Chapter 3

"Lilian… May I call you that?" Liam asked shyly.

Lilian lightly scratched under his chin, and Liam immediately let out an affectionate purr.

She smiled provocatively at me and said, "Evelyn, your wolf seems to like me more.

"He looks like he hasn't replenished his energy in days. He's so weak that it pains me to watch. Tell me, Liam—why won't you accept Evelyn's soothing?"

Liam gazed up at Lilian, mesmerized. He glanced quickly at me, then spoke in a voice so low only the two of them could hear.

"I only want Ms. Lilian's soothing and bond. Just looking at Evelyn makes me sick."

Unfortunately for him, I could read lips.

Lilian's smile grew more smug. "Evelyn, how about I help you nourish him? Don't waste all that effort raising him just to watch him waste away."

With that, she started to lead Liam inside the room.

I blocked her way. "Did I say you could go in?"

Before Lilian could respond, Liam got agitated and snapped, "Lilian can come in."

His voice was hoarse, and his movements were urgent.

I looked over at him coolly, but he wasn't afraid. He held my stare without flinching and with a haughty demeanor.

"If you don't let her in, I'll run away!" he threatened.

Ever since Liam arrived, I had indulged him in almost everything and never forced him to do anything he didn't want to.

It seemed I had spoiled him too much.

Liam shrank back slightly when he saw my expression grow colder, but he still held Lilian's hand tightly and refused to let go.

At that moment, a dazzling Luna's crown appeared before me.

I quietly tightened my fist behind my back.

It was a keepsake Mother had left behind—something I had searched for over a decade and never found.

So Lilian had been hiding it all along.

"Evelyn, may I use this crown as rent?" she taunted.

I carefully took the crown from her and smiled faintly. "Sure."

The two of them practically raced into the guest bedroom after that.

As I recalled the fervent look of affection on Liam's face, I only found it laughable.

Lilian had put on this whole show just to get under my skin. At best, she merely liked Liam like a fun pet to toy with, yet she had fooled him into being utterly devoted.

The customer service agent was right—Liam really was a defective product. He was pitifully stupid.

…

The sounds of panting and growling from the other side of the wall went on almost all night.

The next morning, I yawned as I ate breakfast.

I checked my phone, and sure enough, the post had been updated.

"Lilian actually loves me, too. Last night, when she found out it was my first time, she called me a good boy.

"I have to be with Lilian. Worst case, I'll just pay back everything my owner spent on me."

He wanted to pay me back? I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

In one week, I had spent over five million dollars on him.

Who was going to pay me back—Liam, with nothing to his name, or Lilian, who still relied on our father for money?

I dismissed the thought just as the customer service agent sent me the genetic preferences for my new companion wolf.

I decided to go out and custom-order supplies for the new wolf, as well as have someone pack up everything I'd bought for Liam and throw it all away.

I'd also redecorate the house. Liam liked blue, but my new wolf liked green.

…

I didn't come home until the third day.

Lilian sat contentedly on Liam's lap, eating fruit.

When he saw me come in, Liam glanced at the packages piled up across half the living room. He then pursed his lips and said, "Even if you buy all the best things, I still won't like it.

"I've decided to leave with Lilian. If you really care about me, you should let me go so I can chase my true love. I'll also pay you back every cent you spent on me."

I stood at the door and looked at Liam. "What a shame. You're not going anywhere."

Liam's expression shifted, a rare hint of anger flashing across his face. He was about to speak when a hushed, deep growl interrupted him.

A powerful arm wrapped around my waist, a black tail swept eagerly between my legs, and a tall, heated body pressed against my back.

"Ms. Windsor, why is this defective product still in your house?"