Chapter 4

Coralina

“No.”

I

say,

looking

defiantly

at

him.

“For

Hell’s

sake

Coralina,

Brie

is

dying!

Letting

her

have

this

win

won’t

kill

you!”

Maximus

huffs,

running

a

hand

through

his

hair–

his

usual

gesture

to

tame

his

frustration.

He softens

his

tone

slightly,

as

if

he's

being

way

more

generous

than

I

deserve.

“Look…

you

know

how

sensitive

she

is.

Why

can’t

you

be

more

understanding?”

I

glare

at

him

silently.

What

kind

of

world

is

it,

where

I'm

supposed

to

be

understanding

and

let others take advantage of me endlessly?

“The

last

two

days

are

enough

to

prove

that

you're

not

thinking

straight.

Just

take

a

few

weeks off,

let

Brie

handle

the

Western

merger.

It’ll

give

you

time

to

get

your

head

right.

In

any

case, everything will go back to normal soon.”

I

feel

a

shard

of

ice

pierce

through

my

chest.

He

still

thinks

I

am

throwing

a

tantrum.

For

years,

I

have

woken

up

before

dawn

to

review

financial

reports.

I

attended

pack

council meetings,

negotiated

contracts

and

supply

lines,

returned

home

to

prepare

lunch

for

his

darling while supervising the household staff by myself.

If

I

did

not

work

myself

to

the

bone

while

managing

his

household

and

his

public

image,

would

he be

so

relaxed

now?

Would

he

have

the

time

to

indulge

her

every

wish?

No,

he

wouldn't

be

standing

here

in

a

three-thousand-dollar

suit…

he

would

be

running

a

failing pack.

But

I

turn

my

face

away,

suddenly

feeling

too

tired

to

argue.

There

is

no

point

in

explaining

the value of my work to a man who thinks it’s his birthright.

“Fine,

you

want

me

to

leave?

I

will.”

Maximus

smiles

approvingly,

but

I

continue,

watching

the

glow

on

his

face

turn

to

ash.

“But

I'm

filing

for

labor

arbitration.

I

have

logged

every

hour,

every

negotiation,

and

every contract

I’ve

closed

for

Silver

Azure

Holdings

over

the

last

five

years.”

“What

nonsense are you

talking about?”

He

stiffens,

his

hand

going

slack

on

my

arm.

“I worked for the pack and the associated company for years, without any salary or appraisal. Once you compensate me for my wages and my severance, be rest assured! I won't stand in the way of impressing your first love!”

He

barks

out

a

laugh,

looking

at

me

like

I'm

going

crazy.

“You’re

my

Luna!

There’s

no

such

thing as

wages

when

you

are

just

doing

your

duty.”

“No,

Alpha

Maximus.”

I

push

against

his

chest

with

all

my

strength,

taking

advantage

of

his momentary disbelief.

“I

was

doing

the

job

YOU

were

supposed

to

do.

And

now,

I'm

done.”

I

walk

towards

the

conference

room

doors,

sliding

them

open.

The

partners

are

still

seated

at

the table.

Brielle looks irritated that I have returned, but she doesn't say anything yet– probably thinking that I must be here to apologise and set things back in her favour.

Instead

of

sitting

down,

I

turn

to

the

lead

partner.

“Mr.

Xander,

I

apologize

for

the

delay.

But

since

my

Alpha

has

decided

I

am

no

longer

fit

to

lead this project, I can’t fulfill my end of our side agreement."

His

expression

changes

instantly.

“What

do

you

mean,

Mrs.

Philip?

We

were

going

to

discuss

the integration

formula

today.

That’s

the

only

reason

we’re

here.”

I

give

him

a

polite

smile.

“I think you must have understood the situation by now, I am about to be removed from my position. As I am no longer an employee or a representative, I’m no longer authorised to share my formula and plans regarding this project. I'm afraid, you'll have to turn to your new General Manager for updates.”

Brielle’s

smile

falters.

“That’s

ridiculous!

I

have

just

assumed

the

position–”

The

partner

looks

between

us,

then

at

Maximus,

who

has

just

stepped

back

into

the

conference room.

He

says

coldly,

“If

that’s

the

case,

Mr.

Philip!

Then

we

can't

sign

this

deal.” “But Mr. Xander, we have an agreement–”

“And

we

have

been

sorely misled!”

He

slams

his

palm

against

the

table,

but

I

don’t

stay

to

hear

more.

The

chaos

in

the

room

is

like music

to

my

ears,

but

I

have

more

important

things

to

deal

with.

I

walk

out

of

the

hotel,

and

on

the

way

back

to

the

manor,

I

call

the

butler.

“There

is

a

change

in

plans.

I’m

coming

back

now,

I’ll

try

on

the

wedding

dresses

this

afternoon.” There

is

a

slight

pause.

“Very

good,

Miss

Coralina.

We

will

prepare

everything

for

your

arrival.”

