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After being rejected by her longtime secret crush, the most mysterious wolf within her gradually awakened. Seeing this transformation, the man who had rejected her begged for forgiveness. Unexpectedly, the werewolf king of another pack fell in love with her at first sight and began to pursue her passionately... ===== "Yeah, just right there. F**k me hard!" I could feel my jaw clench as the muffled sounds of s*x reached my ears from behind Jason's closed door. Luna Anna had specifically asked me to invite him for dinner, but there he was, m**ning and gr**ning with a faceless partner in his room. The sounds of their p**sion stirred something within me, something that simmered just beneath the surface of my skin. Anger, perhaps? Jealousy? Maybe it was my own secret crush on Jason that made these noises so unbearable. Whatever the reason, I couldn't seem to tear myself away. "F**k! That was so hot." The feminine voice jerked me away from my thoughts as I swallowed hard. One minute, I was standing close to the door; the next, the door opened, revealing Jason in his pants, his hot a*s on display. And of course, no other person than the b**ch herself, Stephanie. A name I dreaded. She stood there in her bikini. Such a sl*t! "Look who we have here, the wolfless Jasmine." She sneered, her voice making me angrier. She was always like that, reminding me every moment that I was wolfless. "What are you doing here?" I looked up to the one person who mattered at that moment, Jason. "I... I... came to call you for dinner..." My stupid d**n voice had to betray me in a moment like this. "Okay, now you've done. You can go now," his voice spoke with hatred. He hated me, I knew it. Maybe it was because I won his parents' affection, or maybe it was because I was a disgrace for not having a wolf. I can't tell any, but I knew he couldn't stand seeing me for minutes. I nodded my head, my ch*st aching so badly. I was pained, not from anything but the fact that he doesn't feel the same way I do. While my eyes stared at him softly with all tenderness present, his stared at me, hard and hateful, with an "I don't care" attitude. That was typical Jason. "Wait! Losers like you are not meant to see a face like his, not to mention knocking on his door. Next time you're given such an offer, pass on it." Stephanie, with her bossy attitude, spoke. "You're just so jealous of me, Stephanie." I rolled my eyes and then intended to walk away when the b**ch stepped out from the room and grabbed my hair. "Leave her alone, Stephanie!" Jason said strictly. And just as if she were being remote-controlled by him, she released my hair. I shot her a deadly glare and then walked away. Well, this was my typical life, a young, wolfless teenage girl who was adopted by the Thane family and perhaps a disgrace to Jason because I have no wolf. He'd rather tell the world that I was adopted rather than let them know that I was his sister. He wouldn't fail to put the tag "Adopted." How I have a crush on someone like him was very stupid of me. The pack respected me because I was adopted by the Royal family. So, no one dared to remind me about how wolfless I was; otherwise, Luna Anna would have their tongue rolling on the floor. The meal with the Thanes was quiet as usual. Dad sat opposite Mom, and I was left to sit facing Jason. Dinner was always fast, but today, for some reason, I couldn't tell why it was so long. Maybe it was a result of my staring frequently at Jason and the fact that I hadn't taken a bite of my food. "You can as well place me on your plate and make me your dinner instead," Jason snarled, his eyes on his food. I blinked my eyes rapidly and then diverted my gaze back to my food. "Today is the full moon, Jasmine. I'm anticipating knowing who you'll be mated to," Luna Anna, my mom, spoke, her face beaming with a smile as she spoke. I smiled. Of course, this was the day I had been looking forward to, and maybe I'd have a wolf and also a mate. It was only a matter of hours, and my long dream would finally come to pass. "Oh! Leave our baby Jasmine out of this. She's so young, and I can't believe that she's finally going to be mated to someone. I mean, she was just so little yesterday." Dad spoke, his voice etched with emotions. In their eyes, I was that little baby they had adopted. But then, I'm freaking eighteen, a teenager, and would soon be mated to someone. "And also you, Jason. It's high time you get off your high horse and find yourself a mate. Your father was two years younger than your age when he got married to me," Mom spoke, referring to Jason. Upon immediately hearing his name, he stood to his feet and then walked away. This was typical of Jason. Handsome? Yes. A f**k boy? Yes. A j**k? Maybe yes. A sn*b? A big yes. But still, my heart chose him of all people. I finished my meal on time and left to prepare for the big day. Heartbeats later, I was present at the club, my eyes staring for one person. And I smiled when I saw her waving over. Ruby Slade, my only closest friend. "Hey, J," she walked over to where I stood. My eyes took in her dress, she wasn't dressed so badly. Neither was I. At least my parents allowed me to dress myself for a function without their input. "Look who is dressed hotly!" Ruby could be a b**ch sometimes, her voice was loud as all attention diverted and focused on me. Thanks for having a s**sy best friend like Ruby. I heard a familiar chuckle behind me, and then I turned. "It's just so unfortunate you won't have a mate because you're wolfless," Stephanie whispered close to my ear. I gulped, clenching my fist, the urge to slam it across her face. But then I couldn't ruin today. Not for someone as b**chy as she was. "It's the full moon!" Someone screamed, jerking my attention from Stephanie. I smirked at her. "How about you watch and see, b**ch?" And with that, I walked away. I could feel the connection, the bond pulling me to where someone familiar was sitting. I was sure he was feeling the same, too, as he turned, and then his gaze rested on me. "Mate!" I whispered the word. It was a dream come true. My longtime crush, Jason, was staring deeply into my eyes. But then the moment only lasted for a while, as he chuckled. "Mate? How ridiculous for me to be mated to a wolfless being like you! I, ALPHA JASON, REJECT YOU AS MY FATED MATE!" The words he spoke shattered my heart. I felt the world spinning around me as I slumped. Chapter 2 Shadow At Night. It's been three years since my life took a turn, two years with me fleeing from the pack. Even though Mom had strongly disagreed with me leaving the pack, Dad had fully supported it. He knew it would break me to stay and see the person who had rejected me. Dad had said it was for the better, while Mom was scared that I was going far away and that no one would be able to take care of me. But here I was, wheeling my luggage as I sighted the pack name. Over the years, I've grown bold, and, of course, I've gotten over Jason. Not even his name could break me now, let alone his sight. Or maybe not. I stared back at the taxi that had just dropped me off and waved at it. I couldn't believe I was taking this step. After the rejection, I went through several turmoils, depression, and all. I was shattered, broken, and humiliated before a bunch of teenagers. I just had to blame my stupid heart for falling in love with such a j**k like Jason. "Hey J!" A familiar voice yelled my name. I turned to see Ruby alighting from a car and running toward me. "Rat!" I grinned back. She laughed, pulling me into a tight hug. Her eyes roved over me. "Look at you looking so big and beautiful. I mean, you're so c*rvy!" Puberty had hit me well; with my h*ps and b*obs, I wasn't looking like the Jasmine of three years ago. "Just stop the flattery already," I chuckled, pulling away from her hug before she squeezed the hell out of me. "Girl, I mean you're looking so hot, with that killer shape of yours. You'll surely have the men of the Blue Moon pack rolling at your feet." I couldn't believe Ruby hadn't changed a bit-still the chitty-chatty type. Ruby assisted me in carrying my luggage into the car she had brought and started driving to the pack house, not missing a detail about everything that had been going on in the pack. As we arrived at the pack house, Mom was standing outside, her eyes gawking expectantly down the road. She yelled happily as she saw me, "Jasmine!" That was enough to tell everyone in the pack house that I was back. She pulled me into her arms, and I hugged her back. I missed her. Three years without a home. I really did miss everything. "Look at you, looking so grown up! Alpha!" she yelled, calling for my father. I mean, mothers can be very dramatic. I laughed, my heart happy and relaxed. The welcome was hearty so far, and I couldn't be less excited that I was back. Rhoda and I entered the house. After a three-hour drive, I needed to rest. I plopped down on the couch, the softness reminding me of home. Dad entered the sitting room, his expression not far fetched from Mom's earlier. "Look at our baby girl, all grown up!" Dad's face brightened. He wasn't looking much different from the last time I had seen him. I stood to my feet and hugged Dad. I really had missed him. With Mom and Dad, everyone was complete except him, the guy I had fled the pack for. The man who shattered my heart. Jason, my foster brother. I hugged Dad tightly, feeling the warmth of his embrace. Pulling back, I glanced around, half expecting to see Jason's familiar face despite everything. The memories of our past and the pain of his rejection tugged at my heart, but I pushed them away. I was here to move forward, not to dwell on old wounds. After settling inside my room, everything was just been the same as I had left it. Ruby hadn't given me a breathing space, she wanted to fill in every area, including if I had a boyfriend. Well, what would you expect from me, a heartbroken girl? I'd sealed my heart and said no to men. "It's almost time for the party," Ruby said as she dropped the nail polish brush back into the bottle. "We should start getting ready." Of course, I couldn't forget the Party, Mom had stated in the letter. Jason's engagement party was tonight with Stephanie. That B**ch. Not like I care, but... The past is just the past, anyway. Ruby took her time to dress me up; it would have been a typical me putting on whatever I could get my hands on, but Ruby had insisted the least I could do was look nice wearing any outfit from my wardrobe. I was dressed in a silver strapless gown, revealing my c**ves, and my cl**vage was left exposed. I wasn't comfortable in such a dress, but Ruby had told me If you have it, then why not flaunt it. All throughout that evening, I didn't get to see Jason, maybe he was preparing for his engagement party. The evening was cool and calm, Dad's face was beaming with pride, as well as Mum's. Today was their son's engagement party. So, they were meant to be happy, of course. The whispers from the crowd about my return filled the crowd, but they dared not say it out loud. "Aren't Jason and Stephanie such a cute couple? I mean, they look so perfect together," A blonde beside us muttered out loud. A stern glare from Ruby made her leave us. The loud jeering from the crowd made me walk forward, my throat gulping. Was I ready? I thought I was over him, but with how my heart was beating rapidly, I doubted it. Ruby excused herself to get us a drink. I stood at the VIP corner, my eyes met his for a fleeting second. Dressed in a sharp, tailored navy blue suit, he wasn't looking so different from the last time I saw him. Old memories came flooding through my head. My heart was racing heavily, I couldn't stare at him, the pain, the ache. I couldn't watch. One minute, I was standing at the dinner party; the next, I found myself running away. I stopped running, my chest beating heavily. Suddenly, the place I stood in became dark. The light was suddenly turned off, I couldn't tell which was the lesser Demon, was it the fact that I was running away from Jason, or the darkness I was so scared of? "Hi, Baby Vixen!" The light was suddenly on. Chapter 3 Safe Heaven "Hi, Baby Vixen!" The light was suddenly on, and I flinched, turning back at the sudden voice. I had thought I was alone. Cold eyes stared at me like frozen steel; his eyes were enchanting, as if they could see through me. "Who are you?" I stuttered. My throat suddenly felt dry. He smirked. His looks were dangerous, and he didn't look like any Werewolf. His muscular body was almost visible, even with the suit he was wearing. His gaze, dark and mysterious, raked over me. His eyes held a glint of mockery in them. "So, this is your safe haven away from your scandal?" He grinned, his lips curling into a dangerous smirk. He was mocking me. I gritted my teeth together, an unknown anger washing over me. How dare he remind me of something I was running away from? I tilted my chin, refusing to be defeated by him. "Wherever I stay is none of your business. Now, if you'll excuse me," I said as his long legs took steady strides closer to where I stood. I took a step backward. He was so mighty as he towered over me, and I was compelled to look up. He seemed to be enjoying it. The glint of mockery was still present on his face. I could read his expression even without him voicing it. He was laughing at my height. I mean, I was 5'7" and hadn't considered myself short until this very moment. Everyone was at the party, so I wondered what he would be doing there. I was very sure he was new to the Pack because I hadn't seen him before. "Ryder Kael," he said, a taunting smile spreading across his face. He was handsome, no doubt. Dangerously handsome, if I must confess. His hairline was dark, his gaze dangerous, and he had broad, muscular shoulders. "Jasmine Thane," I replied, stupid or not. At least telling him my name wouldn't bite. He grinned. "Of course, I know the story of the adopted Jasmine Thane who was mated to Jason Thane but was rejected because she's wolfless." Anger welled up inside me as I heard him recount my misfortune before me. How dare he? No one, no one, had ever made me this furious. I gritted my teeth. One minute, I was trying to hold myself from retaliating; the next, I heard a voice inside my head. "We can't spare this, Jasmine. Give him a taste!" the voice whispered in my ear. My fist connected to his jaw, my hands grabbing his neck. My eyes were seething red now, and then fangs from nowhere appeared as I sank them deep into his flesh. Realization suddenly dawned on me as I realized he was hurting. I stopped, taking a step backward. Did I really do this? Wait, what had happened? Staring at my claws, I was stunned. The claws could be understandable, but the fangs? "Seems someone finally has a wolf," his voice sneered, as if he were reading my thoughts. Wait, what? I have a wolf? "I'm sorry," I whispered to him, even though I knew he deserved it. But I shouldn't have gone so rough on him. Besides, I have a wolf. Happiness coursed through me. I couldn't thank him enough for making me realize that. One minute, I was standing an inch away from him, and then the next, I pulled him into a hug. "Thank you so much," I said, holding him tightly. My head rested on his shoulder. The erratic beating of his chest made it feel like home. I had just met this stranger, yet I felt like I'd known him for the rest of my life. He felt like my haven. "Jason is an a**hole to reject such a sweet vixen like you," he growled, his hands roaming freely through my hair. "I'm Jasmine, not a vixen," I corrected. Was I still in his embrace? "Jasmine?!" That familiar voice made us spring apart. Ruby held a glass of w*ne and was staring disbelievingly at us. I coughed, my cheeks flaring red. "It's not what you think, Ruby," I had to let her know to wipe off that nasty look from her face. The tall, sturdy frame dipped his hands inside his pockets. "Yeah, not like we b**ged," he winked at Ruby. Gross! Was he such a fl*rt? He walked to the end of the garden and then turned. "See you in there, Vixen!" A smile spread across his face, and this time, it was genuine. "Holy cow! How on earth did you get the Lycan king to notice you?" Ruby rushed to where I stood. My eyes widened. "What do you mean, Lycan king?" I queried. I wanted to be sure. Of course, I was right. His broad frame could pass off for a Lycan. Why didn't I notice? "Do you mean the Crescent Pack?" This time, my voice was pitched high. "Of course, your parents invited them for the engagement party." If that was so, I was so going back in there, not because of anybody. "Let's go. I guess I missed the part already." The loud blaring music with people dancing, I had just myself and Ruby dancing. At least I came down here to enjoy my moments here. I wouldn't let my stupid crush on Jason ruin that. "Hey, Sissy, you came back without a hi?" I felt my heart catch in my throat at the familiar voice. He sounded different. He had always sounded grumpy, mean, and rude. But now, he sounded nice and soft. "Uhm... I'll excuse you," Ruby took the cue as she grabbed a glass of w*ne from the waitress and then walked away. "Uhmm... Hi, Jason," my voice came out stuttered, my heart beating frantically. Of course, how could I miss the fact that I once had a very major, stupid crush on him? "You're looking stunning tonight." I could feel his gaze on my body. A few years back, I would have had adrenaline coursing through me if Jason, of all people, could stare at me like this, but now I found it ins*lting. "Thank you," I said bluntly. He was nothing but a p**vert. "Hi, Vixen, you promised me this dance, remember?" That familiar voice spoke from behind. I turned, his eyes glinting, his hand stretched forward as he asked for mine. And then I turned to Jason, whose hand immediately grabbed mine. "She's dancing with me!" Jason's voice objected. Chapter 4 The Dare I stood between the two of them, confused. Jason's grip on me tightened; Ryder's gaze was fixed on me, and he didn't look like he was backing down anytime soon. Ryder's gaze hardened; his eyes were stormy, piercing, and intense as he glared at Jason. Jason, on his part, wasn't yielding. What on earth was happening? I couldn't say a word; it was like I was in a trance. "Look who is back, Wolfless Jasmine." Stephanie's voice made them divert their gaze. She was flaunting her ring in my face. I scoffed. "Happy engagement to my grumpy brother. You both suit each other." With a stern glare, I removed my hands from Jason. "Jasmine, wait!" Frustration flickered in his eyes as he called after me. A pang of guilt was present on his face. I could swear that I saw that. "How about that dance, Ryder?" I offered my hand to Ryder, and he brushed it with his l*ps, wrapping his hands around my tiny waist as he pulled me to the dance floor. I could feel Jason's intense gaze on us, but not like I didn't care. He rejected me, he humiliated me, and he never for once showed me love. Ryder's hands on my waist pulled me closer to his firm, masculine body. His in**xicating cologne of Midnight Eclipse drew me in with its dark, s**uctive scent, like a moth to a flame, making my heart race and my senses tingle. "I could be your chaperone all day if you don't want to talk to him," his low, h**ky whisper sent shivers coursing through my veins like chilled w*ne. I chuckled. "I'm not paying you for it, but thanks for offering." A low, throaty chuckle rumbled from his chest, soothing me. He swung me to the left, following suit as he caught me in his hands, the soft music still playing. "So, tell me, what was a Lycan King, who I suppose was meant to be in the VIP section, doing out there in the dark?" I asked, trying to build a conversation as we danced. I wasn't just going to pretend I hadn't seen him there. "Same reason a beautiful damsel was there. Do you believe she had the guts to attack a Lycan King? If that isn't calling for a fight between two packs, I wonder what it is." He swirled me, his voice whispering in my ear as he pulled me closer to his body. I stilled, realization dawning on me. Was it a threat? Had I started a fight without knowing? I mean, I didn't know he was a Lycan King before attacking; I did whatever I did out of self-defense. "You wouldn't tell on me, would you?" I pleaded, my eyes narrowing at his. His lips curled into a devilish smirk, those mischievous looks present in his eyes. "On one condition," he winked at me. Something in me knew there was more to his condition. Who was this guy? In a short span, he made me realize that I had a silent wolf, and now he was threatening me to strike a deal with him? "What's that?" Brave or foolish, I found myself asking. He swirled me again and then pulled me closer. This time, he tilted my chin up to look at him. His firm hands rested on my waist, his cologne messing with my head, and his eyes en**anting me into his woven spell. "Be mine!" he muttered, the two words ringing in my ears. Cold shivers ran down my spine. There was something about those two words he had just spoken. Possessiveness, dominance, that was what it portrayed. I really couldn't tell if it was his s**uctive cologne that had me captured or his en**anting eyes. All I could picture at that moment were his firm l*ps on mine, claiming mine and taking me right there. The music suddenly came to a halt, bringing me back to my senses. He leaned close, "I'll leave you to think about it, Vixen!" His hands disengaged from my waist. I stopped him. "I'm not a commodity, Ryder! I don't need to think about it." My response was strict as I walked away from the dance floor, leaving him stunned. I had come back to have a nice time here, not to be caught in all this. I wouldn't let my time here be ruined. I stopped in time when I sighted Ruby with other girls, drinking and chattering. "Hey, Ruby?" "You're back. I saw you having a nice time with that Lycan over there." Ruby winked at me, and the girls jeered. "He looks so handsome. I mean, I would do anything to have a night with him," Doris, one of the girls, spoke. I felt my jaw tighten at such a statement. "Relax, honey, we aren't taking him from you. It's just Doris doing her thing!" Ruby spoke. I didn't realize my anger was that visible. I shook my head and decided to leave them to their fun. "How about you join us for a truth and dare?" Jane, one of the girls, voiced, halting me. I rolled my eyes. I'm an adult now, not a teenage girl. Does that still exist? "Oh, come on, don't be so fun at all. It's just a harmless game," Ruby insisted. I sighed. Well, I came to have fun, and I'll be leaving the pack soon, so why don't I create memories that will live with me? "Sure," I gave in, and they all jeered in excitement. The game began. It started with Ruby. She chose to dare. "I dare you to lick the bottom of your shoe," Jane laughed. Eww, that was nasty as I watched Ruby looking disgusted, but then she did as she was dared. "Truth or dare?" I didn't realize it was my turn until Doris nudged me. I contemplated for a while and stupidly chose to toy with the devil. "Dare!" Doris smirked, "I dare you to beg your brother to take you back or k*ss a random stranger." My eyes widened. What was I thinking, choosing the devil? I'd rather swallow a frog than beg Jason. My eyes scanned through the crowd, with determination fixed to settle for the other option. That familiar tall frame stood at the b*r, muttering something to a lady who was smiling sheepishly. His fl*rting skills should not be underestimated at this point. One minute I was staring, the next, I stood up to my feet, walking to where he stood. "Excuse me," I said to the lady and then leaned close to his body. His cologne filled my nose. I raised my chin and then wrapped my hands around his neck, standing on tiptoe. "What are you doing?" he asked, confused, his eyes scanning the crowd, perhaps wondering why I was suddenly acting that way. "Just watch, Ryder!" I whispered back and then pulled his face close to mine. And without warning, my l*ps sealed his... ...... What happens next? 