Chapter 7

I slowly looked away and opened my phone.

Because of Alpha Damien's statement, public opinion online had completely flipped.

Message after message and notification after notification popped up on my phone screen. They came one after another, covering almost the entire interface.

"Go die! You scheming witch!"

"How do you still have the nerve to live? Stealing other people's credit!"

"Worthless! You deserved to have your arm ruined!"

"Stay away from Alpha Damien! You disgusting woman!"

Each message that popped up was more vicious and harsh than the last.

But as I looked at them, my heart felt strangely calm.

It was as if those curses and insults were directed at someone else who had nothing to do with me.

I slowly swiped away those pop-ups and opened my phone's photo gallery.

The first folder was named "D."

It was packed full of photos.

Most were candid shots taken from tricky angles, but they all focused on the same figure.

There was Alpha Damien leaping during combat training, Alpha Damien frowning while reading pack reports, and Alpha Damien's unguarded profile as he dozed during council meetings.

There were also a few photos we had taken together, ones he had reluctantly agreed to.

In those photos, I always looked like a fool, grinning widely.

And him? He either had no expression at all, or showed obvious impatience.

I selected them one by one. My finger hovered over the red delete button. Without hesitation, I pressed it.

"Delete selected photos?"

Confirm.

The screen flickered. A bright smiling face and a cold profile both dimmed and disappeared.

With each photo I deleted, I felt the heavy weight pressing on my heart lift a little more.

Next were the chat records.

The pinned conversation still showed my 99th missed call as the last message.

Scrolling up, it was almost entirely me talking to myself.

"Damien, the weather at the mountain training grounds is really nice today."

"You have stomach problems. Remember to eat on time."

"I made it to the finals!"

His replies were few and far between.

Usually just a simple "mm."

Or sometimes he wouldn't reply for days, then just send a question mark.

I selected the entire conversation.

"Delete this conversation? This action cannot be undone."

Confirm.

The long record of my ten years of humble love vanished in an instant.

The screen was completely blank.

Then I deleted content from my social media apps.

With each step, I felt my body grow lighter. The images and feelings about that person in my mind grew more blurred.

That Alpha who had once been so vivid and dazzling in my memory.

The way he smiled, how his brow furrowed when angry, his occasional merciful gentleness...

They all faded like traces on a beach after the tide goes out, quickly erased by new waves.

Finally, I deleted all the notes and reminders about my fiancé.

When the last word was deleted, I leaned back against the headboard and let out a small breath.

It was over.

My heart felt empty, but also incredibly light in a way I'd never experienced before.

Outside the window, the sound of the clock tower chiming drifted over.

Dong—Dong—Dong—

Twelve times total.

It was midnight.

I blinked my dry eyes. My gaze fell on my phone, which had automatically returned to the home screen after being idle for so long.

The wallpaper was a photo of Alpha Damien that I had secretly taken. It was rare—he actually had a slight smile.

I stared at that face for a long time.

My brow furrowed slightly as a strange confusion washed over me.

Who was this person?

He was quite good-looking.

But...

Why was my phone wallpaper a picture of someone I didn't recognize?

How strange.

My finger unconsciously swiped across the screen.

That handsome face with its gentle smile disappeared. It was replaced by the phone's default starry sky image.

I looked at it for two seconds, then casually tossed my phone onto the infirmary bed.

The phone hit the soft bedding with a muffled thud. The screen flickered twice, then went completely dark.

Looking at my heavily bandaged arm, I sucked in a sharp breath.

I couldn't understand it. Had I lost my mind? Why would I destroy my livelihood just to save someone?

As for who I had saved...

I thought about it for a long time but couldn't remember. I gave up.

Whatever. It must have been someone unimportant.

Looking at the two pack guards standing by the door like guardian statues, I felt confused.

But instinctively, I didn't want to disturb them.

Looking at the thick snow outside the window, I climbed out through the window.

Without hesitation, I turned and walked away.