I to her? The “last time” she referenced — her little crew had staged a fake kidnapping, claiming Natalie had been taken. They gave me one hour to abandon the race and drive over a thousand kilometers to “save” her. I’d sacrificed the ranking I’d bled for, wrecked my car, and gotten injured in the process. When she found out, she’d seemed genuinely torn up about it. Now I was learning she’d thought I was running a con on her the whole time. “Ha, that’s right — Natalie always knows how to handle men.” That finally pulled Grayson out of his sulk. He went right back to his little performance with the controls. The constant visual changes made my competitor, Drake, think I was deliberately provoking him. He came at me without hesitation. Three thunderous impacts — Drake’s reinforced bumper slammed into my rear. A shrill warning alarm pierced the air. Drake’s furious curses followed. The collision knocked the air out of me. I coughed up a mouthful of blood. Every organ in my body felt like it was being wrung out. Each breath scraped through what was left of my lungs like sandpaper. My head pounded. My car was beyond my control. My life was in someone else’s hands. That realization nearly sent me over the edge. If this kept up, I had one way out: a coffin. I made a decision — a desperate one.

“Ethan, have you lost your mind?! You wouldn’t dare—” Natalie seemed to figure out what I was about to do. But it was too late to stop me. She’d been too caught up playing house with Grayson — and that had given me my only window. I surrendered. Officially conceded. Threw away over a decade of dreams in one move. My body had hit its limit. If I kept going, there’d be nothing left of me — and Natalie didn’t care if I lived or died. No one gets to threaten my life. I will not be anyone’s punching bag. The moment Drake saw the white flag go up, he finally backed off his assault. “Well, I’ll be damned. Never thought I’d live to see the great Ethan throw in the towel.” “This isn’t some trick, right? You’re not playing me to drop my guard? I’m warning you — try to double-cross me, and I will end you.” “No trick. I surrender. Drake, please — help me.” I screamed as loud as I could, praying he’d hear me. He was the only one close enough. Two hundred meters ahead sat the track’s most notorious killing curve — a bend that had claimed more lives than anyone cared to count. At this speed, with no brakes, hitting that turn meant certain death. Before I could finish, Grayson cut off my lifeline again — sealing every window in the car so no sound could escape. Then, as punishment, he “accidentally” activated the electric shock system. A violent surge of electricity tore straight through my chest. I couldn’t breathe. The burning was unbearable. My entire body convulsed uncontrollably. Worse than the pain was the humiliation — the shock made me lose control of my bladder. In that moment, my hatred peaked. “Oops — I think I bumped something. Hope that’s okay. It sounded like Ethan was trying to talk to someone out there. I hope I didn’t upset him by accident.” I stared at the intercom with bloodshot eyes. I knew Natalie could see me. “Natalie — do you know what he just did to me? He wants me dead!” “Are you about to tell me he shocked you? I watched every modification on that car myself. The shock function is a gentle warning — it won’t kill you. Stop performing.” “And while we’re at it — I’ll give you a warning too. Stop playing games with me. Acting pathetic won’t help you.” She slammed the switch. Then she turned to Grayson and laughed, heaping praise on him. “Grayson, you did so well. Once we make it past this curve, I know you’ll find your confidence again.” The pain and helplessness boiled into something behind my eyes. My breathing went ragged; I nearly blacked out. Then a searing pain exploded in my abdomen. I pressed my hand against it and pulled it away soaked in red. The wound was a mess of blood and torn flesh. I pressed my fingers in. They came back out with fragments of gravel embedded in them. Grayson had deliberately sabotaged me at the worst possible moment. Debris from the car ahead had shredded straight into me. I was past the point of holding back. “Natalie, can you not see that Grayson is doing this on purpose?! He has been screwing with my controls this whole time. I’m injured and bleeding out right now! Are you both happy? Give me back control of my car — I just want to survive!” “Uh — Ethan seems really upset. Is he mad at me? Babe, I’m scared. I’m such a burden to everyone. Maybe it’d be better if I was gone.” Grayson’s voice was perfectly pitched — a grown man whimpering like a wounded child on cue, and Natalie swallowed it whole every single time. Natalie’s disgust for me hardened into something uglier. “Ethan, stop performing. All you do is threaten to die. It’s pathetic. Grayson has a real illness. He has depression.” “Is the only way you feel good about yourself making sure he suffers? Do you need everyone else to lose so you can win?” Natalie turned her back on me completely and spoke directly to Grayson. “Grayson, I’m handing you full control of the car. Let’s ignore him. If he actually dies — that’s on him. He’s choosing this.” The moment she finished, they locked everything down. The car went into sealed, impenetrable mode. From the outside, it looked like I’d gone back on my surrender — like I was recklessly charging back into the race and looking for a fight. Racers are young, hot-blooded, and proud. They don’t take kindly to that kind of provocation. “That rat Ethan — he played us! Everyone go, take him out!” Even some of my own teammates didn’t understand what was happening. A few of them tried to speed up and check on me — and Natalie shut them down instantly. “Hold your positions! Nobody passes Ethan’s car. That’s an order.” “But this doesn’t match the strategy Ethan briefed us on — we’re supposed to be racing as a unit. His car is a target right now. If this keeps up, first place—” “Shut up. I speak for Ethan. I’m his girlfriend.” “Ethan! Ethan, say something!” I beat my fists against the sealed window until they bled. No one heard a thing. The car held. I was an animal trapped in a cage, thrashing until I’d torn myself apart — and it changed nothing. Then the air inside the car began to thin. Grayson’s voice slid into my ear, low and cold. “Ethan. Go ahead and die. Once you’re gone, I’m done pretending to be sick, done playing the victim. I’ll tell your parents exactly how heroically you went out. Your team, your car, your girlfriend — I’ll take good care of all of it for you. Rest easy.” Grayson had never had good intentions. He’d been waiting for the right moment. Now he steered my car deliberately into Drake — trying to ignite a fresh wave of fury from Drake’s crew. Ahead, the most treacherous curve on the circuit appeared. With Drake’s team bearing down on me, I had ten seconds left. Maybe less. My body went cold as the blood poured out of me. Consciousness began slipping, dragging me toward darkness. Grayson’s triumphant laughter detonated in my ears, savoring every second of my helpless struggle. I wasn’t ready to give up. God, I wasn’t ready. Was this really how it ended? “Ethan! We’re coming for you!”