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She screamed, "I hate you!" Shattered by her husband's misunderstanding, her friend's betrayal, and the agony of a miscarriage, she left. Unexpectedly, a powerful tycoon extended help. She returned driven by vengeance, getting back at the scum who had wronged her and clearing her name. ===== "Good evening. I'm here for Mr. Joel Asante. Is he around?" Thalassa said to the lady at the front desk of the Astoria H**el. She felt so tense that she didn't realize she was tapping her fingers loudly on the desk until a woman standing beside her hissed and glared at her. Flashing an apologetic smile, Thalassa brought her gaze back to the receptionist, who was done checking the appointment. "Yes, he is. And he's expecting you. Suite 13. Take the elevator to the seventh floor and turn to your left." "Thank you." Thalassa said as she turned to go, her unease increasing with every step she took towards the elevator. Why did she feel like something was amiss? She had been sent to meet this Joel Asante by her mother in law, Linda Miller. Linda Miller had never liked Thalassa since she began dating her son, Kris Miller, and the dislike had increased even more since Kris and Thalassa got married a year ago. So today when her mother in law had called her and told her to deliver some documents and have it signed if she wanted to earn her approval, Thalassa hadn't hesitated one bit. Maybe if she managed to earn her mother in law's approval, then Kris would finally go back to being the man she knew. Her ringing phone cut through her thoughts. Thalassa quickly answered when she saw that it was her best friend, Karen Blade. "Lassa, are you going to do what your mother-in-law asked of you?" Karen asked. "Yes." Thalassa answered. "I'm at the hotel now. But Karen, I don't know why I feel like there's something off." Karen blew out a breath of exhaustion. "Lassa, I already told you that you're overthinking things. Linda wants you to do something so simple in order to earn her approval. Don't overthink it." Lassa smiled. "You're right." Just as they ended the call, the elevator dinged, slowly parting its doors. Thalassa stepped out, heading to her left like the receptionist had said. Reaching the door with number 13 on it, she pressed the doorbell. After some seconds, she was about to press it again when the door suddenly opened to reveal a half-n**ed man. He was only wearing blue shorts, leaving his upper body b**e. Thalassa grimaced slightly as she spoke. "Mr. Joel Asante?" "At your service." The man flashed her a smile that was surely meant to be charming. "And you must be Thalassa Miller. Please come in." Thalassa slowly stepped into the suite's living room. The man pointed at the couch. "Please take a seat." She hesitated, wanting to remind him that she was just here for his signatures, but when she remembered her mother-in-law telling her not to annoy the man, she slowly sat down. "What can I offer you? Cha**agne, w**e, b**r?" The man asked. "I'd like nothing, thanks," Thalassa answered, gritting her teeth. She just wanted him to sign already so she could leave. And why wasn't he attempting to put on a shirt? "Oh, come on. Surely, just a glass of w**ne won't hurt, will it?" The man insisted. This time, Thalassa didn't bother to hide her glare. "I'm sorry, but I'm just here so you can sign these documents." She pulled a folder from the handbag she'd brought along with her, handing it over to the man. "My mother-in-law, Linda Miller, said that you already know what the documents contain." The folder was sealed, and Thalassa herself didn't even know what was in the documents. Her mother-in-law had warned her not to open it, so she hadn't dared to, not wanting to annoy her. "Hmm." The man hummed as he took the folder from Thalassa and unsealed it, walking around the room as he looked through the document. Lassa shifted. She felt uncomfortable, especially since the man was still sh**tless. And why did she feel like he was deliberately delaying? Five minutes later, just as she was getting more impatient, the doorbell rang. The man immediately went to open the door, and a second later, her husband, Kris Miller, stormed into the room. "Where is she?" He demanded in a tone that was too low and not to be dangerous, his eyes hardening when he finally saw Thalassa. Thalassa instantly shot to her feet. "Kris, you're here." She felt relieved. Maybe Kris could finally handle things from here. She walked towards Kris, wanting to hug him, but just as she got close, he placed his hand on her ch**t, causing her to stumble backwards. "Kris..." Lassa stared at him in shock. Before she could say anything else, Linda Miller, her mother-in-law, suddenly entered the room, the usual disgust on her face as she stared at Thalassa. "You traitor. After everything my family has done for you, this is how you repay us?" Before Thalassa could even think, a hot s**p was delivered to her cheek. Thalassa clutched her cheek, staring at her mother in law in shock. "Mrs. Miller...what...what are you talking about?" Linda Miller scoffed. "Don't you dare try to act like you don't know what I'm talking about. Since you and my son got married a year ago, you've been stealing property from us, embezzling millions from our company with the help of this man who's obviously your lover." Thalassa's head spun. What was happening? "But...but mother-in-law, you were the one who sent me here. You sent me to have this man sign some documents. So what are you talking about?" She turned to look at Kris, her heart squeezing at the accusing look in his eyes. "Kris, I don't know this man, I promise. I haven't even met him before. Please believe me. Your mother was the one who sent me here to give some documents to him to sign." "You're so shameless. You dare try to implicate me?" Linda said, then turned to Kris, who still had a stoic expression on his face as he stared at Thalassa. "Son, why don't you go and see what's inside those documents?" Kris walked towards Joel and snatched the folder from his hand. His face darkened when he read more of the documents. When he finally looked up at Thalassa, his gaze was even colder than before. So cold that she felt frozen. Her desperation shooting through the roof, she forced herself to move towards him and took the folder from his hands. Her hands trembled as she read parts of the documents. It was all about discreetly moving money to overseas bank accounts and everything that was obviously fraudulent. Thalassa's eyes burned with tears as she shook her head. She finally realized what was happening. She'd been set up. Her mother-in-law had set her up! "Kris, I didn't know what documents were in the folder, I swear!" she declared, trying to grab his hand, but he jerked it away. "Your mother told me not to unseal it, so I didn't. Please, you have got to believe me. I would never-" "Sh*t up!" Kris snapped, startling her into silence. "Sh*t the f**k up! Enough with your lies!" He stepped closer, glaring into her eyes. "Just when I think you can't disappoint me any further, you make me realise that you're much worse than I thought. You disgust me." His words were like a s**p, leaving Thalassa stunned. Just as her mind was still struggling to process everything, she heard her mother-in-law call out, "Come in, officers." Thalassa's eyes widened as two police officers walked into the room. She looked at Kris. Surely, he wouldn't allow for her to be arrested like some common criminal, would he? She got her answer a second later when Kris coldly declared, "Officers, take them away." Chapter 2 Tears streamed down Thalassa's face as one of the officers stepped behind her and took her hands, placing her wrists in cuffs. She stared pleadingly at Kris, hoping he would realize his mistake and save her from this humiliation, but he merely stared at her with nothing but coldness as she was led out of the room. As if this humiliation wasn't enough, when they got outside, several reporters instantly rushed towards her, flashing cameras as they came. "Thalassa, is it really true that you married Kris Miller all for his money?" "How do you feel after your theft was discovered?" Thalassa had never felt this humiliated in her life, with people staring at her and reporters asking all sorts of questions as she was led into the police car. "Wait! Please, this is a mistake. I'm innocent. You've got to believe me," she pleaded with the police officer who led her into the holding cell. The officer laughed as he locked the gate to the cell. "That's what they all say. You really should've thought twice before messing with a woman like Linda Miller." Still laughing, he walked off. More tears streamed down Thalassa's face. She'd known that her mother-in-law had never liked her, but to hate her much, to construct such a plot against her? Her eyes scanned the room and its cold, barren walls before settling on the bed that looked like it had seen better days. This was where she was-a place meant for criminals. Her heart broke a million times over as she sank onto the bed. How could Kris have done this to her? She wasn't going to deceive herself into thinking that her marriage had been perfect before this. It had been far from it. While they were dating, Kris had been the perfect gentleman, always putting her needs first. He'd gone against his own mother and his family members when they disapproved of their relationship, and the reason was that Thalassa was from a lower class. He'd even warned reporters and tabloids who'd insinuated that she was a goldigger. He'd been the perfect man. But all that changed once they got married. Kris transformed into a completely different person. From the man who always treated her like a queen, he turned into a man who made her cry almost every night with his coldness. It tormented her all the more because she couldn't understand what could've possibly made him change so much. To top it off, she'd had to deal with the humiliation from his family members, being treated like a servant in their family home. That was what her life had been like for the past year. Still, she never would have expected Kris to allow her to be arrested and humiliated like some common criminal. It hurt even more because she was carrying his child. Lassa sniffed as she placed her hand over her belly. She was pr**nant, but Kris didn't know about it. She'd found out yesterday, and she'd wanted to tell him, but he hadn't come home in the past two days, and he never bothered to answer any of her calls. The only person she'd told was Karen, her best friend. Aside from her, no one else knew. "Don't worry, baby. It's all going to be alright, I promise," she said to her belly, even though she knew it was probably still a clot of bl**d since she was only two months pr**nant. "Your father is going to realize his mistake any moment now, and he's going to apologize, and everything is going to be alright. You'll see." The next three days in the holding cell were the most agonizing days of Thalassa's life. Kris never came to get her out or apologize. In fact, nobody came to visit her. She'd demanded several times for the one phone call she knew she was entitled to, but it was always denied. They hadn't even given her a chance to call a lawyer. Thalassa had no doubt that this was all Linda Miller using her influence. Was the woman truly intent on having her jailed for something she never did? On the evening of the third day, Thalassa was lying on the prison bed, crying silently to herself, when she suddenly heard the sound of the prison cell being unlocked. She quickly sat up, her eyes widening with hope as she saw Mr. Sawyer, Kris's family lawyer. "You're lucky that the Miller family decided to drop the charges. You're being released," the officer said. Thalassa's heart leapt with joy. Finally, Kris had realized his mistake. He was surely going to apologize for not trusting her earlier. Everything was going to be alright. "Thank you so much," she said to the lawyer as she wiped her tears. "But where...where is Kris?" She stepped outside of the cell, looking down the hallway to see whether Kris was standing anywhere there, but he was nowhere in sight. "Kris didn't come with me," the lawyer clarified. "He merely sent me to drop the charges and have you released." Thalassa's heart sank, but she quickly smiled. Kris was probably too busy; that's why he couldn't come, but he was obviously waiting for her at home. Everything was going to be fine, she assured herself again. The lawyer began walking to the main station, so Thalassa followed. The cops had taken her handbag and her phone yesterday, so she was led to sign some documents to finally have her things back. Once she was done, she turned to the lawyer. "Didn't Kris send a chauffeur? Or are you going to be driving me home?" The lawyer looked at her. "That's one thing I wanted to talk to you about." Thalassa's heart skipped a beat. "What about?" Without answering, the lawyer brought out some papers from his bag and handed them over to her. Thalassa's heart sank as she stared at the words boldly written on top of the first page. DIVORCE AGREEMENT. Chapter 3 Thalassa's hands shook as her eyes repeatedly ran over the bold words: DIVORCE AGREEMENT. Agreement? She certainly didn't remember sitting down to talk about anything. This surely had to be a mistake. She turned her panicked eyes to the lawyer. "Is this a joke?" "I don't remember 'comedian' being in my job description, Miss Thompson," the lawyer said, sounding offended. "Then what is this?" Thalassa demanded, her voice louder than she intended, laden with frustration. The lawyer's nostrils flared as he looked around at the people staring at them. "It's exactly what you're looking at, Miss Thompson. Kris wants a divorce." Thalassa noted how he kept referring to her by her maiden name, as if she and Kris were already divorced. The lawyer took a step closer. "Look, don't make this complicated. You're lucky to be walking away with just a divorce, or you could've spent several years rotting in jail. You should be thankful to Kris that he convinced his mother to drop the charges." Just like that, Thalassa felt hope spark inside her. Kris had convinced his mother to drop the charges. That could only mean that he loved her. There was definitely an explanation for all this. Mr. Sawyer drew a pen from his bag. "Here, please take the pen and sign the papers. There's no alimony because Kris said you can keep the millions you stole into your offshore accounts. All you have to do is sign at the required spots, and he'll have your belongings delivered to wherever you want." Before the lawyer could finish speaking, Thalassa had turned and begun storming out of the police station. Reaching the roadside, she quickly waved her hand at an approaching cab. The car stopped in front of her, and she didn't waste time entering. "The Miller mansion," she instructed the driver. She still had the divorce papers in her hand, and her heart pounded as she stared at them. It couldn't be true. This had to be another one of Linda Miller's schemes to separate her and Kris. She wasn't going to believe it until Kris himself told her that he wanted a divorce. When the driver stopped outside the Miller mansion, she reached into her bag and pulled out some dollar notes. Not caring how much it was, she tossed it at the driver and got out. She was just about to enter through the gate when a burly security guard stepped in front of her. "You can't go in," he said gruffly. Thalassa glared at him. "What do you mean I can't go in? This is my house! I'm Kris's wife!" "I know that. But I've been given orders by Mrs. Miller not to let you in." Of course, it was Linda Miller's orders. Thalassa roughly ran her fingers through her hair, feeling like she was going insane. Without a second thought, she ran past the security guard onto the mansion's compound. "Hey, I told you you can't go in!" the man hissed, running after her, but his speed was no match for Thalassa's desperation as she ran on and finally entered the house. The Miller family was all gathered in the living room, but Kris was nowhere in sight. All of them turned to look at her disdainfully before storming towards her. "What are you doing here, you thief?!" Cynthia, Kris's aunt, demanded. "This b**ch really has some guts!" Tyler, Kris's younger brother, scoffed. "I'm going to drag her out by her hair!" Susan, Kris's younger sister, gritted out. "Ma'am, I tried to stop her, but she just ran past me," the security guard said as he appeared behind Thalassa, grabbing her by the arm. "It's okay. Let go of her arm," Linda Miller said as she finally stopped in front of Thalassa. The rest of her family also stopped behind her, their eyes blazing like vultures, waiting to tear Thalassa to shreds. "You are a shame to show your face here after what you did to my son and our family," Linda sneered, her voice dripping with disgust. Anger shot through Thalassa as she snapped. "I did not do anything, and you know it! You were the one who sent me to meet that man. Why are you doing this? Why are you lying?" Her voice broke, which only increased the pleasure on her mother-in-law's face. "My son wants nothing to do with you anymore, Thalassa, so you have no business being here. Get out of here." "You're nothing but a snake! I am not leaving until I speak to Kris!" Thalassa stated firmly, glaring back at her. "Don't speak to my mother like that," Kris's harsh voice sounded as he approached. Thalassa immediately ran towards him, holding up the divorce papers. "Kris...your lawyer...he came to me and gave me these papers. He said you wanted a divorce, but I know it's got to be a mistake. It's all a mistake, right?" Kris stared coldly into her eyes as he answered, "There's no mistake." Thalassa stumbled back, shaking her head in disbelief. "Kris...please, you can't... Let's save our marriage. All this is a misunderstanding. I didn't do anything. Please, you've got to believe me." "Do you really still believe that I want to continue being with a woman like you? You don't even have the decency to admit what you did," Kris snorted, his cold eyes boring into her. "But I didn't do anything!" Thalassa declared desperately, grabbing onto his arm. "Kris, please be–" "Let go of me!" he hissed, snatching his arm from her hold. "Why is the door left open?" A voice came from behind Thalassa. It was the voice of Karen Blade, her best friend. Hope beamed inside Thalassa. "Thalassa..." Karen gasped with surprise when she finally saw her. "You're out of jail?" Thalassa instantly moved towards her and grabbed her hand, leading her to where Kris was standing. "Karen, please tell Kris. Tell him how I called you after his mother sent me to give the documents to that man. Tell him how I was hesitant because something didn't feel right. Tell him that I'm innocent." Thalassa waited. Waited for Karen to tell Kris exactly that, but the next words out of her best friend's mouth sent her whole world crashing down. "I'm sorry, Thalassa, but I'm tired of always covering up your lies. You never called me." Karen's denial was like a s**p, causing Thalassa to stumble backward as her mouth dropped open in shock. "But...but Karen...what are you saying? What lies? I called you to tell you about it. You even called me later to ask whether I was on my way to do what my mother-in-law had asked." Karen's eyes, which usually always shone with affection, now blazed coldly with malice. "Enough already, Thalassa! Aren't you tired of always telling lies? I'm so tired of always having to lie for you, but I can't anymore. Kris is a good man, and he doesn't deserve your deceptions." Thalassa's head spun as she tried to process everything. Was she dreaming? She had to be dreaming. Otherwise, why would her best friend, the person she trusted and confided in the most, betray her like this? Feeling like her heart was beating out of her ch**t, she turned to Kris, looking at him pleadingly. "Baby, please, I... I don't know why Karen is lying, but please believe me. I haven't done anything. I've never lied to you." "You lo**ife thief! So everyone else is a liar except you?" Susan, Kris's sister, snorted as she crossed her arms over her ch**t. Thalassa paid no heed to her words because they didn't matter. The only person whose opinion mattered to her at that moment was Kris. "Kris, why aren't you saying anything? Please tell me you believe me." "I have nothing to say to you apart from the fact that you should sign the divorce papers and disappear from my life. I want nothing to do with you." "No!" Thalassa declared loudly, throwing the divorce papers to the ground. "I refuse to sign them. Kris, you can't possibly believe that I could lie and steal from you in such a way." She grabbed his hand, staring into his hard eyes with her pleading ones. "You promised me that nothing would ever come between us. What happened to that promise?" "That's because I didn't know I was marrying a liar, a thief, and a s**t," he hissed, jerking his hand away. "It's okay. I've had enough of this woman," Linda Miller said. "If she refuses to sign the divorce papers, we can get it another way. Take her away." Immediately, the security guard grabbed Thalassa's arm, but just as he was about to drag her away, she yelled, "I am pr**nant!" Chapter 4 The hall turned silent. So silent that you could hear a pin drop as everyone stared at Thalassa in shock, but the only reaction she cared about was Kris's. His nostrils flared, his eyes widening as if demanding to know if she was telling the truth. "Yes," she nodded earnestly. "It's true. I found out yesterday. That's why I called you so many times; I wanted to give you the good news, but you never picked up. And when I texted, saying I had something important to tell you, that's what I wanted to share." Her breath caught as she gauged Kris's reaction, anxiously waiting for his response. His eyes scanned her face as if looking for any hint of lying, his gaze turning conflicted. Just as Thalassa began to think that he believed her, his mother appeared. "Son, you can't possibly believe anything that comes out of this wh**e's mouth after everything she has done. She's lying! She's obviously telling you this so that you won't divorce her." "I am not lying!" Thalassa declared fiercely. "When I found out, I told Karen about it. She-" "Why do you keep trying to involve me in your lies? You did not tell me anything," Karen denied once again. This time, Thalassa wasn't surprised by the betrayal, but that didn't make it hurt any less. At that moment, the look of conflict on Kris's face transformed back into the hard, cold look as he gritted out, "Get out of here." Thalassa flinched, her throat tightening. "Kris, I just told you that I'm pr**nant. Do you really want me to leave?" "I am not falling for your lies anymore. I want you out of my life because I can't stand you. I hate you, Thalassa Thompson." Tears brimmed in Thalassa's eyes as she shook her head vigorously in denial. "You... You don't mean that." Kris let out a chuckle so cold that it sent a shiver down her spine. "You're right, I don't mean that. Because I don't hate you, Thalassa. I f**king despise you." The tears finally fell down her face. In that moment, the pain that went through her heart was so sharp and intense that it felt like a knife piercing through her. She had to wait a few seconds for the pain to subside. "Fine," she finally said, wiping furiously at the tears streaming down her cheeks. "Give me a pen, and I'll sign the divorce papers." She was done. Done being humiliated. Done trying to prove her innocence to Kris. If he despised her, then so be it. A pen was thrust in front of her. Without even bothering to see who was offering her the pen, Thalassa grabbed it and walked towards the center table in the living room. Squatting, she placed the divorce papers on top of the table and signed all the required spots. Once done, she closed it and walked back towards where Kris was standing. "Here," she said, her voice and expression now devoid of any emotion. "I've signed them. Just like you wanted." Kris took the papers from her hand, his eyes never leaving hers. "Once you decide, let me know where you want your belongings to be taken, and I'll have them brought to you." And just like that, he turned and walked off, never looking back as he climbed the stairs. Once he disappeared from view, Thalassa slowly turned to look at the people behind her. They all had victorious smirks on their faces, except for Karen, who didn't even have the guts to look at her. "What are you still doing here, b**ch? My brother has divorced you already. Tomas, take her away," Kris's brother, Tyler, instructed. Just as the security guard grabbed her by the arm, Thalassa jerked herself free and coldly said, "I know my way out." With her head held high, she began walking towards the door, but just as she was passing by her ex-mother-in-law, the woman grabbed her by the arm and whispered for only her to hear, "Do you really think you're going to have that ba**ard you're trying to pass off as my grandson?" When Linda Miller finally let her go, Thalassa didn't respond as she continued her way outside. She couldn't have responded even if she wanted to because she felt tired. Exhausted. Numb. One year of enduring Kris's suddenly cold attitude and his family's humiliation, trying her very best to make her marriage work, and what did she have to show for it? Nothing. It had all been for nothing. Once outside the Miller Mansion, Thalassa kept walking. She didn't know how long she had walked. Neither did she know where she was going. All she knew was that her whole world had come crashing down around her, and she didn't know how to pick up the pieces. Her surroundings came sharply into focus when a hand suddenly grabbed her from behind and shoved her into a dark alley. As her heart skipped a beat, Thalassa let out a scream, but the person who had grabbed her quickly covered her mouth with his hand. "Don't you dare scream!" her attacker hissed. It was a man, and his face was covered with a mask. Thalassa sucked in a breath, realizing how reckless she'd been for wandering alone at this time of night. No, she couldn't let anything happen to her. She'd been through too much to add this on top of it. With all her might, she clamped her teeth on his hand, biting him fiercely. The man shrieked, letting go of her. But before she could use that opportunity to run, he grabbed her by the neck and slammed her into the wall before vi**ently kn**ing her in the stomach. Thalassa gasped as pain shot through her abdomen, and her eyes widened with dread. Her baby! "Don't hurt me. Please don't hurt me," she pleaded. "You can take everything I have on me, but please don't hurt me. I am pr**nant." The man laughed callously. "Who says I care?" Leaning forward, he whispered into her ear, "I've been sent to give you a message; next time, don't mingle where you don't belong." Then he h*t her in the stomach with his knee again, this time more fi**cely than before. Thalassa let out a gr**n of pain, her body going weak as she sank to the ground. She clutched her abdomen as she lay on the ground, her voice weak as she pleaded, "I beg you. Please don't hurt me. I am pr**nant. Why are you doing this? Please have some mercy. Please." But all her pleas fell on deaf ears. The man began ki**ing her in the abdomen, over and over again. The more she begged him, the more he ki**ed. By the time he stopped, Thalassa had tears streaming down her face as she gr**ned repeatedly in pain. It took her several seconds to realize that her attacker had left. Her whole body hurt as she braced her hand on the ground and forced herself to sit up, but she froze when she realized she was bl**ding. Panic shot through her. No! Her baby! Her baby! She needed to save her baby. With the last bit of strength she had, she crawled out of the alley, weakly calling out, "Help me. Please, help me." She tried getting up to her feet, but it hurt too much, so she just kept on crawling as she continued calling for help. She saw a woman approach and stretched out her hand. "Please...help me." The woman looked freaked out and quickly ran off without even turning back to look at her. "No...please, don't go. Help me." She was feeling too weak. The whole world spun in front of her eyes before she collapsed on the floor, and everything went black. ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &5&

