Chapter 5

For the next few days, I barely left my room except to eat.

I just wanted the cooling-off period for the divorce to pass quickly, turning a blind eye to how Kael and his sons bent over backward to please Sage.

Soon, Sage's birthday arrived.

Kael had wanted to throw a grand party, but Sage gently refused. "Let's just celebrate at home. I don't like things too fancy."

River immediately chimed in. "Perfect! I don't like outsiders sucking up to us either. It's so much better with just our family!"

On her birthday, the mansion was decorated luxuriously yet warmly. The staff bustled around while Kael personally placed a birthday crown on Sage's head.

"Make a wish." His gaze was tender.

Sage clasped her hands together and closed her eyes in the candlelight.

After blowing out the candles, Kael and the two children presented their gifts.

Kael gave her a set of antique jewelry, River presented keys to a limited-edition sports car, and Stone proudly offered the deed to a private island.

Sage's eyes filled with tears of emotion. "Thank you all..."

She suddenly looked at me, where I'd been sitting silently, with a sweet smile. "Aria, what did you get me?"

All eyes turned to me.

I looked at Sage's expectant expression and said calmly, "I didn't prepare anything."

I didn't want to, and I wasn't about to.

River's face immediately darkened. "Mom! How could you? You knew it was Aunt Sage's birthday!"

Stone pouted too. "That's so rude!"

The two little ones exchanged glances, and River's eyes suddenly lit up. "Hey, doesn't Mom have tons of nice stuff Dad gave her in her room? Let's pick something for Aunt Sage!"

Stone nodded eagerly. "Yeah!"

Before I could react, both children had already rushed upstairs and straight to my bedroom.

"Wait!" My face went pale as I stumbled after them, not caring that my leg hadn't fully healed.

When I pushed open the door, the two children were ransacking my room. My jewelry box was overturned on the floor, and things from my drawers were scattered everywhere.

"Found it!" River suddenly held up a gold necklace with a small moon pendant. "This one's pretty!"

My pupils contracted. That was the last gift Finn had given me before he died.

"No!" I rushed over to grab it back. "That's from your uncle!"

River nimbly dodged aside. "It's just a necklace. Can't Uncle buy you another one later?"

My voice shook. "He's dead!"

Stone rolled his eyes impatiently. "You're lying again! Last time it was just a dummy. Our real uncle is obviously traveling! He promised to bring me a present!"

Then he leaned over the railing and shouted downstairs, "Aunt Sage! We found Mom's present for you! You're gonna love it!"

I reached for the necklace, but River shoved me hard. "Why are you being so stingy!"

"Ahhhh—!"

I lost my footing and tumbled down the entire staircase!

"CRASH!"

The back of my head slammed hard against the silver candelabra that decorated the bottom of the steps, and blood immediately gushed from my temple.

This was a fatal blow to me since the wolf had already fallen into hibernation.

I lay in a pool of blood, my vision blurry and ears ringing.

"Mommy!" River and Stone were terrified and rushed downstairs.

River's voice trembled. "I... I didn't mean to... It's your fault for trying to grab it..."

Stone burst into tears. "Mommy, you're bleeding..."

Hearing the commotion, Kael strode over. His face went ashen when he saw the scene. "What the hell happened?"