Chapter 7

I watched the subtle panic in Augustine's eyes, the pain in my chest turning to numbness.

"I'm probably just overthinking things, being weak like this," I said, forcing a smile. "Augustine, if I were to leave you one day, what would you do?"

Hearing this, his expression visibly relaxed. He even let out a small chuckle.

"You silly thing, why would you even think that?" He gently stroked my hair. "We are Mates, our souls are bound. I would never, ever let you leave me. Not ever."

His tone was so confident, so possessive, as if I were merely a piece in his collection, something that could never escape his grasp.

Augustine kissed my forehead and left, claiming he had some urgent business to attend to.

The moment he was gone, I sent out my bat familiar to follow him.

When the bat reached the window of our master suite, I saw a sickening sight.

Lucy was pouting at our dining table, pushing away a crystal goblet. "I don't want to drink this. It's too gamey, and the color is so dark. It must not be fresh."

Augustine sat beside her patiently, feeding her with a spoon like a child. "There, there. This is very precious blood. You're carrying a child now, you need the nourishment."

"But I really can't stomach it," Lucy whined, shaking his arm.

"Then I'll drink it with you, how about that?" he said with a doting smile. "You have to be a good girl, for our child."

The tenderness he showed her was identical to the tenderness he used to show me.

"After the child is born," he continued, "I'll have Haley raise it as her own. It will be our heir."

Lucy's expression soured.

"It's the only way for the child to have a legitimate claim," Augustine explained. "Haley is my rightful mate. Only a child raised by her can inherit the title of Prince."

Hearing that, I almost burst into the room to tear their faces off.

So, in Augustine's grand plan, I was not only supposed to be the clueless, cheated-on wife, but also the adoptive mother to his lover's child.

He was grinding my dignity into the dirt.

After they finished the blood, Augustine summoned the castle servants and gave them a stern warning.

"Lucy has just completed her transformation. Her emotions may be unstable, so you must be patient with her. Also," his voice turned menacing, "no one is to breathe a word of her presence here to the lady. Do you understand?"

The servants nodded fearfully.

Three days until the end.

Augustine came to the hospital with a bottle of precious unicorn blood.

"I had a friend in Northern Europe procure this for me. It will do wonders for your old wound," he said, presenting it to me like a trophy.

Unicorn blood was indeed rare and powerful, worth a fortune on the black market.

But what I had seen through my familiar was the truth: yesterday, Lucy had complained that the unicorn blood was too sweet, took a few sips, and pushed the rest away. This was what he brought to me.

"Thank you," I said, my face a blank mask as I took the bottle.

That evening, Clara reported, "My lady, everything for the banquet is ready."

I nodded. "You've worked hard."

Two days left.

Augustine brought me an exquisite crown as an early birthday present.

"I had this crown custom-made. It's one of a kind, crafted entirely by hand," he said apologetically. "I accidentally shattered your old one. I'm so sorry."

I examined the crown. It was beautiful, but clearly a rush job. The craftsmanship was nowhere near that of my original.

And again, my familiar had shown me the truth.

Yesterday, Lucy had seen my crown and whined that she wanted it. Augustine had given it to her without a second thought.

"It's lovely," I said, my voice devoid of emotion.

After Augustine left, Clara secretly told me, "My lady, Prince Augustine has purchased the Cherry Blossom Manor behind the castle at a high price. They say it's a gift for her pregnancy."

I let out a cold laugh. "How generous of him."

The final day.

Augustine came to pick me up from the hospital himself.

"The banquet starts at seven tonight. Remember to be there," he said gently. "I'm so looking forward to this 'memorable' party you've planned."

I smiled back. "I promise, it will be a night you'll remember for the rest of your life."

Back at the castle, I found a pair of black lace stockings in the master bedroom. Obviously left behind by Lucy.

I threw them in the trash without a second thought.

Just then, Augustine's phone rang.

He answered, and his face immediately tensed. "What? Stomach pains? I'm on my way!"

After hanging up, he turned to me, flustered. "Haley, something urgent has come up. I might be a little late to the banquet. You go ahead and get ready. I'll be there as soon as I can."

As he turned to leave, I didn't try to stop him.

I just watched his retreating back and said, very quietly,

"Augustine, goodbye."