Chapter 2

I was their biological daughter, while Lily was the one they had adopted.

But in my parents' eyes, it always seemed like Lily was the real daughter.

I looked down in disappointment. "I'll do it."

Everyone in the living room froze.

The smile on Lily's face stiffened for a moment. It then turned sarcastic. "Florence, are you sure? Have you really thought it through? That man is a lunatic. On a full moon night, he could bite you and kill you."

I met her gaze. "Wouldn't that be exactly what you wanted? Aren't you pleased?"

Lily bit her lip and said nothing.

Mary grabbed my hand. "Florence, think carefully."

"I have." I pulled away. "But I have one condition."

"What is it?"

"Lily has to publicly admit that she sabotaged me during the hunting contest. She needs to apologize to me."

"Have you lost your mind?" Ben slammed his fists against the table. "You're trying to ruin your sister!"

"Sister?"

I laughed. "When she gave me wolfsbane, did she consider the fact that I was her sister?"

Lily's eyes immediately welled up with tears. She threw herself into Mary's arms. "Mom, I didn't mean to do it! I didn't know it was wolfsbane. How can Florence accuse me like this? I'm so hurt."

Mary hugged her tightly. She seemed heartbroken. Then she glared at me. "Florence! Lily is still young and doesn't know better. Can't you just bear with her a little?"

"Bear with her?" I looked at Mary. "Haven't I done that my entire life?"

The living room fell silent for a few seconds.

Ben sighed. "Fine. We'll do it your way. But Lily can't apologize publicly. She can only do it at home. Just a few of us knowing is enough."

I looked at them and suddenly felt there was nothing left to say.

"Do whatever you want."

When I walked out of the living room, I ran into Edmund in the hallway.

He had just come out of Lily's room. His bathrobe hung loosely on his body, and his chest was covered with fresh scratch marks. The scent of roses on him was so strong it was almost suffocating.

When he saw me, he froze for a moment. He then frowned. "Are you really going to marry that lunatic?"

I tried to walk past him, but he grabbed my wrist.

"Florence! I know you're upset, but Lily is an Omega. She's fragile and can't handle stress. If I hadn't marked her, the Norfolk Pack wouldn't have let her go."

I shook his hand off and looked him straight in the eyes. "What about me?"

He froze.

"Edmund, we were engaged for seven years. In those seven years, every time we planned to complete the marking ceremony, Lily would cry and throw a tantrum, and you'd leave me behind to run to her."

I stared into his eyes. "When I needed you, you were celebrating her birthday with her. When I had a high fever, you took her to the prairie for stargazing. On my birthday–"

"Florence, that's enough!"

He cut me off. He looked embarrassed. "I know I've wronged you, but now isn't the time to dig up the past. I've already marked Lily. That's the reality.

"Haven't you always said you loved me?" His voice softened as he took my hand. "Florence, I can't bear to watch you get marked by that lunatic. How about this? Be my mistress instead. You can move into the Brock family as my mistress. You won't have to be marked by anyone else."

I froze.

He continued speaking. "Don't worry. Even though you won't have Luna's title, once you're in the Brock family, I'll have the maids take care of you. You'll live just like Lily–"

I suddenly yanked my hand back and slapped him across the face.

Edmund clutched his cheek and stared at me in shock.

"Edmund," I said, word by word. "Even if I die, I'll never be your mistress."

His expression instantly turned dark. "Florence! Don't be so ungrateful! Do you think that lunatic will treat you well? If you get marked by him, he'll bite you to death!"

I turned around and walked away.

I could hear his furious shouts from behind. "You'll regret this!"

I locked myself in my room and sat by the window in a daze.

I had known Edmund for seventeen years. We were engaged for seven years.

When we were children, he had once been the big brother who protected me. He never allowed anyone to bully me.

It wasn't until Lily appeared.

Just because she was a fragile Omega, everything had to revolve around her.

I still remembered that night when he came to see me. He was hesitant.

"Florence, Lily was just adopted by your parents. Her emotions are unstable. I need to take care of her a little longer."

I never had the right to refuse.

Later, Lily replaced me. Everyone liked her.

When Lily was in a bad mood, Edmund would send her roses.

When Lily wanted to go stargazing, he would transform into a giant silver wolf, carry her on his back, and run 185 miles to the grasslands in the northern territory.

That same night, I had a high fever and lay at home alone. I couldn't even get myself a glass of cold water.

At that moment, I suddenly realized how dumb I had been.