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Eight years. That’s how long I rotted in a cell for a murder I never did. And there he is. My husband. Waiting at the gate with roses and our twins, smiling like he didn’t put me there himself. His eyes fill with tears. “Vivian. Baby. You’ve learned your lesson. From now on, you’ve got me and the kids. That’s it.” The reporters swarm in. They’ve been waiting for hours. “Vivian Hayes! You used to be America’s sweetheart. Tell us, what was going through your head when you tortured that poor delivery driver?” “How did you feel when his family set the fire that killed your parents?” “Your CEO husband got down on his knees on live TV for you. Your kids grew up labeled the children of a killer. Any regrets, Vivian?” The cameras and mics push at my face like weapons. Every question wants me dead. I don’t say a word. Then someone shouts over the rest. “Chloe Bennett has confessed her love for your husband on camera. Multiple times. Will you finally let him and the kids go? Give them a way out?” A way out? I almost laugh. They’re the ones who never gave me a way out. Damon was the one who begged me to take the fall for Chloe. ……. All those vicious questions, and Damon didn’t say one word to defend me. But the second someone says Chloe’s name? He snaps his fingers. The bodyguards move in. “Sorry, folks. Ms. Bennett is a respected actress. Please leave her name out of this.” My own kids look like they want to swing at the reporter. “Chloe is beautiful and kind! How dare this killer even say her name!” I gave birth to these two in prison. I worked the laundry shift during the day with one of them strapped to each side of me. At night I rocked them for hours so they wouldn’t wake the other inmates. The day Damon came to take them, I asked him for one thing. “Send them overseas. As far as you can. And whatever you do, keep them away from Chloe.” Now I’m out. And I find out the two babies I almost died for were raised at her knee. Turned into knives. Pointed at me. The car ride home is silent. Damon reaches over and takes my hand, careful, like he’s testing the water. “About what happened back then. I want to thank you. For Chloe.” I don’t move. “You were already married. Pregnant. You’d been talking about retiring anyway. Chloe had just graduated. Her whole career was in front of her.” I laugh. It comes out ugly. “So?” I turn and look at him. “So the real killer walks free, and I’m the one who has to bury my parents and lose my kids? Is that what you’re telling me?” He doesn’t answer. When he finally speaks, his voice breaks. “Her parents saved my life, Vivian. I owed them. Blame me. Hit me. Yell at me. I swear, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.” Eight years of cold concrete. The reporters tearing me apart at the gate. All of it falls apart in my chest the second he says it. I start shaking. The sobs rip out of me. He pulls me against his chest. His voice is low. Steady. The voice I used to fall asleep to. “It’s over, baby. It’s all over. We’re gonna have a beautiful family. Just us and the kids.” It’s such a beautiful picture. It shatters the second I walk through the door and see her. Our house. Exactly the way I left it. Brighter, actually. Warmer. Because the day they put me in cuffs, Chloe moved in. She walks up to me like she owns the place and grabs my hand. “Vivian! You’re finally home! I made dinner. We’ve been waiting all afternoon.” I rip my hand away like she’s diseased. Damon’s face turns to ice. “Vivian. I get you’re pissed. Take it out on me. Don’t take it out on her.” He steps between us. “Yeah, you took the fall. But she’s the one who raised our kids while you were gone. She put her whole career on the line for this family. Drop it already.” “Drop it?” Nothing in prison ever hurt the way that sentence just did. “You want me to thank her, Damon?” I want to scream the rest. Why wasn’t he at our anniversary dinner that night? Why was he at her birthday party instead? Why did he throw his own pregnant wife in a cell to save her? Chloe jumps in before it can blow up. “It’s okay, Damon. Really. She needs time. I knew this would happen.” She gives me a soft, sad little smile. “You two eat. I’ll get out of your way.” Her eyes go red right on cue. The picture of hurt. But she doesn’t let a single tear fall. She just spins around and runs back to her room.

Every dish on the table was made by Chloe. Just looking at them makes me want to throw up. Damon says it’s my first family dinner since I got out. Says I should sit down and act normal. At least for the kids. But the kids don’t even let me sit. Noah grabs a meatball off the plate and chucks it at my face. “Why does she get to eat Chloe’s food?” “Chloe and Daddy love each other! Why are you trying to steal him, you killer?” Nora’s already wailing next to him. “Daddy, please don’t let her live here. I’m scared.” Damon scoops her up like she’s made of glass. Chloe comes flying out of the kitchen the second she hears crying. She presses herself right up against him. Pretends to wipe Nora’s tears. Her hands are doing way more than that. “Aw, Nora, sweetie. She’s still your mom. And the police taught her her lesson. She won’t kill anyone anymore.” Nora hears the word kill and sobs harder. Eight years. Eight years I missed with these kids. Eight years they got called the children of a murderer at school, on the playground, everywhere. Now my baby girl’s face is red and swollen because of her, and something inside me snaps. “Chloe. What the hell did you just say?” I shove between her and Damon and grab her arm. “Won’t kill anyone anymore?” “You know exactly who did it. Better than anyone in this room.” Every ounce of rage I swallowed for eight years comes roaring up at once. My hand flies up to slap her. Damon catches my wrist mid-air. “Vivian. Jesus. Prison actually made you crazy.” He throws my arm down hard. I stumble. My lower back slams into the corner of the table. Pain shoots up my spine so sharp I almost black out on my feet. But that’s not what hurts the most. “Chloe was trying to calm Nora down. She was defending you, for God’s sake.” “Just go to your room. You’re not okay right now.” I stare at him. The tears are right there, burning behind my eyes. The same man who promised me the rest of his life an hour ago in the car. Now he’s screaming at me to protect her. I drag myself down the hall. Lock the door behind me. I pull up my shirt in front of the mirror. The whole side of my lower back is already turning purple. Black at the edges. Hideous. This bedroom is twice the size of my cell. Bright. Clean. And somehow I’ve never felt colder or more alone. In prison, rats ran across me at night. Roaches in my hair. I didn’t care. Because every single day I told myself the same thing. Get out. Get back to Damon. Get back to the kids. Build the life you were supposed to have. That’s what kept me breathing. And now? Even with the door shut, I can hear them laughing in the living room. I hear my kids piling food onto Chloe’s plate. Calling her Aunt Chloe in that sweet, sticky voice. I hear my husband ask her, soft and worried, “You okay, baby? She didn’t scare you, did she?” That life out there. The warm one. The happy one. That was supposed to be mine. No. It was supposed to be more than that. If somebody hadn’t leaked my parents’ address eight years ago. If the victim’s family hadn’t shown up with gasoline and a match. I’d have a house full of grandparents and babies right now. A real family. Loud. Messy. Whole. I’m crying so hard I can barely breathe when there’s a knock at the door. “Vivian. May I come in?”