Her husband cheated with his secretary. She divorced him swiftly. He sneered that no one would want a divorced woman like her. But after the divorce, a powerful man spoiled her endlessly. When her bitter ex-husband showed up to confront her, the man wrapped his arm around her waist, his voice authoritative. "She's your aunt now." ===== Kayla Graham was pr**nant, but the child wasn't her husband's. She stepped out of the consultation room, her hands shaking as she held the pr**nancy test results. Her legs felt unsteady, and her mind hadn't caught up with the shock that had just hit her. Only a month ago, she had tied the knot with her boyfriend of five years. But on their wedding night, she found out he'd been cheating--his phone was loaded with inti*ate pictures of him and another woman. Devastated, she drowned her pain in al**hol, and in her haze, she stumbled into the wrong h*tel room, waking up the next morning beside a man she didn't know. That night, she hadn't gotten a clear look at his face--only the memory of his overpowering presence, nearly suffocating, and the vast room that seemed to swallow her whole. In the morning, too ashamed to stay, she slipped out in silence, never looking back. She never could have imagined that a single reckless n*ght would leave her carrying that man's child. Kayla had no idea what to do--restless, anxious, and overwhelmed. She was desperate to find a way out. Her phone buzzed just then, snapping her back. A message from her husband, Liam Graham. "Kayla, I'm outside the hospital, waiting for you." Staring blankly at the screen, she slid the phone back into her pocket and moved toward the elevator without a word. For days, the nausea and dizziness had lingered. When she could no longer brush it off, she finally went to the hospital, only to be blindsided by the news of her pr**nancy. As Kayla stepped out of the hospital, the first thing she saw was Liam's black car waiting by the curb. Drawing in a breath, she hurried toward the car. Liam got out of the car and walked around to open her door. He looked even more striking and refined in his crisp black suit. "What did the doctor say?" he asked. "Just a stomach upset," she said, voice flat. "You've always had a thing for spicy food. You'll need to ease up. It's not good for your stomach." Kayla gave a slight nod. The moment she slid into the car, a subtle trace of flowery perfume for women hit her. Liam never used air fresheners--he hated them. That scent could only mean one thing: another woman had been here. Liam reached over and gently ruffled her hair. "I'll take you home so you can get some rest. I need to return to the office for a bit." "Okay," she mumbled. While the car waited at a red light, Liam answered an incoming call. Kayla shifted slightly and felt her hand graze against something soft. She reached down and pulled out a pink silk scarf. Her eyes narrowed, fixed on the scarf--it looked far too familiaWhen Liam hung up, he turned with a warm smile. "Kayla, I'll drop you off first, then I--" When Liam hung up, he turned with a warm smile. "Kayla, I'll drop you off first, then I--" She interrupted him, raising the scarf. Her voice was sharp and firm. "Who does this belong to?" Liam's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, but he covered it up with a strained chuckle. "Must be from a client earlier today. I'll return it tomorrow." He reached for the scarf, but Kayla yanked it back and said defiantly, "Liam, I want a divorce." Liam threw back his head in disbelief. "Kayla, it's just a scarf! Why are you blowing this out of proportion? You can't throw the word 'divorce' around like it means nothing." Kayla gave a cold, humorless laugh. "How much longer were you going to keep lying? You left me on our wedding night for her, didn't you?" Liam stared at her, stunned, a rare disoriented look in his eyes. "It was a last-minute meeting. You've got it all wrong." Kayla had no interest in hearing his excuses. He had betrayed her, and now she carried another man's child. Their marriage was beyond saving. "Out of respect for the years we've shared, let's end this peacefully," she said, her tone icy. Without waiting for a response, she pushed open the door and stepped out. Liam sat motionless behind the wheel, his fingers clenched so tightly they turned white. Then, with a furious roar, he slammed his fist against the steering wheel. Kayla took a taxi home. As she stepped into the living room, her eyes landed on their wedding photo--framed perfectly at the center, the two of them beaming with joy. Now, the image struck her as bitterly ironic. On the night of their wedding, she had seen ex**icit images of Liam with Tricia Moss, tangled in com**omising poses. That single blow had shattered everything. Five years of loyalty had meant nothing. Kayla dropped to her knees, hands pressed tightly to her ch*st as the anguish she'd bottled up came crashing out in a flood of raw emotion. Tears spilled freely, refusing to stop. She didn't know how much time had passed before her sobs finally quieted. All she knew was the emptiness that followed. Liam arrived home late that night. Kayla lay still in the b*d, facing away. When he pressed against her back, she didn't flinch. Instead, she shut her eyes. His skin carried the chill of the night as he wrapped his arm around her over the blanket. "Let's stop fighting, Kayla. I'm sorry for earlier. It won't happen again. I love you." She shifted, pulling away from his touch. Liam let out a low chuckle, his voice smooth, almost teasing. He undr**sed quickly and slid toward her. "Let's have s*x tonight. Your period should be over by now, right?" Chapter 2 The Man She Had Slept With Was Her Husband's Uncle On their wedding night, Liam had come home past midnight. That night, Kayla had claimed she was on her period to avoid being int**ate with him. And now, after everything, he still believed that saying sorry would magically erase what he had done. "Get out of my room!" Kayla pushed herself upright in b*d, her tone frigid and final as she shut him down. Liam's d**ire fizzled out instantly. He ran a hand over his face, annoyed. "Can you stop overreacting? I know you're upset, but I'm not going to keep walking on eggshells. My patience has its limits." "Are you deaf? Get out!" Kayla's tone didn't change, and her expression didn't soften. Trying a gentler approach, Liam coaxed, "We're married now. Let's forget the past. I'll be better from now on, I swear." An unfaithful man was no different from something rotting on the street. Standing up, Kayla grabbed her pillow with one hand. "I'll sleep in the guest room." Liam's irritation was written all over his face. To him, she was overreacting--completely blowing things out of proportion. He had already said he was sorry, yet she treated him like his apology meant nothing. In his eyes, she should've been rational enough to let it go by now. "Fine. Go ahead. Sleep wherever the hell you want." Without another word, Kayla picked up her phone and laptop, ignoring him completely. Liam turned over in the bed, glaring at her as she walked out. "Don't forget tomorrow's family banquet. You're coming with me. We've been married for a week. It'll be a joke if you don't show up." He swore quietly under his breath and hurled a pillow onto the floor, unable to hold in his rage. Kayla didn't answer, but her expression made her feelings clear. She wasn't going because she wanted to. She was going because Liam had threatened to sell the Cooper Group if she didn't. Cooper Group was her mother's life's work--a legacy built through years of sacrifice. She had poured everything into the company, pushing herself beyond her limits, until the constant pressure finally took her life. And it was all she'd left behind. The next day, the couple visited the ancestral mansion of the Graham family--a powerful name in Trark. When Liam's sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of the mansion, the butler was already outside to stop him. "This space is for family only. Outsiders need to park elsewhere." Not even a hint of respect for Liam. But Kayla wasn't the least bit surprised--she had witnessed this kind of contempt more times than she could count. Without a word, she opened the car door and stepped out, positioning herself to the side. Although Liam carried the Graham name, he was little more than a shadow on the family tree. His mother was the illegitimate daughter of Johnny Graham, the family patriarch. Years ago, she had married a poor man, despite Johnny's furious objections. As punishment, he severed ties with her. As Liam grew older, his mother realized she couldn't give him the kind of future he needed. Desperate to change his fate, she pushed him back toward the family that had rejected her. She made him take on the Graham surname, thinking it might open a door. But it never did. Each visit to the Graham family brought nothing but scorn. Still, Liam held on to the idea that one day, he'd prove his worth. The company he now boasted about--Perennia Group--had been built off Kayla's money. It started with hundreds of thousands of dollars she gave him. And when Cooper Group later stepped in to support him, the business grew fast. In a few years, it became a name people noticed. But now, Kayla felt like it had all been a terrible waste. A reward for betrayal, handed over by her own misguided trust. Liam moved the car to a different spot, hoping to avoid further conflict, but the butler still stood firm. Finally, Liam snapped, "What, I don't even get a parking spot in my own home now?" The butler gave a slight bow, that ever-present smug smile playing on his lips. "My apologies, sir. We simply don't have room for uninvited guests." Liam's face flushed crimson, his fists clenched at his sides. He looked like he wanted to lash out but couldn't. Kayla felt a small flicker of satisfaction watching him get cut down to size. Just then, a series of sleek black sedans began pulling into the driveway. The butler's entire posture changed. Panic flickered across his face as he waved his arms. "Move the car! Move it! Mr. Jeremy Graham has returned!" Jeremy Graham, Johnny's youngest son, stood first in line for succession to the Graham family. In Trark, he ruled on the surface and in the shadows with a firm, unyielding grip, the kind of figure whose name alone could silence a room. Kayla watched as the sleek black cars approached. Without hesitation, the butler rushed forward, hurrying to open the door of the car at the center. Jeremy stepped out slowly. His crisp suit and polished shoes shone under the lights. Everything about him radiated dominance. The sheer presence he carried was enough to make anyone feel unsettled. Kayla's eyes drifted to his hand, where a ring glinted under the streetlights. Her breath caught. She had seen that ring before--in the h*tel room that n*ght. How could it be him? She looked up, heart pounding, and met his eyes--those deep-set, unreadable eyes. The man she had sl*pt with was her husband's uncle. Chapter 3 Had He Seen Her Face That Night? Jeremy towered above everyone else, his height impossible to ignore. There was something about him, a quiet intensity, polished and powerful. Even without trying, he drew every pair of eyes. He wore a sleek black suit that spoke of quiet luxury, every detail immaculate. His face was flawless--strikingly handsome, yet distant. Kayla caught her breath. The sight of him made her freeze. He was too striking. Too composed. When Jeremy's gaze brushed over her, her heart skipped and she dropped her eyes instinctively. Thankfully, his eyes moved on, and he walked off with his entourage, each step unhurried. Liam finally managed to park the car, though he had to squeeze it in near a reeking bin. "Kayla, shall we go in?" he asked, extending his hand to her. She took a step back, her tone cool. "I'll be fine on my own." He hesitated but held himself back. Causing a scene here wasn't worth it. "Alright," he murmured. The family banquet passed without Jeremy making an appearance. Kayla's shoulders loosened just a little. If he had been there, she would've been a wreck, unable to sit still. When she excused herself to the bathroom, she didn't actually go inside. Instead, she slipped out into the garden, craving air and distance. The main hall buzzed with conversation and music, but out here, the quiet pressed in from all sides. Everything about this estate reeked of power--wealth carved into marble paths and whispering fountains. No wonder Liam had tried so desperately to claw his way back. Who wouldn't? Kayla let her feet lead the way. Soon, she realized she didn't know where she was anymore. She eventually stumbled upon a pond, where she suddenly heard a commotion. A man was being hauled over by two bodyguards, his head shoved beneath the surface of the pond. He screamed in panic, swearing he didn't know anything, his voice cracking with fear. More bodyguards surrounded them--at least a dozen, their black uniforms like shadows. Kayla dove behind a bush and clasped a hand over her mouth, her heart pounding like it wanted to escape her chest. They only dragged the man out when he was seconds from drowning, then hurled him onto the ground like he was nothing more than tr**h. "Mr. Graham, I swear, I don't know who was in the room that night! I didn't see anything!" One of the bodyguards slammed a fist into his face. "Still pretending you don't know?" he growled. "I swear, I don't! I nodded off--I didn't see anything, I promise!" There was a loud crack. His scream echoed off the stone. One of his fingers had just been sn*pped clean. Kayla's entire body went stiff. She felt cold, sweat clinging to her skin. Jeremy was the man from that night. And he was clearly looking for answers. That meant he didn't know she was the woman from that night. A wave of fear surged through Kayla, tangled with a thin thread of relief. She had to get out. Now. Just as she turned to slip away, two bodyguards stepped into her path. "There's someone here," one of them said sharply. Kayla froze and forced a smile. "I was just passing by. I didn't see anything, I swear." Edwin Bailey, Jeremy's assistant, gave her a quick, assessing look before turning his head and said, "Mr. Graham, it's Liam's wife." A silence followed. Then, a deep, smooth voice answered, "Bring her here." Before Kayla could react, they grabbed her. She was hauled forward and shoved so roughly she stumbled. Her throat tightened as she stood, head bowed, too frightened to meet his eyes. He was lounging on a chaise longue. A black V-neck clung to his frame, and his loose, tailored trousers hung just right. The lighting veiled part of his face, but what was visible looked like a masterpiece. Then his eyes found her. She looked so small standing there. Fragile, even. Her long lashes trembled, her fear plain in every movement. Something about her vulnerability seemed to stir something faint in him. "Look up," he said, voice low but firm. Kayla clutched her dress in tight fists. She bit her lip before slowly lifting her gaze. Their eyes locked. His expression gave away nothing. "Why are you here?" "I got lost," she whispered. "I didn't mean to interrupt anything." "Lost?" His tone was icy. "Or did Liam send you to sniff around?" "No! Absolutely not! I swear!" She raised her hand as if taking an oath, but his stare remained cool, unmoved. Thankfully, he didn't push the issue. With a flick of his hand, he signaled the guards to let her go. Relief washed over her, but she only managed a few shaky steps before her stomach twisted violently. The nausea surged out of nowhere. She spotted a bin near his chaise longue and rushed toward it. But her balance faltered--she slipped, missed the edge, and fell hard against him, collapsing into his arms as she retched. Unbelievable. The bodyguards jolted in surprise and rushed forward, ready to pull her off him without hesitation. Jeremy's face darkened. He lifted a hand, halting them. Kayla gagged a few more times against his ch*st before the wave of nausea passed. Thankfully, nothing came up. It was just dry heaving. He pushed her off, his jaw tight. "Did Liam send you to s**uce me?" His voice was sharp, laced with ice and barely contained fury. Kayla landed on the ground, disoriented, and blinked up at him. "I wasn't feeling well. I'm sorry. You won't blame me, right? We're family." Jeremy furrowed his brow. This woman was clever--she knew how to exploit the situation. The light shifted, catching her face in full. She looked pale and scared. "I'll leave now," she mumbled, starting to rise. "Goodbye, Jeremy." But she hadn't made it far before his hand closed around her wrist. His eyes locked onto hers again--sharp, unblinking, as if he could see past the trembling exterior. Kayla's ch*st tightened. Did he know? Had he seen her face that night? Chapter 4 Divorce Liam Before Her Pr**nancy Became Noticeable "Kayla!" Liam's voice rang out from afar. Jeremy's brows knit slightly before he let go of Kayla's wrist. "You can go." She didn't wait--she turned and rushed off immediately. Edwin stepped forward, offering him a handkerchief. "Mr. Graham, what just happened?" Jeremy took the handkerchief, wiping his hands slowly, his expression unreadable. "Nothing. I thought she looked familiar--like the woman from that night--but I must have been mistaken." "Don't worry, sir. I'll figure out who snuck into your room that night. Just give me a little more time." "Alright." Jeremy's eyes drifted away, a strange look passing across his face. He couldn't forget the woman from that night. She'd seemed so untouched, tr**bling under his fingertips, tears running silently down her cheeks. He still remembered her eyes--clear and bright, drawing him in irresistibly. Meanwhile, Kayla spotted Liam scanning the area, clearly searching for her. She calmed herself and walked over. "I'm here." Liam rushed toward her, gripping her shoulders tightly. "Where were you? I thought something had happened. I was worried sick." Kayla instinctively leaned back, inching away from his hold. "I'm fine." Liam glanced over her shoulder, clearly wanting to ask more, but she'd already started walking ahead, cutting the conversation short. That night, sleep refused to come. Kayla tossed in bed, her mind haunted by Jeremy's face. She never imagined that he--the man from that night--would turn out to be Liam's uncle. The thought alone was enough to make her stomach twist. She had heard the stories. Jeremy was ruthless. The kind of man who crushed competitors without blinking. He wasn't someone you crossed. Her hand moved instinctively to her stomach. She couldn't keep this baby. If the Graham family found out, the consequences would be beyond anything she could handle. She'd go to the hospital in the morning and take care of it--quietly, before things got worse. With her decision made, Kayla slipped out of bed to grab a glass of water. As she reached the staircase, she heard Liam's voice downstairs, sharp and angry. "This project has to go through, no matter what. I don't care how you do it; find a way to fill that funding gap. We've already poured too much into it. Failure isn't an option." He sounded angry, and once the call ended, he hung up with a sharp, frustrated motion. Kayla couldn't help but wonder what had gone wrong with the company to leave him sounding so frantic. The sound of the front door opening and shutting echoed through the empty hallway. Liam walked out, started his car, and drove off. Kayla made her way downstairs, filled a glass with water in the quiet kitchen. Then, her phone buzzed with a message from her private investigator. "Mrs. Graham, Mr. Graham has gone to Tricia's. He's likely staying the night." A faint, mocking smile tugged at Kayla's lips. There was no hurt left. Only a hollow calm where disappointment used to live. The next morning, she drove herself to the hospital. She'd expected it to be simple and quick. But the doctor's words shattered every bit of that hope. "Ma'am, your uterine lining is quite thin. In your condition, undergoing an ab**tion could make it difficult, if not impossible, for you to con**ive again." Kayla sat frozen, the words echoing in her ears. She couldn't go through with the ab**tion, yet carrying the baby wasn't something she could risk either. She was trapped. The doctor's voice softened. "Maybe talk this through with your husband. This isn't a small decision--it carries real risks." "I understand," she muttered. Kayla left the room feeling like she'd just been hit by a wave. Her thoughts spun out of control. If she didn't end the pr**nancy, she'd eventually have to give birth, and there was no way Liam wouldn't find out. There was only one way forward now: divorce Liam before her pr**nancy became noticeable. Still lost in thought, Kayla didn't see the figure in front of her and ran straight into someone's chest. "Mr. Graham, are you alright?" Kayla's heart dropped. She looked up and found Jeremy standing there, tall and still as a statue, those intense eyes locked on her like she was a puzzle he was about to solve. Stunned, Kayla instinctively tucked the medical report behind her back. "Jeremy?" Jeremy didn't reply. He studied her closely, sensing something off. She'd been acting strange the night before and still was. Jeremy said lightly, "What are you hiding behind you?" At his words, Kayla nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, her heart racing... ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &4&

Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "I'm exhausted, Evelina. Let's end this marriage. We agreed on three years, and I've endured it long enough." Cary said casually. Endured it long enough? How dare he casually dismiss all her sacrifices? Three long years she'd sacrificed, pouring everything she had into nursing him back from blindness, making him the powerful man he had become. Cary calmly took out a set of divorce documents, obviously prepared ahead of time. "Review them. If you have no objections, sign. I've wasted enough time already. I won't make Esme wait anymore." Glancing over the papers, Evelina focused bitterly on the divorce settlement--an apartment far from the city center, the worn-out car she'd driven for groceries, and a mere three million dollars. Incredible. He'd gifted sapphire earrings worth three hundred million to the woman responsible for his blindness, yet offered a paltry three million to the wife who had saved him. Three million wouldn't even cover the cost of one of her surgeries, let alone make up for the countless procedures she had rejected during these three years spent hidden away, caring only for him. "If you want more..." Cary anticipated tears or pleading from Evelina. Instead, she scoffed softly, picked up the pen decisively, and signed her name with determination. Cary faltered, bewildered. He hadn't expected her to surrender so quickly. Evelina was an orphan--would she really walk away from a life of comfort? Handing back the signed papers, Evelina said coldly and clearly, "It's done. But Cary, you'd better not regret your choice." ... Everyone mocked her fall--until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost." &7&

Elliana, the unfavored "ugly duckling" of her family, was humiliated by her stepsister, Paige, who everyone admired. Paige, engaged to the CEO Cole, was the perfect woman-until Cole married Elliana on the day of the wedding. Tears streamed down Paige's face. "Mom, is my dream of becoming the wife of the wealthiest man truly gone?" "Absolutely not!" Kiara's voice dripped with venom as she said, "Cole won't tolerate being trapped like this. Elliana was shoved into his life. She might not even make it through tonight." "Once Elliana's no longer in the picture, Cole will definitely come back to you. Just hold on to your place as Ublento's top socialite. You'll be his wife eventually." Since even those two m**ons, Kiara and Paige, had imagined Cole might arrange a widower scenario, Elliana, with her sharp mind, had certainly considered that possibility. Even though Elliana had never seen Cole in person until today, she'd heard every tale. People described him as cold-bl**ded, even cruel. He was the kind of man who crushed anyone who dared stand in his way. Elliana kept her head down the entire ceremony. Once they stepped into the bedroom, Elliana sank onto the edge of the bed and stayed silent. Cole slipped off his jacket and dropped onto the couch. His eyes locked on her. Hours ago, she looked like a wreck--smudged eyeliner, tangled hair, makeup that aged her ten years. But now, beneath the soft veil concealing her face, she looked ethereal in the glittering gown. Elliana was still running through her next move in her head when Cole rose without warning and swept her into his arms. Her heart lurch. "Mr. Evans, what... What are you doing?" A sly smile playing at the corners of Colea's mouth. "Tell me--what do you suppose newlyweds ought to be doing on their wedding night?" Everything tilted as he tossed her onto the b*d, his scent surrounding her completely, and she went still. With her horrible wig and makeup, was Cole seriously able to go through with it? ...... &7&

