4

Finding out about Vivian's background was child's play.

Her graduation school, her poor family circumstances, her interview process, her part-time job at the camping grounds...

And her social media accounts.

When I saw the photo of Aria's face pressed against Vivian's, that last thread of control inside me finally snapped.

The reflective surface showed the outline of a man's tall figure as he crouched down to take their picture.

Like they were the happy family of three.

Her social media was full of content that showed Vivian was deeply in love.

One rainy night, she'd forgotten her umbrella but found Marcus standing in the downpour with one, his shoulders already soaked through. She'd casually mentioned liking limited edition bookmarks, only to find an exquisitely wrapped gift box on her desk containing the entire collection.

When night fell, the entire ice field was suddenly lit up with golden fireworks, her name blooming across the castle dome. He leaned against the railing with a gentle laugh: "Whenever you want to see fireworks, I can give them to you."

Though the man's face never appeared directly in her social media posts, as Marcus's mate, I recognized every male silhouette as his.

I suddenly felt physically sick.

Tears ruined my makeup. Looking at my wretched, ugly reflection in the mirror, I felt pathetic.

I'd thought that as long as I ignored those other women's existence, I could maintain this false happiness forever.

But how could someone who'd been ground into dust in a relationship ever have anything beautiful?

That evening, Aria suddenly developed a fever. I called Marcus, but Vivian answered.

"The Alpha is helping me with paperwork. If it's urgent, I can pass along a message."

Her voice was sickeningly sweet. I immediately hung up, carried my daughter to the hospital.

In the emergency room, Aria murmured deliriously: "Mommy, don't leave..."

"Baby, Mommy won't leave you. Don't worry."

I looked at Aria's flushed little face, comforting her gently. Thinking about everything I'd witnessed last night, I made up my mind. For Aria's sake, I needed to have a talk with Marcus.

A few days later, after Aria had fully recovered, I drove to Marcus's company.

Night had fallen. The top floor office blazed with light.

The door was slightly ajar. The voices from inside made my hand freeze on the handle.

"What do I have to do for you to stay by my side?"

Marcus's voice was low and serious.

"Stay by your side, and then what? Be your mistress?"

Vivian choked back tears. "Don't I have any self-respect? Yes, I've fallen hopelessly in love with you. I can't help but get close to you, depend on you."

"But when I saw your Luna sitting beside you, I knew you could never give me what I want."

"I want love that can stand in the light."

"So let's end this."

The woman sounded utterly heartbroken. The man sighed as he pulled her into his arms.

My grip on the door handle tightened. I was about to leave.

Then I heard Marcus's voice again.

"What if I dissolved the mate bond with her?"

In an instant, my heart felt like it was pushed into an abyss.

Falling and falling.

When I came back to my senses, I was already sitting in my car.

My hands shook uncontrollably on the steering wheel as tears fell despite my efforts to stop them.

I cried and laughed, mocking myself like a madwoman.

Marcus wanted to dissolve our mate bond, and my first instinct was just to run.

That night, Marcus didn't come home.

As dawn broke, I suddenly wanted to confront Marcus face to face.

Was he really going to dissolve our mate bond? At the very least, I had to protect Aria's interests. She had to remain Blackwater Pack's first heir.

After two days without sleep, I put on makeup in a daze and went to Marcus's company.

The private elevator went straight to the top floor.

Marcus was in a meeting.

I sat in his office and immediately spotted Vivian.

She politely and respectfully brought me tea.

As she bent over, I caught the scent of cedar mixed with cigarettes.

Aria had been right. Vivian carried Marcus's scent. And likewise, I'd smelled Vivian's cheap perfume on Marcus.

"Don't you have anything you want to say to me?" I suddenly spoke.

She smiled but didn't answer. From under the tea tray, she pulled out a lighter and walked toward me. I stared at the dancing flame in her hand, wondering what she was planning to do.

Suddenly, her wrist jerked violently. She actually aimed the lighter at herself.

The faint smell of burning flesh drifted over as her wrist visibly reddened and swelled.

She dropped the lighter in panic, screaming in fear and confusion as she stumbled backward, trying to kick away the still-burning object, but she kept her mouth shut and refused to answer my question.

I stared coldly at the top of her head.

A large hand suddenly gripped hers, pulling her up from the floor while kicking the lighter away.

The man's voice was furious.

"Serena, what did you do to her? How can you hurt a pack member as Luna?"

"She's my employee, not your slave."

"Alpha, she didn't mean to..." Vivian started.

I suddenly laughed.

Maybe even Marcus had forgotten that before marrying him, I was never a docile sheep.

"You should be an actress. With acting skills like that, why waste time as a secretary? You're talking like I lit that fire. I never even touched you."

"I didn't mean that..." Vivian's eyes immediately reddened.

"It's my fault. I was careless. It's not the Luna's fault—"

He looked at her burned wrist, gently shielding her behind him. His gaze turned cold enough to make anyone shiver.

"Apologize."