Chapter 4

AVA

From the corridor, I listened to every word, a faint bitter smile slowly curling at the corners of my lips.

Sister. That is what Lucas called me.

After seven years of marriage in our previous life after countless nights spent in the illusion of tenderness after everything I had endured and sacrificed he had reduced it all to a single casual word. Sister.

Even though I had already made up my mind to let go of the pain, it still came, sharp and sudden stabbing through my chest as if it had never left.

Downstairs the living room had fallen into a suffocating silence so heavy it felt like the air itself had thickened.

My mother stood frozen in place staring at Lucas as though she had never truly known him before her gaze slowly shifted to the woman standing beside him, Vera.

Vera lowered her head slightly, her teeth pressing into her lip, her expression carefully arranged to look conflicted and guilty as though she were the unwilling victim of a situation she could not control.

My mother’s hand lifted, her finger pointing at Lucas, her entire body trembling as her chest rose and fell sharply.

"Lucas Dan!" she demanded, her voice shaking with fury.

"When did this start? What do you take my daughter for?" Her voice carried the authority of a Luna who had once stood at the center of the pack.

Her voice rose with every word, no longer restrained, no longer composed.

"You marry her when it suits you and now you cancel the wedding just because you feel like it?. Now you think you can turn around and marry someone else as if nothing happened?"

Her finger shifted abruptly stabbing toward Vera as her anger finally found a second target.

"Vera! In the six months since you returned has this family ever treated you unfairly in any way? Is this how you repay us?"

Her entire body trembled as the words poured out raw and unfiltered.

"How could you betray Ava like this? Ava treated you like her sister introduced you to her friends, and gave you access to everything she had. How could you do something like this to Ava?"

"Do you even have a conscience? After all your education have you learned nothing about decency?"

I frowned slightly as I listened, I had never seen my mother like this before.

In my memory, she had always been the epitome of grace. A dignified woman who spoke softly who handled everything with calm composure and quiet elegance who never raised her voice no matter the situation.

Yet now…

Every word she spoke was sharp, emotional, and almost unrestrained.

It was clear that this time she was not furious. But truly deeply heartbroken.

I drew in a breath before speaking to the maid behind me. "Take me downstairs."

In the living room, Vera’s eyes had already turned red, tears pooling as she struggled to hold them back, her entire appearance delicate and pitiful.

"Auntie… I’m sorry " she said, her voice trembling as though she were on the verge of breaking.

"I never wanted to ruin Ava’s marriage. But when it comes to feelings… I… I couldn’t control myself…"

Before she could say anything Lucas stepped forward decisively placing himself in front of her as if shielding her from the storm.

"Auntie, this has nothing to do with her," he said firmly,  leaving no room for doubt.

"Whatever you want to say, direct it at me."

My mother let out a disbelieving laugh as if the situation had already crossed into something absurd.

Then as though grasping for reason she turned toward my father, who had remained seated the time, silent and unreadable.

"Grayson,” she said, her voice tight with fury "say something."

"As the head of this family, how do you intend to handle this?"

My father adjusted his posture slightly, a yet refined smile appearing on his face. One that carried none of the anger or outrage that should have been there.

"Nova," he began calmly clearing his throat as though this were an inconvenience rather than a public humiliation "please calm down. Let’s discuss this rationally."

His gaze shifted toward Lucas and to my disbelief there was a trace of approval in his expression.

"Lucas… this situation is indeed quite sudden.. You know how young people are. Matters of the heart are often unpredictable."

He let out a light chuckle, attempting to ease the tension as if shifting alliances were nothing more than strategy, something common in pack politics.

"As the saying goes, children have their destinies. Forced relationships rarely lead to happiness. Since you and Ava were never truly meant to be and now you and Vera care deeply for each other… Perhaps this is simply fate."

For a moment the room seemed to go still. 

My mother stared at him as if she had never seen him before, disbelief giving way to something far more cutting.

"Grayson,” she said, her voice trembling not with weakness but with restrained rage "do you even hear yourself right now?"

"Your daughter has just had her engagement publicly broken off. Her fiancé has been taken from her in front of our eyes. And instead of standing up for her you’re talking about fate?"

Her voice rose, sharp and unforgiving. "Do you even have a heart?"

My father’s expression stiffened, instantly embarrassment flashing across his face at being confronted directly.

"Nova! Watch your tone!" he snapped, his voice lowering as he glanced around clearly more concerned about appearances than anything. "This kind of language is completely inappropriate!"

Straightening his posture he adopted a tone of forced magnanimity as though positioning himself as the reasonable one in the room.

"This is a matter between the generations. They should resolve it themselves. What right do we as elders have to interfere deeply?"

He shook his head slightly as if disappointed.

"Must you insist on tearing apart a couple and creating a scene for everyone to see before you’re satisfied?"

Then as if nothing had happened his tone softened as he turned back to Lucas and Vera.

"Lucas, Vera don’t put much pressure on yourselves. When it comes to love, mutual feelings are what matter most. I understand."

My mother’s hand trembled as she pointed at him, her lips parting as though she wanted to speak. For a moment no words came out.

The disappointment in her eyes was far louder than anything she could have said.

At that moment.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.

I was wheeled out into the living room.