I never let Damon see me like this. I spin around fast and scrub at my eyes. Too late. He’s already clocked the red rims and the wet streaks down my cheeks. He sets down a bowl and pulls me into his chest. “Hey. What’s all this? The kids spent eight years getting called a murderer’s children. Of course they’re cold. Give them time.” I nod into his shirt. “I know.” Then I look up. “That thing I asked you to look into. Who leaked Mom and Dad’s address. Did you ever find out?” His face shifts. I feel his whole body go stiff against mine. “Babe. It’s been eight years. There’s nothing left to trace.” I frown. “I was at the peak of my career. I bought them that place in the Hamptons specifically to keep stalker fans out. The address was locked down.” “Whoever knew where they lived was someone close to me.” “Damon.” I grab his hand like it’s the last rope on a cliff. “Please. You have to find out who did this. They burned alive. There wasn’t even enough left to put in the casket.” After dinner, Damon takes the kids upstairs. I run myself a rose-petal bath. Partly to scrub eight years of prison off my skin. Mostly because tonight is supposed to be the first time my husband and I share a bed in nearly a decade. I dig out the black slip he used to lose his mind over. I sit on the edge of the bed. And I wait. He doesn’t come. Eventually I pad down the hall. The kitchen’s dark except for the fridge hanging half open. That’s when I see them. “Damon. Are you seriously going to sleep with that old bitch tonight?” Chloe’s in a red lace slip. Barely there. She drags one finger down his chest. He catches her wrist. “Chloe. Don’t talk about her like that. She did eight years for you.” She laughs in his face. “Sweetie. You had more money than God. One phone call and a hundred women would’ve lined up to take that fall for me.” She leans in. “And let’s be real. The night her parents walked in on us? The night they said they were going to the press? You’re the one who handed their address to the victim’s family.” “Damon.” She winds his tie around her finger and pulls him in until their mouths are almost touching. “Just say it. You wanted me. That’s why you put her away.” Their breath is mixing. He breaks. Grabs her by the jaw and bites down on her lip. Between gasps, he’s still talking. “When I married her, I swore I’d never cheat. But you and me, baby, we go back to kindergarten. The only way to keep my word to her and my word to you was to put her somewhere she’d never find out.” Then they’re kissing again. Loud. Hungry. And I’m standing in the dark feeling my heart get carved up in strips. The man I gave every piece of myself to. He killed my parents. The “girl he grew up with” he introduced me to at our engagement party? She was never a little sister. She was the love of his life. I don’t remember walking back to the bedroom. My legs aren’t mine anymore. I collapse on the floor. My phone is buzzing on the nightstand. My old agent. I can’t reach for it. I’m up before sunrise. I drive to my parents’ grave. I drop to my knees in front of the headstone and slap myself across the face. Hard. Mom. Dad. I’m so sorry. You raised a fool. Then I hear footsteps. A lot of them. Coming fast.

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After Alpha Zane’s death, the leadership of the Silverfang Pack passed to his younger brother, Alpha Rex. Alpha Rex declared he would “take care of Zane’s Luna together”, visiting my room—his sister-in-law Evelyn—every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I refused. The next day, cards printed with my private photos began circulating in every major Pack group chat. They read: “Luna for hire. $50 per time, $100 for three.” Furious, I went to confront Alpha Rex: “They’re photoshopped! I never did anything like that!” He didn’t believe me. Instead, he got me drunk, threw me out on the street, and spat venomously: “Never thought you’d stoop so low. You disgust me. Spend the night here reflecting on how not to shame me again!” He hadn’t even left when his so-called Alpha “brothers” dragged me away. I was tortured until dawn, my legs nearly crushed. Covered in blood, shaking all over, I stumbled back home—only to see Alpha Rex holding Evelyn—my so-called sister-in-law, Alpha Zane’s Luna. He shamelessly whispered: “Took long enough to get her out of the way. Otherwise, I couldn’t keep loving you… Evelyn.” I summoned every last ounce of strength to call out to the voice buried deep within: “Enid.” “I’m here, Stella.” That was Enid, the wolf soul within me—silent ever since my bond with Alpha Rex. But now, finally, she awakened. “He betrayed us.” My body trembled; my voice was like snow in the wind. Evelyn nodded with feigned concern: “I could understand if Stella didn’t want you visiting me, but spreading rumors like that? The whole Pack’s heard… It broke my heart.” “And aren’t you afraid of going too far? What if she breaks the bond with you?” Alpha Rex sneered: “I only bonded with her to cover for you and my brother. And now she wants to cut it off? If she were obedient like you, she wouldn’t have had to spend the night ‘reflecting’…” He paused, contempt dripping from his voice: “If she knew her place like you, she wouldn’t have tried to bargain with Stella’s reputation. Everything that happened to her, she brought on herself.” My breath caught. My whole body shook. “She’s pregnant?” I blurted. Alpha Zane hadn’t even been dead ten days! Before I could process it, Alpha Rex’s parents—Old Alpha Ross and Old Luna Tina—appeared in the hallway. I hid in the shadows. Instead of anger, they spoke calmly, almost indulgently: “Evelyn, it’s hard on you, staying behind to give Zane an heir.” “Once you have the child, I’ll let Alpha Rex give you my emerald necklace.” That’s when I understood—this “dual replacement” had been long accepted. Twin siblings standing in for each other—an ancient, Moon Goddess-sanctioned ritual to strengthen bloodlines. Only Evelyn’s child wasn’t Zane’s. It was Alpha Rex’s. When Evelyn hesitated, seemingly wanting to defend me, Alpha Rex snorted: “Relax, I already threw her out to get her trained. When she comes back, she’ll cooperate. Otherwise—she’s not even fit to keep as a dog! She wants to break the bond? Let’s see her try!” I stumbled away, only for my communicator to ring again—another round of anonymous harassment, each message laced with mockery. I tried to hang up—when Alpha Rex burst through the door. He froze at my battered state—then quickly replaced the shock with a fake smile, wrapping his arm around me: “Stella, you’re finally back. I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have left you out there. You’re my Luna. I should have believed you.” He gently stroked my wrist. But in my mind, all I could hear was: “Alpha Rex sure is lucky. That Luna’s wild and cheap—$100 for three turns…” When he whispered, “Tonight, you’ll earn it all back,” rage exploded inside me: “Don’t touch me!” He was stunned—then yanked me to the ground: “Stella, quit the act! I told you to reflect, not cause more drama!” I hit the floor hard, gasping. He rushed to help me up, only to be stopped by Evelyn: “Stella, don’t make a scene. I heard nothing actually happened last night.” “What did I do wrong? Why is everyone on the side of the people who hurt me?” I cried out, my voice shaking like a candle flickering in a storm. “You trusted him too much. Woke up too late.” Enid’s calm voice echoed from within me. Evelyn looked at Alpha Rex, speaking gently: “I only stayed to honor Zane… What is there to fight over…” That’s when I broke. Through tears, I called the authorities. Standing up on trembling legs, I shouted: “What did I do wrong? The one who should reflect—is all of you!”

