Chapter 1

I never imagined that my chief healer mate, whom I'd loved for ten years, would personally send me to a mental institution for one of his female patients.

"Emma, you're only staying in the mental hospital for three years. Let this matter end here!"

Marcus spoke carelessly, as casually as suggesting we go to Romano's Restaurant tomorrow.

Just the night before, Marcus had tenderly kissed my forehead, planning our Christmas trip to Iceland.

But now, he was personally sending me to a mental hospital.

I stared in disbelief at this familiar yet strange man, stumbling as I grabbed the corner of his coat, my voice hoarse: "Why? You know perfectly well I have no mental illness, and I never seduced him. He tried to rape me—I was just defending myself!"

Marcus pulled his coat from my desperate grip, his words plunging me into an arctic wasteland: "Emma, that man is Victoria's brother. I promised her I'd protect her for life, including her family."

"Besides, you nearly drove her to suicide with your selfishness before. Her brother was just trying to get revenge on you. After this incident, you'll be even."

Victoria is Marcus's patient. A she-wolf who had called him frantically at 3 AM one night, and I had answered his phone.

The next day, Victoria slit her wrists in a suicide attempt.

Marcus blamed me for this, convinced that I had said something on the phone to trigger Victoria's suicide.

...

I lifted my head, staring intently at Marcus's nonchalant expression, my heart dead as ash: "I told you I never provoked her on the phone. Why won't you believe me?"

My voice broke. "Do you know what people are saying about me now? They're calling me a whore, shameless enough to throw herself at any male who'll have her..."

A flash of irritation crossed Marcus's face. He frowned and cut me off: "Once you're released from the facility, you'll still be my intended mate. Who would dare spread gossip about you then?"

My heart shattered completely, tears streaming down my face: "Marcus, have you ever—even once—believed me?"

Marcus crouched down, gently wiping away my tears, but his words dragged me straight into hell: "Emma, stop being so dramatic. It's time you learned some maturity. Drop this matter and move on."

Maturity?

I stared at Marcus in a daze, as if seeing him clearly for the first time.

"What if I insist on pursuing this to the end?"

Marcus's eyes darkened, his expression turning mocking: "Then what exactly do you hope to achieve? Why must you always be so childish? Wouldn't it be easier to simply accept my arrangements?"

"Moreover..." Marcus leaned close to my ear, his voice like a demon's whisper: "Emma, your sister is still in the healing center. Her monthly treatment costs a hundred thousand dollars. Enter the facility quietly, and I'll naturally ensure she receives the best care."

I understood Marcus's implication. My sister's pale face appeared in my mind. I never thought Marcus would use her to threaten me. My shoulders sagged in defeat.

Marcus looked satisfied with my submission, patting my head like he was rewarding a well-behaved pup—just as he had during our tender moments before this nightmare began.

"I've already contacted the healers at the mental hospital. In three years, I'll personally come get you. Then you'll still be my intended mate."

Marcus signaled for the doctors to take me away. The mental hospital doors separated two different worlds.

In the final second before those doors slammed shut, I caught sight of Victoria linking arms with Marcus, resting her head against his shoulder with possessive satisfaction, and smugly winking at me through the glass.

Victoria's sickeningly sweet voice drifted through the closing gap: "She nearly killed me before, and now she almost destroyed my brother. Sending her to a mental facility is hardly punishment enough—surely you don't feel sorry for her?"

Marcus said nothing, quietly walking away with Victoria.

I closed my eyes, my heart pierced with pain.

I couldn't understand how the man who once claimed I was his one true love in this lifetime had become so despicable.