Chapter 7

On the day of the Spring Hunt last year, I hadn't gone. An old wound had flared up again, and it had gotten infected from caring for the wounded beforehand. I was so weak that I couldn't even summon the strength to stand up. Hearing that a rare herb at the hunt's location could soothe my symptoms, I had no choice but to plead with Finn for help.

I dialed his phone over and over, calling him more than a dozen times before he finally picked up. He told me he was too busy organizing the Spring Hunt and that no one could be spared to bring me medicine.

"Aren't you supposed to be a brilliant healer? Heal yourself, or go to Silver Spring to purify your wound if you really can't handle it."

A sudden wave of nausea turned my stomach upside down.

So... he was spending that entire day with Stella.

"Kiss! For your friendship!"

"Kiss her!" everyone shouted.

Inside, Stella looked up at Finn, hooked her finger around his tie, pulled him close, and tipped her chin up to kiss him on the cheek.

Finn allowed her to kiss him, making not the slightest move to push her away.

It wasn't until Stella stepped back with a satisfied smirk that he knit his brows slightly.

"Alright, that's enough. Nothing happened between us back then, and this time has indeed gone too far. After today, this game ends for good."

His friends groaned in disappointment. "Why end it now? It's so much fun! Besides, Stella..."

The chime of the doorbell rang out, cutting off the laughter instantly.

Everyone turned their heads as the butler escorted me into the room.

A flicker of unnoticeable panic darted across the depths of Finn's eyes, but he quickly regained his supreme confidence, gesturing for me to look at the coffee table.

Sitting right in the center was a divorce certificate.

I picked it up. To make the game seem as real as possible, Finn had the elders certify a real one.

Several wolves on the couch couldn't hold back their chuckles.

"Eloise, remember two years ago? Try not to drip your tears onto the paper this time and ruin it!"

"As if she dares to sign it! I bet she can't even hold the pen straight."

Stella wore that innocent smile I knew all too well.

"Eloise, please don't be angry. Finn just wanted to confirm whether you still care about him, that's all."

Finn leaned back against the sofa, his tone dripping with patronizing certainty.

"Admit that you're jealous of Stella, apologize to her, and put the ring back on. I'll tear this divorce certificate up right now."

Back then, when I held a fake divorce certificate, my hands had trembled so violently I couldn't even write my own name. I had wept and asked him if he really didn't want me anymore, until he personally carried me back to the bedroom and spent the entire night soothing me.

I didn't respond. I just quickly skimmed what was written on it. Finn's name was already signed.

Beside us, someone even whipped out a phone and aimed it directly at my face, no longer bothering to film secretly, but openly recording my impending loss of composure.

They were itching to blast this video out so their circle could have a fresh piece of entertainment.

"Alright everyone, the game is almost over! Let's count down!"

"Three!"

The corners of Finn's lips curled upward.

"Two!"

I picked up the fountain pen from the table.

"One!"

The tip of the pen touched the paper, and I signed my name firmly.

As the last stroke was completed, all the laughter in the living room vanished.

The confident smile on Finn's face froze entirely.