When I said that, Tina immediately jumped in: “Stella, how can you say something like that? Evelyn is still pregnant with Zane’s child, she’s all alone now… how pitiful!” Ross also cut in coldly, full of reproach: “From ancient times, it’s been acceptable to marry two women for succession. This is just to share responsibility for the late Zane. Can’t you even tolerate that much?” Seeing everyone siding with him, Alpha Rex pulled Evelyn closer and added with a smirk: “How about this—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I’ll stay with Evelyn, and Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays with you. Still not satisfied? What do you want?” I felt a fire swelling in my chest. I couldn’t take it anymore. I gritted my teeth: “No need. Just spend all seven days with her. I don’t care.” The room went dead silent. Tina froze for a moment, then clapped her leg and laughed: “Glad you’ve finally come to your senses!” Alpha Rex sighed in relief and walked toward me to embrace me. But the moment he got close, filthy images from last night pierced my mind like blades. I recoiled instinctively, nausea choking me. I shoved him away, panting, and said each word with force: “Don’t touch me.” “You misunderstood—I meant to say… I want to sever the bond with Alpha Rex.” “That way, he can be with Evelyn—openly and officially.” He froze. “Stella, what kind of joke is this?” His eyes brimmed with disbelief. “I didn’t even blame you for sneaking around with other wolves, and now you’re breaking our bond over this?” “This?” I snapped. “You left me on the street, watched me get humiliated by your ‘brothers’. Do you even know what I went through?” He sneered: “I had people watching you. What could’ve possibly happened? Or are you mad you missed a few paying clients?” Smack! I slapped him, my whole body shaking. “Alpha Rex, are you even human?” Tina rushed to block me: “How dare you strike an Alpha? He’s the leader of the Silverfang Pack!” I let out a bitter laugh. “An Alpha? Without me, your Silverfang Pack is nothing!” “I sold off the estate my father gave me to help him win the Alpha succession. I built your throne!” “Enid,” I whispered inside. “Should I keep enduring this?” “No, Stella,” Enid’s voice was calm, unwavering. “Now is the time to tear your chains. Your wolf blood was never meant for shame.” Alpha Rex exploded: “Who’d want a used-up mutt like you after this?” Outside the door, omegas peeked in, whispering: “So shameless! I’ve gotten her little card before.” “Heard she’s wild—three times for only a hundred bucks.” “I wanna try her too,” someone murmured. My body trembled uncontrollably. My knuckles turned white from clenching too hard. Tears poured out without restraint. Evelyn, ever the innocent, said softly: “Don’t say that… Stella’s not that kind of wolf…” Alpha Rex shot her a cold glance, then spat: “You’ve got the nerve to cry? If you had any decency, would people say those things?” “Enid…” I muttered. “Don’t let them stain the last of your dignity. You were never meant to be beneath their feet.” I looked at Alpha Rex, still ranting about how much he “tolerated” and “sacrificed”. “But… I loved him once,” I told Enid. “That doesn’t mean you should accept humiliation,” she replied. “Love is not a prison. A bond is not a shackle.” “You thought saving the Silverfang Pack would earn their gratitude. But they only ever saw you as a tool.” Evelyn stepped closer, deliberately whispering in my ear: “Rex loves me. He only pitied you.” “You helped the Pack, so what? He never loved you. He would never sacrifice a single thing for you.” She straightened up, raising her voice: “Just leave quietly. Maybe you can keep a shred of pathetic dignity.” I was about to respond when my communicator vibrated. The screen showed an image—me, from last night, being violated. Underneath it: “Round two tonight? I’ll pay double.” I screamed. The device slipped from my shaking hands and crashed to the floor. My chest felt like it had been torn open by claws. Even breathing hurt. I looked up, eyes locked on Alpha Rex. One word at a time, I said: “Stop pretending.” Tina and Ross’s faces turned ghostly pale.

Alpha Rex’s face turned bright red the moment I snapped at him. I casually grabbed that disgusting card stuck in the neighbor’s doorframe—printed with my private photo, along with a degrading price written across the paper. Coldly, I said, “You printed my photo. You spread vile rumors about me. I will never forget this.” He glanced nervously at Evelyn, pretending to stay calm as he protested, “Me? Why would I? Why would I want the whole pack to know their Luna is a bitch?!” He paused, then put on a look of deep affection, his tone turning mournful. “Stella, if you still care about me—your Alpha Rex—I won’t abandon you.” “As long as you’re willing to let Evelyn move in, and let her safely give birth to Zane’s child, I can forgive everything.” He looked at me with agonized sincerity, his words full of emotion, drawing sympathetic gasps from the surrounding omegas. “She doesn’t even treasure an Alpha Rex who loves her like that. What’s wrong with her?” “She was with Zane. Zane just died, and she’s already so heartless…” “Look at Evelyn, so gentle and understanding. Stella is selfish and shameless.” Evelyn, standing at the back of the crowd, smiled with satisfaction. Her lips moved slightly, and I could clearly read the two words she mouthed: “Serves you.” I clenched the card tightly, didn’t spare them another glance, and turned to leave. Alpha Rex tried to grab me, but I shook him off hard. Furious, he shouted from behind me, “You walk away now—don’t ever come back!” I walked down the stairs without looking back, my heart utterly calm. “You’re still waiting for them to change, but all they’ll become is more like stray dogs.” Enid’s voice suddenly echoed in my mind—the voice of the wolf spirit that had long slept inside me. “I endured for five years…” “You are the Luna of the Winsor Pack. Your bond is your honor, not your chains.” I could almost feel Enid standing behind me, a noble and commanding wolf shadow at my back. I reopened my communicator and sent a message I had already made up my mind about: [Dad, Mom, I’m breaking my bond with Alpha Rex. Silverfang Pack—let it go bankrupt.] Just as I was about to step out of Silverfang Pack’s gates, I halted, overwhelmed by rage and humiliation. “Shall we break the bond now?” Enid asked, her voice deep and distant. “No.” I whispered back. “I’ll do it in front of the whole pack.” “You want them to witness how a Luna reclaims her honor.” I nodded slightly. “Exactly. I’ll turn this humiliation into a trial—my trial.” Stumbling, I flagged down a cab. The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror, twitched the corner of his mouth, and sent a voice message on his communicator: [Guess who just got in my car? Luna—the one going viral in the group chat… the ‘$100 for three times’ bitch.] A chill ran through my body. I felt frozen. I clenched my teeth, refusing to let the tears fall. In my mind, Enid spoke softly: “Stella, these aren’t insults—they’re the fire that will forge your soul anew.” “Burn it all down—with your true self.” Meanwhile, back at the Silverfang Pack mansion— Evelyn stumbled, grabbing the edge of the table. A sickly blush colored her pale face. “Rex, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have upset Stella like that…” She caressed her slightly swollen belly, eyes full of delicate sorrow. “But I’m really scared… What if she, out of spite, sends someone to hurt our baby?” Alpha Rex froze, then slammed the table in anger. Evelyn immediately took his hand and placed it on her belly. “Feel it—the baby kicked just now. It must have sensed danger.” She looked up at him, tears hanging from her lashes. “Remember the fire three months ago? The omega guarding the warehouse said he saw a woman wearing a pearl necklace wandering nearby…” Alpha Rex’s pupils shrank. That was my favorite necklace. Evelyn seized the moment and leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She whispered seductively into his ear: “It’s only us—we’re the real family, aren’t we?”

