Chapter 3

Victor's POV

Surprisingly, Selene didn't flinch or blink, just stood tall with her chin held high and her eyes like steel.

I took a step forward, my voice tightening. “I asked you a question.”

Still nothing. It was like something inside her had snapped, but instead of breaking, she hardened.

I had expected her to drop her eyes, to back down like she always did. To remember who she was speaking to. But she didn’t.

Instead, she met my gaze, her eyes burning with something cold. And when she finally spoke, her voice was like ice.

“From now on, I’ll do whatever I want, Victor.”

Then, without waiting for anyone’s response, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room like she owned it.

For a second, I just stood there, not knowing what to do or say.

Then, like clockwork, my mother’s voice exploded.

“That ungrateful girl! How dare she walk away like that after everything this family has done for her…!”

“Enough,” I snapped, cutting her off so fast she jolted. My head pounded, my jaw tight. “Leave. Now.”

Helena’s eyes widened, shocked I had even raised my voice at her. “Victor, I was only…”

“I said leave. Both of you.”

Vanessa raised a brow, clearly amused but knowing better than to test me right now. She grabbed my mother’s arm, muttering, “Come on, Mother. Let’s go.”

Their heels made a clicking sound as they hurried out, tension clinging to the air like smoke.

I let out a sharp breath, forcing my muscles to relax.

Only Camilla stayed behind. She stood next to the sofa, her hands pressed to her stomach, her lip trembling.

“Victor…” Her voice shook as she stepped closer. “What am I going to do? The victim’s family… the elders… they will all blame me.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my face calm, though my mind spun like a storm.

She grabbed my shirt, holding it tightly like her life depended on it. “You’re not going to leave me, are you? I can’t go to prison, Victor. I'm carrying your child.”

I reached up, brushing her hair back gently. “You’ll be fine. I'm not leaving you.”

She sniffled, nodding weakly, still clinging to me like a lifeline.

But the entire time, all I could think about wasn’t her.

It was Selene. I couldn't stop thinking about her face when she looked at me. Her voice when she said she was done.

I had betrayed her. Broken her. And somehow, it took her walking away—truly walking away—for me to feel the weight of what I had done.

Camilla sobbed harder, pulling me back. I forced myself to pat her back, whispering, “It’ll be fine.”

But the words felt strange in my mouth. Empty.

Finally, I pulled away. “I need a minute.”

Camilla wiped her tears, nodding, and I walked towards the door, the pounding in my head growing louder.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, scrolling fast.

Selene’s name stared back at me.

I hesitated for a second before pressing the call button. It rang. And rang. But there was no answer. Instead, it went straight to voicemail.

Feeling a sense of unease, I quickly dialed one of the guards as I made my way to the hallway. "Where is Selene?”

There was a pause. Then, “Alpha… she left earlier without a word.”

“She didn't say where she was going?”

“No.”

“Check the grounds.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I hung up, pacing, something restless crawling under my skin. I tried calling her again, but there was still no answer.

Just as I was about to call someone else, one of my men appeared in the doorway, clearing his throat awkwardly.

“What now?” I snapped.

He stepped forward, holding something small in his palm.

A pair of silver cufflinks. Simple. Delicate. Engraved with small markings.

“And? What am I supposed to do with that?”

“Luna left these in the car this morning,” he said quietly. “She said it was a gift.”

I stared at them in confusion. A gift?

Just then it dawned on me that today was our wedding anniversary.

My throat tightened, a sharp pain building in my chest.

“Damn it! Where the hell did she go?”

°°°°° °°°°°

Selene’s POV

I walked out of that mansion like I had just crawled out of a burning house. Each step felt heavier than the last, but I kept moving.

My heart? It wasn’t just broken. It felt crushed, like something someone had stomped on until nothing was left.

I should have felt free, maybe even relieved, after everything I said back there. But all I felt was empty.

It had started to drizzle, the gray sky matching the way my heart felt. Walking down the long stone steps, I passed the tall iron gates without looking back.

There was no need to look back. I already knew no one would come running after me.

Goodness, I gave him everything.

Four long years of my life, loving a man who couldn’t even give me one real smile. Four years of swallowing every insult, every cold glance, every second-hand moment while he showered Camilla with the love I begged for in silence.

I remembered staying up late, waiting for him to come home. I remembered the way he used to walk past me like I wasn’t even standing there.

And still, stupidly, I stayed. Thinking maybe one day he would remember who stood beside him before she came along.

But no. Today, I finally understood. No matter what I did, I would never be enough for Victor.

I reached into my coat pocket, my fingers shaking as they closed around my phone.

The screen blurred for a moment because of the tears in my eyes. But I wiped them away quickly, forcing myself to breathe.

My thumb hovered over one name.

Ethan.

I hadn’t called him in so long. I had tried to handle everything on my own, thinking if I worked harder, loved stronger, maybe I would fix the mess. But right now… I felt small, lost, like a child.

My hands trembled as I hit the call button. It rang once. Twice. Then his voice crackled through the phone, deep and familiar. “Selene?”

Just hearing him say my name cracked something inside me. My voice broke before I even got the words out. “Ethan… can I… can I come home?”

There was silence on the other end. For a heartbeat, I thought the line dropped. But then I heard his sharp breath, like he already knew something bad had happened.

“Where are you?” His voice dropped, low and tight. “Tell me.”

“I left.”

There was another pause. Then his voice turned harder. “Don’t move. I’m coming to get you.”

I nodded even though he couldn’t see me, my throat too tight to answer. The call ended, and I stood there, the cold rain soaking through my clothes, but I didn’t care.

Minutes passed. Maybe longer. The world felt like it was moving in slow motion, but my thoughts spun too fast.

What was I even doing for four years? Why did I waste so much of myself on someone who never once fought for me?

I hugged myself tighter, feeling the sharp bite of the wind, the drizzle turning heavier. Cars passed by, the world going on as if mine hadn’t just shattered.

Then I heard it. A faint sound at first, like a hum in the distance. It grew louder, sharper, cutting through the rain and the noise.

When I looked up, a helicopter hovered low, the sound vibrating in my chest, water splashing as it prepared to land in the clearing nearby.

I stood frozen, unable to move, watching as it touched down, the force of the wind whipping around me, blowing strands of wet hair into my face.

The door opened, and for a moment, all I could see was the shadow of a man stepping out.

Tears spilled again, uncontrollable now, and my legs finally moved.

“He’s here.”