Chapter 3

Diana's POV

"Don't worry. Just give me a few more days," I reassured him.

I was just hanging up the phone when Lucius walked back into the room to grab his files.

When he caught a glimpse of the smile lingering on my face—a smile he hadn't seen in a very long time—his brows instantly furrowed.

"Who were you talking to?"

"My aunt," I replied, brushing it off.

He didn't seem to doubt me. After all, he knew that for all these years, I had only ever had eyes for him, and my contact list had dwindled to nothing but a handful of female relatives.

Picking up his documents, Lucius turned on his heel, his voice icy. "Something came up at the company. I'll be back tomorrow."

I didn't respond.

I knew him too well. Just like countless times before, tomorrow would come and go, followed by the day after, and the day after that, and he wouldn't show.

Over the next few days, my phone was repeatedly bombarded with videos of him and Lucy. He was taking her to parties and social gatherings.

He looked like a smitten young werewolf, introducing her to everyone who would listen.

On the day I was discharged from the hospital, Lucius called me.

I didn't pick up.

Half an hour later, after I completed my discharge paperwork alone, I spotted Lucius and Lucy at the entrance of the hospital.

I heard the nurse at the reception desk speaking to Lucy.

"Ms. Abbott, your mate loves you dearly. He hasn't missed a single prenatal checkup. He even makes sure the ultrasound gel is warmed up before we use it, just so you stay comfortable."

The other expectant she-wolves in the lobby looked on, their eyes filled with envy.

My hand instinctively moved to touch my own stomach as I recalled the pup Lucius and I had once had.

On the day I miscarried after the car accident, I had video-called him in tears, but the one who appeared on the screen was a bare-skinned Lucy.

"Diana, are you looking for Lucius? He's busy right now. He was just having the time of his life in my bed."

I said nothing and ended the call.

Less than a minute later, Lucius himself dialed back.

He had his arm around Lucy, whose eyes were red as if she'd been wronged, as he tore into me for being so stupid.

"What right does a useless she-wolf like you, who can't even protect my heir, have to be my Luna?" he had said.

Pulling myself back to the present, I tried to take a detour to avoid them, but Lucius spotted me and marched over, his face darkening.

"What are you doing here? Were you stalking us?"

I found the accusation hilarious.

He had completely forgotten that I was the one who had been admitted for treatment.

If I hadn't been forced to give so much of my own blood, I would've crawled out of this hospital if I had to, just so I could recover somewhere he would never find me.

"Diana, thank you so much for the transfusion," Lucy said, wrapping her arms tightly around Lucius' biceps. "If it weren't for your generosity, I would still be feeling faint."

She then put on a show of gratitude by asking him to give me a ride home.

Inside the spacious black car, I soon found exactly what Lucy wanted me to find. Wedged between the seats was a pair of lace underwear that was still moist.

"Oh my God, how embarrassing! Lucius, I can't believe you forgot to check the seats after we were done," Lucy cried.

I knew she had done it on purpose.

She had pulled stunts like this many times before, but this time, my heart didn't ache at all.