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“Please… please, come get me,” I sobbed, clutching the phone tightly. “I have to leave this place. I’ll agree to any condition.” A sharp, worried voice answered instantly. “What happened, Wendy? Are you hurt?” I wiped my tears and cleared my throat. “I’m fine. I’ve just had enough of this fake place.” “When should I come for you?” the voice asked. “In seven days,” I replied. “This is the last time, Wendy. Don’t disappoint me again.” The call ended. I slowly got up from the floor. But another voice echoed coldly in my mind—tinged with disdain. “Only now you want to leave? What were you waiting for?” I closed my eyes. It was her—Miranda, my wolf soul. “Wendy, you’re free to go,” the nurse said kindly. I nodded and smiled at her, then limped out of the pack hospital. In my heart, I wished for a message or a call—but there was nothing. The phone stayed silent, and oddly, that silence brought me relief—no more lies to fabricate. In the living room, the holographic TV was broadcasting the pack’s celebration. My mother didn’t even glance up. She was feeding peeled grapes to Penny. “Our sweet Penny, always so good. Not like someone else who can’t even serve tea without breaking a cup.” My fingers tightened around the tray, the cracked rim digging into my palm. Three days ago, Penny had “accidentally” knocked the tray from my hands. Now my mother was smiling at her, eyes full of affection. “Look at you, so graceful. Not clumsy like Wendy.” Penny bit into a grape, her gaze flicking toward me. “Mom, Wendy’s just tired. She stayed up late helping me organize council documents,” she said with a syrupy smile. “Right, sis?” Alpha John lounged on the sofa, idly toying with the emerald bracelet Penny had given him. “Organizing? More like creating chaos. Last time it was the clan’s financial report—if Penny hadn’t stayed up to fix it, who knows what kind of mess we’d be in.” Miranda: “Page seven of that report had Penny’s lipstick mark. She used correction fluid to hide the right figures.” That error was deliberate—Penny’s fault. But I was the one who took the fall. My mother patted Penny’s hand. “Teach her? Don’t waste your time. You should just focus on learning from Alpha John. Someday, you’ll make a fine Luna for the Blackthorn Pack.” John pulled Penny closer by the shoulder. “Of course. Unlike someone else, who wasn’t even worthy of a proper bonding ceremony. Just a secret wife, hidden in the shadows.” Then my mother snapped. “Why don’t you go die with that useless father of yours?” It wasn’t the first time she said she wished I’d died with my father. My brother’s death anniversary had only passed a week ago. How could she… Penny quickly grabbed her hand. “Mom, don’t be mad. Wendy didn’t mean to upset you…” She paused, her voice dripping with honey. “But John’s right. If Wendy learned more from me, maybe she wouldn’t be such a disappointment.” I looked at Alpha John, and my heart shattered again. Alpha John, Alpha of the Blackthorn Pack. The man I had loved for ten years. He never looked at me—until five years ago. Penny had run away from her own bonding ceremony. I found him by the cliffs in a storm, about to jump. That night, he was drunk beyond recognition and whispered in my arms, “Wendy, don’t leave me.” That night, he slept with me—and I let him. The next morning, he said he’d marry me. I thought it was finally my turn to be happy. I said yes without hesitation. But a year later, Penny returned in tears—and he forgot all about me. He swore he’d never look at her again. Told me I didn’t need to worry. But he was lying. He took her back. They betrayed me—right under my nose. He treated me coldly, kept our bond a secret, while parading her around. Two months ago, I was forced to lure in a stalker who had been secretly filming Penny. While I was running for my life, Penny sent me ninety-nine videos of her and Alpha John having sex—all in one night. Even in the hospital, my knees torn open from the chase, my phone kept buzzing—one clip after another. “Did you die or what?” John’s voice cut through, cold and impatient. He snapped his fingers in front of my face. I blinked, then smiled. “What’s wrong, darling?” “There’s a council banquet tonight. Don’t go.” “Why not?” He sneered. “Penny said you spilled wine on Elder Lady last time. It embarrassed the pack.” It had been Penny who knocked my elbow. But now it was my ‘clumsiness’ again. He glanced at my bare collarbone. “If Penny hadn’t fled the ceremony that year, I never would’ve…” “Some people just aren’t cut out for public events,” my mother added mockingly. They all laughed and walked away. I sighed and sat on the couch. Then I heard Penny’s giggles by the door. She held up a pregnancy report. “John, the pack doctor says the pup is healthy.” “Three months along—just in time with our wedding date.” John rushed over to take the paper, his fingers brushing the ultrasound image tenderly. “You’ve worked so hard.” He bent to kiss her belly. “Baby, Daddy will give you the world.” So while I was in an operating room, they had already gotten married—and were expecting a child. And I remained the secret he refused to acknowledge. Miranda: “You’ve always known what they were. What are you still hoping for? John’s pity? Penny’s guilt? Your grape-feeding mother to say ‘I’m sorry’?” “I just… feel so defeated,” I whispered. “Of course you do. You waited for him ten years, and he gave the ring to someone else.” Miranda scoffed. “But now, finally—you’re choosing to run.” “I’m not running,” I said through clenched teeth. “I’m ending it.” No tears. I contacted the elder. “This is Wendy,” I said. “I’m ready to sever the bond.” “Are you sure, Wendy? You insisted on marrying him in the first place,” the elder asked. I nodded. “Yes. This is my final decision.” “Alright, I’ll send the documents. Both of you must sign and return them within six days for the process to be complete.” “Don’t worry,” I said. “I’ll make sure Alpha John signs.” Suddenly, the front door slammed open. Alpha John stormed in, brows furrowed. “Sign what?!” he roared.

