Chapter 04

Seeing Hanna standing there was shocking. For a moment, I couldn't even process it.

Why was she here? Was she following me?

Because this wasn't even our town. We were on vacation, far away from home. The mall we came to was closer to the resort than anything else, and our town already had its own mall. So why was she here?

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my eyes narrowing. “Did you track me down?”

“Track you?” She laughed. But there was nothing friendly about it. “Why would I do that, you backstabber?”

I stared at her. A backstabber? Seriously?

“Hold on,” I said, feeling anger slowly replace the shock. “I'm the backstabber? That's funny because the last time I checked, you're the one who came and destroyed my marriage.”

Hanna's expression changed. “I destroyed your marriage…” she repeated. “He's my fated mate, Sia. What did you think was going to happen?”

“You rejected him.”

“I was sixteen. I didn't know better.”

“Oh, really?” I crossed my arms. “You were immature when it came to him, but somehow you were mature enough to choose another man you believed you loved?”

Her face hardened. “Okay, you started this.” She stepped closer. “You married a mate that the goddess chose for me. Your best friend's mate.”

My heart tightened. Because hearing her say it like that made it sound so simple. Like I had stolen something from her.

“What was I supposed to do?” I asked. “You rejected him. I was twenty-one, Hanna. I was already preparing myself to be sent to the outcast shelters. I didn't want that life.”

“Funny,” she scoffed. “Because if I were you, I would have chosen the shelter before jumping into bed with my best friend's mate.”

“The mate you rejected,” I reminded her.

“It doesn't matter.” Her voice became colder. “I got him back.” I frowned. “And if you think this ends here, you're mistaken.”

“What does that mean?” I looked at her. “You have him now. I'm out of your lives.”

She laughed quietly. “No, you're not.” Her eyes moved over me. “Everyone hated you, and I was there for you. I was your best friend. I was the person who stood beside you.” My jaw tightened. “Then you turned around and stabbed me in the chest.”

The pain in her voice almost sounded real. Almost. “So I have to punish you.”

I stared at her. “So you waited all these years just to punish me?”

“Yes.” She didn't even hesitate. “I needed it to hurt.” A chill went through me. “I had to give you enough time to fall in love with him.” She smiled, but there was nothing warm about it. “I thought losing him would be enough. But clearly, it wasn't.”

She placed a hand over her stomach. “I have to do more.” My eyes dropped to her belly. “Do you know I was in town seven months ago?” I didn't answer. “I met Maverick at the bar.” My stomach twisted. “That was where this baby was created.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. A tear slipped down my cheek. So all this time… While she was living with us, while I thought she was struggling with her marriage, while I thought she was going through a difficult time… She was sleeping with my husband?

She had already been with him. Maybe more than once. And I had been completely blind. But then something clicked. Something didn't make sense.

Maverick couldn't have children. I knew that. I was the one who protected him from that truth. A strange laugh escaped me.

“What’s funny?” Hanna asked, her eyebrows pulling together.

I looked at her. “Oh, so you’re carrying Maverick’s child?”

She stared at me like I had asked the stupidest question in the world. “What kind of question is that? Of course I am. He said it himself. Didn't you hear him?”

She actually believed it. She believed Maverick was the father. And suddenly, I wanted to laugh even more. Because she didn't even know the truth.

“Sister-in-law?” Amara's voice interrupted us. I turned and saw her walking toward us.

Hanna quickly bowed. “How are you, Princess?”

Amara didn't even acknowledge her properly. Her attention went straight to me.

“There has been a change of plans,” she said. “Brother and Kai are already back. I miss him, so I'm afraid we can't have ice cream anymore.”

I nodded. With everything happening, I didn't even want ice cream anymore.

“Of course, Amara. We can go.” I made sure to say her name clearly. And from Hanna's expression, I knew she noticed. Her eyes widened slightly.

Before I could say anything, Amara looked at Hanna.

“Next time, do not get too close to the queen. It is an offence.”

“No, you don't understand,” Hanna quickly said. “We're friends. She's my best friend.”

Amara tilted her head. “You are about to marry her ex-husband.” Her words were calm. “I don't think that friendship exists anymore.”

For once, Hanna had nothing to say. “Yeah, I…” She stopped.

Amara didn't wait for her to finish. “Let's go, sister.” She gently took my arm and guided me back to the car. I got into the driver's seat while she sat beside me.

As I started the car, I couldn't stop thinking about what just happened. Amara defended me. The Alpha King's sister defended me… I never expected that.

Everyone had made Drake's family sound terrifying. They made them sound like monsters who could destroy anyone who crossed them.

But Kai was lucky. Because Amara was nothing like the rumors. She was kind.

The entire drive back, neither of us spoke much. Amara stayed on her phone, most likely talking to Kai.

When we arrived at the resort, I helped her carry some of her bags to their room. Kai wasn't there yet. She told me she wanted to change into one of her dresses and asked me to stay so I could help zip it up.

Then, somehow, she convinced me to try one of my own. I hesitated. But Amara had a way of making things sound impossible to refuse.

Before I knew it, I was wearing the dress, the shoes, everything. “You look beautiful, let brother see this,” she said. I looked at myself in the mirror. For a moment, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me.

“Amara, honestly, I don't think your brother cares.” I looked down at the dress. I looked good. Being plus-sized had never stopped me from looking beautiful, but I had spent years forgetting that.

“Trust me,” she insisted.

I sighed. “I really don't think he cares.”

“Please?” She gave me a look. And somehow, I ended up following her.

She dragged me outside toward the backyard where I assumed Kai and Drake were resting. Probably eating. But the moment we stepped outside… “SURPRISE!” Everyone shouted. I stopped. Completely frozen.

There were balloons everywhere. Yellow balloons. Sunflowers. My favorite color. And then I saw the sign.

‘Happy Birthday Tesia’

My heart stopped. A birthday party… For me. I had never had one before. Not really.

Growing up, my uncle never allowed celebrations for me. My birth was always treated like something unfortunate because my mother died bringing me into this world.

When I was with Maverick, he would sometimes take me for a drink. That was it. And now… Here I was. Standing in the middle of a party made especially for me.

Alpha Drake and Kai were there. They were the ones who planned it. And suddenly, I remembered.

Today was my birthday. I was twenty-eight. I didn't know what to feel.