She dreamed of marrying the man of her fantasies--a hero strong enough to shield her from danger and protect her from predators. But on the day she was cast into the unforgiving depths of the kingdom's dungeon, it was the Beast King who held her in his arms. "At last, I have you in my arms, my mate!" he declared. ===== UREKAI: In the days of old, the Urekai stood out as the strongest and most powerful beings in the world. The ancient tongue called them 'fearsome beasts' for: Like werewolves, they could transform into beasts. Like vampires, they consumed bl**d. And walked among humans with no one the wiser. The ageless, peaceful, selfless beings preferred to keep to themselves. Despite being feared and distrusted, they never responded with aggression. They granted passage to any species wishing to enter their lands beyond the great mountain and welcomed everyone. But five centuries ago, an unexpected species attacked the Urekais during their one night of weakness. The humans. While protecting his people, Grand King Daemonikai lost control of his mind, going feral. Becoming a danger to the same people whom he had given everything to protect. Although it seemed impossible, the Urekais managed to capture their king's beast form, imprisoning him in a secure cage, ensuring he could never escape. But, consumed by hatred for humans, the Urekai plunged themselves into darkness. Becoming the fearsome beasts others had always feared them to be. Wearing their monstrosity with pride. HUMANS: After invading the Urekais, a mysterious virus outbreak struck. No one knew where it came from, but many speculated their attack on the Urekais brought it on. While most males eventually recovered after a long struggle, the virus proved fatal for the majority of females. Survivors rarely gave birth to female children. Those left or born became scarce and sought-after commodities. In many kingdoms, greedy fathers sold their daughters to breeding houses. Some were forced into pleasure houses, existing solely for men's enjoyment. Some faced terrible abuse in exchange for protection. Even the wealthy and the privileged could not guarantee the safety of the females in their lives, as the mere sight of a female--be it an infant, a young girl, or an elderly woman--drew unwanted attention. Female children faced constant danger. They are not safe in the society. *** PROLOGUE HUMAN LAND: THE KINGDOM OF NAVIA. "It's a g-girl, your highness," Prince Garret froze. As he turned, looking at the palace healer, his hands resting on his exhausted wife's body, shook uncontrollably. He had secretly arranged the delivery months ago, and now they were hidden in one of the underground rooms in the palace, where his beloved wife, Pandora, was giving birth. "What did you just say to me?" Prince Garret hoped he heard wrong. Perhaps it had been a mistake. Please, gods, let it be a mistake! But the pity in the older man's face couldn't be disguised. The palace healer turned the little bundle. "The baby is a girl." Terror crossed Pandora's face as she adjusted herself to get a closer look at her baby. "No. Oh, the gods, please no..." She shook her head vigorously fresh tears gathering in her eyes. Tears welled in the healer's eyes. "I'm so sorry, your highness." "No!!!" Pandora cried out burying her face into her husband's waiting arms, sobs after sobs ripping from her throat. Garret felt numb as he held his wife. His first daughter, Aekeira, wasn't even four yet, and the king was already negotiating with the kingdom of Cavar to sell her to the highest bidder. Because, apparently, Navia 'could use more funds.' King Orestus might be Garret's brother, but he was a tyrant, and his word was law. Now, another girl child? Two daughters? Tears filled Garrett's eyes as he looked upon the crying bundle wiggling around in healer's arms. The world was not safe for either of his daughters. "I'll raise her like a boy," Pandora declared suddenly. The healer's eyes widened. "Are you suggesting we keep her identity a secret?" "Yes," Pandora affirmed, her resolve strengthening. "This child will never be seen as a girl. No one will ever find out!" "B-but, it's impossible to hide something like this, your majesty." The healer panicked. "The king will order our execution!" "Then, we take the secret to our grave." Pandora's voice was fierce. "I was unable to protect my first daughter, but by the Light-gods, I will protect my second." Too dangerous, but Garret was all for it too. This was their best chance to keep their daughter safe, and they would take it. "As far as we are concerned, the child I bore today was a male." Pandora looked at the baby. "His name is Emeriel. Emeriel Galilea Evenstone." Emeriel. It's a neutral name, and also means 'Sky's Protection' in the old tongue. Garret liked it. Fitting too, for their daughter would need all the luck and protection in the world. "I agree," Garret spoke aloud. With the plan fully in his mind, Garret swore the two other men in the room to secrecy. ********* That night, Garrett and his wife, stood by the baby's small cradle, watching their newborn sleep. Across the room, their three-year-old daughter, Aekeira, lay curled under a blanket, her tiny chest rising and falling in peaceful rhythm. "In all my years on this earth, I've never seen anyone bear two female children, Garrett," Pandora whispered, voice cracking. She glanced up at him, eyes glistening with tears. "I don't know what this means for us... or for them." Garrett placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Maybe it means they have a great destiny to fulfill." "Or a great sorrow in their future," Pandora's eyes drifted to their eldest, worriedly. "I'm so scared for them. How could something like this happen?" Perhaps you've been touched by the gods, my darling," Garrett said in comfort. "I really doubt that. Why me? Why us?" He had no answer to that. "If that's true," Pandora sniffled, brushing her fingers over the baby's soft cheek, "may that god always protect my babies. We won't always be here to do that." Garrett pulled his wife into his arms, holding her close, fighting to hide his own worry. Because, she was right. What were the odds of a couple in these times bearing not just one, but two daughters? None. Absolutely none. As he gazed at their sleeping children, prayer rose in his heart. Whatever god you are, please... protect our angels. Chapter 2 THE PRINCESS IN A 'PRINCE' DISGUISE Twenty-one Years Later PRINCE EMERIEL. "He's so pretty," a voice murmured. "It's the feminine prince," another one said. The third man had l*st in his eyes. "No man should have hair that gorgeous." Prince Emeriel ignored them all as he moved from the palace grounds into the building, head held high. Just because he was used to the unwanted attention, didn't mean it didn't make his skin crawl. He might have lived as a boy all his life, but it didn't exactly keep him all that safe. Men of Navia would stick their ph**llus in anything with a h*le, especially if it looked remotely feminine. But Emeriel's senses were always on high alert. Which is why he was probably the only twenty-one-year-old vi**in in Navia. That, and his sister, Princess Aekeira, always did everything in her power to protect him. To make sure his secrets remained tightly hidden. A carriage accident had taken their parents fifteen years ago, and King Orestus had adopted them. That tyrant made life a living hell for them. Emeriel entered the hallway to Aekeira's chambers when he heard it. Whimpers. Soft, pain-filled whimpers. That sound was coming from… Rage surged through Emeriel. Not this again! Determined, he stormed down the hall, and shoved the door open, unsheathing his s*ord. "Get away from my sister right this instant, Lord Murphy, or I swear to the sky I will cut you down where you stand!" Emeriel snarled. The minister of human affairs's face twisted with irritation, and he stopped thrusting. "Go away, little prince. You're ruining the fun." Emeriel hated the jab 'little prince,' but surely not as much as he hated being called a 'slight prince.' Over the years, Navians had given him a lot of names thanks to his small and feminine look. "Get away from her right now!" Emeriel strode purposefully toward the b*d, seizing hold of Lord Murphy and pushing him away from Aekeira. With a satisfying thud, the old oaf tumbled to the floor. Aekeira rose from the b*d, clutching her vulnerable body, her face red from crying, eyes tired and swollen. Emeriel pulled his sister into his arms, hugging her tightly. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Keira." "It was not your fault." "Why the hell would you do that!?" Lord Murphy rose angrily. "I won Princess Aekeira fair and square in the card game at the gathering last night. The king wagered with her and lost to me! I was supposed to have her for two hours at least!" Emeriel's eyes blazed as he whirled around, facing him. "If you put your hands on her again, I swear to the sky I will cut off your m*le or*an, Lord Murphy." "You will not dare!" "I'll gladly take whatever punishment the king gives," he stated with conviction, "but you will be without your manhood. Choose wisely." Lord Murphy's eyes widened, his hands flying protectively over his cr**ch, face reddening in anger. "The king will hear of this!" The minister snarled. Taking his clothes, he marched out of the room. "Oh, Em, why did you do that?" Aekeira's eyes filled with worry. "The king might punish you with the hot whip again." "I do not care. Let us go to my room." Putting his s*ord away, Emeriel could not even look his sister in the eyes, dangerously close to tears himself. Helping Aekeira into her clothes, he led her out, and down the hallway. That age-old guilt crept down Emeriel's spine. Aekeira always protected Emeriel, even when it made her the sole target. His sister never hated him, but Emeriel hated himself for it. Aekeira was always bubbly and always happy. But in times like this, when her body was vi**ated, she mostly looked tired then. Weary of the world. Worried about the next aristocrat the king would hand her over to. Much later, freshened up, Aekeira laid on the bed, closing her eyes. "Em? My worst nightmare when I was younger was thinking I would be sold to an aristocrat in Cavar, but now, I almost wish that heartless king went ahead with it, instead of changing his mind," Aekeira whispered. "Please, don't say that." Emeriel held her hand. "That kingdom is a horror play. Anywhere is better than Cavar, sister. Well, except beyond the great mountain, of course." Just the thought made Emeriel shiver. The Urekai dwelled beyond those mountains. "Sometimes I wish I could leave this godforsaken kingdom." A single tear slipped from Aekeira's eyes. Me too, Keira. Me too. ****** That night, after bathing, Emeriel stood before the mirror, staring at his reflection. His long, silken black hair fell over his shoulders, cascading like a waterfall. With his hair down like this, he looked like what he truly was. A girl. What would it feel like to live freely, like the person the mirror reflected? To not live in fear of the next man who might seek to take advantage of him, like they do his sister? Emeriel fantasized about marrying the man of his dreams. A protector. Someone powerful enough to keep him safe, shield him from predators, and sweep him off his feet with immense strength and love. All delusion. But a sweet one, nonetheless. Reality was far too ugly. Shaking it off, he crawled into bed and closed his eyes, letting sleep take him. . . The dream began as it always did. The man filled the doorway, hidden in the shadows. He was big, larger and more masculine than any man Emeriel had ever seen. Tall like a giant, he made Emeriel feel small, like a cornered prey. "Who are you?" Emeriel's drowsy voice came out shaky, filled with fear. "What do you want from me?" "You are mine," he said, voice deep as rolling thunder. "Meant to be on your knees for me. On your back. To be f**ked you so hard your legs quake. You were meant to beg for me all the time. Only mine." Emeriel's face burned with shock. So scandalized, he scrambled upright. "Y-you shouldn't say such improper things to me! It's wrong!" But the mysterious man stepped into Emeriel's bedroom, emerging from the shadows. As he did, his body shifted into a...beast. The most terrifying Emeriel had ever seen. A Urekai. "Oh gods, oh gods," Emeriel's breath hitched in terror, panic setting in. Of all the shapeshifters in the world, why a UREKAI!? He advanced with purpose. Its glowing yellow eyes bore into Emeriel, filled with hunger. Shaking his head fiercely, Emeriel scrambled backward. "No, no, no! Leave me alone!" he shouted, "Guards! Someone, help!" But no one came. The beast leapt onto the bed, got on top of Emeriel, trapping him under. Claws tore through his clothing, Emeriel's vulnerable female body was exposed to its yellow eyes. His powerful thighs forced Emeriel's apart...! Emeriel jolted awake with a scream. Body shaking and drenched in sweat, he glanced around the dark, empty room. "It was just a dream," he whispered, trembling. "Thank the gods. Just a dream." The same dream again. He'd had this dream for months now. He swallowed hard, running a shaky hand through his hair. "Why do I keep having such a scary nightmare?" It terrified Emeriel a lot. A Urekai? No one in this world prayed to meet a Urekai in their lifetime. Certainly not Emeriel. Yet, even with all the terror inside, the hotness of the dream lingered in his body. His feminine core felt different. W*t. What does this mean? Chapter 3 UREKAI Stepping outside the next morning, two warriors stopped before Emeriel. "The king summons you, my prince," One of them said. "Your presence is needed in the courtroom." Sh*t. That foolish minister wasted no time ratting on him. Emeriel let the way to court. It's just whipping, he will be fine. But, as he walked down the hall towards the door, it was eerily quiet. Something was wrong. The court was always noisy from the outside. Mutterings, murmurs, arguments were always expected. His worry deepened when the door opened, and all eyes didn't turn to gaze at him condescendingly. Instead, everyone's eyes were fixed at the center of the king's court. Emeriel's eyes followed theirs. Two men dressed in all-white apparel robes, with long, straight, waist-length black hair stood, appearing harmless. But a longer glance had Emeriel noticing muscles barely concealed under their robes, their slightly tipped ears, and their incredibly unnaturally handsome faces that were completely unreadable. He froze. Urekai. These ones looked expensive and aristocratic. Emeriel's throat went dry. No one prays to meet a Urekai face-to-face. "What do you say, King Orestus?" the Urekai with the long scar running from his cheek spoke. He looked the most intimidating. "No, this cannot happen," King Orestus protested, looking terrified, and doing a poor job of hiding it. The frown on Scarred Urekai's face deepened. Clearly, this was a being that did not take no for an answer. "You are mistaken if you think we are giving you a choice, human king," he said, taking a threatening step forward. The ministers of the court gasped, shrinking back into their seats. "Easy, Lord Vladya," the other Urekai spoke, his voice gentler. Imploring rather than commanding. The scarred Urekai, Lord Vladya, gave the king a hard look that would make any man tremble. "It is the least you can do, human king. Give us the princess, and we will leave quietly." "We are ready to pay for her," the other Urekai added, reaching into his robe and withdrawing a large bag of coins. Fear receded. The king's ears perked up with interest. "Money?" "Not just money, there are gold coins too," The non-scarred Urekai said. Everyone gasped, including Emeriel. Gold coins were rare and highly valuable. The Urekai continued, "All you have to do is hand the princess over, and this bag is yours." Wait… Princess? They couldn't possibly mean... The grand entrance opened again as two guards led Aekeira into the court. No, no, no, not my sister. Emeriel moved forward, but the guards who had escorted him stopped his movement. He bit his lip hard, trying not to draw attention to himself, but it was incredibly difficult. Surely, this couldn't be what he thought it was. It had to be a dream. There was no way the Urekai were here to buy his sister as a slave...! The two guards leading Aekeira to the center of the court, stopped a few feet from the Urekais. The terror on Aekeira's face mirrored Emeriel's feelings. "So, let me get this straight," King Orestus began, "All I need to do is sell her to you, and all this money is mine? There are no other conditions? Nothing else?" "Yes," the non-scarred Urekai responded. Lord Vladya moved forward, closing the distance between him and Aekeira, who was visibly shaking now. Cupping Aekeira's cheek tilting her head to the side to get a better look. He appeared utterly disgusted. "She'll do." King Orestus picked up his gavel and struck it hard on his desk. "Sold! From this moment on, Princess Aekeira belongs to the Urekais." "WHAT!?" The shout escaped Emeriel's lips before he could stop it. He ran toward the center of the courtroom and fell to his knees. "Please don't sell my sister to them. Not to the Urekais! Please, Your Majesty." The king gave him a bored look. "It's out of my hands now, Emeriel." It's out of his… Emeriel couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You can't let this happen. She's your niece too! How could you do this!?" He wasn't proud his voice turned the high-pitch of a girl's, as he practically screamed. But he didn't care. "You know a fate worse than death awaits her beyond the great mountain! How could you agree to sell her to them?" "As if he has a choice," Lord Vladya scoffed, his deep baritone filled with cynicism. Emeriel whirled around to face them, anger blanketing his features. But as he stared into those intimidating gray eyes, he couldn't bring himself to give in to his rage. He had read in one of the books that an Urekai had the power to take a life without physical contact. It might just be a rumor, but with his sister's life on the line, he had no intention of testing that theory. "I will go too. Where Aekeira goes, I go," Emeriel said, lifting his chin defiantly. Aekeira snapped her head toward Emeriel, her eyes widened in terror. "No! What are you doing, Em?" "I'm going with you," Emeriel stated firmly. Lord Vladya arched a perfectly shaped brow. "No. We have no need for you; we only need your sister." Emeriel stood. "I don't care. Take me too. If you leave me here, I will always try to come to her. I will cross the great mountains if I have to!" Lord Vladya laughed. There was no humor in the cold sound. "Without the rite of passage, the great mountain will swallow you whole. You'll never make it to the other side." "I'll take my chances," Emeriel vowed. "No! My brother is not coming," Aekeira interjected, before turning pleading eyes to Emeriel. "Don't do this, Em. I'm already doomed. I don't want you to face the same fate!" "If you come with us, you will be taken as our slave." Lord Vladya stated, pinning Emeriel with a stare. "Urekai do not care if you're male or female; you will serve in any way your master wants you. Whether it's in the mines or the cellar, on your back, bent over, or on your knees. If you agree to be our slave too, your freewill ends today." A shiver ran through Emeriel's spine. "Do you know what it means to be an Urekai's slave, little human? You're a pretty boy; you will not lack masters to service." Fear seeped through his core. If everything he had heard growing up and read in books were true, being an Urekai's slave was worse than being a human's slave. And my dreams... I should be running in a different direction...! But he steeled his spine. "Where my sister goes, I go." "We did not agree to get two slaves," the second Urekai said. "That is settled then," Lord Vladya continued as if he never spoke. Reaching into his robe, the scarred Urekai pulled out another bag of coins, throwing both on the floor towards the king. "We will take both." "Sold!" King Orestus banged his gavel again. Chapter 4 SOLD TO THE UREKAI Aekeira cried for over an hour after they left the courtroom. At first, she had been angry, shouting at Emeriel about his foolish decision. And then, she broke down, crying as if her heart had been shattered. Now, they were left alone in a tiny room on the boat. Emeriel remained quiet throughout his sister's breakdown, the weight of his decision finally sinking in. By the Light-gods, he was now a slave. Lower than a lo*born. Lower than a carpet servant. And not just any slave, but a Urekai slave. Or many Urekai, Emeriel had no idea yet. He would serve those heartless, ruthless beings who despised humans. "You're a pretty boy; you will not lack masters to service." A shiver coursed down Emeriel's spine. They were going to vi**late his body. What he had always dreamed of would finally coming true. Only now, it wouldn't be just one beast, it would be many. As many as his master wanted. Emeriel swallowed the bile rising in his throat. His breath seized as panic set in. "Breathe, Em. Come on," Aekeira appeared by his side, rubbing his back. "In... and out... come on, Em." Aekeira's voice was gentle, soothing, giving Emeriel no choice but to follow its sound. Aekeira continued rubbing his back. "Good girl. That's my girl." Two Urekai came in and forced them to take an unknown pill. Surely they hadn't paid all that money just to k*ll them before they even became slaves, right? Emeriel thought as she swallowed it. Minutes later, they both dropped unconscious on the floor. • Much later, Emeriel woke to the bumping ride of the carriage. His head woozy, his senses disoriented as he blinked several times to adjust his vision. They had been forced to take a pill. Rising, he walked to the carriage's wooden window and pushed it open. A gasp left him. They are in Urekai land. Emeriel could see dozens of them. But what had his jaw on the floor was the humans. There were plenty in sight. Many females nearly matching the number of males. Everyone knew the Urekais had acquired and held numerous humans captive after the war, but the sheer number he could see surpassed his expectations. And they were all slaves. Some were working in the fields, their weary bodies bent under the weight of their labor. Some were hauling heavy loads, their muscles straining with each step, under the watchful eyes of Urekai's. Some Urekais held whips, while some held s*ords. The sight turned Emeriel's stomach, making him sick. Is this to be our life now? Aekeira's gr**n of wakefulness echoed behind him and Emeriel quickly turned to his sister, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright, Kiera?" he asked, his voice hushed. Aekeira nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Where are we?" she asked, eyes scanning their surroundings. Their kingdom, Urai," Emeriel whispered, keeping his voice down so the carriage master would not overhear. Together, they took in the huge fortress in front of them. The carriage was headed straight for it. "This place looks highly luxurious," Aekeira said. Emeriel nodded. As royalty, they were well-acquainted with luxury, but this was on an entirely different scale. Which begged the question... Who exactly were the males who had purchased them? And if they weren't his and his sister's masters, then who was...? ******* They were brought into an empty room after passing numerous chambers and passages. "This shall be your quarters for now," a soldier announced. The room was surprisingly spacious and tastefully decorated. Not long after the soldiers left, the sound of approaching footsteps reached their ears, growing closer with each passing moment. The door swung open, and an older human woman marched in. Accompanied by a younger human woman and three Urekai males. The older woman's gaze landed on Emeriel, and she did a double take. "You are one remarkably handsome male. I have seen a lot of pretty males in my time, but even I can hardly think of one who is half as pretty as you." Feeling uneasy, Emeriel took a step back, finding solace behind Aekeira, who spread her arms protectively to shield him from prying eyes. "Well, it's a shame you're not the one we came for," the woman said dismissively, turning away. "Prepare her, boys. Amie, get the bath ready." The three males closed in on Aekeira, beginning to undress her. Their hands removed her clothes, while another tended to her hair, undoing the knots. "What are you doing?" Emeriel asked, concerned. "Getting her ready for what is to come." The older woman didn't bother to look at him. "You can either stay or leave. I care not. But if you disturb me, I will have you reported to the soldiers and thrown into the dungeon." Numerous questions swirled in Emeriel's mind, but a shake of Aekeira's head silenced him. He watched helplessly as they undressed her, with the younger girl, Amie, preparing a large tub filled with water. Eventually, Emeriel decided to step out and explore, wandering the halls aimlessly. He followed one to a secluded passage that appeared hidden from casual glances. Voices echoed in the distance, so he moved closer towards them. "What shall we do with the boy? He was not part of the plan," one voice said. "I do not care, Lord Ottai. Perhaps we will think of something later." Lord Vladya's voice came. "For now, let us focus on the girl. The bad weather delayed our journey, I had expected us to return yesterday." His voice, chilling and authoritative, Lord Vladya added. "Time is running short; she must be in the forbidden chambers tonight." Forbidden chambers? Emeriel didn't like the sound of that at all. "Calm yourself, Vladya. That