“What are you trying to get me to sign, Wendy?” My grip on the phone tightened instantly, the elder’s words — “must be signed within six days” — still reverberating in my ears. “It’s nothing,” I said quickly, shoving the phone into my clothes. “Just a follow-up confirmation from the doctor.” “You’re lying.” Miranda’s voice slithered through my mind like ice over a frozen lake, sharp and merciless. “You really think you can hide it from him? What does he even see you as? Less than a dog.” He suddenly seized my wrist, the pressure nearly enough to shatter bone. “Unlock it.” “The password’s my birthday.” He typed in 0617. The screen stayed black. On the second attempt, a vein on his temple began to pulse. “You told me your birthday was June 17!” Miranda cackled. “Five years of marriage and the only date he remembers belongs to a dog.” “That’s the birthday of the Pomeranian you gave Penny.” “Five years of marriage, and you remember a dog’s birth, not mine.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Wendy, I…” “Enough!” I wrenched my arm from his grasp, my nails raking a red line across his wrist. “You remember the day she fled her wedding vow for word, but last year, when I was burning with fever ironing your moon-crest embroidered suit, you took Penny out to her favorite restaurant.” “Enough!” Alpha John snapped coldly. Behind him, his wolf shadow flared, baring its fangs. “Penny already swore before the Moon Goddess. It’s you who refuses to move on.” I didn’t respond. I walked past him and headed upstairs. Just as I reached the top, Penny’s saccharine voice chased after me. “John, look at the gift I picked for Wendy…” She swung the shopping bag into my room. She saw me in the room, holding my late brother Ronald’s backpack, grieving in silence. “You’re still keeping Ronald’s stuff? So morbid. Dead people’s things bring bad luck.” My hand froze on the drawer handle. Inside lay Ronald’s heart transplant consent form — the signature line still blank. “Don’t touch that.” “I’ll be gone soon,” I said softly. “Then you’ll finally have everything you’ve always wanted.” “Oh no,” she stepped closer, her voice venomous, “I haven’t taken everything yet.” Then, she screamed and fell to the ground, red marks “appearing” on her wrist. “Wendy, I just wanted to look at your dad’s ring…” The ring wasn’t worth much — but it was the last thing I had of him. The only thing that hadn’t yet been stolen. She held up her bare hand, nails secretly digging into her flesh. “Why did you hit me?” Alpha John stormed in as Penny pointed at me, trembling. “She said… said she hated me for stealing Ronald’s heart!” “You’re insane!” He gripped my jaw, his fingers biting into my skin. “Ronald died of heart failure!” I stared at Penny’s hidden hand. On her middle finger was Ronald’s graduation ring — the one I had left by his urn. “One week ago,” my voice turned eerily calm. “The hospital found a matching heart. The day before surgery, we were told the donor backed out.” Penny’s smile faltered for a second before she burst into tears. “John, she’s lying again…” Miranda observed coldly: “Her left eyelid twitched twice — classic sign of a lie.” Then, “accidentally,” Penny knocked over the urn on the nightstand. Ronald’s ashes spilled across the floor, mixing with his beloved dried sunflowers. “She couldn’t even spare the dead,” Miranda whispered. “And you still want to forgive her? She’s the real stray dog here.” Miranda’s ethereal claws sliced the air, forming a shimmering ward. “She deliberately struck the moonstone seal with her elbow. That dust she scattered with the sunflower petals — that’s silver poison powder. It’ll keep a wolf’s soul from ever reincarnating.” “You spilled his ashes!” I lunged forward — —but Alpha John’s slap landed first. The edge of his ring tore my lip. Then came my mother’s wolfbone staff, slamming into my back. “Throwing a fit over some ashes? You’re just like your wretched father — pathetic!” “You finally understand,” Miranda’s voice was gentle, too gentle. “It wasn’t a misunderstanding. They’ve been killing your brother together — from the very beginning.” Penny crouched beside the ashes, dabbing a bit on her fingertip and smearing it at the corner of her eye. “Wendy, I’m sorry… The truth is, John begged the doctor to give the heart to me. He said he couldn’t live without me.” She leaned into my ear. “Did you know? The night before Ronald’s surgery, I unplugged his monitor.” I stared at the faint needle scar on her ring finger — the one she gave herself while faking heart failure. Alpha John was cradling her now, checking her “wounds.” My mother delicately wiped the ashes from Penny’s shoes. No one saw the blood trailing down my palm as I picked up the shards of Ronald’s urn. I closed my eyes. Six more days. And I’ll be free — forever.

