Chapter 4

I was dragged to an open space, and guards held down my shoulders, forcing me to kneel on the ground.

When the first lash came down, I was in so much pain that my vision went black, and I vaguely remembered—

The day I found out the Alpha’s family was doing everything they could to prevent us from being together, I broke up with him with broken‑hearted, but Bleiz was whipped 99 lashes when he got home, and then came back and grabbed my hand as if nothing had happened, saying,

“Nancy, remember, even if the whole world is against it, I only want you.”

The second lash fell, and I bit my lip until it bled, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth.

I remembered the day Bleiz came back from a mission three days earlier than usual, covered in injuries, and the first thing he did was bring me the sacred fruit he had picked himself, saying that it wouldn’t be fresh if it took too long, so he drove for a day and a night without sleep just so I could eat fresh sacred fruit.

The third lash, the fourth lash…

Each lash felt like it was hitting my heart, hurting more than the wounds on my back.

By the fifteenth lash, I could almost hear Bleiz’s distressed voice: “How did you get hurt again?” “Let me see...”

By the nineteenth lash, I was in so much pain that I was losing consciousness, and my ears were ringing.

I vaguely heard someone calling my name, but I couldn’t tell if it was reality or a hallucination.

When the last lash came down, I finally couldn’t hold on any longer, my vision went black, and I completely fainted.

When I woke up again, I was lying on a bed, my back burning with pain.

“Nancy!” Bleiz immediately rushed over, his eyes bloodshot, “Thank God! You are awake. Does it still hurt?”

Looking at his anxious appearance, I suddenly felt a little dazed.

In the past, when I had a fever, he would also stay by my bedside like this, never leaving my side.

But now, I don’t have a fever, but I was whipped by his parents, and he watched indifferently.

I silently withdrew my hand, unwilling to look at him.

Bleiz froze for a moment, then opened his mouth again to explain: “Nancy, it’s not that I didn’t want to speak up for you, it’s just that if I had stopped them then, they would have punished you even more severely...”

“So,” my voice was hoarse, “you also believe that I hurt your child?”

Bleiz’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and in the end, he chose silence.

This moment of silence was like a dull knife, brutally tearing open my chest.

My eyes red, I looked at him, tears teetering on the edge of my eyes: “I’ll just ask you one question, do you believe me?”

“Nancy,” he frowned slightly, his voice tight, his tone subtly carrying a hint of anger that even he didn’t notice, “The evidence and witnesses are all there, how can you expect me to believe you?”

“I said, just wait until this period passes, why did you have to cause trouble?”

My tears suddenly fell.

I thought I wouldn’t feel pain anymore, but my heart still ached as if someone was tearing it apart.

I hurriedly turned my head, not wanting him to see me in such a mess.

“Okay, since you don’t believe me, then let’s end it.”

“I’ll fulfill your wishes, you four can live happily together as a family.”

Bleiz suddenly froze, his pupils shrinking sharply: “What did you say?”

“Wasn’t I clear enough?” My eyes red, I stubbornly looked at him, “I am willing to fulfill your wishes!”

“Bang!”

Bleiz kicked over the table, sending glass shards flying.

He grabbed my wrist, anger churning in his eyes: “Nancy! What the hell are you talking about?” “I’ve always loved you! How could you try to facilitate me being with another woman?”

My eyes were torn, but I stubbornly met his gaze, saying nothing.

After a long standoff, Bleiz took a deep breath.

Finally, he forcibly suppressed his anger and hugged me tightly: “This is the end of it. Mona has already forgiven you, and I won’t hold it against you either.”

“But remember,” he tightened his grip, “you mustn’t say you’re leaving again. Everything I’m doing is to elope with you.”

I didn’t tell him that I had already decided to leave.

“She forgave me so easily?” I asked softly, “Didn’t she set any conditions?”

Bleiz stiffened, and after a moment of silence, he lit a cigarette. In the swirling smoke, he spoke slowly.

“She wants to hold a mate bond ceremony.”

“She said she wants the children to know that their parents were once in love and chose each other.”

He paused, then turned to look at me, “But this mate bond ceremony is fake, just to give the children an explanation. Don’t overthink it.”

My lips trembled, but I couldn’t say a word.

...

Bleiz stayed by my side for three whole days. During these three days, he took care of me almost flawlessly.

When feeding me elixir, he always blew on it gently to cool it down before carefully bringing it to my lips.

At night, the slightest movement from me would wake Bleiz. He would frantically grab my hand until he was sure I was okay before daring to close his eyes.

When the healer cut me for therapy, he held me in his arms, gently covered my eyes with his fingers, and whispered, “Don’t look, it’ll be over soon.”

But as soon as I recovered a little, he immediately started preparing for the mate bond ceremony.

To prevent me from “causing trouble,” he even assigned guards to watch me all the time.

I didn’t resist, just numbly packed my luggage.

After packing, I returned every single thing he had given me over the years to the Luna.

These things never belonged to me, just like Bleiz and I belonged to two different worlds.

On the day of the mate bond ceremony, Mona sent me a crystal stone. Under the moonlight, it projected the scene of the mate bond ceremony.

Bleiz, wearing a suit, gently placed a ring on Mona’s finger.

They gazed at each other deeply amidst the blessings of the crowd.

The four of them happily cut the cake.

Each scene was like a knife, slowly tearing apart my already devastated heart.

Just as I was about to throw away the crystal stone, I heard footsteps approaching.

The Alpha and Luna appeared; their eyes cold: “The procedures are all completed. You will now leave with the escort team.”

Luna handed over a certificate, “We guarantee that as long as you leave, he will never find you.”

I silently accepted the certificate and picked up the luggage I had packed earlier.

When I walked out of the chamber, the moonlight was perfect.

I didn’t look back; I followed the escort team leaving away.

I didn’t say goodbye to Bleiz.

Because, for the rest of my life, we won’t meet again, never and ever...