young girl cannot handle the beast," Lord Ottai added. "I do not care. They have made their b*ds, and they shall lie in them," Vladya said defiantly. A heavy sigh followed. "It would be heartless to send that girl in to service the beast without any inkling of what to expect. I know you have no love for humans, and frankly, neither do I, but we can surely do better than that," Lord Ottai reasoned. "Do as you wish, Ottai. Tell them everything or tell them nothing. I care not," Vladya stated. "Whether she lives or dies, I care not either. I shall throw in the pretty little prince next, and if he perishes too, I shall be on the next carriage to the next human kingdom to select another princess for him. That is the only aspect of this that concerns me." A silence fell after their exchange, leaving Emeriel's mind racing with fear and disbelief. Service the beast? Die? Chapter 5 YOUR PURPOSE HERE Emeriel was horrified. I must rescue Aekeira! We need to escape! "I know you are there, pretty prince. I can smell you," Lord Vladya's voice rang out. Emeriel gasped, frozen in place as Lord Vladya's imposing figure emerged from the door. Instinctively, Emeriel took a step back. Then another. Lord Vladya smirked. "I would advise against whatever thoughts are brewing in that little head of yours. You have no inkling of where you are, do you?" Emeriel could only discern they were in the tallest, most fortified fortress he had ever seen. He shook his head, his fear palpable. "You are in Ravenshadow," Lord Ottai said, coming up behind the scarred Lord. Ravenshadow? The Ravenshadow!? No, by the Light, this cannot be happening. "R-Ravenshadow Citadel? The home of the f-four grand rulers of the Urekais. The Whispering Abyss of great power?" Emeriel blurted out, unable to contain his terror any longer. Lord Ottai snorted. "That is what humans call it. We do not. But yes, you are correct. You are in the Ravenshadow Citadel, Prince Emeriel." "You do not need me to inform you that this is the most secure place in Urai, with vast lands in which you could get lost in if you attempt to escape." Lord Vladya smirked. "A vortex that would swallow you, never to be seen again. There is no escape from Ravenshadow." Emeriel heard their words, but his mind was consumed by a far greater fear. "The four grand rulers of the Urekais reside here?" Emeriel mused, dreadfully. "They do." Lord Ottai sounded mildly amused, drawing Emeriel's attention. Emeriel had no idea he'd said that out loud. Inching closer to Lord Ottai-He seemed the less intimidating and a preferable choice in that moment-Emeriel threw weary glances at the scarred lord. "I have heard rumors about Urekai." "What exactly did you hear?" Lord Ottai asked. "They are said to be deadly, unpredictable and almost feral in their actions." " Emeriel listed off on his fingers as he rambled. "Their mating habits are said to be as brutal as their killings, and while they have bl**dhosts, they prefer to drain humans' bl**d. And, after their king ran wild, they-" "Terrific. Just what I needed to hear," Lord Vladya added in a dry tone. Lord Ottai, still somewhat amused, spoke up, "I will leave the briefing to Lord Vladya. I need to attend to the council." What!? Please do not leave me with him! Emeriel almost shouted. But he bit his lips hard, restraining himself. Lord Vladya, however, did not hold back. "Think again, Lord Ottai. There is no way I will-" "Would you prefer Lord Zaiper handle the briefing then?" Lord Ottai asked quietly. A muscle twitched on Lord Vladya's jaw and he gave Emeriel a hard look, as if actually considering the option. Lord Ottai must have picked up on that, quickly adding, "You know you don't want that to happen. Besides, let us not forget the favor you owe me. Remember that?" Lord Vladya glared at him, and Lord Ottai offered a wolfish smile. "I believe it's time to collect. You do the briefing. Off I go." With that, Lord Ottai strode away, exuding an air of sophistication with every step. Finally, Emeriel and Lord Vladya stood facing each other. "Come." Lord Vladya began walking, and Emeriel fell into step behind him. "Forget whatever rumors may have spread in the human realm. Some may hold a grain of truth, but most are truly bizarre." Lord Vladya looked mildly annoyed. "However, I will not delve into the vast knowledge of our kind, for it is too extensive to cover. Instead, I will share the parts that pertain to your sister's presence here." Emeriel braced himself. "Five hundred years ago, and even before that, my people and humans coexisted peacefully. Grand King Daemonikai made sure of that." Grand King Daemonikai. The mere mention of the name had goosebumps spreading on Emeriel's skin, knees quaking in barely-concealed fear. One of the oldest Urekai to have ever existed, his reputation was known throughout the world, even to a child born in present times. He wasn't just one of the four rulers, he was the very first. The ultimate ruler. His power and strength were legendary. Some even suggested he couldn't be k*lled. That name, Daemonikai, was one that struck terror into the hearts of every species existing in this world. "His son, Alvin, made friends with a human prince." Lord Vladya continued. "During a conversation over a glass of champagne, Alvin, in a drunken state, told the prince the secrets of our people. The Eclipse Moon night." "A night when the Urekai were naturally stripped of their power and strength by the moon, right?" Emeriel asked, wondering if the rumors were true. "It comes every five hundred years, rendering you lots incredibly weak. Weaker than a newborn baby. Vulnerable to attack." The scarred Urekai stopped and eyed Emeriel, nodding before walking again. "What Alvin didn't know was the prince's father used his son to gather information about us. King Memphis had his eyes set on our land. To make a long story short, the humans breached our defenses and attacked us on the Eclipse Moon night, inflicting significant damage upon our kingdom." A shadow crossed Lord Vladya's eyes. "Many of our people were killed. The survival of the Urekai was largely due to the efforts of the four rulers, particularly Daemonikai." He looked distant, as if he could see that night playing out before him. "Daemonikai exerted every ounce of his strength to save his people. Sacrificed everything he had...knowing the consequences it would bring." Consequences? Emeriel suddenly felt bad. The humans regarded that night as a victory. Talked about it as a great achievement. But hearing it now, it was nothing short of barbaric. "After that night, everything changed," Lord Vlayda said. "Many Urekai lost their bondmates and children. Those who remained were hardened by the loss. Even our revenge did nothing to ease the pain in our hearts." "Your kind almost decimated the human population, forcing many into hiding." Emeriel couldn't keep the bitterness off his tone. "The Urekai took numerous slaves and nearly depleted the human lands of their females. And it did nothing?" As those chilling eyes once again stared at him. Emeriel snapped his mouth shut. "Then, Grand King Daemonikai gave in to his beast and went mad. His mind was completely lost, has remained so for the past five hundred years. The very people he sacrificed everything to protect are now in danger from him." Lord Vladya turned a corner. "The beast breaks free periodically, going on ruthless, brutal killing sprees. To prevent further loss, the beast is confined here in Ravenshadow." Okay... that sounded like a good idea. What was the problem? "But, confinement alone is not enough. Our inner beasts require two basic substance to survive: bl**d and s*x," Lord Vladya surveyed Emeriel with a piercing gaze. "And that is where your sister comes in." Emeriel grew unease. He did not like where this was going. "Princess Aekeira will fulfill the beast's s*xual needs. That is why she was acquired. As for you, since I have no use for you, both of you belong to the beast," Lord Vladya asserted firmly. "What?" The disbelieving whisper tore from Emeriel. "Surely, y-you can't mean that." "Tell Princess Aekeira to present to the beast. If she presents well, who knows? She might survive another day. I care little for the outcome." Emeriel collapsed to his knees, tears blurring his vision. "Please, Lord Vladya, don't subject her to this. To be a s*xual slave? To a beast...the king's beast? My sister will die!!" He screamed, his words tainted with anger. Lord Vladya did not bat an eyelash. "Good luck trying to run away from Ravenshadow. For every attempt, you will be met with fifty lashes of the whip." With that, he turned on his heel, stridingpassed terror, and Emeriel surged after him, but the Urekai soldiers blocked his path. "Who do you think you are!?" Emeriel screamed. "Do you consider yourself so all-powerful that you can dictate the fate of living beings!? You are nothing more than beasts! You're a monster, Lord Vladya!" Lord Vladya halted at the doorway, casting a glance over his shoulder. "That is a compliment, human prince. And to you, it is Grand Lord Vladya." Emeriel froze. Grand Lord? As in, one of the four rulers of the Urekai, that GRAND LORD!? Holy light-gods, we're doomed. Chapter 6 SERVING THE BEAST The night had descended upon them. Aekeira's face turned pale upon hearing everything from Emeriel. She had not uttered a single word in hours. Instead, tears streamed down her eyes. Emeriel could hardly recognize Aekeira after the "treatment" Livia had given her. Aekeira was incredibly beautiful, well-groomed, and all dressed up in that scanty piece of nothing. He despised the purpose behind her transformation and dreaded the impending arrival of the Urekai guards, who would soon take her away. "Let us escape," Emeriel suggested urgently. "This place is vast, and-" Aekeira shook her head. "I cannot risk your life, Em. Grand Lord Vladya warned you about the severe consequences of attempting to escape. Moreover, if we're caught, they will undoubtedly discover your secret when they strip you down to whip you. It is simply not an option." Emeriel approached his sister and shook her firmly. "Pull yourself together, Aekeira! You will be forced to serve a UREKAI in its BEAST FORM! One that has lost its sanity and has remained feral for over five hundred years! You cannot subject yourself to such a fate! You will die if you do this!" he screamed. "We have no other choice!" Aekeira screamed right back, "I will not put you in danger, Emeriel. Can't you understand? You are my younger sister. Our parents risked everything to protect you, and I will do everything in my power to do the same. Not because you are a burden, but because I am your elder sister, and I love you dearly!" Emeriel bit his lip, struggling to hold back tears. "And who will protect you, Aekeira? Who will ensure your safety?" Aekeira's desperate arms grasped Emeriel, as she gazed into his eyes. "They must never discover you are a girl, Emeriel. Never! Neither the humans nor the Urekais must find out." The door swung open, announcing Livia's return, accompanied by the young girl, Amie, and another group of Urekai soldiers. "It is time. Let us proceed," Livia declared as her eyes widened. "It is inadvisable for you to touch her now. You do not want to leave your scent on her. Release her immediately." "What do you mean? What will happen if I touch my sister?" Emeriel asked, quickly pulling away. "The beast must not detect any other scent on her. If it smells a scent it hates, it may become even more brutal–might even tear her apart. That is why you must not touch her, Emeriel." Livia nodded for the men to escort Aekeira out of the room, and Emeriel followed. The journey was long and silent, involving a lot of twists and turns. They passed by human slaves and Urekai maids within the vast fortress, but as they approached their destination, the faces grew scarce, and the surroundings became eerily quiet. Fear and goosebumps crept over Emeriel as they entered a haunting corridor. A strange sensation fell over Emeriel, and the silence became almost deafening. It felt as though they were walking through a graveyard. "This is as far as we go," Livia whispered at the entrance of the hallway. You can proceed from here, Aekeira." Emeriel ignored the head maid's words about not touching his sister and gripped Aekeira's arm tightly. "Don't do it," he pleaded, shaking his head vehemently. Aekeira did not turn to look at him, as she gently pulled her hand away and continued forward. ** Back at their chambers, Emeriel began to pace. He scratched his arm, feeling restless and irritable. All he wanted was for his sister to remain alive until the next day. Whether she was wounded or in pain, it didn't matter, as long as she was alive. It might have been selfish of him, but he couldn't bring himself to care. But as he paced, Emeriel felt really, really strange. Hot. So hot. As if he was burning from the inside... ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &5&

She followed him for seven years out of gratitude, feeling lucky to marry him. When his mistress claimed she had cancer and only six months to live, he handed her divorce papers. "It's only for show. We'll remarry in six months." Her heart died. She resolved to make the fake divorce real and restart her life. ===== "Let's get a divorce. She has stomach cancer and has only six months left to live." After their in**mate encounter, Brandon Watson sat up and said in a detached voice. Millie Bennett, still breathing hard from the encounter, turned to him slowly, a wild look of disbelief in her eyes. They had been married for a year. What did he mean by suddenly saying he wanted a divorce? "Her final wish is to be my wife," Brandon added, almost offhandedly. He said, lighting a ci**rette. The sm**e rose in slow spirals around his face. Millie gawked at him, stunned. Silence spread across the room like mist. The bedside lamp glowed faintly, casting long shadows across the wall, making them seem farther apart than they were. Brandon glanced at her and gave a faint frown. "It's only to comfort her," he explained. "We'll remarry after six months. She won't be here long, Millie." His voice was steady, almost detached, like someone passing along a message that didn't concern him. Millie watched Brandon wordlessly, her eyes fixed on his profile. He spoke like his words were instructions, not suggestions. Their relationship had always been one-sided. She had chased it from the start, drawn in by youthful affection. She had stayed by his side for years, moving through each rough season without letting go. Millie still remembered that day, under the heavy rain that soaked them both, Brandon had stood between her and her stepfather, gripping a cracked stick, and said with fire in his voice, "Touch Millie again, and you'll regret it." That moment had etched itself into her heart. Even when she was weak and bl**ding, she saw him--unmoving, protective, fierce. From that point on, she was his. She loved him without pause, met his requests with everything she had, carrying them out more flawlessly than anyone else ever could. He would always pat her head, light and warm, and say in a low voice, "You did so well, Millie." But Brandon's praises never lasted, his ki**es barely stayed, and whatever affection they shared always felt just out of reach. But Millie told herself it was just how he was. Even when others called her naive, she stayed--devoted and trusting. She had given seven years of her life to him. A year earlier, Brandon's grandfather, Derek Watson, had fallen into poor health. The family, hoping to lift his spirits, decided Brandon should marry. Perhaps the joy of a wedding would give the old man something to hold on to. So Brandon went on to marry Millie. She thought it was finally their moment. But after the vows, something changed. He began to pull away. Sometimes, he looked at her like she was a stranger. "Millie, are you listening?" Brandon scowled as he caught the far-off look in Millie's eyes. "Does it have to be like this?" she asked softly. He didn't answer. Instead, he said, "She's going through so much, Millie." Millie's ch**t tightened. "And what about me?" Brandon didn't answer right away. His eyes, dark and steady, flickered with a trace of impatience. Then, after about three seconds, he said, "Millie, she's dying. Maybe you don't know, but she's in love with me. Because we were married, and she didn't want to hurt you, she never let things go too far between us. Even when I tried to make it up to her, she never let me. She's a good person. Please, let her have this. Don't make me think you're being heartless." His words, spoken so calmly, pierced her more than if he had shouted. So in Brandon's eyes, a woman in love with a married man, who promised to hold back but never really let go, was a saint. And a wife who simply wanted to keep her husband to herself was heartless. Millie stared at his face. The same face she had fallen for--intense eyes, prominent nose, beautiful lips. When had things started to crumble? Maybe it was the day the woman showed up. "Are you sure this is what you want?" Millie asked, steadying herself. Brandon said nothing, pursing his lips. Finally, he opened his mouth to respond. "Yes, you--" "Alright." Millie cut him off before he could finish. Brandon looked up, clearly surprised. He frowned, studying her closely. "Millie, you're getting clever," he said, a flicker of irritation in his voice. "You know I need your consent to go through with it. Are you thinking of using it to get under my skin?" Millie didn't answer. She just stared at the white wall, watching how their shadows stretched. Brandon put out his ci**rette andsaid no more, pulling on his clothes quickly and storming out. He didn't stop to consider how she felt. Nor did he pause to acknowledge how humiliating or painful his request was. He knew she couldn't leave him. He was utterly sure about that. The door slammed shut behind him. And just like that, Millie was alone. She sat motionless by the bed, staring at the door as if it might open again. Her phone buzzed beside her. A message lit up the screen. She picked up the phone. It was from a familiar number. "He came to see me again." The text came with a photo. Brandon's face was captured in the reflection of a glass door, a soft smile playing on his lips, eyes warm in a way Millie had never seen. She froze. Then, slowly, she scrolled upward through the previous messages. "He said he has feelings for me." "Rainy nights aren't lonely for me because he's here with me. What about you?" "The one who isn't loved is truly the other woman. Millie, you were never his first choice; you were just the one he settled for. He sees beauty the way I do, shares my taste in things, and he loves me." The messages continued that way, proving Brandon's betrayal. The man who had always treated her with distance these past seven years had apparently mastered tenderness for someone else. Millie kept scrolling until she reached the very first message. "You should know who I am. Do you like the flowers in your living room today? I sent them. He said they were beautiful." Of course, Millie knew who it was. Vivian Simpson, the famous floral designer known for filling her wealthy clients' grand villas and lavish parties with carefully and beautifully arranged blooms. Millie had shown Brandon the messages before. He'd brushed them off and said there was no proof they were from Vivian. He had even said maybe Millie sent them herself just to stir trouble. Most of the messages didn't have pictures, and the few that did were vague--taken from afar, hard to pin down. But not today's. Today's was clear. Millie thought about showing him the photo. Then her eyes drifted toward the bedside drawer. She reached down and pulled it open. There it was. The pr**nancy test result she'd gotten earlier that day. She was pr**nant with Brandon's child. At the worst possible moment. Her tears fell, soaking the paper and smudging the ink. But what did it matter anymore? Brandon's heart had been gone for a long time. Millie wiped her face dry and picked up the lighter he'd left behind. Flames flickered as she held the test result to the fire. Brandon had no idea that saying yes to the divorce would be the final thing she'd ever do for him. She had given him back what she owed--not in money, but in seven full years of her life. She would never love him again. Chapter 2 Terminate The Pregnancy The next day, parked just outside the courthouse, Brandon sat in his Maybach, quietly tapping the steering wheel with his left hand. "Brandon, you and Millie have been married for a year now. Don't you think it's time to start planning for a baby?" An elderly voice drifted from the phone's speaker. Brandon's face softened, a trace of frustration flickering through, but his patience didn't waver. "Grandma, we're still young. There's no need to rush. You and Grandpa should focus on staying healthy. He..." "What do you mean by 'There's no need to rush'?" The elderly voice rose in annoyance. "Your grandfather's condition might have improved, but we're not getting any younger. We don't know how much time we've got left." "Grandma..." "Don't give me that! I've heard things, Brandon. Whatever's going on, be good to Millie." Silence fell over the line for a few seconds. "Brandon, did you hear me?" the elder asked. Brandon rubbed his forehead in frustration. "I understand, Grandma." They exchanged a few more words before he ended the call. Brandon resumed tapping the steering wheel with his fingers, this time slower, more distracted. He stared through the windshield toward the courthouse. He clenched his jaw. Then, he opened the messaging app on his phone. His thumb hovered over a familiar profile picture--a simple floral image, tagged "My Love." He skipped past it and opened the thread with Millie. The last message he'd sent her simply reminded her of the time and place to meet for the divorce. She still hadn't shown up. With a scowl, Brandon sent a new message. "Where are you?" A knock on the window followed almost instantly. He turned to see Millie standing outside, her face a little pale. She opened the door and slipped into the passenger seat, giving him a blank look. He hadn't changed out of yesterday's clothes--the same ones she had picked out for him. Through the years, it had always been her--choosing his ties, picking his cologne, arranging every detail down to the fit of his tailored shirts and suits. "Why are you late?" Brandon asked. Millie looked away. "I'm not late," she said quietly. She was simply no longer the girl who would always arrive early and wait for him without thinking. Brandon's fingers stilled against the wheel. His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her. Millie looked a little pale, maybe from a sleepless night after he mentioned the divorce last night. Still, she looked fine. "My grandma called earlier," Brandon muttered, looking away. "Don't tell them about the divorce. They're too old to handle something like that." Millie didn't respond right away. Instead, she asked, "What did your grandma say?" "She wants us to have a baby," Brandon said flatly, a flicker of irritation slipping into his voice. Silence settled in the car. After a while, Millie let out a small soft laugh. Brandon curled his hand into a fist and turned his face to the window. There were moments when he used to imagine what their child might look like. He remembered holding her from behind, pressing a hand gently over her belly, whispering, "Millie, when will you give me a baby?" But it hadn't happened. Anyway, they could always remarry in six months and start planning for a baby. There would still be enough time. Vivian, however, only had six months left. Outside, passers-by came and went. Then Millie spoke up. "Just once more, Brandon. Are you completely sure you want to go through with the divorce?" "Having second thoughts?" Brandon barked, looking genuinely upset. Vivian was still waiting for him at the studio. After confirming once more, Millie didn't say another word. She reached into her bag, pulled out a document, and handed it to Brandon. He took it with a frown, flipping through the pages. It was a property division agreement. "If we're getting divorced," she said, "we should make everything clear. I'll only take what I'm entitled to from the Watson family. And from this moment on, anything either of us earns belongs to us individually." Then Millie pulled out a pen and placed it beside him. "If that's okay with you, just sign it." Brandon's eyes stayed on the document, but his frown deepened as he read. The agreement was too simple. She really wasn't asking for much. And her signature was already there. He didn't get it. What was she trying to do? It was basically just a fake divorce. Vivian only had six months left. He planned to spend those months by her side. After that, he'd return to Millie--no one else needed to know the divorce ever happened. To him, Millie had always seemed blindly loyal. Brandon had never thought of her as someone with pride or boundaries. There was a time he'd grown bored of her, pushing her into things that chipped away at her pride on purpose. But Millie never declined. She'd still return with a soft smile, holding out the results like a trophy. "Brandon, look--I did it. Isn't it great?" She was a good wife. Meek. Obedient. For seven years, he'd seen it play out over and over. If it weren't for Vivian, their marriage probably would have gone on like that. But... A flash of memory--Vivian, weak and coughing bl**d, still trying to smile--stabbed at his ch**t. The pain was raw and unshakable. Brandon looked outside the car window again. Millie's reflection stared back at him--blank, expressionless. Was this her way of threatening him? After all, she had once faked messages to frame Vivian. She hated