I opened my eyes to the stark white ceiling of the hospital. I sat up, and the pain made me cry out. The door opened. A nurse walked in, smiling gently. “Wendy, back again. You’re practically a regular now.” She held a clipboard with a thick stack of my medical records from the past six months. Knife wounds, burns, fractured bones—the ink piled high like a mountain on the paper. “What happened this time?” I groaned. “An Omega brought you in,” she explained. How long had I been lying here? Long enough for the Omega sweepers to come and go, long enough that even a wolf’s natural healing couldn’t mend my cracked ribs in time. “Wendy… are you…” The nurse’s voice softened, “Are you being abused?” “I’m fine,” I cut her off quickly. “I’m just clumsy. It was an accident.” “An accident?” she looked up, and the corridor’s moonstone lights shimmered in her eyes. “But this time, it’s three fractured ribs, and…” She hesitated, then added in a whisper, “Wendy, you’re pregnant.” Tears welled up in my eyes as I placed my hand over my belly. “That’s his spawn,” Miranda growled in my mind, voice laced with contempt. “He put fate inside you while crying out another woman’s name. You really want to keep that humiliation?” I trembled as I answered, “I don’t know… but it’s still a life.” “You want to raise it? Just so John can control you again?” she scoffed. I still remembered clearly how it happened. Three months ago—right when Penny sent those sex tapes. That night, Alpha John staggered into my room, drunk, mistaking me for Penny. He kept murmuring, “Penny, don’t leave me…” over and over. I let him hold me. I let him leave chaotic Alpha marks all over me— Just so I could pretend, for a few hours, that I was wanted. The next morning, he woke up cold and accused me of seducing him. “The child is strong,” the nurse said, her voice floating faintly. “But you lost a lot of blood. If you’d arrived thirty minutes later…” I stopped listening. All I could see were the videos Penny had sent. I knew I no longer had the strength to raise this child. How could I bring a baby into such misery? “Wendy?” “I’ve decided to have an abortion,” I told her. The clipboard fell to the floor with a loud smack. “Wendy! You’re four months in. Abortions at this stage are extremely risky for werewolves, and—” “I don’t have a husband,” I stared at the cracks on the ceiling. “The father… his heart belongs to his fated mate.” I shrugged. “My mind’s made up. Please give me the necessary forms.” As I signed, a drop of blood from my fingertip soaked into the rune on the paper, vanishing instantly— A binding magic. Once signed, there was no turning back. “You’re finally making decisions for yourself. Finally listening to me—and to yourself.” I closed my eyes, and for the first time, my heartbeat felt steady. “Thank you, Miranda.” “Don’t thank me,” she replied. “We’re symbiotic. As long as you live, I can roar.” “Tomorrow morning at eight,” The nurse tucked away the forms, her eyes full of worry. “May the Moon Goddess protect you.” My phone buzzed. A string of missed calls lit up the screen. The last message was sent half an hour ago: “I’m at the border of Blackthorn. This time, I’ll get you out, Wendy.” I smiled faintly and sent a short reply. Then I checked the phone again— No messages from my mother. None from Alpha John. Not even Penny. As I walked out of the ward, I heard Penny’s laugh echoing down the hallway. “John, the pup kicked today!” Turning the corner, I saw Alpha John kneeling, resting his head against Penny’s belly. The Alpha token on his wrist was pressed gently to her rounded stomach. “I’m so happy you have a supportive husband through your pregnancy, Penny,” said the pack doctor. And right before my eyes, Alpha John kissed Penny. “It’s my honor, Penny. You complete me.” “My Luna,” he rose and kissed her forehead with a tenderness I had never known. “When our baby is born, I’ll hold the grandest celebration for you at the Moon Goddess’s altar.” “Do you still believe that Alpha ever loved you?” A sharp pain struck my heart. But I couldn’t help asking: “Then what was I?” Nausea surged. I rushed into the restroom and gripped the sink, retching. “Well, if it isn’t Wendy.” Penny’s voice rang from the doorway. “Enjoying your little peep show at my checkup?” “Get out.” “Still not dead?” She stepped closer. “When I left you lying in Ronald’s ashes, I thought you’d finally go keep him company.” “Kill her,” Miranda whispered. “She doesn’t deserve to breathe your brother’s name.” “You threw away Ronald’s ashes?” I looked up sharply, catching the blue ceramic shards stuck to her heels— The remains of his urn. Penny smirked. “Not just tossed them—I had an Omega bury them with dog shit. That useless heart of his should’ve gone to a mutt anyway.” I yanked her hair backward. “You venomous bitch! Killing him wasn’t enough, you had to desecrate his ashes?!” “Help! Wendy’s gone insane!” Penny screamed, suddenly curling up on the floor, clutching her stomach and writhing. “My baby… it hurts…” The bathroom door slammed open. Alpha John burst in. “What did you do to her?!” “She killed Ronald! She destroyed his ashes!—” SMACK. The slap was sharp and brutal. My vision blurred from the sting. His voice was ice. “Ronald’s life was always meant to save Penny’s.” Penny scrambled into his arms, And behind his back, she pinched his waist. In a whisper only a bonded Alpha could hear, she said: “Kill her, John.” Alpha John’s gaze darkened. He stepped forward, boot stomping down on the hem of my skirt, pinning me to the cold tile. Penny stood behind him, smiling cruelly, mouthing the words: “Die already.” “Alpha John…” I looked up into his eyes, hoping to see even a flicker of the light I had chased for ten years. But all I saw was hatred—cold, final. “She—” I began, desperate— “Shut up.” he cut me off, raising his hand toward my abdomen. Behind him, Penny stealthily stabbed his arm with her hairpin, Making it appear as though I had attacked her. In that instant, John’s rage exploded. He didn’t slap me again— He shoved me. Hard. My stomach slammed into the marble sink. I looked down at the pool of blood, And heard my own heartbeat slow… fading… Inside me, the faint flutter of the baby’s movement… disappeared. “Help… me…” I reached out, trying to grab the hem of his trousers— But caught only air. “Now do you believe me?” Miranda’s voice roared through me like a midnight storm through a forest. “He’ll kill you—for her. They all hate you… because you’re still breathing.” He didn’t look back. He just walked away, arm wrapped around Penny’s waist. His voice was full of unfiltered disgust: “Just die here, you worthless trash.”

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

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

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

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The first year Julian transferred to headquarters, he video-called me every night until midnight. The second year, it dropped to once a week. The third year, the calls stopped. He switched to texts. I told myself I understood. Then one day, he sent me a message. “Mom wants you to come back. She says there’s something to discuss.” I took time off work and flew out. Eleanor was sitting in the living room. A woman I’d never seen before stood beside her. “Sienna, honey, I’m not asking you two to divorce. I just want you to be gracious about this. Give Vivienne a proper place in this family.” “She’s been by Julian’s side at headquarters all this time. You’ve seen it yourself — his numbers have never been better.” I looked at the woman. She lowered her head and said softly: “I’m already pregnant. My baby needs a father.” Eleanor picked up where she left off. “You haven’t given us a single child in three years. Something’s got to be wrong with you. I’ve found a top specialist — you should start seeing him.” I sat on the sofa and said nothing. Then I stood up, picked up my bag, and walked to the door. I had just stepped outside when Julian’s car pulled up. He got out and saw me. He froze. The passenger door swung open. A little boy, no older than two, reached out his arms and called out: “Daddy, up.” Two years old. Nine months of pregnancy, plus two years. That put it right at the start of his first year at headquarters. The man who used to call me every night until midnight. Who once ordered me food delivery at two in the morning because I mentioned I forgot dinner. Who still flew back every few months, just long enough to make me feel like he was still mine. That man had gotten another woman pregnant. Julian clearly hadn’t expected me to walk out. His hand hung in the air, frozen. He’d forgotten to close the car door. The little boy in the passenger seat kept squirming, calling out for his daddy in that soft, babbling voice. Vivienne came rushing out of the house and grabbed my arm. “Don’t blame Julian. This is all my fault.” “I’d had too much to drink that night. I wouldn’t let him go. He never stopped loving you.” I shook her off and fixed my eyes on Julian. Julian finally snapped out of it. He crossed to me quickly and stepped in front of Vivienne. “Sienna, let me explain.” I looked at his face — that face I knew so well — and felt my stomach turn. “Explain what?” “Explain how you spent your days in her bed and your nights calling me your wife?” Julian went pale. He dropped his voice, and something close to pleading crept into it. “Don’t make a scene. Mom’s still inside watching.” I almost laughed. So in his mind, calling out his lies made me the problem. Eleanor had followed us out by then, peeling a piece of fruit in her hands. “Sienna, men stray. It happens. That’s just how it is.” “Besides, Vivienne’s already given him a son, and there’s another one on the way.” “You couldn’t even give him one child in three years. You can’t expect the Harlow name to die with you.” I turned to Eleanor. “I can’t give you a child?” “Julian, did you forget to mention that you drank yourself sick chasing deals, and I spent months caring for you around the clock until my own hormones crashed?” Julian looked away. He couldn’t meet my eyes. Vivienne’s eyes filled with tears on cue. She shrank behind Julian. “I know you’re hurting.” “I don’t need a name on paper. I just want to be near Julian.” “When the baby comes, you can be its mother. I’ll be the nanny.” How noble. How selfless. Julian heard those words and the guilt in his eyes turned to tenderness in an instant. He put his arm around Vivienne’s shoulders. When he looked back at me, his voice had hardened. “Sienna, Vivienne has already given up this much. What more do you want?” “If she hadn’t been at headquarters managing my relationships these past two years, I never would have made it where I am.” “You stayed home. You have no idea how hard it’s been for me.” No idea how hard it’s been for him. What I knew was that the startup money he’d taken to headquarters — I’d sold my grandmother’s house to put it together. What I knew was that I used to read his weekly texts over and over, a dozen times each. I took a slow breath and reached into my bag. I pulled out a small black voice recorder. He’d had it custom-made and sent to me during his first year away. Inside was his voice: “Three years, Sienna. Give me three years and I’ll bring you here myself. You’ll never have to wait again.” I pressed play right in front of him. His voice carried down the empty street, warm and full of promise. It sounded almost grotesque. Julian’s breath caught. He reached out to grab it. I let go. The recorder hit the ground. I raised my heel and brought it down hard. The plastic cracked with a sharp, clean snap. “Julian, we’re done.” I turned and walked away. Julian called my name. But his footsteps stopped when Vivienne let out a cry behind him. “Julian — the baby — something’s wrong—” I didn’t look back. I flagged down a cab and pulled the door shut behind me.

