Chapter 4

Carlen was furious. Without sparing me a glance, he scooped Lily into his arms and rushed out.

I looked down at my hands, red and swollen from the burns. These seven years of marriage had been nothing but a joke.

After a quick rinse of my wounds, I began to clean up the mess.

Judy suddenly barged in and slapped me hard across the face. "You useless thing who can't carry a pup! If anything happens to my grandson, I'll make sure you pay!"

Before she could go further, Carlen returned and quickly pulled her back.

Finally, he rushed to me and grabbed my hands. He carefully applied ointment and bandages, speeding up the healing.

Seeing Judy still unwilling to back down, Carlen reminded her, "Lily's about to give birth."

With a cold snort, she turned and left to wait for the birth of her grandson.

Once she was gone, Carlen carefully watched my expression.

In the end, he said cautiously, "Irene, Lily's still young. You shouldn't have pushed her even if she upset you."

"I pushed her?" I retorted, disbelief thick in my voice.

"It's fine. I already apologized to her for you. She won't hold it against you," he said.

Just like that, he decided that I was guilty with one dismissive sentence.

Exhaustion and helplessness washed over me. I didn't want to explain anymore. Carlen had already chosen to believe Lily over me.

A seven-year mate bond couldn't compare to someone new that he hadn't even known for a year.

I looked at him tending to my wounds with care, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. I recalled that brief flash of joy in his eyes when he mentioned that Lily's pup was coming.

I gently touched my bump.

Regarding this pup's fate, he had already made the decision for me.

Eventually, Carlen went to the healer center where Lily was to wait for her delivery.

I packed my bags for the following day's departure, erasing every trace of my life at Irene Estate.

I didn't leave a single thing behind for Carlen, only the charred remains of our wedding photos.

Pulling out a flash drive from my bag, I mailed it out along with the signed mate bond dissolution agreement and the medical certificate of abortion.

The recipient was Carlen, and the delivery address was the venue where the wedding would be held the next day.

After doing all this, I pulled out my phone again. Holding back the pain in my chest, I sent a message to Lily. "Lily, you want to be Luna, don't you? I'm giving him and tomorrow's ceremony to you."

The next morning, Carlen called to say the wedding team would send a car for me. He would go straight to the venue from the healing center.

While his call was still connected, my cab arrived. The driver confirmed the address with me.

Carlen heard the voice on the other end and asked in confusion, "Irene, why are you taking a cab?"

"I'm taking a cab to the ceremony," I replied flatly, brushing him off.

After a brief pause, Carlen said solemnly, "Irene, although Lily just gave birth to my pup, you have to believe that I always love you the most."

Once, there had been only one person he loved the most. At some point, it had become more than one.

Did he think his heart was big enough to hold so many people at once?

I didn't believe it.

I ended the call and gave the driver directions to the airport.

As I boarded the plane, I blocked Carlen on every social media platform. I deleted all those photos and posts documenting our love. From this moment on, I would embrace a new life.

Back in the delivery room, Carlen was restless, as if something precious was quietly slipping away from him.

However, he didn't have time to dwell on it. The newborn pup's cries snapped him back to reality.

Carlen felt a flicker of joy at the sight of the pup, but he didn't reach out to hold him. He was afraid that the pup's scent would cling to him and displease me.

At 12:00 pm, the wedding hall was packed with pack members.

Carlen waited on the altar, his face full of smiles.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, the church doors opened. The bride, dressed in a wedding gown, slowly walked forward to the music.

But when the bride lifted her head, Carlen's smile instantly froze.

The bride wasn't me. It was Lily, cradling their newborn pup in her arms.

The murmurs around the hall grew louder.

Carlen's face darkened instantly. He gripped Lily's wrist tightly and asked, "Why are you here? Where's Irene?"