Vivian. Chuckling dryly, Brandon picked up the pen and signed his name. No one could force his hand. Not even her. There were two copies of the agreement. Millie calmly took her copy after he signed both. They both stepped out of the car and headed into the courthouse. Together, they filed for divorce. Next time they came back here, they would finalize everything and collect the official decree. Once all the formalities were done, the two of them stepped out of the courthouse together. The sun was already blazing, and the warmth settled on Millie's skin. Brandon scanned the people moving about. It wasn't hard to tell the couples getting married from those getting divorced. Some people chose to have their weddings at the courthouse. A couple walked by, hand in hand. The woman's smile triggered something in Brandon. He remembered that same look on Millie's face a year ago, when they first got married. Brandon glanced over at Millie, but her face was blank. "I'll keep transferring money to your account during the next six months," he said. "And don't say anything to my grandparents." He didn't wait for a reply. Just turned and walked off. Millie stood there quietly, watching his car disappear around the corner. Her cab arrived not long after. And then, the two cars went opposite directions. One turned toward Vivian Floral Design. The other headed for Crobert Hospital. Brandon walked into Vivian's studio, where she greeted him with a gentle smile. He told her, "It's done. She didn't make a scene." Meanwhile, Millie stepped into the ob-gyn wing and quietly sat opposite the doctor. The doctor reached over and pulled the curtain "Millie... are you sure you want to terminate the pr**nancy?" Her best friend and doctor, Alexia Hussain, looked at her with concern. "You were so determined to have a baby. You even worked so hard to get yourself ready for co**eption..." Millie reached into her bag and placed the divorce filing receipt on the side table. "Yes," she replied calmly. "Let's terminate it. I don't want it anymore." Chapter 3 Signs Of Miscarriage Alexia stared at the filing receipt, surprised. She and Millie had been close friends for more than ten years, and in all that time, Alexia had seen just how hard Millie loved Brandon. There was a time Millie could have died for him, and nobody would have questioned it. They got married a year ago. Alexia had smiled at the wedding, even though something about their pairing felt off. But still, Millie had gotten what she wanted. That had been enough for Alexia. Now this... What had happened? "I don't love him anymore," Millie said, before Alexia could ask. She looked over and gave a small, calm smile. In that smile, Alexia caught a glimpse of the old Millie--the one from before everything collapsed, before grief carved deep lines into her, before her father's death and the fall of the Bennett family changed her. It brought Alexia a strange sense of calm. "Brandon doesn't know I'm pr**nant," Millie said calmly. "And before the divorce becomes final, I don't want to take any risks. It's better if he doesn't know." If either party changed their mind before the divorce was finalized, they could take back the application, and the procedure would no longer go through. And that was when Alexia knew that Millie wasn't playing around about divorcing Brandon. After taking it all in, Alexia did what needed to be done: she booked Millie's medical tests and then advised carefully, "Wait a few days before the surgery." Millie frowned in confusion. "Why?" "You know your bl**d type--Rh-negative. It's rare. We need time to prepare bl**d, just in case. I've already contacted the bl**d bank. They said it might take a week." Millie went quiet. The sadness in her eyes was unmistakable. She had gotten that bl**d type from her father. And now she missed him all over again. If he were still here... "Okay." Millie nodded slowly. A smile tugged at her lips, but her eyes turned red. "You also have early signs of mi**arriage. You need to be careful these next few days," Alexia added, her voice full of concern. They'd grown up together, and Alexia knew Millie's sadness too well. She held Millie's hand. "Wait for me. My shift's almost over. I'll go home with you." Millie nodded, and then went to wait in the hallway. She looked down at her stomach. Early signs of mi**arriage. Did the baby know what she'd decided and want to leave first? Pursing her lips, Millie walked toward the lab for the tests. Her phone buzzed. It was a bank notification. She had opened a new account--one that Brandon wouldn't know about. She was keeping her money cleanly separate before the divorce was finalized. Every cent she earned from now on would live in that account. A second message followed. "Payment for composition and lyrics has been completed. Finance has sent the transfer. Kindly confirm." Before she married Brandon, Millie had worked quietly as an anonymous songwriter. Music had always been her first love. Back when her father was alive, life had been generous, and she lacked nothing. As the Bennett family's only daughter, she had the freedom and the means to grow her gift. The turns her life had taken had taught her things she hadn't known she needed to learn. Maybe her father never thought that the pastime he once encouraged would one day be the very thing keeping her afloat. Millie paused, and then typed back, "Money received. Thank you." The reply came quickly. "It's what you deserve. You've written a lot of hits over the years. Why don't you return? There's a new show coming up. It fits you perfectly. I've sent details to your email. Reserved a contestant slot just for you." Millie opened her email. A new message sat at the top, inviting her to join a music competition show. The format was familiar, like others she had seen before, but this one wanted something original. She typed out a quick reply. "I'll think about it." Then she set her phone down. A light cramp curled in her lower belly. She thought of her father again. The second time today. ... Meanwhile, the Internet was buzzing with updates. #VivianSimpsonStomachCancer #FloristVivianSimpsonCountdown #LastSixMonths The most trending post was a video featuring a reporter summarizing the news about Vivian. "Sources confirm that the well-known floral designer, Vivian Simpson, has been diagnosed with stomach cancer. She's been given six months to live. But instead of retreating, she's choosing to document her remaining time--she wants to share her life with the world as it winds down." The video cut to Vivian. She looked at the camera with a sad smile. "In these last six months, I'll be posting updates about my life. I'm not doing it for attention. I just want to offer some comfort to others going through the same thing. I hope you all stay strong." Then the reporter came back on screen. "There have long been whispers about Miss Simpson and Mr. Brandon Watson, CEO of Watson Group. But Mr. Watson is married. It remains to be seen if he'll reconnect with Miss Simpson during her final months." In the background, Vivian seemed to have heard that part. She stepped forward, stopped beside the reporter, and gently cut in. She faced the camera. "I'm not ashamed to say I like Brandon. He's an incredible man," she said. "I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way. But I want to make it clear--I'm not going to break up someone's marriage. That's not who I am." Having said that, she walked off, leaving the reporter behind. She wove through the small crowd with a smile and climbed into a waiting car. The foreign caregiver from Flaville passed her a glass of water, hand paused in midair, unsure. "You look like you want to say something," Vivian said, her voice cold. "Go ahead. The driver's one of ours." The caregiver leaned in and lowered their voice. "Miss Simpson, your diagnosis... it's a stomach ulcer. Having our facility change that into cancer is already risky. But now you're sharing it with the public online?" Vivian gave a sharp laugh, startling the caregiver. "Your facility--is it a licensed medical facility?" she asked. The caregiver nodded. "And does it manage my medical record privately?" The caregiver gave another nod. "Is that what my medical record says--that I have six months left because of terminal stomach cancer?" The caregiver hesitated before nodding again. "Exactly!" Vivian leaned back with a smile. "It's official, then. No one can question it." "But you don't actually have stomach cancer. What happens later..." "There are two ways out," Vivian said, cutting in. Her voice was sharper now, her eyes harder. "One: I make a miraculous recovery during treatment at your facility or somewhere else, maybe because of all the love I've received. Two: your facility gets blamed for a diagnostic error and months of wrong treatment." She turned her face fully to the caregiver, looking more intimidating. "Which option do you prefer?" The caregiver looked panicked but forced out the words. "I'm sorry, Miss Simpson. I understand. You've already thought everything through." Vivian gave a short, cold smile. "Where should we go next, Miss Simpson?" the caregiver asked in an attempt to lighten the mood. Vivian glanced at her phone. "Crobert Hospital." The caregiver stiffened. "But--" "Relax. I'm only going in for pain relief with my medical record," Vivian said, and then reached for her phone and sent Brandon a message, telling him to meet her at the hospital later. Almost instantly, he replied, "Sure." Meanwhile, Millie stood in the hospital restroom, a steady ache pulling at her lower stomach. In her hand was a tissue, the smear of bl**d clear against the white. It was an early sign of a mi**arriage. Chapter 4 She Would Have No Ties With Brandon As Vivian made her way to Crobert Hospital, the Internet was filled with comments about her diagnosis. Her name appeared across countless threads. "To be honest, I think Vivian's brave. She's clear about her feelings as well as boundaries. Quite impressive, actually." "Exactly. A lot of people like Brandon. As long as she's not wrecking his marriage, her feelings are her own business." "Her older videos and that livestream from Crest Villa gave me a glimpse into rich people's lives. It's sad she won't be around much longer." "Who's Brandon's wife, though? She should just let him be with Vivian. The girl has only six months left." "I know her. It's Millie Bennett, a musician. She stopped working after she got married and became a full-time housewife." ... At Crobert Hospital, Millie's phone kept buzzing. Calls and messages came one after another. Some people acted concerned. Others wanted information. A few tried to mock her. All of it was about Vivian and Brandon. Millie had read just enough of the headlines to understand what was going on with Vivian's illness. She didn't click on anything else. It didn't matter anymore. Once the divorce was finalized, Brandon would no longer be a part of her life. She checked the time. When she looked up, she saw Alexia walking toward her. "How are you feeling?" Alexia asked, concerned. "Any pain?" She saw the strain on Millie's face and, without needing to be asked, reached out to help her rise. Millie gave a small smile and shook her head. She had made up her mind. Some things simply had to be faced. Alexia understood, but she just sighed and helped Millie up. They took the elevator. The elevator doors soon opened at the ground floor. The hospital was packed. Even more than usual. Millie noticed a few reporters scattered in the crowd. "So many people today. Probably another celebrity here for a check-up," Alexia said. "They always bring this kind of attention..." She stopped at once, her face changing. She had seen something and quickly tried to lead Millie in the other direction. But there was no point. Millie had already spotted them. Brandon stood tall, striking in a way that drew attention without effort. The noise and movement around him didn't touch him--his hair perfectly in place, his suit smooth and sharp, like the chaos didn't dare come close. Vivian stood beside him. She looked small and weak, her face pale, which made her seem even more fragile. She lost her balance slightly. Brandon stepped in to catch her, shielding her from the cameras and the crowd. "Don't look," Alexia said quickly, stepping in front of Millie, her tone sharp with anger. "Alexia, let's go," Millie said, her voice calm. She had made up her mind; Brandon didn't need to know she was there, and she had no interest in crossing paths with him now. "Why should we go?" Alexia snapped, growing more furious. "You're not divorced yet. He's still your husband. And he's here holding another woman like it's nothing. It's shameless." Husband... Millie looked away, sighing. There was a time she had secretly smiled just thinking about Brandon being her husband. But not anymore. "I don't feel well, Alexia. Let's just go," Millie said, changing the topic. Alexia gave her full attention now and stopped looking in Brandon and Vivian's direction. They left. Across the lobby, Vivian glanced over. A flicker of pride passed through her face. "I'm sorry, Brandon. I didn't mean to drag you into this mess," she said, a tinge of remorse in her voice. "I know you hate being in the spotlight..." "It's fine," Brandon replied. "Let's go see the doctor first." His face stayed calm, but something stirred in his thoughts--something brief, hard to name. They stepped into the consultation room. Vivian handed over her medical record to the doctor. The doctor read through it, slowly, and frowned. "This looks serious," he said. Vivian gave a faint smile. "I know," she said quietly. Then she took a slow breath. "Please prescribe something strong for the pain." "In your current condition, I suggest you stay in the hospital and begin treatment," the doctor said. "You should try. There's still a chance we can extend your life." "What's the point?" Vivian gave a sad smile. She brushed away the tears building in her eyes, and then said quietly, "I don't want treatment." Brandon's fingers curled tighter around hers. She gave a small shake of her head. "Doctor, I just want to spend the last phase of my life with some dignity," she said. "So, please prescribe some strong painkillers." The doctor sighed deeply but finally nodded in understanding. Outside, reporters were taking photos and recording videos without pause before posting them online. People watching were emotional. "Good heavens, this is a real person whose life is ending." "I cry when I'm in mild pain. I can't imagine what late-stage cancer feels like. But she still manages to smile. She's really strong." "I couldn't hold back tears when she said she wouldn't go through treatment. Only people who've faced serious illness understand this feeling." Public sympathy for Vivian reached its highest point. ... Vivian soon got her medicine, and as she and Brandon walked out of the hospital, Millie was sitting on a bench nearby. She was waiting for Alexia, who had gone to get the car. Before Millie could respond to what was happening, paparazzi noticed her and rushed over. The camera flashes came all at once. Brandon saw her too. He frowned and asked, "What are you doing here?" Millie stood up, glanced at Brandon, and then at Vivian's hand resting on his arm. She didn't speak yet. The crowd didn't give her the chance. "Mrs. Watson, did you come because of what's online? Are you trying to catch them together?" "What do you think of your husband being out in public with someone else?" "Mrs. Watson, what are you planning to do about Vivian?" People quickly decided that Millie had shown up on purpose--to face Vivian directly, to start something. Even Brandon thought the same. He looked annoyed. "Vivian is sick. Didn't you know?" he barked. Brandon's voice was brimming with menace. Millie felt like laughing. So that was what he believed--that she was picking a fight on purpose with someone who was ill. Brandon really didn't know her. Seeing Millie didn't answer, the reporters turned to Vivian, asking questions about breaking up someone's marriage. Brandon looked at Millie again. "Millie!" he called. He wanted her to defend Vivian. Like always, he expected her to do what he wanted. But the will to please him was gone. She was walking away from him--there was no reason left to obey. Millie placed her right hand over her stomach. The dull ache was still there. "I came to visit a friend," she said finally. She didn't want to say more. Her pr**nancy wasn't something she wanted to share--not before the divorce was finalized, not with all eyes on her. Her reply to his question earlier was simple. Having answered Brandon, Millie turned to leave. But the reporters didn't back off. They crowded in around her. "Mrs. Watson, people online are asking you to step aside and let Mr. Watson be with Vivian. What do you say to that?" "Vivian doesn't have long. Are you still going to fight her?" "Mrs. Watson--" Millie didn't bother responding; she just wanted to get away. The crowd, thrilled to see the three of them in the same place at last, had no intention of letting it end. Brandon stood still, saying nothing, and that silence gave someone the boldness to shove Millie with force. She staggered, her arms moving at once to shield her stomach. Chapter 5 To Let Go Of The Past Millie landed hard, her back hitting the ground first. Cameras flashed wildly, capturing the fall from every angle. She looked toward Brandon by instinct. But his face gave nothing--just a cold, still stare. And in that moment, she understood what he wanted her to do, and it stung her heart. He wanted her to speak for him. To tell the press it was all a misunderstanding. That Vivian was ill, and he had only come out of concern. That it was kindness, not betrayal. Clutching her belly, Millie lowered her head and let a faint smile slip across her face. The sky above was clear, and sunlight streamed through gaps in the crowd. But none of it touched her. She steadied herself and rose slowly. Then, without looking back, she said calmly, "I feel sorry for Miss Simpson. But that's all." Someone nearby, unaware, asked, "So, are you friends with her?" Millie gave a short laugh. "Friends? No. I wouldn't call someone clinging to my husband a friend." She turned and waved to Alexia, who had just pulled up. "Millie!" Brandon called after her, his face red with rage. But she didn't turn around. She stood tall and kept walking. Alexia got out and moved quickly toward her friend, scoffing as they left, "You'd think they were the married couple confronting the home-wrecker. Absolutely ridiculous." Vivian's lips parted to respond. "You..." But Alexia cut in before she could say a word. "What? Tell me I'm wrong. If you're planning to use the press to scare me, go ahead. I've got nothing to hide." Vivian's face turned even paler, looking as if she might faint. Reporters scrambled, voices rising all at once. Alexia ushered Millie into the car, not sparing another glance behind them. "Don't worry," she said. "She's definitely faking it. I've seen enough of these cases to tell in a second." Millie gave her a small smile. "I'm not worried about her. I'm worried about you. What if this mess affects your job?" At a red light, Alexia grinned and nudged her. "Don't forget my dad's the hospital director." Millie raised an eyebrow. "The same dad you swore you'd never speak to again?" Alexia shrugged. "You never know when a connection comes in handy. Honestly, sometimes I wish all the powerful people out there were my dads." They both laughed, the tension slowly easing from Millie's face. As the light turned green, the car moved forward again. "I've got the afternoon free," Alexia said, stretching. "Whatever you need, I'm ready." Playing along, Millie turned to her with a sly grin. "Great. I need help with something." "What is it?" Alexia asked curiously. "Help me move." She grabbed Alexia's wrist. "You can't back out now." Alexia gr**ned but gave in. Before long, the two of them arrived at the house Millie had shared with Brandon, along with a team of movers and organizers. The house had come together quickly after their rushed wedding. Everything--furniture and layout--had felt temporary at first. But over the year, Millie had made a home out of it, filling it with warmth. At least, she tried. Alexia directed the workers while Millie moved quietly around the room, her hands light on every object. On a shelf, she spotted a bottle of Chanel No. 5. The first gift Brandon ever gave her. He'd brought it back from a business trip. He came straight to her from the airport. He had pulled her into his arms. His ki**es were quick, urgent. They had been just like any young couple in love back then. She opened the bottle and sprayed it once. The scent filled the room. She remembered how he had ki**ed her lightly after spraying it on her skin. "Should I pack this too?" Alexia asked, seeing the perfume. Millie glanced over and shook her head. "Leave it." She slipped off the wedding ring Brandon had picked without thought, placing it gently on the table. But as the movers shuffled back and forth through the space, she paused. Then, quietly, she opened a drawer and put both the perfume and the ring inside. Soon, the house had been cleared of every trace of her. Only that bottle and that ring remained. Packing up had been tiring, but once the decision was made, it moved quickly. It was the same with her feelings. The wind moved softly through her hair as the car headed toward her new place. Behind her, the mansion faded in the rearview mirror. Sometimes, to move forward, one had to leave parts of oneself behind. Millie had things to do. The fall of the Bennett family, the unanswered questions around her father's sudden death--she was going to find the truth. Her life had always been shaped by what others needed. Now it was time to live for herself. She decided to begin with the music show. It would bring in money, and more importantly, might reconnect her with people linked to her father's past. She pulled out her phone, found the right contact, and typed her message. "I'm joining the music program." ... Vivian was still crying. Brandon sat beside her, muttering words of comfort. But his thoughts were filled with the image of Millie standing with her back to him, saying those words. She had known exactly what he wanted her to say. And she had chosen not to. He had sent her message after message. She hadn't replied any of them. She had been acting strangely lately. The change in her was too sharp, too sudden. She was provoking him on purpose. She had done it when they filed for divorce. And again at the hospital. Brandon remembered the look in her eyes the night before, when she asked if he truly made up his mind about the divorce. She had been sad but also calm. An unexpected fear filled his heart. "Brandon, don't be angry at Millie," Vivian said through tears. "I know she's upset. After seeing the videos online, she must've come to confront us. And I understand." She burst into tears. "After all... I'm the one who took something from her. I'm taking six months from your marriage--what's left of it. If she lashes out at me, I deserve it..." As she spoke, she started coughing--hard. A second later, she spat bl**d into her hand. "Vivian!" Brandon jumped up, reaching for his phone to call for an ambulance. As for Millie's sudden change, he brushed it off as moodiness. In his mind, she wouldn't dare walk away. Vivian reached out and stopped him, still smiling faintly. "It's the cancer. It's late-stage. This happens. Don't worry." Her caregiver helped her lie back down. Brandon turned away, already thinking of confronting Millie. As soon as he left the room, Vivian calmly wiped her mouth and pulled out a small bl**d bag hidden in her cheek. She laughed. "What do you think he'll say to Millie now?" she asked the caregiver. "I'm honestly looking forward to it." Then she began to go through the news reports excitedly. The entire online community seemed against Millie. "Vivian didn't even go for life-saving treatment--she just wanted pain meds. Millie really made a scene for no reason." "Vivian's dying, and Millie still wants to pick fights?" "Mr. Watson and Vivian look perfect together. Like a real power couple." "Millie's fall was so embarrassing. I cringed." "Millie, just step aside already!" "Millie, divorce Brandon!" "Yeah, divorce Brandon!" "Divorce!" Vivian chuckled as she read the comments. Then she sent a message to a contact and gave a few instructions. "Today's move was perfect. Keep the pressure up. Make sure Millie stays where she is--down. Oh, and find out why she went to the hospital today." ...... What happens next? 