For the past seven years, Leon had at least shown me some measure of care.So, I put aside my hatred for Cassian, if only for a while, and drove through the night back to Leon’s home.On his deathbed, Leon was frail and fading. Cassian sat at his side, his head bowed."Seraphina," Leon’s voice rasped, "I’ve wronged you. And so has Cassian."When I married Cassian, I had been young and naïve.But Leon? He had always been shrewd and self-serving. He knew the contract I signed all those years ago had been unfair. He was the one who severed every other possibility my life could have held.I fell silent, my gaze drifting to the IV bag."I don’t blame you," I finally said, my tone steady. "It was my choice. I walked into it willingly. I don’t blame anyone.""It was I who spoiled Cassian," Leon sighed. "Whatever ruin he faces one day, it will be his own doing. I don’t expect you to return to him. I only ask this… if he’s ever truly at rock bottom, give him a scrap of bread. Just let h
After many turns, I finally returned to the pack territory my mother once belonged to. It was as if time had forgotten this place.The streets, the houses, even the scent of the air… everything was exactly as I remembered.I had grown up here.If it hadn’t been for my mother’s crushing medical bills, I never would have left. I never would have married Cassian.Fate can be so cruelly ironic.One of the neighbors, Evelyn Greystone, came to see me. When she heard of my mother’s death, her face filled with sorrow.My tears spilled over before I could stop them."Evie, I think I killed her." My voice choked. "If I’d noticed sooner she wasn’t feeling well, if I hadn’t told her about the baby, if I hadn’t married Cassian and just worked myself to death instead, maybe none of this would’ve happened…"Evie pulled me into her arms, patting my back gently."Silly child, don’t think like that. Your mother… she actually called me once, a few years ago." She sighed. "She knew you weren’t ha
Cassian rushed Leon to the hospital. After a gruelling night, they managed to pull Leon back from the brink, but true recovery was nowhere in sight.Cassian leaned against the wall outside the ward, lighting a cigarette in irritation.Dr. Caleb, who was passing, immediately stepped forward to stop him. "Sir, no smoking here!"Cassian froze for a moment, recognizing him instantly. It was the same doctor who had once shown kindness toward me.He lunged forward, seizing Dr. Caleb by the collar. "It’s you? You’re the stray mutt Seraphina was meeting? Where the hell are you hiding her and the baby? Bring her out to me now!"The usually gentle Dr. Caleb lost his composure, his fist flying."You bastard! Even as an Alpha, you have no right to trample life! That day, I accompanied Seraphina to the funeral home to collect her mother’s ashes! In one single day, she lost both her child and her mother. She was left all alone!"And you, her mate? You were off living it up with your mistress!
Leon’s fury erupted like a volcano. "Sophia sent the rogue wolves after Seraphina and left her gravely wounded! Her pup missed the window of opportunity to be saved and was born only to die!"Seraphina’s mother heard the news, went into cardiac arrest, and died too!"His voice shook with rage, hoarse and broken. "All of this is your sin, Cassian!"Cassian’s eyes widened in disbelief. Then, he suddenly shook his head, letting out a cold laugh. "Oh, come on, Dad. Don’t put up an act with her. That gold-digging bitch? No way she’d ever give up being tied to me."He snatched up the agreement and shredded it into pieces. With a huff of irritation, his eyes roamed the room. "Where’s the baby? Bring him to me."However, every servant kept their heads bowed, faces heavy with grief and silence. No one answered.A chill of unease swept through Cassian’s chest. He stormed through the villa, searching frantically. His shouts echoed off the walls. "Where’s my child? Where the hell are you hid
I didn’t know how much time had passed before I woke in the hospital again.At my bedside, Cassian looked relieved when I opened my eyes, but almost instantly, he turned on Leon, his face twisted in irritation."Look at the mate you picked for me," he snapped. "She abandoned our newborn to go on a date with some stray mutt!"Leon trembled with rage. "A date? Do you even know where Seraphina was yesterday—""Dad." My voice cut through, calm but weary. "It’s over."Leon understood. He swallowed his words, only glaring at Cassian with a look of bitter pain and disappointment.Cassian shrugged, utterly indifferent. "She’s awake. That’s all that matters. Nothing more for me here. Sophia’s waiting."He turned to leave."You bastard!" Leon roared. "I don’t care where you go today, but tomorrow, you’re coming back home with Seraphina!"Before his words had finished, Cassian was already gone.Leon let out a heavy sigh, his back seeming more bent than ever. He handed me a file. It was
After the examination, Dr. Caleb rebandaged my wound and reminded me to rest.A few days later, I finally learned why Cassian had flown into such a rage that day.After the baby’s death, Leon, who was furious with grief, cut off all business ties with Sophia’s father. Her father had erupted in anger, lashing out at her.Convinced I had orchestrated revenge behind the scenes, Sophia embellished the story and ran crying to Cassian. That was why he lashed out at me in the hospital.On top of that, Cassian quickly revoked my executive position at Blackthorn Holdings, installing Sophia in my place.To cheer her up, he bought the sapphire necklace I had long coveted and gifted it to her. Sophia flaunted it smugly on social media.When fans commented, she even replied, "The one who isn’t loved is the real mistress."Then, she added, "Seraphina? She was nothing but a bargaining chip, trading herself for money to be with Cassian. I’m nothing like her."Her fans rallied around her, hurli