Chapter 9 Lie

Aeris' POV

I didn't dare waste a single second. I rushed straight to the house Caius and I once shared.

"Let's sever our mate bond right now," I called out.

I stood at the door and didn't enter. I pressed the doorbell.

After a moment, I heard Caius' voice. "Wait a minute."

I stepped back, standing in the yard I used to know so well. Ever since I fell ill, I hadn't stood outside to look at the sun in a long time. The sickness was like a demon haunting me that I could never shake off. It had lodged itself in my bones, feeding on my life.

I greedily soaked in the sunlight and let my gaze wander over the plants in the yard. A tree came to my mind. Back when Caius and I had just become mates, I had carved our names into its trunk. I found it and traced the faint grooves with my finger.

Once, all I had wanted was to be with him for life. I had been so sure I had found the right person. The names were still there, but the people had changed.

"Aren't we leaving? Are you regretting it now?"

I turned to look at Caius.

He looked worn too. There were dark circles beneath his eyes.

I gave him a cursory glance and shook my head firmly. "If there's one thing I'll never regret, it's that I'll never regret severing my mate bond with you. But I do wonder… We did have happy times. Those weren't lies, and I'm sure you did love me once. So why?"

Caius froze. His eyes didn't linger on me. I thought he would tell me to get lost or say something cruel. Surprisingly, he simply stood with me beneath the tree.

The scene should have been a tender one. It reminded me of when we loved each other and how we used to lie in the yard talking under the stars.

But his next words shattered it all. "You're wrong, Aeris. You were only ever a tool for me to get revenge on your father. I never loved you."

"What?" I stared at him in disbelief. "What do you mean, get revenge on my dad? He's been injured in the battle against the Rogues. You were there…"

My voice slowed as a terrible thought came to my mind. My body went cold, and goosebumps broke out across my skin.

I stared wide-eyed at the man I had once loved in horror. "Was it you? Were you the reason why he's so severely wounded?"

My heartbeat thundered against my ribcage. I feared his answer.

Caius' face remained emotionless and devoid of any expression. His tone was so nonchalant that it seemed as if he was just talking about something casual, like dinner.

"I did," he confirmed.

"Why?" I lunged to grab his tie. "What did my dad ever do to you? He's been fighting for his life ever since! He can't even lift a finger!"

I roared, lifting my other hand to slap him. But he was faster. He seized my wrist in a flash. His grip was so tight that my bones nearly cracked.

"Instead of wasting time here, why don't we go and sever our bond? After that, you can go ask your dad what he did."

He flung me aside. I stumbled, crashing into the tree trunk. Pain shot through my back, and half my body went numb. Only by bracing against the bark could I stay upright.

The charged emotions and physical altercation caused me to gulp for air. The familiar burn spread across my body again. The effects from the potion were wearing off.

Caius' cold and cutting words nearly broke me down completely. "Your father isn't the man you think he is, Aeris. You and your father owe this to me. What you're suffering now isn't even a tenth of what my sister went through."

His sister?

As I had gone numb with pain, my mind churned sluggishly.

Caius' younger sister, Mira Everette, had gone missing during an attack when she was still a pup. His family had never stopped searching for her. When they found her, she was dead. All that remained was her corpse.

What did that have to do with Dad?

"Get in the car now, Aeris. This is your last chance to save your dad, which is by severing our mate bond," Caius said mercilessly.

I sniffed hard and forced back the tears that would be pointless to shed. Trailing behind him, I got into his car.

The ride was silent. I leaned against the window, staring blankly at the scenery outside until we reached the altar.

The process was absurdly smooth. A long time ago, I had sat there, full of joy. I had looked forward to forming a mate bond with Caius so much back then.

Now, everything was different. We were different.

Neither of us spoke. I pulled two prepared, signed copies of the mate bond severance agreement from my bag. But as I handed them to the elder, Caius' phone rang.

Freya's frantic voice could be heard over the phone. "Cai, Zack's sick. He won't stop crying. Please come and help me take him to the hospital."

"I'm coming." Caius strode out without hesitation, not even sparing me a glance.

Just like always. Whenever Freya called, he would toss me aside immediately.

But not today!

I only had less than an hour left. In my desperation, I blocked his path. My body was deteriorating. I might not be able to make it here again next time, not to mention carrying out the mate bond severance.

"No! We'll sever our bond now!"

Caius' steps never faltered. Had I not stepped aside, he would have knocked me down.

"Zack needs me now," he said uncaringly.

I tried to keep up with his strides and continued begging breathlessly, "Caius, please. I need that money for my dad. I'm sick. I'm dying. I don't have much time."

At that, he finally came to a halt.

I took this as a sign of hope for me, so I continued, "Caius, I only have half an hour left. After that, I could die at any moment. Please don't delay any longer. Let's just get it done today, please."

He fixed his eyes on me icily. After hearing what I'd said, he let out a cold chuckle. He said with a scoff, "To stop me from leaving, you'd even lie about dying?"

He frowned in disgust as he shoved me aside. "You're doing this to keep me from saving Zack, huh? I never thought you'd stoop this low."

I clutched weakly at his wrist. "Don't…"

I had so little time left. Just half an hour more, and my three hours would be up. I still had to go to the hospital afterward…

In the next instant, he shoved me hard.

My head hit the ground. Pain exploded at the back of my skull, and blood pooled beneath me.

Through blurry vision, I saw Caius glance at me from the driver's seat. His gaze was icy.

He spat, "Stop pretending, Aeris! I don't believe you're sick, and I don't believe you'll die. Zack needs me. We'll reschedule the bond severance."

Helplessly, I watched him drive away. He didn't look back, not even once.

I clawed at the ground weakly for help. I hadn't gotten the money. My dad still needed me to pay for his hospital bills. I couldn't die here!

But the pain spread across my whole body and consumed me. My eyelids were so heavy that I couldn't keep them open.

On the wall, the clock hands struck the hour, signaling that I had reached the end of my three hours.

I hadn't made it to the hospital.

Was my life going to end here?