Chapter 4

I slept for a long time.

In the dream, young Damon kept apologizing, crying that he hadn't protected me.

His eyes were red. His tears dripped into my palm.

A sharp sting.

I opened my eyes groggily. A pair of worried eyes was staring right at me.

Damon held my hand. His little finger was missing a segment.

He used to say that was proof of his love for me.

But now...

I turned my head away from his touch. That's when I realized I was strapped to the bed.

"Ivy, don't misunderstand. I was just afraid you'd hurt yourself."

"And the severance document — don't overthink it. It was just a trick to keep Serena happy."

"Besides, what we have doesn't need a piece of paper to prove it."

"Ivy, you've been part of my life for as long as I can remember."

Damon stood by the bed and rambled on for a long time. I didn't hear a single word.

He kept talking stubbornly, waiting for a reaction from me.

His phone rang over and over. He hung up each time, annoyed.

Until Asher burst in:

"Dad, Aunt Serena fell! Come quick!"

Damon didn't even think. He rushed out.

Asher walked to the door, then turned back:

"Mom, rest up. Dad and I will come see you tomorrow."

I turned my head and laughed coldly.

Like father, like son. Even their empty words sounded the same.

After that, they never came again.

I was like a puppet. The servants mechanically fed me, wiped me down, then strapped me back to the bed.

Until one day, I found the restraints were gone.

I stumbled off the bed, but ran into Serena at the corner.

She grabbed me and smiled viciously:

"Guess what Damon will do when he finds out you killed my baby?"

My heart sank.

"You're insane. That's your own pup."

Serena sneered.

"One pup for the Luna title? Absolutely worth it."

I backed away in horror, but it was too late.

Serena screamed and threw herself down the stairs.

At that exact moment, Damon and Asher appeared at the door.

Damon scooped up Serena, covered in blood, and stared at me with disgust.

"Ivy, when did you become this vicious? You won't even spare a pup."

"It wasn't me. She threw herself down..."

"Enough."

Damon refused to hear any explanation and passed his judgment without mercy.

"I've been too soft on you all these years."

He looked down at Serena in his arms with tenderness. When he raised his eyes again, there was nothing but cold.

"Take Ivy to the Dungeons. Without my order, no one visits her."

"Damon..."

I screamed until my throat nearly tore.

"I hate you... I'll never forgive you."

Damon's steps paused for a few seconds, but in the end he walked away with Serena and never looked back.

Days later, in the VIP suite at the Healer's Quarters.

Damon had just coaxed Serena to sleep. The Healer making rounds reached the door and remembered something.

He turned back:

"Alpha Thorne, your mate left her diagnosis record here last time. Give it to her when you get a chance."

Damon's face changed.

"What diagnosis record? What are you talking about?"

The Healer handed over a sheet of paper.

Damon took it, confused. A diagnosis record. A familiar name on top.

It showed Ivy Fairfax was eight weeks pregnant.

Damon went rigid.

He touched the blurry image on the record, his eyes trembling.

"She... she wasn't lying. She really was carrying my pup."

Shock and regret hit him at once. He grabbed the nearest warrior and rushed for the door.

"Hurry... get my mate out. Now."

The warrior lowered his head, voice shaking:

"Alpha... the day we locked Luna in, the Dungeons collapsed."

"You were with Miss Voss and gave orders not to be disturbed no matter what. We didn't dare report it."

"The rubble's been cleared. They found remains inside. It might be... the Luna."

Damon froze.

He seized the warrior by the collar, eyes blazing red.

"Say that again."