Chapter 2

"I just want to know what illness Gianna is suffering from!"

Just then, Jessica's voice rang out outside the tent. She had deliberately raised her volume to ensure that everyone could hear her.

"Jessica, let's go," Liam urged calmly.

Nonetheless, I could detect the hint of impatience hidden within his tone.

"Wait a minute, darling." Jessica clung to his arm as she went on, "Liam, I'm just worried about Gianna. Maybe she really needs help. I'm sure she isn't pretending to be sick."

I exited the tent with Marcus' words still ringing in my ears. Only Liam could save me now, yet he hated me to the bone.

"Gianna!" Jessica suddenly called out to me loudly. "Are you okay? Do you need to head to a better infirmary?"

Despite the sweet and worried tone of her voice, her eyes were filled with malice. More and more pack members were gathering around, whispering to each other.

"There's no way she's sick. With how selfish she is, I'm sure she only came to the treatment center to put on a show. Let's hurry back. We still have tomorrow's border patrol to worry about." Liam tugged on Jessica, seemingly not wanting to waste even a second more here.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I answered placidly.

"Are you really fine, Gianna?" Jessica asked in faux concern. "In that case, why did you come here and buy so many herbs? Come on, tell us. I'm sure Liam won't just stand by and do nothing."

Even as she spoke compassionately, she surreptitiously stuck out her leg. Caught off guard, I tripped over her leg and crashed to the ground. The leather scrolls detailing my medical records were scattered across the floor.

"Oops, I'm so sorry!" Jessica clamped a hand over her mouth, making an exaggerated show of her surprise. "I didn't mean to."

Struggling to my feet, I began to pick up the scrolls, only for Jessica to step on one of them.

"What's this?" She leaned down to pick up the scroll. "A medical report? 'Diagnosis: Patient suffers from aftereffects of bloodline essence removal.'"

My heart seemed to stop beating for several seconds.

Liam strode over quickly and snatched the scroll from Jessica's hands. The shocked look in his eyes morphed into fury, then sheer, unadulterated disdain.

"Gianna, you truly have opened my eyes."

His voice was so icy that it could freeze even the hottest flames. "In a bid to garner sympathy, you even went so far as to make up such a ridiculous lie?"

"I didn't—"

"No?" Liam interrupted me. "Bloodline essence removal? Are you trying to use this method to swindle money?

He suddenly unleashed a burst of power, reducing the scroll he held into scraps.

"Did you think I would believe this crap?" Fury lit up in his eyes. "Seven years ago, you personally told me that you didn't want a weak mate like me, that you wanted to find a stronger Alpha. Now, you're making up this crazy story? Do you think I'm an idiot?"

The spectators' voices grew louder as they started to point and talk about me.

"Oh my goddess, she actually faked a medical record?"

"That's over the line! She truly went all out just so she could garner sympathy, huh?"

"As if it wasn't disgusting enough that she betrayed Alpha Liam back then, now she's even desecrating the sacred sacrifice ritual!"

Jessica, ever the actress, stepped forward to pull on Liam's arm gently. "Liam, calm down. Maybe Gianna really does have her difficulties, and that's why—"

"Don't speak up for her." Liam roughly shook her hand off. "She-wolves like her don't deserve any sort of sympathy."

Subsequently, he turned to face me, not hiding the sheer hatred in his gaze. "Gianna, I'm giving you one last warning. Don't ever use such a despicable tactic in an attempt to catch my attention again. You're no longer worthy of getting even an ounce of emotion from me."

"I understand."

I bowed my head, my voice eerily devoid of emotion.

A smug smile spread across Jessica's face. Hugging Liam's arm to her, she deliberately said as though to flaunt her status, "Liam, let's go. We still have a lot of official matters to handle tomorrow."

"Yeah."

Liam nodded, not sparing me another glance.

They turned to leave, but as Jessica walked past me, she whispered in a volume only I could hear, "Stop wasting your energy, Gianna. Don't bother using such tricks before me again."

I remained kneeling on the ground, staring at the tattered remains of that scroll.

Eventually, the crowd dissipated, leaving me there alone. My hand moved up to clench at my chest, where a silver scar remained from my actions seven years ago.

Even now, Liam was unaware that the Alpha bloodline he had awakened was all due to the bloodline essence I had sacrificed to him—the very legacy that had been passed down in my family for generations.