I hang up and lean back against the car seat. I don't care about the dresses, the lace, the flowers or the vows. This marriage to Clyde Everest is a contractual agreement: I need the protection of his name, he needs a Luna to solidify his standing in the council, and I'm the weapon he's chosen to clear his dues from the Philip family.

It's a cooperation, and I'll make it my damn job to be the most perfect, cooperative partner he has ever had.

When

I

return

to

the

manor,

the

master

bedroom

has

been

transformed

into

a

wedding

designer's atelier.

Rolling racks fill the space, draped in shades of white, ivory, and champagne silk, with different silhouettes: mermaid, princess cut, ball gown, structured couture pieces… each one more elegant and eye-catching than the last.

I’m

genuinely

surprised,

arranging

this

many

custom

pieces

in

less

than

twenty-four

hours

is

an incredible feat.

The

butler

must

have

noticed

my

expression

because

he

explains

with

a

smile,

"The

Alpha requested

a

variety.

He

doesn't

want

you

to

feel

limited

by

your

choices."

I

hum

softly,

clamping

my

jaw

shut

out

of

embarrassment.

I

shouldn't

act

like

I

have

never

seen luxury,

even

though

each

piece

is

far

more

exquisite

than

anything

I've

worn

in

my

life.

I

start

the

process

mechanically,

stepping

into

a

heavy

satin

ballgown,

then

a

sleek

sheath

dress, then a dramatic mermaid cut with a ten-foot train.

Since

I

don't

care

about

the

outcome

anyway,

I

see

no

point

in

fussing.

I

stand

still,

let

them

adjust the fabric, and look at my reflection with a feeling of detachment in my heart.

My

waist

curves

smoothly,

my

skin

pale

and

shining.

And

so,

every

dress

works

like

a

dream

on the

ideal

bride…who

is

hollow

from

inside.

I

snap

out

of

my

thoughts

due

to

a

flash

lightning

up

my

face.

The

butler

is

busy

with

his

phone, snapping photos from every angle.

"Are

those

for

the

records?" I ask, tilting my head.

"For

the

Alpha,

Miss

Coralina!”

The

butler

says,

his

eyes

shining

with

a

rare

excitement.

"He

asked

for

immediate

updates,

he wants to see how the designs suit you."

Just

as

the

maids

are

draping

a

delicate

lace

veil

over

my

head,

my

phone

vibrates

on

the

vanity.

I glance at the caller ID, and my heart skips a beat.

"This

one,"

I

say,

pointing

to

the

dress

I

just

stepped

out

of,

a

simple,

elegant

silk

gown

with

an open back. "I need to take this call."

The

butler

looks

almost

regretful.

"But

Miss

Coralina,

there

are

still

four

more

from

the

Paris collection—”

“This

is

fine,"

I

say,

already

grabbing

my

phone.

"Thank

you

for

your

hard

work.” I walk onto the balcony and answer the phone.

"Mom?

Dad?"

"Carolina!

My

darling!"

My

mother’s

voice

is

bright,

competing

with

the

sound

of

wind

and

waves. "We’re

in

Santorini!

We

just

finished

a

cruise.

How

are

you,

my

dear?

And

how's

the

baby?”

She

squints

against

the

sunlight,

scanning

my

face

as

if

she

doesn't

trust

my

words

alone. The words get stuck in my throat.

Graham

and

Victoria

Jasper

always

believed

that

I

was

their

blessing

from

the

Moon

Goddess.

They

have

worked

hard

all

their

lives

to

give

me

a

safe

home

and

the

best

education…

I

can't

tell them, not yet.

They’re

finally

taking

the

trip

they’ve

dreamed

of

for

a

decade.

If

I

tell

them

I’ve

left

Maximus,

or that the baby is gone, they’ll be on the first flight back, frantic and heartbroken.

"Everything

is

fine

here.

I

just

wanted

to

hear

your

voices.

Are

you

enjoying

the

weather?"

I

keep

the

conversation

light,

focusing

on

their

travels.

I

don't

mention

the

divorce,

nor

the

fact that I’m getting married again in a few weeks.

There’s

no

need

to

involve

their

hearts

in

a

contract.

I'll

explain

everything

after

they

return. "We’ll

be

home

in

a

month,

honey,"

dad

says.

"Give

Alpha

Maximus

our

best.”

"I

will,"

I

say

as

bitterness

fills

my

mouth.

"Love

you

both.”

I

hang

up

and

stand

in

the

cool

evening

air

for

a

moment

before

returning

to

my

room,

which

has been

cleared

up

quite

efficiently.

I

reach

up

and

twist

the

diamond

ring

Maximus

forced

onto

my finger.

There

is

no

need

to

keep

up

the

act

now.

I toss

it onto

the bedside

table, where

it lands

with a

dull

clink.

Brielle

and

Maximus

stole

my

project

and

snatched

the

bonus

that

could

have

been

my

bridge

to

a new life. But nevermind, I'll just sell off the ring he is so hell-bent on imposing on me.

It’s

the

least

he

owes

me

for

the

five

years

I

wasted

building

his

throne.