Chapter 4

My father suddenly changed his mind about letting me take over the Pack’s business. 

He suddenly proposed that I marry Alpha Draco, the dark and mysterious Alpha who had done nothing but bully me throughout high school. 

A ceremony was set. The date was decided without my consent. 

I didn’t show up and my father decided it was the biggest sin I’d ever committed. He lost a business deal and partnership with Draco’s Pack. 

Enraged, he disowned and banished me, and I later knew that he had a hand in the assassination of my fated mate. 

Levi and I only met once, but our hearts synced, and so did our wolves. 

I expected him to show up the day after my eighteenth birthday, but he vanished into thin air, leaving behind a lingering ache that weakened my wolf. 

I left without begging a father who had suddenly forgotten what it felt like to lose a fated mate. 

I’d wandered in the city for two years. I’d worked at restaurants, pubs, and even bars just to earn a living. 

I would have found myself a decent job if my father hadn’t burned all my certificates and caused me to be blacklisted across all companies.

When Kyle came into my life, I felt my lost hope return.

He shared a deep resemblance with Levi. 

The same tall, lean build, the sharp lines of his face, the calm yet dangerous set of his jaw. That was why my heart raced for him at first sight.

I knew he could never replace my fated mate, but I let myself indulge in the fantasy.

Kyle offered me love and affection, and I’d let myself be fooled. 

But this pain of betrayal was familiar. 

My father gave me hope of a great future before snatching it from me. Kyle gave me the same kind of hope, promising me heaven and earth before crushing it right before me. 

If I grieved twice for the same kind of pain, it would be like a slap in the face. 

I held back the tears that threatened to fall, recalling those dark memories. 

After I finished dressing up my wound, I turned around, my footsteps slow but confident as I walked past him. 

“Wait…”

Kyle grabbed my hand, forcing me to stop walking. 

When I turned, he stared at me intensely, an uncertain look mixed with anger flashing in his eyes. “Where the hell will you even go after you leave this place? Just stay and wait until the spiritual leader appears again to solve this mess.”

Smiling, I tilted my head to the side, regarding him silently for a few seconds. 

If I waited here for the spiritual leader to appear, Kyle would definitely kill me after the connection between Selene and me got cut off. 

A soft laugh escaped my lips. “Wherever I go shouldn't bother you, should it? Unless you’re going to miss me.”

“What’s with that confidence?” He frowned. “You are now weak and worthless. You can stop acting brave and just beg me to set you free inside the Villa.”

At that moment, the door opened and Selene came inside with one of the maids supporting her. 

Her arm was wrapped in a cloth, her expression twisting in pain. It was the same kind of spot I’d just stabbed myself. 

She glanced from me to Kyle, and then her gaze fell on his hand holding mine. 

Ryan quickly let go and went to her side. “You’re supposed to be resting in your room. Is there something you need? Does it still hurt?” 

His voice was soft and gentle as he checked her arm out. 

But Selene didn’t appear to be listening, her gaze fixed on me. 

She might appear weak, but the way she stared at me with daggers in her eyes made me believe she could have me beheaded if she had the chance. 

“You told me you were coming to deal with her.” She turned to Kyle, her expression softening into a pitiful look. “I was afraid you might hurt her, that’s why I came. Remember what happens if she gets hurt.”

“It’s okay. I’ve made sure she never hurts herself again.”

“Did Aria hurt herself?” She looked surprised when Kyle said that. Selene stared at me with fear and empathy. “You can hurt me if you want, but it’s wrong because you’ll also feel the pain. Kyle had to do what he did to help me survive, Aria. I thought you were kind and compassionate. I expected you to be happy for saving my life. Hadn’t you always stayed by my side, all day and night, praying that I got better?”

Of course…

That was because I’d been fooled into believing that she was Kyle’s sister who had been put under a dark spell by a mysterious witch. 

I stayed by her side, bathed her, and always brushed her hair and changed her clothes. 

Selene was in a coma, but the spiritual leader said that she could hear and sense her environment. 

She was aware of my sacrifice even before the ritual. 

Her words were full of empathy, but I wasn’t stupid to believe she actually cared. 

Ignoring her, I stepped out of the room and headed to the master's bedroom. 

Revenge was best served cold. Showing them my anger now wouldn’t benefit me. It would only benefit them more, because by then, they would be satisfied that they’d completely broken me. 

I entered the closet and packed only the things I’d come with three months ago. 

The designer dress, shoes, and bags, had all been bought by the monster. 

As I picked up my bag from a corner, a small box suddenly fell out. 

My jewelry box. 

I picked it up to return it to the bag, but something felt off. 

Instinctively, I opened the lid. The box was empty. 

Where was my jewelry? 

It’s the only memory I had left of my mother. 

I couldn't lose it. 

I couldn't leave without it. 

Who took it?

I did not need to contemplate much and instantly left the room to find the possible culprit. 

The maids wouldn’t dare to ransack my bag, would they?

Selene and Kyle were still in the guest room. 

She was sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning against him while he stroked her hair gently, murmuring soft reassuring words. 

The picturesque scene felt so romantic that I was forced to recall our times alone, when he would repeat his baseless promises to me, making me feel like the luckiest woman on earth. 

“Kyle, my jewelry!”

They probably didn’t notice my presence until I spoke. 

When they both looked up, Kyle looked irritated while Selene’s eyes shone with gleeful pride.

My eyes instantly followed her fingers as she traced them over the pendant around her neck. 

That was my jewelry.