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Her husband cheated with his secretary. She divorced him swiftly. He sneered that no one would want a divorced woman like her. But after the divorce, a powerful man spoiled her endlessly. When her bitter ex-husband showed up to confront her, the man wrapped his arm around her waist, his voice authoritative. "She's your aunt now." ===== Kayla Graham was pr**nant, but the child wasn't her husband's. She stepped out of the consultation room, her hands shaking as she held the pr**nancy test results. Her legs felt unsteady, and her mind hadn't caught up with the shock that had just hit her. Only a month ago, she had tied the knot with her boyfriend of five years. But on their wedding night, she found out he'd been cheating--his phone was loaded with inti*ate pictures of him and another woman. Devastated, she drowned her pain in al**hol, and in her haze, she stumbled into the wrong h*tel room, waking up the next morning beside a man she didn't know. That night, she hadn't gotten a clear look at his face--only the memory of his overpowering presence, nearly suffocating, and the vast room that seemed to swallow her whole. In the morning, too ashamed to stay, she slipped out in silence, never looking back. She never could have imagined that a single reckless n*ght would leave her carrying that man's child. Kayla had no idea what to do--restless, anxious, and overwhelmed. She was desperate to find a way out. Her phone buzzed just then, snapping her back. A message from her husband, Liam Graham. "Kayla, I'm outside the hospital, waiting for you." Staring blankly at the screen, she slid the phone back into her pocket and moved toward the elevator without a word. For days, the nausea and dizziness had lingered. When she could no longer brush it off, she finally went to the hospital, only to be blindsided by the news of her pr**nancy. As Kayla stepped out of the hospital, the first thing she saw was Liam's black car waiting by the curb. Drawing in a breath, she hurried toward the car. Liam got out of the car and walked around to open her door. He looked even more striking and refined in his crisp black suit. "What did the doctor say?" he asked. "Just a stomach upset," she said, voice flat. "You've always had a thing for spicy food. You'll need to ease up. It's not good for your stomach." Kayla gave a slight nod. The moment she slid into the car, a subtle trace of flowery perfume for women hit her. Liam never used air fresheners--he hated them. That scent could only mean one thing: another woman had been here. Liam reached over and gently ruffled her hair. "I'll take you home so you can get some rest. I need to return to the office for a bit." "Okay," she mumbled. While the car waited at a red light, Liam answered an incoming call. Kayla shifted slightly and felt her hand graze against something soft. She reached down and pulled out a pink silk scarf. Her eyes narrowed, fixed on the scarf--it looked far too familiaWhen Liam hung up, he turned with a warm smile. "Kayla, I'll drop you off first, then I--" When Liam hung up, he turned with a warm smile. "Kayla, I'll drop you off first, then I--" She interrupted him, raising the scarf. Her voice was sharp and firm. "Who does this belong to?" Liam's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, but he covered it up with a strained chuckle. "Must be from a client earlier today. I'll return it tomorrow." He reached for the scarf, but Kayla yanked it back and said defiantly, "Liam, I want a divorce." Liam threw back his head in disbelief. "Kayla, it's just a scarf! Why are you blowing this out of proportion? You can't throw the word 'divorce' around like it means nothing." Kayla gave a cold, humorless laugh. "How much longer were you going to keep lying? You left me on our wedding night for her, didn't you?" Liam stared at her, stunned, a rare disoriented look in his eyes. "It was a last-minute meeting. You've got it all wrong." Kayla had no interest in hearing his excuses. He had betrayed her, and now she carried another man's child. Their marriage was beyond saving. "Out of respect for the years we've shared, let's end this peacefully," she said, her tone icy. Without waiting for a response, she pushed open the door and stepped out. Liam sat motionless behind the wheel, his fingers clenched so tightly they turned white. Then, with a furious roar, he slammed his fist against the steering wheel. Kayla took a taxi home. As she stepped into the living room, her eyes landed on their wedding photo--framed perfectly at the center, the two of them beaming with joy. Now, the image struck her as bitterly ironic. On the night of their wedding, she had seen ex**icit images of Liam with Tricia Moss, tangled in com**omising poses. That single blow had shattered everything. Five years of loyalty had meant nothing. Kayla dropped to her knees, hands pressed tightly to her ch*st as the anguish she'd bottled up came crashing out in a flood of raw emotion. Tears spilled freely, refusing to stop. She didn't know how much time had passed before her sobs finally quieted. All she knew was the emptiness that followed. Liam arrived home late that night. Kayla lay still in the b*d, facing away. When he pressed against her back, she didn't flinch. Instead, she shut her eyes. His skin carried the chill of the night as he wrapped his arm around her over the blanket. "Let's stop fighting, Kayla. I'm sorry for earlier. It won't happen again. I love you." She shifted, pulling away from his touch. Liam let out a low chuckle, his voice smooth, almost teasing. He undr**sed quickly and slid toward her. "Let's have s*x tonight. Your period should be over by now, right?" Chapter 2 The Man She Had Slept With Was Her Husband's Uncle On their wedding night, Liam had come home past midnight. That night, Kayla had claimed she was on her period to avoid being int**ate with him. And now, after everything, he still believed that saying sorry would magically erase what he had done. "Get out of my room!" Kayla pushed herself upright in b*d, her tone frigid and final as she shut him down. Liam's d**ire fizzled out instantly. He ran a hand over his face, annoyed. "Can you stop overreacting? I know you're upset, but I'm not going to keep walking on eggshells. My patience has its limits." "Are you deaf? Get out!" Kayla's tone didn't change, and her expression didn't soften. Trying a gentler approach, Liam coaxed, "We're married now. Let's forget the past. I'll be better from now on, I swear." An unfaithful man was no different from something rotting on the street. Standing up, Kayla grabbed her pillow with one hand. "I'll sleep in the guest room." Liam's irritation was written all over his face. To him, she was overreacting--completely blowing things out of proportion. He had already said he was sorry, yet she treated him like his apology meant nothing. In his eyes, she should've been rational enough to let it go by now. "Fine. Go ahead. Sleep wherever the hell you want." Without another word, Kayla picked up her phone and laptop, ignoring him completely. Liam turned over in the bed, glaring at her as she walked out. "Don't forget tomorrow's family banquet. You're coming with me. We've been married for a week. It'll be a joke if you don't show up." He swore quietly under his breath and hurled a pillow onto the floor, unable to hold in his rage. Kayla didn't answer, but her expression made her feelings clear. She wasn't going because she wanted to. She was going because Liam had threatened to sell the Cooper Group if she didn't. Cooper Group was her mother's life's work--a legacy built through years of sacrifice. She had poured everything into the company, pushing herself beyond her limits, until the constant pressure finally took her life. And it was all she'd left behind. The next day, the couple visited the ancestral mansion of the Graham family--a powerful name in Trark. When Liam's sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of the mansion, the butler was already outside to stop him. "This space is for family only. Outsiders need to park elsewhere." Not even a hint of respect for Liam. But Kayla wasn't the least bit surprised--she had witnessed this kind of contempt more times than she could count. Without a word, she opened the car door and stepped out, positioning herself to the side. Although Liam carried the Graham name, he was little more than a shadow on the family tree. His mother was the illegitimate daughter of Johnny Graham, the family patriarch. Years ago, she had married a poor man, despite Johnny's furious objections. As punishment, he severed ties with her. As Liam grew older, his mother realized she couldn't give him the kind of future he needed. Desperate to change his fate, she pushed him back toward the family that had rejected her. She made him take on the Graham surname, thinking it might open a door. But it never did. Each visit to the Graham family brought nothing but scorn. Still, Liam held on to the idea that one day, he'd prove his worth. The company he now boasted about--Perennia Group--had been built off Kayla's money. It started with hundreds of thousands of dollars she gave him. And when Cooper Group later stepped in to support him, the business grew fast. In a few years, it became a name people noticed. But now, Kayla felt like it had all been a terrible waste. A reward for betrayal, handed over by her own misguided trust. Liam moved the car to a different spot, hoping to avoid further conflict, but the butler still stood firm. Finally, Liam snapped, "What, I don't even get a parking spot in my own home now?" The butler gave a slight bow, that ever-present smug smile playing on his lips. "My apologies, sir. We simply don't have room for uninvited guests." Liam's face flushed crimson, his fists clenched at his sides. He looked like he wanted to lash out but couldn't. Kayla felt a small flicker of satisfaction watching him get cut down to size. Just then, a series of sleek black sedans began pulling into the driveway. The butler's entire posture changed. Panic flickered across his face as he waved his arms. "Move the car! Move it! Mr. Jeremy Graham has returned!" Jeremy Graham, Johnny's youngest son, stood first in line for succession to the Graham family. In Trark, he ruled on the surface and in the shadows with a firm, unyielding grip, the kind of figure whose name alone could silence a room. Kayla watched as the sleek black cars approached. Without hesitation, the butler rushed forward, hurrying to open the door of the car at the center. Jeremy stepped out slowly. His crisp suit and polished shoes shone under the lights. Everything about him radiated dominance. The sheer presence he carried was enough to make anyone feel unsettled. Kayla's eyes drifted to his hand, where a ring glinted under the streetlights. Her breath caught. She had seen that ring before--in the h*tel room that n*ght. How could it be him? She looked up, heart pounding, and met his eyes--those deep-set, unreadable eyes. The man she had sl*pt with was her husband's uncle. Chapter 3 Had He Seen Her Face That Night? Jeremy towered above everyone else, his height impossible to ignore. There was something about him, a quiet intensity, polished and powerful. Even without trying, he drew every pair of eyes. He wore a sleek black suit that spoke of quiet luxury, every detail immaculate. His face was flawless--strikingly handsome, yet distant. Kayla caught her breath. The sight of him made her freeze. He was too striking. Too composed. When Jeremy's gaze brushed over her, her heart skipped and she dropped her eyes instinctively. Thankfully, his eyes moved on, and he walked off with his entourage, each step unhurried. Liam finally managed to park the car, though he had to squeeze it in near a reeking bin. "Kayla, shall we go in?" he asked, extending his hand to her. She took a step back, her tone cool. "I'll be fine on my own." He hesitated but held himself back. Causing a scene here wasn't worth it. "Alright," he murmured. The family banquet passed without Jeremy making an appearance. Kayla's shoulders loosened just a little. If he had been there, she would've been a wreck, unable to sit still. When she excused herself to the bathroom, she didn't actually go inside. Instead, she slipped out into the garden, craving air and distance. The main hall buzzed with conversation and music, but out here, the quiet pressed in from all sides. Everything about this estate reeked of power--wealth carved into marble paths and whispering fountains. No wonder Liam had tried so desperately to claw his way back. Who wouldn't? Kayla let her feet lead the way. Soon, she realized she didn't know where she was anymore. She eventually stumbled upon a pond, where she suddenly heard a commotion. A man was being hauled over by two bodyguards, his head shoved beneath the surface of the pond. He screamed in panic, swearing he didn't know anything, his voice cracking with fear. More bodyguards surrounded them--at least a dozen, their black uniforms like shadows. Kayla dove behind a bush and clasped a hand over her mouth, her heart pounding like it wanted to escape her chest. They only dragged the man out when he was seconds from drowning, then hurled him onto the ground like he was nothing more than tr**h. "Mr. Graham, I swear, I don't know who was in the room that night! I didn't see anything!" One of the bodyguards slammed a fist into his face. "Still pretending you don't know?" he growled. "I swear, I don't! I nodded off--I didn't see anything, I promise!" There was a loud crack. His scream echoed off the stone. One of his fingers had just been sn*pped clean. Kayla's entire body went stiff. She felt cold, sweat clinging to her skin. Jeremy was the man from that night. And he was clearly looking for answers. That meant he didn't know she was the woman from that night. A wave of fear surged through Kayla, tangled with a thin thread of relief. She had to get out. Now. Just as she turned to slip away, two bodyguards stepped into her path. "There's someone here," one of them said sharply. Kayla froze and forced a smile. "I was just passing by. I didn't see anything, I swear." Edwin Bailey, Jeremy's assistant, gave her a quick, assessing look before turning his head and said, "Mr. Graham, it's Liam's wife." A silence followed. Then, a deep, smooth voice answered, "Bring her here." Before Kayla could react, they grabbed her. She was hauled forward and shoved so roughly she stumbled. Her throat tightened as she stood, head bowed, too frightened to meet his eyes. He was lounging on a chaise longue. A black V-neck clung to his frame, and his loose, tailored trousers hung just right. The lighting veiled part of his face, but what was visible looked like a masterpiece. Then his eyes found her. She looked so small standing there. Fragile, even. Her long lashes trembled, her fear plain in every movement. Something about her vulnerability seemed to stir something faint in him. "Look up," he said, voice low but firm. Kayla clutched her dress in tight fists. She bit her lip before slowly lifting her gaze. Their eyes locked. His expression gave away nothing. "Why are you here?" "I got lost," she whispered. "I didn't mean to interrupt anything." "Lost?" His tone was icy. "Or did Liam send you to sniff around?" "No! Absolutely not! I swear!" She raised her hand as if taking an oath, but his stare remained cool, unmoved. Thankfully, he didn't push the issue. With a flick of his hand, he signaled the guards to let her go. Relief washed over her, but she only managed a few shaky steps before her stomach twisted violently. The nausea surged out of nowhere. She spotted a bin near his chaise longue and rushed toward it. But her balance faltered--she slipped, missed the edge, and fell hard against him, collapsing into his arms as she retched. Unbelievable. The bodyguards jolted in surprise and rushed forward, ready to pull her off him without hesitation. Jeremy's face darkened. He lifted a hand, halting them. Kayla gagged a few more times against his ch*st before the wave of nausea passed. Thankfully, nothing came up. It was just dry heaving. He pushed her off, his jaw tight. "Did Liam send you to s**uce me?" His voice was sharp, laced with ice and barely contained fury. Kayla landed on the ground, disoriented, and blinked up at him. "I wasn't feeling well. I'm sorry. You won't blame me, right? We're family." Jeremy furrowed his brow. This woman was clever--she knew how to exploit the situation. The light shifted, catching her face in full. She looked pale and scared. "I'll leave now," she mumbled, starting to rise. "Goodbye, Jeremy." But she hadn't made it far before his hand closed around her wrist. His eyes locked onto hers again--sharp, unblinking, as if he could see past the trembling exterior. Kayla's ch*st tightened. Did he know? Had he seen her face that night? Chapter 4 Divorce Liam Before Her Pr**nancy Became Noticeable "Kayla!" Liam's voice rang out from afar. Jeremy's brows knit slightly before he let go of Kayla's wrist. "You can go." She didn't wait--she turned and rushed off immediately. Edwin stepped forward, offering him a handkerchief. "Mr. Graham, what just happened?" Jeremy took the handkerchief, wiping his hands slowly, his expression unreadable. "Nothing. I thought she looked familiar--like the woman from that night--but I must have been mistaken." "Don't worry, sir. I'll figure out who snuck into your room that night. Just give me a little more time." "Alright." Jeremy's eyes drifted away, a strange look passing across his face. He couldn't forget the woman from that night. She'd seemed so untouched, tr**bling under his fingertips, tears running silently down her cheeks. He still remembered her eyes--clear and bright, drawing him in irresistibly. Meanwhile, Kayla spotted Liam scanning the area, clearly searching for her. She calmed herself and walked over. "I'm here." Liam rushed toward her, gripping her shoulders tightly. "Where were you? I thought something had happened. I was worried sick." Kayla instinctively leaned back, inching away from his hold. "I'm fine." Liam glanced over her shoulder, clearly wanting to ask more, but she'd already started walking ahead, cutting the conversation short. That night, sleep refused to come. Kayla tossed in bed, her mind haunted by Jeremy's face. She never imagined that he--the man from that night--would turn out to be Liam's uncle. The thought alone was enough to make her stomach twist. She had heard the stories. Jeremy was ruthless. The kind of man who crushed competitors without blinking. He wasn't someone you crossed. Her hand moved instinctively to her stomach. She couldn't keep this baby. If the Graham family found out, the consequences would be beyond anything she could handle. She'd go to the hospital in the morning and take care of it--quietly, before things got worse. With her decision made, Kayla slipped out of bed to grab a glass of water. As she reached the staircase, she heard Liam's voice downstairs, sharp and angry. "This project has to go through, no matter what. I don't care how you do it; find a way to fill that funding gap. We've already poured too much into it. Failure isn't an option." He sounded angry, and once the call ended, he hung up with a sharp, frustrated motion. Kayla couldn't help but wonder what had gone wrong with the company to leave him sounding so frantic. The sound of the front door opening and shutting echoed through the empty hallway. Liam walked out, started his car, and drove off. Kayla made her way downstairs, filled a glass with water in the quiet kitchen. Then, her phone buzzed with a message from her private investigator. "Mrs. Graham, Mr. Graham has gone to Tricia's. He's likely staying the night." A faint, mocking smile tugged at Kayla's lips. There was no hurt left. Only a hollow calm where disappointment used to live. The next morning, she drove herself to the hospital. She'd expected it to be simple and quick. But the doctor's words shattered every bit of that hope. "Ma'am, your uterine lining is quite thin. In your condition, undergoing an ab**tion could make it difficult, if not impossible, for you to con**ive again." Kayla sat frozen, the words echoing in her ears. She couldn't go through with the ab**tion, yet carrying the baby wasn't something she could risk either. She was trapped. The doctor's voice softened. "Maybe talk this through with your husband. This isn't a small decision--it carries real risks." "I understand," she muttered. Kayla left the room feeling like she'd just been hit by a wave. Her thoughts spun out of control. If she didn't end the pr**nancy, she'd eventually have to give birth, and there was no way Liam wouldn't find out. There was only one way forward now: divorce Liam before her pr**nancy became noticeable. Still lost in thought, Kayla didn't see the figure in front of her and ran straight into someone's chest. "Mr. Graham, are you alright?" Kayla's heart dropped. She looked up and found Jeremy standing there, tall and still as a statue, those intense eyes locked on her like she was a puzzle he was about to solve. Stunned, Kayla instinctively tucked the medical report behind her back. "Jeremy?" Jeremy didn't reply. He studied her closely, sensing something off. She'd been acting strange the night before and still was. Jeremy said lightly, "What are you hiding behind you?" At his words, Kayla nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, her heart racing... ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &4&

Her face bore scars, and she endured a lifetime of hatred and bullying, even from her mate—who kept her only to expand his power, then coldly discarded her once he succeeded. Heartbroken and drunk, she met the first man to call her beautiful, sharing a night with him. She thought it was salvation, but he dragged her into a dark world she never wished to enter. ===== "You used me! Mating with me was your ladder to power, Roderick! Your Pack climbed the ranks because of me! Now that you've achieved your ambition, you don't need the ugly girl anymore, is that it? But you were willing to mate with me a year ago!" I sobbed, crying to my mate who just rejected me. "Oh, spare me!" Roderick rolled his eyes. "Don't act like you didn't know I'd have left you at some point. Hold on, did you really think I'd have made you the Luna of my Pack? I can barely stand the sight of you, Lyric. How do you expect me to take you to Alpha meetings and present you to others? You are disgusting!" "But I did not give this scar to myself!" I cried bitterly. "And you promised you'd take me to the best doctors. You didn't do any of that, Roderick! It'd have helped!" "What? Even your own family doesn't care enough to take you to doctors, and you think I would? Quit, dreaming, Lyric and get out of my Pack!" Tears blurred my vision. It wasn't the first time I was being called ugly, but it hurt more each time it came from Roderick. I knew Roderick had no love for me when my family paired me with him a year ago. For a year, we lived like strangers despite being mated. I was still a vi**in as he could not even bring himself to touch me. It wasn't my fault I was ugly. I was burnt with a silver-base branding iron when I was a kid, leaving a huge scar by the side of my face. I still didn't know who was responsible for it, but I've had to grow up with this sting of rejection. Even my own family hated me and were embarrassed by my appearance. But I thought Roderick would be different. I thought he'd love me. Apparently, in a world where ranks mattered the most to Pack Leaders, deceit was bound to happen. I glared at him. I'd truly loved this man and wished he'd love me back. But now, I wish he'd suffer for what he did to me. "You are a monster," I gritted the words. "And I hope you pay for this someday." He threw back his head and laughed, a hollow sound. "Cu**ed Lyric, how exactly is that going to happen? I am currently the third most powerful Alpha now. My Pack is up the ranks while your family is beneath me! There is nothing you can do to me anymore. You have always been and will always be worthless! "Listen, I have rejected you already, and you have accepted. Although, there is one final formality left, but as far as I'm concerned, you're not longer anything to me. So, get your disgusting face out of my pack! This instant, before I have the guards throw you out!" His glare was icy, and before I could respond, he walked out. ......... After I managed to pull myself together, I left Roderick's Pack and decided to head home-to my father's Pack. I hadn't been home since I moved into Roderick's Pack, and I hoped they'd be willing to take me in. My family had never really liked me. Everything started falling apart after my mother left-abandoning me when I was four. My father chose a new mate and suddenly didn't have enough time for me. Then, I got my scar and he became even more distant. The guards let me through the gate, but when I rang the bell of the lounge, my stepsister and her mother opened up. To my surprise, they wouldn't let me in. "Go back to Roderick and beg him some more, Lyric. There is no room for you here," Nora said after I explained everything to them. Despite my attempt to get them to pity me, letting them understand I had nowhere else to go, they ordered the guards to see me out. They've always taken me to be a disgrace to the family and were happy when I left for Roderick's Pack. Now, they didn't want me back. ......... By evening, I was seated in a b*r, my favorite b*r-Faceless Drunk. Over here, they mixed portions strong enough to get a wolf drunk, and you didn't have to worry about being recognized and judged as every customer made use of masks. It had been my favorite b*r for years. If people had to see my face, they'd think I was getting drunk because I was ugly. "You're too ugly." I'd heard those words too many times, I could recite them in my sl**p without missing a beat. But above all, it was Roderick's betrayal that cut deep. It was even more painful that I could not do anything for him. His Pack was very powerful now, and I was an ugly, rejected girl who didn't even have a family to return to. Nobody could ever want me. What was the point of living? I emptied the last of my drink and was trying to stand when someone spoke from nowhere: "A refill for the lady, please." I turned in surprise to find a man taking the seat beside me. The ba**ender nodded and proceeded to get a refill. I furrowed my brows in surprise as I looked at the newcomer. I couldn't see his face as he was wearing a mask just like me, but something about the way he appeared told me he was sophisticated. His suit was a Mason Étoile brand, and his watch was an Aristo Tempus watch. An average Wolf couldn't afford these things. "You've been coming here to drink alone for some time now," he said, surprising me. His voice... It was soothing and impossible to ignore. I lowered my eyes, feeling a little ashamed. How can he even tell? "I don't know what you're talking about." "Your mask." He