Chapter 2

"Ivy, a bonding is no small matter. Don't joke around."

I pulled my hand free from Damon, gathered my gown, and walked out of Thorne Manor without looking back.

Behind me came Serena's sobs and Damon's footsteps chasing after me, but I ignored them both.

I called a car back to my apartment, locked the door, and tore off the ceremonial gown, throwing it on the floor.

My phone buzzed.

A text from Damon: 【Calm down. We can talk about the ceremony another day.】

I didn't reply.

Half an hour later, Serena sent me a photo.

It was a picture of her and Damon. Damon sat on a stone bench while Serena leaned against his chest, the Hex Rune still stuck to her forehead, looking pitifully into the camera.

The caption read: 【Damon said the rune can't be ripped off — it has to fall off on its own. Please don't be mad, okay? I know I was wrong.】

I looked at the photo and laughed.

In my past life, I'd received photos like this countless times.

Every time Damon comforted her, she'd secretly snap these suggestive photos and send them to me.

And Damon's answer was always the same: "Don't overthink it. She's just too dependent on me."

This time, I wasn't angry. I didn't cry.

I saved the photo.

The next day, Damon showed up at my door with my favorite cake.

He saw me and pulled me into his arms, his posture humble and apologetic: "Baby, I was wrong. Let's redo the Mating Ceremony, okay? There won't be any more incidents this time."

I pulled away from his embrace coldly: "Damon, I said we're done. Do you not understand?"

Damon furrowed his brow, his eyes full of confusion: "Ivy, haven't you been looking forward to the Marking Ceremony for a long time? We even planned all the details —"

I closed my eyes: "Damon, you know in your own heart whether you truly care about me."

"Can you swear that your heart belongs entirely to me?"

My words laid everything bare, but Damon showed no guilt or panic after hearing them.

Instead, he answered with even more conviction: "Ivy, what are you talking about? We've been together for so long. You've always been the only one in my heart."

I scoffed silently. So they were certain I didn't know about their affair.

"Fine. Then call Serena here right now. Have her bow and apologize to me. Have her admit that all her hexes and visions are lies."

Damon froze. He couldn't understand where this hostility had come from.

But he still answered reluctantly: "Ivy, you know that Serena is a witch. This is the Voss family's livelihood. Asking her to do that would destroy everything for her and her family."

I looked at him calmly and said nothing.

"Ivy, I should remind you what the Thorne Pack has given your family."

Victoria Thorne appeared from somewhere, frowning at me.

She said your family — not you.

"Your grandmother's treatment at the Thorne Healing Center. And your brother's training with the allied Pack."

My heart clenched.

She was right. All of that came from the Thornes.

But it was Serena who, right before the Marking Ceremony, made my grandmother miss the window for her surgery.

She deliberately showed Grandma Pemberton photos of her and Damon in bed together, telling Grandma that I was the other woman.

Grandma couldn't speak. Her finger trembled as she pointed at Serena.

She died right there from cardiac arrest.

I understood the threat behind Victoria's words. My entire family depended on the Thorne Pack to survive. That was the reality.

Damon stepped forward then, his eyes overflowing with tenderness: "Mom, stop. These are things I should do. I love her. I'm willing to bear everything for her."

If I hadn't already known the whole truth, I might've actually believed his so-called devotion.