Chapter 6

Ella's POV

I thought I could just take Lily's hand and walk right out, but Chloe was soaking up the look of defeat she thought I had on my face. She wasn't done being cruel.

"Ella, don't be like this." She held up the box again. The fake necklace gave off a cheap shine under the light.

"Damien already compromised, just take it."

Damien leaned back on the couch and looked away.

I knew that look too well. To him, I was just a pet dog. Anytime the master curled his finger, I was supposed to wag my tail and run over happily.

I reached out and took the necklace.

A smug gleam danced in Chloe's eyes. She had probably already pictured me foolishly wearing the fake, stepping outside only to be treated like a walking joke.

I used one finger to gently hook the necklace around Chloe's neck, holding the two side by side.

"The sapphire on your necklace is shinier. I really like it. How about we trade?"

She froze on the spot. She didn't expect me to tell the real from the fake at a glance.

She panicked and shot a glance at Damien to read his expression.

"If you want it, I'll just give it to you!"

With that, she put on an act of generosity, taking off her necklace and handing it over.

I slowly fastened the fake necklace around her neck myself, taking a good look at it.

"Just as I thought. This one suits you way better."

Her whole face turned bright red. With the fake metal touching her skin, she looked totally uncomfortable, practically squirming and scratching at her neck as if she was allergic to it.

I took the sapphire necklace from her hand and casually tossed it into the trash can.

"Ella, what are you doing?! That necklace is super expensive!"

"Is it? If it breaks your heart to see it go, you can dig it out of the trash and wear it yourself."

She opened her mouth but didn't actually go dig for it. Doing that in front of Damien would only make him think she was a gold-digging she-wolf.

I turned to Damien, pulled a document from my bag, and dropped it on the coffee table in front of him.

"This is the formal rejection paperwork, along with the asset division agreement. Sign them, please."

A layer of frost settled over his handsome face, his cold sneer full of disgust. Not only that, he deliberately pulled on our mating bond. A piercing pain instantly ripped through my chest and swept through my whole body.

"Ella, keep throwing this fit, and I'll actually sign it."

I forced myself to swallow the pain, refusing to let any weakness show on my face.

"Read it first."

He flipped open the agreement. His eyes skimmed the terms, then suddenly stopped.

"...How do you know so much about the pack's cash flow and fixed assets?"

I didn't answer his question.

"I want half of all the personal assets under your name," I said.

"As for Lily's child support, you will pay two hundred thousand dollars a month until she turns eighteen."

The corner of his mouth twitched up.

"You must have spent a lot of money getting a lawyer to draft this. All because Chloe and I are wearing the same watch?"

I took a deep breath.

"For your birthday three months ago, I used money I saved up for a long time to buy you a watch. You never wore it once."

"You need to be more understanding. The watch you gave him was hideous!" Chloe blurted out.

"If Damien wore the watch you gave him outside, the other alphas would laugh at him!"

Damien's voice went ice cold. "Is it fun for you, threatening me with this kind of stuff?"

Chloe played innocent on the side.

"Ella, are you pushing this rejection with Damien because of me?"

I laughed.

"You shoved your way into my relationship with Damien and stole Noah's love. Wasn't that all just to drive me away?"

Her face fell.

"Hey... why are you being so aggressive? You used to be such a gentle luna!"

Right then, Noah jumped off the couch. Like a little soldier, he spread his arms and shielded Chloe behind him.

"Mommy, can't you be a little more mature? Daddy has to run the whole pack and handle the business at Silvercrest Group. He's so busy every day! He worked hard to earn these assets for the pack. Why should he give any of it to you?"

I looked down at him calmly.

"Because I gave birth to you and Lily and raised you with everything I had. Because I helped him manage the pack's affairs for seven solid years."

"But all you do every day is stay in the pack and do chores! Any omega could do that!"

Noah stuck his neck out stubbornly. "If you're going to reject Daddy, then get out! I am never going with you!"

He was smart. He knew my kids were my weak spot.

Usually, I was terrified of him acting out. Whenever he got mad, I'd drop whatever I was doing to coax him and make him happy.

So this time, he thought that as long as he threw a temper tantrum, I would cave.

"I never planned on taking you. Starting today, my life won't revolve around you anymore."

I turned back to Damien and repeated it one last time.

"The agreement is crystal clear. I only want custody of Lily. You get Noah."

Damien stared at me for a few seconds. Suddenly, as if he had figured something out, a mocking smirk touched the corner of his lips.

"Do you really think you can hold onto that much money?"

"How I manage my money is my own business."

He laughed like I'd just told a joke.

"Do I need to remind you? You don't even have a bank account. You wouldn't know what to do with a sum like this. It won't be long before you come crying back, begging me."

"Just sign it." I didn't even have the energy to puncture his arrogance anymore. "Let's leave each other with a last shred of dignity, okay?"

Chloe clung tightly to Damien's arm, releasing her sickly-sweet pheromones. She shot me a disgusted look.

"Ella, how can you be so greedy? If you take half of Damien's money, you're going to make him a laughingstock among the other pack alphas!"

"Since you hate spending Damien's money so much," I shot back, "make sure you pay him back for all the gifts he bought you."