Chapter 2

The moment Leena's kiss landed, a few strange, knowing chuckles rippled through the crowd.

I ignored them and calmly picked up the microphone beside me. "Ethan's handling an urgent family matter and can't be here for now. I'll toast everyone on his behalf."

As soon as I finished speaking, the noisy ballroom fell into silence.

Rosa Brooks, Ethan and Collin's mother, was seated at the head table. She lifted her gaze toward me, and there was a hint of approval in her eyes.

Being Ethan's mate demanded a calm that didn't crack under pressure.

Leena noticed Rosa's expression, and her temper flared instantly.

[How disgusting. She's acting as if she belongs here! Just wait. I'll make sure she humiliates herself during the toasts. We'll see if Mrs. Brooks still looks at her the same way then.]

I heard every word of it.

Keeping my expression neutral, I scanned the room and quickly spotted something off about one of the servers.

His eyes darted around nervously. On his tray, alongside the champagne flutes, sat a small werewolf brooch. It was a ceremonial piece the bride was meant to wear, traditionally handed to her by a server.

His gaze kept flicking toward Leena, and Leena was staring straight at his wrist.

[Once Ella reaches for the brooch, he'll drop it on purpose. A broken brooch is a bad omen. Let's see how she explains that without being branded a jinx and thrown out!]

She calculated everything with chilling calm, cruelty flickering in her eyes.

The toast began. I lifted my skirt slightly and walked steadily toward the center of the ballroom.

The server approached just as planned. His steps were hurried, his fingers rubbing nervously against the edge of the brooch. He was clearly following Leena's instructions.

The instant I reached out to take it, he suddenly let go.

But I was ready. I turned my wrist, caught the tray, and, with a light push of my fingers, sent the brooch sliding straight toward Leena right behind me.

She had been on her toes, waiting to watch me embarrass myself. When the brooch flew at her, she panicked and reached out, but her grip slipped.

Snap!

The brooch shattered into two against the marble floor.

"Ah!" Leena screamed, her face turning ghostly pale as she pointed at the server. "What have you done?"

The server trembled from head to toe, stammering through his apology. "I-I'm sorry. It was an accident!"

[You idiot. You can't even handle something this simple!]

Leena cursed him silently while forcing herself to stay composed, though the hatred in her eyes nearly spilled over.

The broken werewolf brooch sent a visible ripple through the crowd. Snickers turned into whispers as people exchanged uneasy looks, murmuring about the bad omen.

Rosa's expression darkened. "This is disgraceful. A wedding ceremony is not a game."

"I-I didn't break it on purpose. The server messed up," Leena tried to argue, fumbling to pick up the fragments, only to freeze under a single sharp look from Rosa.

"That's enough. Leave!" Rosa snapped. Then she turned to me, her tone noticeably gentler. "Ella, good job. You were composed. You didn't embarrass the family."

I inclined my head slightly, lifted my glass, and continued the toasts as if nothing had happened.

After the wedding, I returned to Ethan's villa.

I had the staff set up two single beds in the bedroom. Just as I finished arranging things, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Ethan walked in.

"Hey, you're back," I said, looking up.

He didn't answer right away. His gaze paused on the two single beds, one eyebrow lifting in faint surprise.

"We don't really know each other," I said calmly. "Sleeping separately makes more sense."

Then I went straight to the point. "I wanna make a deal with you."

"A deal?" Ethan moved to the couch and sat down, loosening his tie. His presence was still heavy with authority.

"Our families arranged this marriage," I said, meeting his eyes without flinching. "In public, we act like a loving couple. In private, we stay out of each other's lives. I just need access to your resources so I can build something of my own. I don't want your affection, and I won't bother you."

I paused, then added, "Once I'm on my feet, I'll ask to end the agreement. I won't cling to you."

In my last life, I had relied on others and paid for it with my life. This time, I wanted to stand on my own.

Ethan was silent for a few seconds. Then he laughed softly, the corner of his mouth lifting. "You're smart. You're more interesting than I expected."

He looked at me, eyes sharp enough to cut through pretenses. "Fine."

His easy agreement caught me off guard.

I had expected a fight. After all, he was the one who held real power in the family.

"On one condition," Ethan continued, his tone cooling. "You can use my resources, as long as you follow the rules. Don't ask what you shouldn't. Don't meddle where you don't belong. And never betray me. I hate betrayal. You know the consequences."

"I understand," I said while nodding, finally relaxing.

I knew better than anyone what happened to traitors. I had no intention of gambling with my life.

Ethan stood, walked to one of the single beds, and tossed his jacket onto the headboard. "I'm tired. Get some sleep."

I watched his back. Even now, my wolf spirit couldn't read a single thought from him.

He was like an iceberg, impossible to see through. And yet, without trying, he had given me room to breathe.

He wasn't as cold as he had been to Leena in my last life. He didn't force me into anything I didn't want. This contract was already the best outcome I could have hoped for.

I sat on the other bed and reached up to remove my hairpin when suddenly, a grip closed around my wrist.

It was Ethan.

At some point, he had turned around. His fingers were warm against my skin, his gaze deep and unreadable.

"Ella," he said quietly, "do you really think you can walk away from this deal untouched?"

My heart tightened. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't read at all. His grip wasn't painful, but it was firm enough that I couldn't pull free.