Chapter 5

"Rae, are you out of your mind?! Checking yourself out before you're healed?!"

The hospital door flew open, and Colton burst in holding a huge bouquet of white roses, his eyes filled with panic and rage.

Rae didn't even glance at the flowers. She casually buttoned her designer coat with a dead calm face. "I'm not crazy. The doctor cleared me. Plus, I have things to do."

"What could be more important than your health?!" Colton strode forward, reaching out to grab her shoulders, his voice laced with raw anxiety. "If it's about visiting your mother's grave... I cleared my entire schedule today. I'm coming with you!"

In four years, this was the first time he ever offered to accompany her to the suburban cemetery.

Rae looked up, her cold eyes fixing on his frantic face. "Suit yourself."

After a fast drive, the car pulled up outside the quiet cemetery on the outskirts of town.

A light rain drizzled from the sky. Colton opened a black umbrella, carefully holding it over Rae's head, terrified a single drop might touch her.

In front of the headstone, Rae gently set down a bouquet of white lilies. She closed her eyes, her posture stiff and freezing cold.

Looking at her slender profile, Colton felt a suffocating tightness in his chest. He grabbed her hand tight, his voice raspy. "Rae, I messed up in the past. I swear, from today on, I'll protect you. I'll never let you suffer again!"

Hearing this heavy vow, Rae didn't even twitch an eyebrow.

She passively let him hold her hand, her eyes completely dead inside, as if standing next to a total stranger.

Leaving the cemetery, they drove straight into the city center.

Colton booked the city's most luxurious Michelin rooftop restaurant, renting out the entire terrace.

The table was covered in exquisite dishes. Flickering candlelight illuminated flowers flown in from overseas, while a live band played soft orchestral music in the corner.

"This is your favorite lobster soup, and here's the truffle scrambled eggs," Colton served the plates with extreme care, his golden wolf eyes staring at her affectionately. "I wanted to bring you here on our anniversary four years ago, but work came up... I'm making it up to you today."

He desperately hoped to see a spark of emotion or gratitude on her face.

Rae simply picked up her fork, cut off a piece gracefully, and spoke in a flat tone: "Thank you. It tastes good."

No surprise. No excitement. Not even a faint smile.

Colton's knuckles turned white around his wine glass, his heart heavy and suffocating. Her calm demeanor was like a glass wall, shutting him out entirely.

RING!!

A sharp ringtone shattered the romantic atmosphere.

Colton snapped his head up, frantically pulling out his phone. The name "Tessa" flashing on the screen was blinding in the dim candlelight.

He glanced at Rae, panicking as he tried to reject the call.

"Answer it," Rae wiped her lips with a napkin, her voice gentle. "What if it's an emergency?"

Colton bit back a curse and swiped to accept, his voice low and strained: "Tessa, I'm having dinner. We'll talk later!"

"Colton! Where the hell are you?!" Tessa's shrill voice screamed over the speaker. "Today is my birthday! You let me use your black card to rent out the whole floor at the Royal Hotel, but everyone is waiting for my date! How dare you ditch me?!"

"Tessa, I have something extremely important to do today!" Colton growled under his breath, his eyes darting nervously toward Rae. "Enjoy your party. I'll have my assistant send a gift!"

"I don't care! If you don't come right now, I'll drink myself to death! I'll let everyone laugh at me! Let's see what happens to me tonight without your protection!!"

The sound of the phone slamming shut echoed loudly.

Colton's face turned ghastly pale, veins popping on his forehead. He gripped his phone tight, pacing like a trapped animal.

Rae watched his pathetic struggle with a trace of mockery in her eyes.

"Go if you want to," Rae stood up slowly, putting on her coat, her tone insanely generous. "It's her birthday party tonight, and she needs you. Go be with her. I can just grab a cab home."

Zero jealousy. Zero confrontation. She was even actively pushing him into another woman's arms.

Colton stared at her, stunned by the sheer absurdity of it all. Panic exploded in his chest.

"You're telling me to go be with her?!" Colton shot up from his seat. "Rae, I am your husband! You're watching another woman cling to me, and you feel nothing?! You're not jealous at all?!"

Facing his roar, Rae casually adjusted her cuffs and offered him a flawless, polite smile:

"Why would I be jealous? She's unstable, so she clearly needs you more than I do. Colton, don't waste time. Go."

This total lack of jealousy—a generosity that was almost cruel—hit Colton like a sledgehammer to the chest.

Staring into her emotionless eyes, a wave of terror swept over him.

"I'm not going!" Colton laughed out of pure frustration, his eyes red. He snatched her wrist tight. "Since you're so generous, you're coming with me tonight! I want you to be my perfect Luna in front of everyone!"

He dragged her toward the elevator, desperately searching for a crack in her composure.

Rae let him drag her along, her eyes glancing at a new notification popping up on her phone:

[Countdown to Mate Bond Dissolution and private flight departure: 36 hours.]