Chapter 1

When the settlement notice from the Memory Bank arrived at the Kane estate, Vivian was trying on the new dress her mother, Elena, had prepared for her.

Elena straightened the hem of her dress and smiled.

“Tonight is your homecoming celebration. Everyone will be there. From now on, you won't have to envy anyone for having parents by their side.”

Vivian lowered her eyes.

“But will Lydia be there?”

“Of course.”

Elena sounded certain.

“She has already made up for everything she owes you. Alpha Adrian said that once the debt is settled, this matter will be over.”

Just then, her father, Adrian Kane, walked out of his study.

He was holding a settlement receipt.

“The Memory Bank just confirmed that all ten million coins have been transferred.”

Vivian froze.

“Did Lydia really sell all her memories?”

“She wouldn't have gone that far. She must have sold only a few.”

Adrian placed the receipt on the table. There was even a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

“She has been spoiled by us since childhood. It's not a bad thing to teach her that the Kane family's resources don't automatically belong to her.”

Elena sighed softly.

“I only wanted her to sell a few insignificant memories to show you she was sincere. I didn't expect her to take it so seriously.”

Despite her words, there wasn't the slightest trace of concern on her face.

To her, the Memory Bank was simply a new kind of trading institution in werewolf society.

Some wolves sold memories of their ex-partners to forget the pain of heartbreak. Others sold trivial childhood experiences in exchange for coins.

Besides, as far as she was concerned, if memories could be sold, they could certainly be bought back.

So what was there to worry about?

My brother, Xavier, picked up the settlement statement and raised an eyebrow.

“Ten million? How many trivial little memories did she have to sell to get that much?”

Elena waved away his concern.

“Probably just memories of falling down as a child or getting scolded by her teachers.”

What they didn't know was that such trivial memories were worth no more than twenty-five coins at the Memory Bank.

Yet my dear family had claimed I owed Vivian ten million.

Only memories that were deeply cherished, memories carrying profound emotions, could fetch hundreds of thousands or even millions of coins.

They also had no idea that once a memory was sold, it was gone forever.

No amount of money could ever buy it back.

Vivian bit her lip and lowered her head, looking guilty.

“But won't Lydia be upset?”

Alpha Adrian glanced at her and gently patted her head.

“If she truly considers you her sister, she won't begrudge you such a small compensation.”

Just then, his phone rang.

The caller ID showed the Memory Bank.

“Mr. Kane, Miss. Lydia has just completed her final transaction.”

The employee sounded unusually serious.

“Since the total transaction amount is quite substantial, we need to confirm once again whether you would like all the coins transferred to the account you designated.”

Adrian glanced at Vivian.

“Transfer them.”

“Put every last coin into my younger daughter's account.”

There was a brief silence on the other end.

“Would you like to review the transaction list first? It includes several memories involving family members, as well as memories related to her fated mate.”

Adrian frowned.

“What is there to review?”

“She sold them herself. She knows what she sold. Just transfer the money as soon as possible. Don't delay tonight's homecoming celebration.”

Not long after he hung up, Vivian's phone chimed with a deposit notification.

She covered her mouth in shock when she saw the amount.

“Dad, are all these coins really mine?”

“They're compensation you deserve.”

Adrian answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“You suffered for eighteen years out there, while she enjoyed eighteen years of our love. These things should have belonged to you in the first place.”

Elena smiled too.

“The fact that your sister was willing to give you the money means she's finally learned to behave.”

“When she comes home tonight, don't hold the past against her.”

Vivian nodded, her eyes reddening.

“As long as Lydia is willing to come back, I don't need any of this. I can return the money to her.”

Xavier immediately placed a hand over hers.

“Keep what you've been given.”

“She took eighteen years of your life. Isn't it only fair that she give something back?”

Just then, Julian Mercer walked through the door.

He was Lydia's fated mate and fiancé.

He placed two gift boxes on the table and opened one of them.

“This is the crown I prepared for Lydia.”

Elena took a look inside, and her expression turned slightly awkward.

It was last year's model, an old crown with a small, barely noticeable scratch along the edge.

Julian explained casually.

“She used to care too much about things like this. That's why she became so spoiled.”

“Letting her wear an older design might help cure her vanity.”

Elena nodded repeatedly.

“You really have thought this through.”

The other box contained a brand-new, much more expensive crown.

Julian took it out and personally handed it to Vivian with a smile.

“This one is much more suited to you.”

Vivian accepted it shyly.

Then Julian took out his phone and sent Lydia a voice message.

“Eight o'clock tonight. Vivian's homecoming celebration.”

“Be there on time and apologize to her in front of everyone.”

“If you're sincere about it, we can still keep our engagement.”

After sending the message, he looked up at the others.

“Does she know the test is over?”

“She does,” Elena replied confidently.

“She's probably hiding somewhere crying. Once she's done, she'll come back on her own.”

Adrian lifted his teacup and added coldly,

“She can come back.”

“But before she steps through the door, she must apologize to Vivian.”

No one knew that by then, Lydia had already forgotten who they were.