34

Chapter 34

Livia’s POV

After the long argument with Zachary, I went into our room to rest my head.

A lot has been going on recently, and it's all getting into my head. 

I'm living like I am no longer myself; it seems I am a shadow of myself.

A ghost living among the living, a ghost acting like a Luna, and a ghost living in a palace.

I sat on the bed, cracking my head and thinking about the mess I have gotten myself into. I thought I was now free to live a life of my own, but here I am still under the control of another person.

Someone who likes control and sees me as a tool he can always toll with.

As I was in the room, I could hear the whispers of some of the guards and maids outside.

"The Luna stole it," one of the maids said, her voice almost like a whisper in her ear.

"A bracelet that's priceless…" another added.

"That's disgraceful. How can Luna do such a thing?" Another replied distastefully.

I closed my eyes, my fingers curling into my palm as I eardrop on their conversation.

“I didn’t steal anything…” I whispered to the empty room; surprise was all over me.

I knew exactly who did this, is no other person than Belle, who doesn't want to give up in fighting me.

I could still remember the way she had looked at me at the gala, replayed in my mind like poison dripping slowly into my veins. 

That soft smile, tilted head, and that pity in her eyes felt like a blade sliding under my ribs.

She had simply arranged things and now the rumor had become true in the eyes of everyone, even in my own home.

I swallowed hard. “I should tell Hayden,” I murmured to myself but even as the words left my mouth, a bitter laugh followed them.

Tell the man who looked at me like something he owned? Tell the man whose dark eyes gleamed with possessive satisfaction whenever someone reminded him that I was his?

To Hayden, I wasn’t someone who needed to be believed. I was something that needed to be defended, a trophy, prize and a possession.

“Mom!” The sudden voice shattered the heaviness in the room, waking me from my thoughts.

I looked up just in time for a tiny blur to run toward me. “Emerald!”

She crashed into my arms, wrapping her little arms around my waist as I held her tightly, breathing in the scent of her hair like it was oxygen.

“My darling,” I whispered softly, kissing the top of her head. “Where did you run off to?” I asked and she giggled.

“I was playing downstairs!” she said proudly. “Mrs. Clara said I should come check if Mommy was sad again.”

My chest tightened hearing those words from her tiny voice. “Did she say that?” I asked quietly.

Emerald nodded innocently. “You look sad sometimes,” she said, touching my cheek with her small hand. “But it’s okay, Daddy says he makes you happy.”

My throat burned. “Yes… Daddy says that,” I murmured.

Emerald hugged me tighter. “I love you, Mommy,” she whispered.

“I love you too,” I whispered and in that moment, I realized something that cut deeper than any rumor.

I had something precious, something fragile and something that needed protection. Emerald, my beautiful little girl.

Suddenly, the whispers, the rumors, the accusations didn't matter as much as the fear creeping into my chest because if these powerful wolves started their games.

My daughter would be trapped inside them as I stared out the window again. Does Zach know?

The thought slipped into my mind before I could stop it. The way he looked at me at the gala and that moment when his eyes met mine across the crowd.

Another manipulation and my head throbbed.

“I just want peace,” I whispered quietly.

I wanted to disappear back to the shadows I came from, to the quiet life where no one watched me and where no powerful men fought over ownership of my existence.

Where my daughter could grow up far away from wolves tearing each other apart, but peace had never been something men like Hayden allowed and everything had started spiraling the moment he returned.

Just the thought of his name made something twist painfully in my chest, and it was maddening.

How could one person’s return destroy the fragile balance of my life so completely?

Before I could sink further into my thoughts, the door burst open and the sound echoed sharply across the room.

Emerald gasped excitedly. “Daddy!”

Hayden stood in the doorway, tall, commanding as his dark coat still clinging to his broad shoulders, his presence filling the room instantly like a storm rolling in.

The moment Emerald ran toward him, his expression softened.

“Princess,” he said warmly, crouching down as she launched herself into his arms. He lifted her easily, spinning her once.

“Did you miss me?” he asked.

“Yes!” Emerald laughed as Hayden kissed her cheek.

“Well, that’s good,” he said playfully. “Because I missed my little princess very much.”

I watched them silently from the outside; the scene looked perfect.

A powerful father, a loving child, a beautiful home, the perfect family, but beneath that polished surface. There was control, fear, and invisible chains.

Hayden carried Emerald toward the sofa and sat down with her on his knee.

“So,” he said casually, tickling her side, "Did you take good care of your mother today?” he asked.

Emerald giggled. “I always do!”

“Good girl,” he replied as his eyes flickered toward me.

Just for a second, that dark, calculating look returned and my stomach tightened.

He played with Emerald for a few more minutes, letting her braid his fingers with imaginary ribbons and telling her exaggerated stories about wolves who couldn’t howl properly.

Her laughter filled the room, and for a moment, I almost believed we were normal.

Then Hayden gently set her down. “Princess,” he said softly, brushing her hair back, “why don’t you go find Mrs. Clara and ask her for those cookies you like?” he said softly.

Emerald’s eyes lit up. “The chocolate ones?!”

Hayden chuckled. “Yes, the chocolate ones.”

She ran toward the door, but stopped halfway.

“Mommy?” she asked.

“Yes, sweetheart?” I replied, and she ran back and hugged me again.

“I will save you,” she said softly.

My chest tightened. “Thank you, my love,” I said, then she dashed out of the room.

The door closed behind her and instantly the warmth in the room vanished.

The silence returned, heavy, oppressive.

Hayden leaned back against the sofa, watching me with unreadable eyes.

“We need to talk,” he said calmly. My fingers tightened around the fabric of my dress.

“About what?” I asked quietly and he tilted his head slightly.

There was a moment of silence between us as he stared at me for a while. The room felt suffocating at that moment as I avoided looking directly into his eyes.

After a while, he coughed softly before he finally spoke.