Chapter 6

I tore myself out of his arms and slapped him—hard.

He just stood there, stunned, one hand on his cheek, completely at a loss.

Blair stared at me. “Eva, why did you—?”

I covered my mouth and ran straight to the bathroom.

I vomited so violently it felt like I was throwing up my heart, liver, and lungs.

Blair followed quickly, handed me a bottle of water, and kept patting my back to help me breathe.

“Why are you throwing up like this? You’re really suffering, girl.”

Alpha Scott stood at the door, a flicker of distress on his face.

Red fingerprints burned bright on his pale cheek.

I shot him a look full of hatred. “Do you know how disgusting you make me feel? That bottle of perfume—you picked it on purpose, didn’t you? The same scent Julie used to wear.”

He knew exactly what I meant.

His face turned ghostly pale in an instant.

What the hell had he been thinking when he did that?

Didn’t it disgust him, too?

“Eva,” he said, voice low, “back then, I didn’t get it. I thought it was the scent that gave me peace.”

“But later, I realized... it was you who gave me peace.”

“I really wanted to marry you.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“Then it’s simple. Two choices. Either get Julie out of our lives—completely.”

“Or we draw the line here. From now on, don’t ever show up in front of me again.”

Alpha Scott stiffened.

He was actually hesitating.

Blair shouted, “What are you still thinking about? Of course you should choose Eva! You’ve known each other for seven years—been together for four! Did all that mean nothing to you?”

But Alpha Scott didn’t agree.

He mumbled, “But she’s dying, Eva. She’s really dying.”

“She’s a model… and she has ALS. Do you know what that kind of despair feels like?”

His words felt like a slap.

Julie was losing her life.

And I was losing the love of mine.

What a cruel joke.

“Scott, you’re my boyfriend. You pity her so much that you’re going to marry her? You pity her so much that you ignore my feelings and keep running back to her?”

“Can’t you tell the difference between pity and love? Or do you just not want to?”

He’d used her illness as a cover so many times—always an excuse for his lingering feelings.

He was just stubborn.

Alpha Scott said nothing.

He clenched his fists, knuckles white, but still couldn’t say a single word.

Then his phone rang, slicing through the silence like a knife.

He pulled it out.

There was shouting on the other end. “Come quick! Julie’s trying to kill herself! She says she doesn’t want to live anymore!”

His face changed immediately—panic.

And just then, the nurse called me into the operating room.

He had already made his choice.

I smiled, lips trembling. “Go. Make sure she doesn’t die. Otherwise, you’ll hate me forever.”

And honestly, being hated by someone like him? That would be a damn tragedy.

He looked at me, eyes full of desperation.

“Eva, please. Don’t decide anything yet. I’m the baby’s father. Let’s talk when I get back…”

My lips twitched.

I dug my nails deep into my palm.

Seven years—like feeding scraps to a dog.

His phone rang again, the voice on the other end more urgent this time.

Blair snapped, “Alpha Scott, do you even have a conscience?”

He looked visibly shaken.

Maybe he really was scared Julie would actually do it this time.

Blair was furious. “Julie’s a manipulator! Can’t you see the games she’s playing?”

Of course he could.

Alpha Scott wasn’t stupid.

He just kept giving in.

He just couldn’t risk that one-in-a-million chance she might jump for real.

“Eva,” he pleaded again, “wait until I get back. We’ll figure it out then.”

I didn’t say a word. He turned to Blair instead.

“Blair, please. Watch her for me. Don’t let her go in alone.”

Blair barked, “Watch her yourself! What kind of man are you?”

I told him to wait.

Then I grabbed the half-empty bottle of mouthwash, unscrewed the cap, and poured it all over his head.

“Alpha Scott,” I said calmly, “it’s over. Don’t come looking for me again.”

Water ran down his face, dripping onto the floor.

He looked ridiculous.

The minty splash stung his eyes, turning them red.

He stared at me blankly, voice hoarse. “I’m sorry.”

I watched his retreating back.

And all I felt was defeat.

Blair stomped her foot in anger. “That asshole!”

Then she turned to me, concern softening her tone. “Eva, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

It’s not like I ever believed he’d choose me anyway.

Even if he chose me,

even if Julie disappeared from our lives completely—

we could never go back to the way things were.

A shattered mirror can never be made whole again.

Right before entering the operating room,

I sent him a few messages:

“If you want someone to have your pup, there’ll be plenty who are willing.”

“But in this world, there’s only one Julie.”

I wanted him to remember—

our pup was killed by him and Julie, with their own hands.

I wanted him to remember how he once lay his head on my belly and asked,

“Eva, do you want a boy or a girl?”

He was the one who wanted this pup.

He was also the one who gave it up.

That’s how you kill someone.

Just like that.