200 Reasons to Never Look Back

I shut Ryan Hardin down without a hint of hesitation.

Ryan froze for a moment. After all, this was the first time I had ever told him "no" in the past nine years.

Frowning, he gave me a slow once-over. "Daisy Boyle, have you lost your mind? Or is your neurotic wolf acting up again?"

I stared at him with a poker face.

After a while, Ryan grew uncomfortable under my gaze and waved me off. "Fine. You don't want to do it? Then, don't ever do it again. Don't expect me to show you any courtesy next time."

He waved over a maid and barked, "Bring out breakfast."

Just then, the Omega he brought home last night, Clare Lambert, giggled as she sauntered up beside me. "Daisy, did you learn those exciting positions we tried last night?"

As soon as she said that, Ryan yanked her back by the arm. "Cut it out. Go clean up and eat."

Clare threw me a dazzling smile over her shoulder and mouthed the word "loser" at me.

At breakfast, she sat beside Ryan, all hushed whispers and flirtatious laughs.

Seeing that, I felt like someone had carved a hole in my chest. I kept wondering where I should go once I left.

Suddenly, someone tapped me gently on the arm. I looked up to see Ryan standing beside me with a stern expression.

"What?" I asked softly.

He gave me a complicated look. "What were you just thinking about? I called you twice, and you didn't hear me."

I turned back toward the table and replied coolly, "I was thinking about what I want to do next."

Ryan sneered. "What could you possibly do? Mop floors? Serve food?"

The insult came so naturally to him. But it didn't sting. Perhaps I had grown numb.

Nine years of marriage had scraped me down to nothing. I had lost myself entirely. My world spun around him as I lived only to serve and please.

I had forgotten the version of me who used to have dreams.

Nine years ago, when Grandpa—who raised me—was caught in a silver mine trap, I was helpless and desperate. That was when Ryan appeared.

He handed me a million dollars, but there was a price. I had to sign a mate agreement and play his partner to deal with a dispute with Campbell Pack.

I agreed for Grandpa.

And for nine years, he brought woman after woman home.

Once, drunk, Ryan looked me in the eyes and said, "Daisy, we're worlds apart. Don't harbor any illusions about me."

I used to think he just didn't know how to love.

It wasn't until last year that I learned that he had a childhood sweetheart who died. All those women he brought home were nothing but stand-ins for the woman he couldn't forget.

So, when he showed up with another Omega who looked just like her, I wasn't even surprised. I just started thinking about when to leave.

Ryan noticed my silence and called out to me again, "Daisy Boyle!"

I snapped out of my daze. Standing up, I looked him dead in the eye. "I want to find a job."

He snorted. "You? You'd be lucky to land a cleaning gig in Campbell Pack. Even Clare's got better odds at a real job than you."

Just then, Clare walked out of the bedroom, wearing a dress that Ryan gave to his late childhood sweetheart. He would give her a dress every year for her birthday before she passed away.

I once brushed the edge of a dress by accident and got slapped across the face for it.

Now, Ryan looked at Clare with gentle eyes. Smiling, he nodded. "You look great. Pick whichever dress you like."

Clare turned proudly, lifting her brow at me with obvious intent. "Well, Daisy? What do you think?"

I gave her a calm smile and nodded. "You look good. It suits you."

She looked stunned for a second. I didn't say anything else.

This agreement would end in three days. It was time I started packing for the freedom that finally belonged to me.