Chapter 4

Back home, I sat in front of my laptop for an hour, staring at a blank email draft.

I didn't know how to explain to my advisor that I would be joining the search program with a pup on the way; I didn't know how to convince him that even as a mother, I wouldn't let anything interfere with the program.

I had even considered where I would have to go next if my advisor rejected my participation. Which city should we go to?

After nearly five hours of writing, deleting, and rewriting, I finally put together an email. I explained my situation honestly and respectfully, and asked if he would be willing to have me still.

After all, my flight tomorrow was at 7:00 pm. If his answer was no, I would withdraw without complaint.

That evening, I received a dinner invitation from Logan. It was at Moonlight Bistro, the same place I had booked to celebrate our two-year anniversary.

I didn't want to go, but I was afraid refusing would raise suspicion.

He was ten years older than me and was a sharp, ambitious man with a mind built for business. If I declined, especially a date, he would notice something was off.

I had never turned him down before, especially not when it came to things like this, so I agreed.

I forced myself to stay calm, not allowing any unease to show during dinner.

I had to act just like before—obedient, gentle, and sensible, while keeping the pup, dissolution agreement, and research program under the covers.

If he found out about any of them, I might not be able to leave. I just had to hold it together for 24 more hours. This time tomorrow, I would be on a plane. Even if he found out the truth, it would be too late.

In the restaurant, Logan stood up as soon as he saw me. A bouquet of lilies cozied up in his arms. He handed them to me, almost a little too eagerly, and I casually set them aside.

He smiled, his face full of sincerity. "This dinner is for two things… First, to make up for missing our anniversary. Second, to explain what happened at the hospital…"

Before he could continue, his assistant rushed over and whispered in his ear. Bleeding, emergency, Bianca, and critical were among the keywords I caught.

Logan's face paled in an instant. He shot to his feet so fast that he knocked over the water glass, which shattered on the floor.

I gave a bitter smile. Of course, Bianca had to interrupt my final farewell dinner with him.

I stood up, too, ready to leave, but then the room spun. The floor felt like it was drifting away beneath me. My body went weightless.

Before I collapsed to the floor, Logan held me in place. "Send her to the hospital…"

After handing me off to his assistant, Logan left without even looking back. When I woke up again, I saw him standing just outside the hospital room, talking to a doctor.

"Her fainting was due to low blood sugar," the doctor said. "She's extremely weak right now. You need to make sure she eats regularly, especially since she's—"

"Logan!" I interrupted the doctor, my face pale. Cold sweat trickled down my spine as I pondered the possibility of him finding out about the pup. By then, how else would I ever leave?

"You're awake. I…"

Logan was about to say something, but his phone rang again. "Okay, I'm on my way."

Before leaving, he told me to take the doctor's advice and step down from lab activities. He would tender a leave application on my behalf.

Once he left, the doctor came over. "Your mate doesn't know you're carrying a pup. Aren't you going to tell him?"

"Oh. I want it to be a surprise… Please keep it a secret for now."

The doctor nodded with a knowing smile.

Outside the room, I could hear nurses chatting softly as they passed by.

"Gosh, did you see? The CEO of Hunt Corporation reserved the entire floor for his partner. No visitors allowed!"

"Of course. Didn't you see she's expecting? For a man like him, an heir means everything."

"I also heard they grew up together, basically childhood sweethearts. That kind of bond is rare these days!"

The man they were talking about was none other than Logan, my mate. However, the partner in their conversation wasn't me, but Bianca—though soon, it would become reality.

Still, knowing that didn't stop the ache in my chest.

After staying one night in the hospital for observation, I was discharged the next morning. Thank goodness the fainting spell caused by low blood sugar hadn't affected the pup.

I hailed a cab straight to the Werewolf City Hall. There, I collected two official copies of the Mate Bond Dissolution Certificate, the werewolf equivalent of a human divorce decree.

I went to the post office next and mailed one copy to Logan; the other, I tucked into my suitcase. At last, I headed to the airport.

When I checked my inbox, I found two emails from Morgan Snow, my advisor.

The first congratulated me on becoming a mother, gently reminding me to take care of my health. The second detailed the work arrangements.

He had already arranged for a caretaker at the research base who would help with my daily needs, ensure my nutrition, and support a healthy environment for me until the pup was born.

At the airport, a colleague who had come to pick me up waved excitedly when he saw me. "Celeste, over here… Mr. Snow arranged first-class for you. Let's go through the VIP entrance."

He took my suitcase and led the way.

Somewhere in the crowd, a man turned around and started walking in my direction. I didn't notice it at that time.

"What's wrong, Logan? The Panhem team is over there. Where are you going?"

Logan paused mid-step, eyes scanning the crowd. "I heard someone say Celeste's name… I thought I saw her."

He continued searching the crowd, trying to catch another glimpse of me, but I had already stepped into the VIP lounge. There was no way he would find me now.

"She's probably still at the hospital," Bianca said with a light laugh, patting his shoulder. "And if not, then definitely buried in the lab. You know how obsessed she is with research."

She gave him a nudge, signaling that he should meet with the overseas partners and not waste time standing there.

Before boarding, I powered off my phone, removed the SIM card, and tossed it into the trash.

Goodbye, Logan. Goodbye, to everything that once was.