Chapter 4

Harriet froze for a moment, apparently not expecting Evan to turn her down.

She quickly gave an awkward laugh. "Look at you getting all worked up! I was only joking. It's not like I'd actually fight Sophia over a piece of jewelry."

She gave me a pointed look before turning back to Evan.

"You and Oliver really are alike. You both love spoiling your mates."

With that, she turned on her heels and walked into the adjoining display area.

Even after she'd left, Evan's gaze lingered in her direction, and a look of unmistakable disappointment flashed across his eyes.

It wasn't until he noticed me watching him that he quickly composed himself and spoke to me gently.

"Sophia, why don't you have some champagne while I go over the necklace's details with the sales associate?"

But more than ten minutes later, he emerged from the back room empty-handed.

Before I could say anything, he let out a sigh, his face filled with guilt.

"The sales associate was careless while wrapping the necklace and damaged the setting around one of the diamonds. I couldn't possibly let you wear a flawed piece of jewelry to our anniversary celebration."

What a coincidence. The necklace had suffered an "accident" right after Harriet admired it.

"I've already returned it. Tomorrow, I'll ask the head designer to rush a custom order for something even more special. How does that sound?"

I nodded calmly. "It's fine. Whatever you think is best."

It wasn't as though I'd be wearing that necklace anyway.

That afternoon, I drove to the Council's administrative office alone.

The elder looked at me and asked for confirmation once again.

"Sophia, are you absolutely certain about this? The Council places great value on your abilities. We've agreed to allow you to sever your mate bond unilaterally because the research project is entering a critical stage and needs your full commitment."

"I'm certain," I replied calmly.

The elder sighed and slid a confidential document across the desk toward me.

"We've booked your flight under your new identity. Your old identity records will be sealed at midnight tonight. In a few days, the pack will be informed that you died in an accident, and your name will be permanently erased from its records. If you agree to these arrangements, please sign here."

I took the pen and signed the document without hesitation.

Before long, the day of our anniversary celebration arrived.

Evan and I arrived at the venue together. The decorations were every bit as lavish as he'd promised.

Oliver and Harriet arrived shortly afterward.

But from the moment Harriet appeared, Evan became noticeably distracted.

While his attention was elsewhere, I seized the opportunity to make an excuse, telling him I'd forgotten something important and needed to go home to get it.

Just as I'd expected, he merely nodded absentmindedly, neither asking what I'd forgotten nor making any attempt to stop me.

Having gotten away exactly as I'd hoped, I turned and left the celebration without looking back.

When I got home, I placed the now-effective mate-bond severance agreement on the table in our bedroom.

Once that was done, I picked up my suitcase and headed straight to the airport without a backward glance.

I casually tossed my old identity card into a trash can in the departure lounge, then walked through the boarding gate.

This time, I belonged to myself and no one else.

Evan, from this day forward, we would never see each other again.