I didn’t go back to the hotel. I went straight to the airport. I bought the first available flight back to the city we’d shared. The apartment was full of him. Matching slippers by the front door. Two sets of toiletries in the bathroom. Our fifth anniversary photo still hanging on the wall. I found a suitcase and started packing. I didn’t take anything that wasn’t mine. I barely took anything that was. I’d just zipped it shut when I heard the lock turn. Julian stood in the doorway, tie loose, eyes red. He looked like he’d come straight off a plane. He’d followed me. He saw the suitcase on the floor and crossed the room fast, grabbing my hand. “Don’t do this. Just calm down.” “I know I messed up. But I never wanted a divorce.” I looked down at his fingers on my hand. “Let go.” He didn’t. He pulled me into him instead. “I won’t.” “That kid was an accident. The night of the company party at headquarters, I blacked out. By the time I came to, it had already happened.” “When Vivienne turned up pregnant, the doctors said terminating would put her life at risk.” “What was I supposed to do? Let her die?” He handed every piece of blame to bad luck and impossible circumstances. I shoved him off and slapped him across the face. The sound rang through the apartment. Julian turned his head. One side of his face went red. “The first one was an accident. What about the second one she’s carrying now?” “Did you black out for that one too?” Julian said nothing. He looked at me, and something flickered in his eyes. Annoyance. “Did you have to say it like that?” “I already told you — you’re my wife. Most of what I have goes to you.” “Vivienne doesn’t want anything. She just wants a stable home for the kids.” “Why can’t you just be reasonable about this?” His nerve almost made me laugh. “Reasonable?” “Julian, you make Director and suddenly you think you’re entitled to two women under one roof?” “What do you think a marriage is? What do you think I am?” He dragged a hand through his hair. “Then what do you want me to do?” “Strangle a two-year-old? Push Vivienne off a roof?” “You didn’t used to be this cold.” Cold. So in his mind, refusing to accept his mistress and her child made me the cold one. Something inside me shut off. And stayed off. My phone buzzed. A message from Vivienne. A photo. Her lying in a hospital bed, taking a selfie. The private medical wing at headquarters in the background. The caption read: “He flew back overnight to calm you down. I’m here alone, trying not to lose the baby. I’m scared. But I don’t blame you. I just want you two to be okay.” Then a second message came through. A photo of a legal document. A share transfer agreement. Julian had signed over thirty percent of his stake to a name I’d never seen before. Leo Harlow. The two-year-old’s name. I held the screen up in front of Julian’s face. “This is what you call most of it going to me?” Julian’s face changed the moment he read it. “That was Mom. She pressured me into it. She said it was for the child’s security—” I didn’t want to hear another word. I grabbed the suitcase and walked around him toward the door. “My lawyer will contact you tomorrow morning. If I don’t hear back by nine, I file and send this document straight to your company’s HR.” Julian didn’t follow me out. His phone had started ringing. Through the line came the sound of Vivienne crying.

The next morning, Julian didn’t show. He sent a long message instead. Vivienne was showing signs of a threatened miscarriage. He couldn’t leave. He said he wouldn’t sign the divorce papers. He told me to take some time to cool off. I didn’t reply. I called a lawyer and had the petition drafted. What I didn’t expect was that Julian would move first. A week later, the company held its annual gala. I was the lead designer at the regional office. Attendance wasn’t optional. The venue was in headquarters’ city. The moment I walked into the ballroom, I felt it — eyes on me, and not the good kind. Whispers everywhere. “That’s her. Three years of marriage and not one kid.” “I heard he’s already got a second one on the way with someone else. And she’s still hanging on, refusing to walk away.” “Shameless. If I were her, I’d have taken the money and left.” I swept a cold look across the room and walked to my seat. Up on the stage, Julian stood in a tailored suit, delivering the year-end address. His eyes found me through the crowd. There was a warning in them. The awards segment started. The Best Design of the Year award. My project. Three all-nighters to finish it. The host’s voice rang out with forced enthusiasm. “And the award for Best Design of the Year goes to — Vivienne Vance!” My head snapped up. Vivienne walked to the stage in a couture gown, her stomach just beginning to show, accepting the applause with tears in her eyes. She took the trophy and looked straight at Julian. “I want to thank Mr. Harlow for his guidance. I wouldn’t be standing here without him.” The room erupted. I sat in my corner, shaking. That project was mine from start to finish. Vivienne couldn’t operate CAD software. Julian took the microphone. His gaze went directly to me. “One more announcement before we close out the evening.” “Due to health reasons, designer Sienna Thorne will be taking an indefinite leave of absence.” “Vivienne Vance will step in as acting head of design at the regional office, effective immediately.” Every eye in the room landed on me. Some pitying. Some laughing. Most just watching to see what I’d do. This was how Julian intended to break me. Strip away my work. gut my career. Humiliate me in front of everyone. All to make sure I understood: without him, I was nothing. I stood up. No hysteria. No running. I walked to the front of the room and looked up at Julian on his stage. “Stealing someone else’s work does carry legal consequences.” Julian frowned. He dropped his voice. “Stop making a scene. I’m giving Vivienne the credit as compensation. If you want money, I’ll pay you double. Privately.” I looked at his face and felt sick. “You’re using my work to compensate your mistress?” “Julian, you never stop surprising me.” Vivienne spoke up beside him, soft and wounded. “Please don’t blame him. I’m the one who wanted a chance to prove myself.” “I don’t want the prize money. Every cent goes to you.” A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd. “She’s so gracious.” “Exactly. Three years, no kids, and she still has the nerve to act like this.” A sharp pain tore through my abdomen without warning. Like a blade turning inside me. I pressed my hand to my stomach. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. Julian assumed I was faking. He let out a short, contemptuous laugh. “Don’t recycle the same tricks, Sienna.” “Security. Please escort Ms. Thorne out.” Two large men closed in from either side and grabbed my arms. The pain had taken everything out of me. I had nothing left to fight with. They half-dragged me out of the ballroom. As the doors swung shut behind me, I heard Vivienne’s voice float out, sweet and soft. “Julian, the baby just kicked.”

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