Chapter 1

Five years ago, I discovered that my mate of three years had been spending nights with his childhood sweetheart, and even the mating certificate he gave me was fake. I left him without hesitation.

Five years later, he mocked me at a banquet for looking disheveled, but I was merely searching through the trash for an eighty-million-dollar ring that my son had lost.

……

"Aria, you look pathetic digging through trash like this."

"Just apologize to Bella, and I can still offer you a servant position. Working for a living is better than rummaging through garbage."

Ethan looked down at me condescendingly.

Hearing the commotion, people gathered around, their gazes sweeping over my dirty dress hem with disgust.

"Alpha Rivers, who is this...?" someone asked obsequiously.

Ethan curled his lips with contempt.

"An ungrateful old acquaintance."

Bella Rose gently took his arm, smiling gracefully.

"But I should thank Aria. Thanks to her willingness to let go, Ethan and I achieved our current status."

Everyone immediately began flattering them.

"Alpha Rivers is so young and accomplished, yet still shows mercy to old flames - how rare!"

"Alpha Rivers and Miss Rose are such a perfect match. I heard good news is coming soon?"

Bella Rose lowered her head shyly.

"Yes, the mating ceremony is next month. We hope everyone will join us."

I froze, instinctively looking at Ethan.

He and Bella Rose... hadn't they already performed the mating ritual?

Five years ago, he gave me that ridiculous fake certificate, then immediately performed the real ritual with Bella Rose. And they still haven't had their ceremony?

Ethan's expression flickered unnaturally for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

He gave a casual "mm" in agreement.

"Alpha Rivers is so blessed - Miss Rose is beautiful and virtuous!"

"Exactly! Rivers Pack is flourishing, and now he's won such a beauty - truly a winner in life!"

The flattery continued endlessly.

To curry favor with him, someone pointed at me and shrieked deliberately.

"Where did this beggar come from? What are the staff doing? How did they let someone like this in!"

I looked down at myself.

The cake was large, and cream covered me completely. Even my face and dress hem were stained with mud, and my sleeves had cream smudges - I was indeed a mess.

I quickly explained.

"Sorry, I dropped something in the trash. Once I find it, I'll clean this up."

Someone snorted with laughter.

"What could you be looking for so long without finding? I think you're just trying to reconnect with Alpha Rivers!"

"I'm not..."

"Get out of here now!"

A uniformed pack servant rushed over, harshly interrupting me.

"This isn't a place for someone like you!"

I took a deep breath.

"I just felt it a moment ago. Give me one more minute and I'll..."

That person named Thomas shrilly interrupted.

"I've seen plenty of women like you! How convenient - you didn't lose it earlier or later, but right when Alpha Rivers appeared?"

Laughter erupted around us.

Thomas became even more smug, starting to push and shove me.

"Do you know how much this carpet costs? You couldn't afford to replace it even if we sold you!"

"Get out of here right now!"

I dodged away and looked up to meet Ethan's cold stare.

He spoke, his voice carrying familiar mockery.

"Five years apart, and now this is your only way to get my attention?"

I was almost laughing from anger.

Before I could speak, Bella Rose gently took his arm with a fragile demeanor.

"Ethan, don't be like this. Aria might really be in trouble."

Ethan snorted coldly.

"She chose to leave back then, and now she's back putting on this show for whom? I remember every word you screamed at Bella back then!"

Bella Rose's eyes reddened at just the right moment.

"It's fine, I forgave Aria long ago. Even if she doesn't apologize, it's okay. But I never imagined sister would degrade herself to this extent."

"She deserves it all, Bella. Don't think too much about it."

Ethan gently patted her hand, then turned back to me with that patronizing expression.

"As long as you kneel down and kowtow to Bella in apology, I might consider forgiving you."

I'd had enough.

"Are you two mentally ill?"

"I already told you I'm here looking for something."

"Fine, fine! How much money do you want? I'll transfer it to you!"

Ethan sneered and pulled out his phone. "Just say how much you want - stop embarrassing yourself here."

The surrounding guests tittered, some whispering.

"I've seen this type of woman before - just trying to get Alpha Rivers' attention."

"If you're going to make excuses, at least make them believable! Since you insist, how much was this thing you lost? Did you buy some knockoff from a street vendor..."

"eighty-million."

I spoke calmly.

Ethan's brow furrowed.

"What?"

"I said, that ring is worth eighty-million."

I methodically wiped the cream from my hands.

"This ring was specially commissioned by my mate from an Italian artist, valued at eighty-million. Since Alpha Rivers is so generous, why don't you transfer the money now?"

The air instantly froze.

The next second, explosive laughter erupted around us.

Thomas laughed so hard tears came out.

"You crazy woman must be money-mad! eighty-million? I might as well say my shoes are worth thirty million!"

A flash of smug mockery crossed Bella Rose's eyes as she deliberately covered her mouth in surprise.

"Aria, when did you become like this? I know you need money badly, but you don't need to extort people, do you?"

Ethan looked at me with complete disappointment.

"Aria, I never imagined you'd sink this low. Fine, for old times' sake, I'll transfer you three hundred. Take it for emergencies."

He started to pull out his phone to transfer money.

The next second, he exclaimed in shock.

"Why is your bank account frozen?"