Chapter 2

As soon as Daniel brought me home, a figure instantly greeted us.

It was Jessica. Wearing a pearl-toned luxury lace nightgown, she sashayed right in front of me.

“Rosie, you’re finally back?” Each word dripped like sugar laced with venom. “You’ve lost so much weight. Are you okay?”

I said nothing, my eyes staying glued to the floor.

When I didn’t respond, her smile dropped, and she slipped seamlessly into her tragedy performance.

“At least you came back. My poor unborn pup never even got the chance to see the world.”

Right on cue, a tear slid from the corner of her eye.

Daniel’s hand shot out, gripping my chin and forcing me to look at Jessica.

“Did you hear what Jessica said?

“Three years ago, if you hadn’t pushed her out of jealousy, that pup would still be alive. That pup would have been my heir.”

The word “pup” hit me like a hammer.

“I’m sorry. Losing a pup is painful,” I said hoarsely. “But I didn’t push Jessica. There must be some misunderstanding…”

A flicker of guilt crossed Jessica’s eyes before she cut me off, raising her voice. “You still won’t admit it? I thought you’d at least learn something useful in Silver Prison. Guess not.”

Daniel’s tone was icy. “Maybe she just hasn’t spent enough time in Silver Prison.”

A shudder ripped through me. The memories clawed back instantly.

My body reacted before my mind did. I bent at the waist, palms braced on my knees, trembling as I begged.

“I’m sorry! I was wrong! I’ll never do it again! Please, don’t send me back!”

Jessica looped her arm through Daniel’s, wearing the expression of a generous hostess.

“Alright, maybe she really has changed. I’ll give her a chance to prove herself. The past is the past. I’m not a petty woman.”

Daniel looked down at me, then caught my wrist like I was a pup who’d misbehaved, pulling me upright.

“Go shower. Be a clean, obedient little wolf. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

The maid hesitated. “But during cleaning earlier, I accidentally threw away all of Miss Rosie’s clothes. Should she wear a maid’s uniform for now?”

Jessica’s voice was mock-concerned. “She’s the Alpha’s destined mate. Isn’t a maid’s uniform a bit much?”

I quickly said, “It’s fine. I can wear it.”

Daniel nodded, satisfied. “That’s more like it.”

The maid’s gaze slid over me, nothing like the respectful look she gave Jessica. It was as if I were a stain. “Come with me.”

I followed her upstairs to the bathroom door.

She rummaged through a storage closet and tossed a set of old clothes in my face. “Vixen. Waste of a perfectly good outfit!”

Silently, I picked up the clothes and stepped into the bathroom.

Hot water poured over my skin, washing away dirt but not the scars.

Scars covered my back, thighs, and abdomen—the places meant to stay hidden.

They were like lines of braille, wordless proof of what I’d endured.

By the time I left the bathroom and reached the dining room, Daniel and Jessica were already seated at the table.

Daniel’s voice cut through the air. “How long do you expect us to wait?”

I sank into the last chair, trying to apologize. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were waiting for me.”

However, the hunger hit harder than shame.

With the table filled with fragrant food, my hand moved before I could stop it, grabbing a piece of roasted meat and shoving it into my mouth.

“Smack!”

Daniel dropped his utensils, glaring at me.

“Rosie, are you a savage? Why aren’t you using utensils? Did you forget all your manners?”

My hand recoiled as if burned, and only then did I realize what I’d done.

“I didn’t mean to. I just haven’t used utensils in so long…” I tried to explain.

He didn’t know. How could he?

In Silver Prison, food was always thrown on the floor.

If you wanted to eat, you had to crawl and eat like a dog. If you didn’t, you starved.

“You’re doing this to guilt-trip me for sending you to Silver Prison, aren’t you?” Daniel’s voice was cold.

I shook my head quickly. “No, really. I’m just telling the truth.”

Jessica patted Daniel’s arm, sighing.

“Alpha, you’ve allocated so much money to Silver Prison over the years. How could they not even have utensils? Rosie must still be blaming us.

“Forget it. Don’t bother arguing with her. Let’s go out to eat and let her cool off alone.”

Daniel’s expression eased slightly. He stood up and left with Jessica.

Once they were gone, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I threw myself at the table, devouring everything in sight.

However, soon my stomach roiled violently.

I bolted to the bathroom and vomited up everything I’d just eaten.

The hollow weakness in my body dragged me back to that moment closest to death.

I’d been tortured until I was barely alive. Afraid of answering to Daniel if I died, they called in a healer.

She skimmed my test results, her brows knitting into a hard line.

“Your silver poisoning has seeped into your bones, and your wolf soul is dormant. You won’t live long.

“How long is your sentence? Three years? Perfect. You’ll die not long after leaving Silver Prison. No need to dirty the cell with your corpse.”

I reached out and touched my pale reflection in the mirror.

Tears slid silently down my face.

“Daniel, if I die, you’ll praise me for finally behaving, won’t you?”