Chapter 4

On the day of the ceremony, Ethan arrived early to pick up Chloe. She came down the stairs in her white gown, and he reached out to steady her. With everyone cheering and playfully teasing him, he kissed her gently on the forehead.

Mom smiled so broadly that fine lines crinkled around her eyes. "Chloe sure is lucky."

When it was my turn to leave, only Adrian's Beta was waiting outside. The living room went quiet for a moment.

Dad handed my bouquet to me. His tone made his words sound less like comfort and more like a reminder. "You chose him yourself."

I took the bouquet. "I know."

Adrian had already called me the night before. His healers wouldn't let him leave the Royal Healing Center early, so he'd asked if I wanted to postpone the ceremony. And I'd agreed.

The hotel had reserved a private room for the family to have a meal. We'd just be having a meal that day, and the actual ceremony would take place after he was discharged.

However, my parents were embarrassed by the situation, so they never bothered to tell our relatives.

They would rather leave me standing here alone, weathering the guests' pitying looks, than admit that the man they disdained had asked what I wanted before making any decisions for me.

I asked the Beta to explain the situation to the guests, then gathered my dress and got into the car. Chloe called out to me from beside another car.

"Do you want to ride with us? It'll be better than being alone and feeling sorry for yourself."

I shook my head. When we arrived at the hotel, Ethan carried her out of the car himself, the skirt of her dress draped over his arm.

Camera flashes went off nonstop.

One of our relatives sighed. "They're both marrying Alphas, yet one is doted on, and the other can't even have a proper ceremony."

I checked my phone. Adrian asked if I could bring him a coffee from the cafe downstairs when I visited the healing center tomorrow. He'd already gotten permission from his healers.

Then he added, "If you have other plans tomorrow, another day is fine."

I replied, "See you tomorrow morning."

Chloe happened to walk past me right then and caught me smiling. She frowned slightly, then was swept away by the crowd into the bridal suite.

I was in the next room, setting down my bouquet, when I heard Mom call for me. "Come fasten Chloe's bracelet for her. I can't see the clasp."

Chloe extended her hand, making me stand beside her. She was checking her makeup in the mirror when she suddenly murmured, "I guess he's always this gentle when he takes care of someone."

Once I was done fastening the bracelet, I stepped away. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Ethan walked in with Vivian, carrying a pale blue box in his arms. Chloe's eyes lit up. "There's another present?"

Ethan set the box before her. Inside was a pair of baby shoes.

They were tiny, with a little white wolf embroidered along the edge. I recognized those shoes.

In my previous life, they'd been on my daughter's feet. And the one who carried my pup out of that room had used them to dab away Vivian's tears.

Chloe picked them up with a smile. "Isn't it a little early to be preparing things like these?"

Vivian gently stroked the shoes. "I got them for my own pup a long time ago. I could never bring myself to give them away."

Chloe's movements faltered for a beat. Ethan took her hand, his voice as gentle as ever.

"Chloe, there's something I'd like to discuss with you before the ceremony. Last night, you said you were willing to treat Vivian like your own family. I really appreciate that."

Chloe glanced at Mom before nodding with a smile. "Of course."

Ethan gently rubbed his thumb over the ring on her finger. "Vivian wasn't getting any better with treatment before. It was only after meeting you that she finally started talking about her future."

He paused for a moment. "Once our first pup is born, could you let Vivian raise it?"

Chloe's smile froze. Mom rose to her feet as well.

Assuming she hadn't understood, Ethan explained patiently, "It's not that you won't be allowed to see the pup. We'll be living under the same roof, so you can visit anytime. We can always have a second and a third pup, but Vivian has nothing left."

Slowly, Chloe placed the shoes back in the box. I finally understood why, in my previous life, he'd waited until after I gave birth to my pup before making that request.

Back then, Vivian hadn't been living with us. She only finished her treatment and moved in after my daughter was born.

In this life, Chloe, desperate to please him, had brought Vivian home early and even promised to fulfill all her wishes. So everything was happening earlier this time.

Chloe instinctively looked up and met my eyes in the mirror. The smugness in her eyes slowly faded away.

Ethan was still holding her hand, asking, "You're okay with that, right?"