tipped his chin toward me. "You've never changed it." Oh. "That means you also come here a lot." "I do. It's not quite up to my standard, but it's my favorite place. I like it when I don't get judged by anyone." The barman returned with my drink. I thanked the newcomer before drinking from my glass. "From the look of things, you must be troubled. I am, too. So, why don't we make a deal, Miss? Have fun for the night and go our separate ways by morning?" I looked at him in shock. He was offering a one-ni**t affiar! "But y-you don't even know me," I muttered shyly. "I do not need to. It is simply for fun." There was something about the way he spoke. I could tell he was a man who didn't care about the feelings of others and was only out to get what he wanted. "Although, I must warn you," he asked. "It will be a long night. I have... problems fi**shing on a woman. I never. So, like I said, it is simply for the fun of it." Huh? He could not cl**ax during in**macy? But I heard that was the best part of it. How could he enjoy in**macy if he had never fi**shed on a woman before? The thought of it was sad. Despite how absurd it sounded, a part of me was te**ted. I'd always been curious about intimacy. No one has ever liked me because of my scar, not even my mate-ex-mate. After much conviction from the newcomer, I gave it a thought. "Can we keep our masks on?" You'll hate me just like the others if you see how ugly I am. "Sure." He shrugged. "Your wish is my command, Princess." Princess? My stomach churned. Oh, no. He didn't know I looked like a monster. If he knew, he'd run off like the others. I was tempted to cry. Sometimes, I really did wish I were treated like a 'Princess.' Chapter 2 LYRIC'S POV 02 We left the b*r together, heading to his ho**l as he called it. We drove off in his Arcanis GT. It was one of the most expensive cars in the world. Whoever this man was, he was filthy rich. Could he possibly be an Alpha? A part of me had been tempted to ask questions, but none of it mattered. We were simply going to m**e l**e and never see each other again. ...... It was the best night of my life. The stranger had been shocked to know I was a vi**in. The entire session, he kept asking if I was fine and needed him to be more gentle. For the first time, someone cared about my feelings. But something unusual happened during the process. Everything had been going so fine until he suddenly jerked and came with a deep gr**n. I was shocked, but we were both in the moment and could not ask questions. He got off me almost immediately, sitting on the edge of the b*d. "That is strange," he muttered to himself. I was equally confused. He looked at me, and from how long it was, I could tell he was staring at me like I was a puzzle. "Who are you?" He ran a finger along my jaw. The touch was electric. I swallowed hard. I am just an ugly girl who has been abandoned by everyone she's ever come across. To my surprise, he took off his mask. My mouth fell open in shock at the face before me. Good Moon! If he wasn't the most stunning man I'd ever met! He was too good-looking. I could never have someone like him. He was too good for me. I pulled the duvet further to conceal my body. "You should've told me you were a vi**in at the bar," he said. What did it matter? I didn't care anymore. Slowly, his hand reached for my face. Realizing what he had in mind, I gasped and recoiled. "No." I shook my head, gripping the duvet tight. "Why? You've seen my face." Still, I shook my head. "Our deal still stands. There's nothing to be afraid of." He added. You don't understand! You'll hate me if you see my face. The night was going too smoothly. I didn't want anything to ruin it. "I'm ugly." I mumbled, dipping my head. He seemed surprised. He reached for my face again and this time, I didn't try to stop him. This was my fate. He pulled off the mask, put a finger under my chin and tipped my head up to meet his gaze. Tears glistened in my eyes as I stared into his silver charming eyes. He was staring right at my face, at my scar. He was going to run away now. I shivered and closed my eyes when he ran a finger along the scar. What was he doing? "What happened?" His tone was soft, his fingers still ca**ssing my face. I met his gaze and so far, there was no resentment in his eyes. "S-Someone attacked me." I swallowed. "I was abducted and blindfolded while they hurt me. I've visited a lot of doctors, but none have been able to help." Seconds passed. He didn't take his eyes off me. "You're beautiful," he murmured. I frowned. What was he talking about? "You really think the scar makes you ugly?" I shook my head, pulling my face away from his grasp. "I am ugly. Everyone tells me." More to my surprise, he pulled me in beside him, wrapping his arms around my shoulder. "Until tonight, I don't think I've ever met a lady as stunning as you, Princess." My heart quickened as I listened to his heartbeat with my head on his ch**t. Uncontrollably, a tear escaped my eye. He was lying. He only wanted me to feel better. "Do you think we could adjust our deal? I'd love to spend another day with you," he said, shocking me to the core. What!? This was not possible. "I-I-" "Please." My heart melted instantly. For the first time in my life, I was being begged to stay. Not leave. I buried my face in his ch**t as I responded: "I'd love to." ........ But like everyone else, he lied to me. Like everyone else, I was deceived. By morning, he was gone. I woke up and couldn't find him. There was no note, no trace that he had even been with me aside from the ache in-between my legs. And to make it worse, someone showed up at the door, asking me to leave. "The man I came with last night, do you think he'd come back?" I asked the man, my heart racing in my ch**t. "No. It was his idea to get you to leave. He said he doesn't want to see you anywhere near this property. Please, leave this instant," the man said and left. And just like that, my heart was shattered all over. But surprisingly, it hurt more than when I had been rejected by Roderick. Chapter 3 LYRIC'S POV 03 "I'm sorry, ma'am; but I'm here to pick someone. I can't give you a free ride, if that's what you're asking." I struggled to hold back my laughter as I listened to Rufus, one of my father's oldest guards say, his eyes darting past my shoulder, looking out for the person he had been assigned to pick from the airport. "I know. You have been sent to pick Lyric Harper, right? It's me, Rufus." His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You still haven't told me how you know my name. And... And how can you be Lyric? It's not possible." He shook his head. "Lyric is-" "Ugly?" I finished for him, a broad smile on my face. He frowned as he shook his head. Back then, Rufus was the only one that had never been able to call me ugly. He was among the very few that had cared about my feelings, and even now, to a stranger, he still couldn't call me ugly. I laughed. "Well, would it help if I reminded you that your favorite soup was butternut squash and you and little Lyric used to play Chutes and Ladders?" Recognition beamed in his eyes. His jaw dropped in astonishment. "Seraphis have mercy! Lyric, it's really you!" He opened his arms, and I didn't hesitate to fall in for a warm hug. Back then, Rufus and I barely had time together, but he always made the few times we met worth it. He was the closest thing I had to a parent. "How is this possible?" He inquired after asking how I was. "Your face... My goodness! You look gorgeous! You've only been gone for five years and... I-I can't believe this." "It's a long story, Rufus. But for now, let's just say fates decided to smile on me." "Oh, Lyric! You do not know how happy I am to see you. I am sure your father must be delighted seeing you're not...un-beautiful anymore." I laughed at his attempt not to use the word 'ugly' on me. Well, as for my father, I rolled my eyes in my head. I felt a little sad that I was forced to return here after five years because of him. My life was perfect in Draconis. "Here. I'll take this to the car," Rufus said, taking my luggage. "You do that and I'll meet you in the car. I need to pick up an extra luggage. Don't worry, I'll be quick." I turned around and had barely taken three separate Rufus called my attention, "You dropped something." Looking at the floor, I found the scanned image. My heart jumped into my throat as I quickly crouched to retrieve it. Rufus watched with me with surprise. Obviously, he had seen the X-ray and would be wondering why the h**l something of that nature had been in my back pocket. Oh, Lyric. You couldn't be a little careful? "It's-It's not mine," I cleared my throat, hoping my lie was plausible. I mean, who carried X-ray photos of fetuses in their back pocket? Tucking it back into the pocket, I hurried away. ..... I had my hands crossed over my ch**t as I waited at the collecting center. My extra luggage would be brought to me at any moment. As I waited idly, disturbing thoughts ran through my mind. Father wanted me home for two reasons. The first was to completely cut ties with Roderick. In our world, when two wolves were getting mated, they tied a ribbon as a sign of their union and had it stored in a temple. So, when they wanted to part ways, there were two steps involved. First, they'd have to denounce themselves as mates with the words of their mouths, and secondly, cut the ribbon together. After Roderick denounced me as his mate, we didn't get the chance to see each other again. Circumstances happened that pulled me away. But now, he was desperate to finish the final steps. Apparently, he'd chosen a new mate but couldn't accept her when he was still partially bound to me. Well, I'd been looking forward to the day when I get to end things with the as**ole. He was my past, and the st**id ribbon was the final thing holding us together. "Excuse me, Ms. I'd like a moment of your time, please," someone said behind me. I turned to see a well-built man in a black suit and dark shades over his eyes. I didn't need anyone to tell me he was a guard. "Can I help you?" I furrowed my brows. "Kind of. The Alpha over there demands an audience with you." I looked to where he pointed-a mini b*r-but couldn't see the man he was referring to. His face was shielded by a counter. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. These days, it was tiring. It was obvious there would never be a day where I'd step out without garnering attention from the opposite gender. "I'm in a hurry. Tell him I'm sorry." I responded. The guard's jaw tightened. "You can't ignore him." I read the unspoken words from his tone: He's a powerful Alpha. You can't simply ignore his request. But I really wasn't interested in meeting anyone. "I'm sorry. I really am." I looked away. It was disrespectful to ignore an Alpha's call. In a world where ranks mattered, he could be one of the powerful ones and could punish me severely, but I really wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. "It's Alpha Roderick of Nightshade." The guard added as if to entice me. But he had no idea, he had just reopened old wounds. My eyes moved to him, then quickly flicked to the b*r where the man was seated. Roderick? As in my ex-mate Roderick? The one I was here to end things with? No way. My ch**t tightened with pain and it was all I could do to keep my emotions intact. "More reason not to see him," I mumbled, turning away. "Did you say something?" "I said I am not seeing him." I gritted the words, my nails digging into my palms. The guard gave me a disapproving stare before walking away, and I released a shaky breath. Now, where the h**l was my luggage? I met one of the workers and demanded an update, and he assured me it'd be here any minute. Unfortunately, they were not fast enough as shortly, I saw Roderick approaching me. Chapter 4 LYRIC'S POV 04 Roderick Fletcher. The one man I'd hoped would love me but never did. The mind was a bi**h. I thought I was over Roderick's betrayal and wouldn't feel a thing when I met him. But watching him as he approached me, looking like he was the one in charge made my eyes rim with tears. I sniffled and looked away, forcing the tears back in. "So, I had to come over to speak to you myself," he leaned against the counter beside me. "How daring." My throat was tight, unable to find any words. I feared there would be a crack in my voice if I managed to speak. Three guards hovered beside him, their eyes darting around. Roderick looked sophisticated, like he'd obviously been having a good life. What was he even doing here? Was he picking someone? "What's the name?" He tilted his head as he asked. I said nothing, won't even look at him. "Hello?" "I don't feel like disclosing my name to strangers," I finally managed. My voice was tight. His eyes beamed with amusement. And here was a man who never smiled at me when we were together for one year. "Let's just say I'm overly excited today," he sighed. "I'm here, waiting for a certain bi**h to arrive." When I gave him a puzzled look,he added, "Ex-mate. We are through with the first step and just have the tiny little step to go. I'd finally be free of her." I scoffed. He was unbelievable. "I'd have done this sooner, you know? But the horrid girl has been missing for years. Stressed us the h**l out to find her." He spoke with raw disdain. "What makes you call her horrid?" I found myself asking before I could stop. He chuckled. "Trust me, honey; she's a monster. If you see her, you'd have the same opinion. She's the ugliest thing I've ever seen." Something hot exploded in my ch**t. It was all I could do not to let my emotions rush out. No. This was not the right place. But Roderick was the true monster. He had no idea he was standing before the very woman he despised. What would proud he do if he gets to know? It made sense why he was waiting at the airport. He clearly wanted to drag me to the temple to cut the ribbon. Well, I wouldn't let him humiliate me in public. Not again. Fortunately, my luggage finally arrived. "Sorry for the delay, ma'am," the young man said as he rolled it to me. Not looking at Roderick, I made to leave. That must have surprised him. "I'd love to speak to you some other time. Your contact, if you don't mind." For a moment, I stood with my back to him, contemplating my words. I turned around when I found the most polite one I could give; "Even if I have to give up my number to save myself from you, I wouldn't do it. Alpha." When my words sank in, surprise danced in her eyes, followed by a hint of hurt. Something blossomed in my ch**t. It was pride. So, I rolled my luggage away, leaving him standing there in shock. ****†****† Rufus and I arrived home to the party. It was my stepmother's birthday party. Not that I had any intention of attending-may the moon forbid it-I just arrived at a coincidentally perfect time. I wasn't dressed for the party. Had my simple jeans and shirt on with my hair in a ponytail. Yet, when I entered the hall, heads turned in my direction. I felt awkward for a moment. The whole attention thing was still new to me. I never knew I could receive so much compliments until I was free of my scar. Now, people could hardly stare at me without telling me how beautiful I was. My stepsister, Nora, walked up to me with a smile. "Hi! You're a little late for the party. What's your name?" Typical Nora. From young, she's always wanted to be friends with the hot girls. She despised me so much as I brought a 'stain' to her name. A scarred lady being her sister. Five years ago, she had slammed the door inh face, not letting me in despite my pleas. Now, she was being all nice. "I'm not here for the party," I answered her coldly and looked away, scouring around for my father. I found him in a corner with my stepmother and some guests. He was the reason I was here. I needed to know what was so urgent aside from cutting ties with Roderick. He had his eyes on me, staring suspiciously. I went toward him. "Hey! Who are you?" Nora came after me, sounding a little hurt. But I ignored her until I reached father. My father was a well known Alpha, hence the party filled with dignitaries. I did well to bow my head to them as I stood before father. "Who are you?" My stepmother asked. I met her gaze with a smirk. "Am I that different that you can't recognize me?" I looked to father. "What about you, father? Am I too different?" Audible g**ps rippled around me. Nora's hand went over her mouth. "It's not possible," she muttered, shaking her head. "Lyric?" Father's eyes were filled with shock and recognition. "Who's this impersonator?" My stepmother snapped. "Do you think we lack knowledge of what Lyric looks like? You think we'd fall for this scam?" I focused my gaze on dad. "I'm only here 'cause you said there was something important you needed to talk to me about. If you don't mind, I'd like for us to have that conversation now." Father took me to his study, leaving numerous shocked persons behind who couldn't utter a word. I wouldn't deny how good it felt to know I was the reason they were speechless. They couldn't call me ugly. As a matter of fact, I'd never be called ugly by anyone, ever again. "What happened to you, Lyric? Your scar was impossible to get rid of," Father asked. "I don't wish to discuss it now." Or the horrible things that happened within five years. I was still trying to run from them. "Just tell me why you needed me here." "Yes, that." his countenance soured. "You have no idea how happy I was when. I found you after searching for years. You just... vanished." He sighed. "We have a problem, Lyric. Our Pack is in a deep mess with Darkspire. I-I made some mistake and lost a lot of money-a whole lot-making me indebted to Darkspire." Okay, I did not like where this was headed. Darkspire was a generational wolf pack, known to produce only the strongest Alphas. The Alphas that always ranked first in the hierarchy system. They were avoided as much as possible as they were known to be vicious. One did not get tangled with them for any reason. "If word of this gets out, we'd be doomed. We'd go down the ranks, and coming from a pack that was used to being at the top, believe me, it is not a good thing for us. But they're willing to let it go." I furrowed my brows. It didn't make any sense. I sensed a huge 'But' coming. "But they need a Luna from this family, for just a year." Chapter 5 LYRIC'S POV 05 It had to be a joke. Or at the very least, not what I was thinking. Father's eyes turned more serious as he moved toward me. "I thought of offering Nora to him, but she's already with someone else, and the Alpha King might become furious if he thinks we're trying to offer him someone else's woman. This is the reason you're the only choice we have, Lyric. And... you have no idea how perfect it is that you have your face back. Initially, I had been worried we'd have issues with the Alpha King accepting you, but now, I am confident he'll be thrilled." "Hold on," I scoffed, placing a hand on my thigh. "Please don't tell me you made me travel all the way from Draconis just to be told that I am about to be sacrificed to a demon." No wolf was stranger to the name ' Darkspire'. Even me who knew little of Pack matters still knew how dangerous they were and nobody wanted to have anything to do with them; not in this life, not in another. "Alpha Jaris is not a demon," Father said with surprise. "But that is exactly what he is. Years ago, you said the same thing." Alpha Jaris Dreadmoor was the most vicious man I'd ever heard about. Tales of how he had conquered his enemies-and sometimes, his friends-were no news to the Pack. Being from a family that produced only the strongest Alphas, he was currently the Alpha King of Darkspire, a man everyone feared and didn't wish to end in his bad books. I didn't know what he looked like. I'd never been privileged enough to meet someone like Jaris Dreadmoor. Not that I ever wanted to. "There are rumors that he k**led his own father and brother!" I raised my hand in the air. "How do you want me to be with someone like that?" "Those are mere speculations, Lyric. Besides, you'll only be with him for a year." "You don't need a year to k**l someone, dad. All it takes is a minute, tops. But for someone like Jaris, I'm sure half a minute would do. Besides, why does it even have to be for a year?" From what I heard, Darkspire didn't have a Luna yet since Jaris' rise to ascension. But if he wanted to take up a Luna, wouldn't it be long term or something? Why was he only asking for a year? "Honestly, I don't know, Lyric." "And you don't care," I cut in, pain edging toward my heart. "All you care about is giving him a Luna so you can get the problem off your back. You don't care about the problem you're putting on mine." For a fraction of a second, wonder flashed across his face. The Lyric he knew would never argue with him. She'd have humbly agreed to anything he wanted. Well, let's just say I got to know my worth when I realized how beautiful I was. This Lyric was tired of being people's puppets. Father came close enough to take my hand. This time, he looked so troubled, I feared he might go on his knees. "Lyric, please." He gave my hand a little squeeze. "This is the last I'll ask of you as your father. Just do this for me, for only a year. And I promise, you'll make me the happiest father." ***** Hours later, I stood in my room-or what used to be my room-staring at my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing a long red dress with my hair falling over my shoulder. I was fully ready to meet Alpha Jaris, even though I'd rather I don't. Something didn't feel right. Him wanting a Luna for only a year....it was wrong. But father had nearly gone on his knees begging me earlier. I could disappoint him. Besides, before he got mated to his second wife, there were times he'd been good to me. I tried to resist the te**tation as I stared at the drawer before me. But failing woefully, I still opened it and retrieved the scan. My heart fractured completely, old wounds reopening. It was the one picture in the world that had the power to k**l me every single time I looked at it, yet it was like a d**g to me. I was addicted and could barely go an hour without touching it. Feeling it. A tear dropped from my eye as I glided my finger across the images outlining the shapes of the unborn babies in the womb. Five years, yet still the best thing that's happened to me. And the worse. But I'd rather hold onto the fact that it was the best. It hurt so bad staring at them, but I couldn't stop. The sound of someone trying to open my door broke into my thoughts. I jerked back to reality and quickly hid the picture. I'd made sure to lock the door a while ago, not wanting anyone to see me with the photo. Getting the door, I found Nora, fuming. "How did you get rid of your scar?" Her voice blared with indignation. "And what exactly is your plan? You want everyone to see the beautiful you, don't you?" I rolled my eyes, my earlier pain dissolving temporarily. "Please, don't tell me you knocked on my door just to whine about how good I look. What, you really thought I'd look that heinous forever?" Her glare turned even icier. "Well, just so you know, this won't change a thing between you and Roderick. Soon, he'll be here, both of you would go to the temple and finish your breakup." It dawned on me instantly. Oh, no. "Wait," I blinked. "You and Roderick?" A triumphant smile played on her lips. "Years ago, things didn't work between us. But now, he's ready to choose me." Well, if Roderick wasn't a bigger ba**ard. "Ugh, you disappoint me, Nora. Using my leftovers?" I tsked. "Considering you've always thought yourself the pretty one, I expected better from you." A tense glare pulled her brows together. She opened her mouth to say something, but I caught her off. "You don't have to worry. I'm done with Roderick and can't wait to fully end things with him." I slammed the door in her face. ...... A while later, father and I arrived Darkspire in one of his luxury cars. The Pack, which was known to be the biggest and wealthiest, was just as beautiful as people said. I was dazzled by the sight and couldn't believe for a moment that I'd be Luna here. Alighting our car, father and I were led into one of the buildings by some maids while his guards remained outside. The Grand Luna-Jaris' mother-was in the large living room to welcome us. "Bennett! I am so glad you made it," the Luna said, her eyes holding little amusement. "Greetings, Luna." I dipped my head. She regarded me with surprise. "Is this your daughter?" She asked dad. "Well, bless Seraphis, she's gorgeous!" I couldn't help my smile. Luna Isolde, during her time, was a formidable Luna. She had ruled beside her late husband with an iron fist, destroying everyone who dared cross her path. I'd always wished to meet her. "Please, come sit while we wait for Alpha Jaris. He'll be joining us shortly," she showed us to the couch. Her version of 'shortly' turned out to be almost an hour later. Father and I were already exhausted and kept staring at the door, wondering how long it'd take the Alpha to arrive. Wasn't he aware he'd be having guests? His... new Luna? At a point, Isolde looked angry and left. When she returned, she reassured us he'd soon be here. And indeed, he did come. The air shifted in the room the second the door opened, revealing a man and two others behind him. The Luna drew in a breath of relief as she rose to her feet. Father and I did same. It was easy spotting who the Alpha was as the two other men flanked him. But the moment I had a clear view of his face, my world shattered. No. No. Horror gripped my ch**t, squeezing it until I felt pain. This had to be some twisted joke. Because how in Selene's name was I staring at the face of the very man that had ruined me five years ago? ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &3&