Chapter 3

Before August could make sense of his emotions, Anna showed up in tears like a startled Bambi.

“I’m sorry, Sophina…” She threw herself at my bedside, her voice choking with sobs. “Had I known you had a milk allergy… It’s all my fault. I nearly killed you…”

Anna and I grew up in the same house.

It was plausible that she was unaware of my allergy.

Only August would believe such a bad lie.

Sure enough, he stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Anna’s shoulders tenderly.

“Don’t cry, Anna. Sophina isn’t mad at you. Don’t put this on yourself. It wasn’t intentional anyway.”

Through her tearful eyes, Anna broke into a smile and held me in a sweet embrace.

“Thank you, Sophina. You’re the best.”

She leaned in, her voice barely a whisper.

“Count yourself lucky! So what if you made it through? You will never mate with August, not on my watch!”

This wasn’t news to me.

His history of absences and last-minute exits had already spelled everything out.

From a young age, I was aware that Anna loathed me for taking away even the tiniest bit of love that belonged to her.

I had sought August’s approval in my own awkward approaches, thinking that my genuine efforts would earn me a tiny spot in his heart.

However, August only had eyes for Anna.

I no longer pined for August’s affections.

Even when Anna flaunted the necklace from August, I didn’t feel anything.

Sure, the gemstone on the necklace was bigger and shinier than my earrings. Still, my heart was stone.

For the next few days, August stuck around by me, likely out of guilt.

I could feel his intense, burning gaze when I went to bed every night.

It didn’t take long before I was discharged.

On the day of my release, August came to the infirmary to pick me up.

As always, I opened the door to the front passenger seat, only to find Anna munching on chips there.

She batted her eyelashes innocently. “August put me here since I don’t do well on travels. I hope you don’t mind.”

Taking my time with a response, I stared at the crumbs scattered across the floor.

August had always been a neat freak.

Even when hunger and low blood sugar threatened to knock me out, August refused to make any exceptions for me to eat in the car.

It was clear where his heart was. Yet, I was blind enough to cling on for five years.

“I don’t mind at all. Your health matters more, Anna.”

Without question, I climbed to the back seat.

Through the rear-view mirror, I noticed the frown across August’s brows.

I turned to face the window, choosing to ignore him.

The scenery outside the window looked unfamiliar, and after some distance, I realized that this wasn’t the way back home.

Picking up on my confusion, August murmured, “You’ve lost some weight, so your gown won’t fit. With our ceremony in two days, we should have time to get a new one.”

The car pulled up outside a store.

Stepping out of the car, August went to the other side and offered his hand to help Anna down.

I sat in the vehicle and watched the entire thing.

Then, I opened the door and got out.

The realization hit August, and the smile on his face froze.

He recoiled his arm in a fluster and rushed to me.

“Sophina, I—”

Wanting everything to be over and done with, I raised my hand and cut him off.

“Come on. I just want to pick a gown and go home. I’m tired.”

I sat there in the VIP room with zero interest as the staff showed me different dresses.

These gowns, while beautiful, were made for some other she-wolf.

Anna gasped softly and said hesitantly, “I believe these dresses are my size…”