Chapter 4

True to his word, Adrian commissioned the pack's finest artist to paint their portrait, right there in the pack shrine, with a crowd of media covering the event.

"Vivian is stunning—no wonder the Alpha chose her."

"She's the daughter of the Oceanridge Pack Alpha, you know. A real heiress. She and Adrian are a perfect match."

Camera flashes lit up Vivian's face as she basked in the attention. Adrian had one arm around her waist, his expression radiating pure joy—a look I'd never seen in eight years together. Genuine, unguarded happiness. And that blank space on the wall had finally found its owner.

Later, while Vivian was admiring the finished portrait, she noticed me collecting my things.

"Serena, come help me—does this painting look a little crooked?"

She beckoned me like a servant. I ignored her and kept walking.

Undeterred, she raised her voice so everyone could hear. "Serena, I'm sorry—I don't know what I did to offend you. Why are you being so cold? Is it because I stole your Alpha?"

The media swarmed, cameras swinging toward me like silver blades.

Vivian let the tears flow, the picture of wounded innocence. "Adrian loves me. Please stop throwing yourself at him."

My head buzzed. My voice trembled. "If you're going to make accusations, bring proof. Who's throwing herself at anyone?"

But no one was going to believe an orphan over an heiress. No matter what I said, the rumors crashed over me like a flood.

"So Serena and the Alpha had something going on?"

"She's just an orphan. As if she'd catch the Alpha's eye. She's obviously delusional—chasing after him like some stalker."

"Quick, get this on camera! This'll be front-page news tomorrow."

Flashes exploded in my face. I shielded my eyes and tried to run, but Vivian grabbed my arm. She leaned in, her voice a whisper meant only for me.

"How does it feel? Having everything taken from you? Remember this—this is what happens when you try to compete with me."

Then she spun me around, blocking the cameras, and shoved her wine glass into my hand. "Serena! What are you doing? Why are you grabbing my wine?"

She seized my wrist and flung it toward the wall. Red wine splashed across the portrait—right over Vivian's face. She fell to the ground for good measure.

The room erupted. Everyone stared at the ruined painting.

Vivian's eyes glistened. "That painting—it was a precious memento between Adrian and me. Why would you destroy it? I know you still want him, but he chose me. Can't you just let us be?"

I kept my voice steady. "Vivian, why don't we check the security footage and see what really happened?"

She stamped her heel. "Everyone here saw it with their own eyes! Are you saying they're all lying? I had no idea your jealousy ran this deep—destroying our portrait like this."

The crowd murmured and whispered. "We all saw it. Serena pushed her and threw the wine."

Not because they'd actually seen it. But between an heiress and an orphan, they'd always believe the heiress. When power and money were on the line, truth didn't matter.

The commotion drew Adrian. He pushed through the crowd, saw Vivian on the floor, and his face went dark. He rushed to her, shoving me aside to gather her in his arms.

The force of his push slammed me against the staircase railing. My lower back hit hard enough to make me gasp. The bracelet on my wrist shattered on the floor.

Adrian heard my cry and glanced back. He saw the broken pieces. That bracelet—he'd gotten it for me at the Moon Tree in Moonlight Forest when we first started dating, a charm for protection. He'd knelt before me that day, placed it on my wrist, and looked up with eyes full of devotion.

"Serena, your safety matters more to me than my own life. If anyone tries to hurt you, they'll have to step over my dead body first."

Eight years later, his oath still echoed in my ears. The man who'd sworn to protect me was now the one cutting deepest.

Something shifted behind his eyes when he saw the bracelet—old memories surfacing. But after a moment of visible struggle, he chose Vivian. He wiped her tears with heartbreaking tenderness.

"Vivian. Don't cry. I'll have a better one painted for you tomorrow."

Then he turned to me, his gaze ice-cold. "Apologize to Vivian."

My throat burned. I forced the words out. "Adrian... it wasn't me."

He looked at me with disappointment. "Everyone saw you do it. What's the point of denying it? Just admit you were wrong and apologize. Vivian's generous—she'll forgive you."