Lahat ng Kabanata ng After the Seven-Year Contract Ended: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 8

I turned around and shut that fake family happiness behind the door.On an empty terrace, the night wind hit my face with a chill. I dialed the lawyer my mother had appointed before she died.“Harvey,” I said. My voice was unnaturally calm. “The seven years are up.”There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then a low sigh.“Luna, everything is ready.”“Every dollar that was invested under your mother’s name into Black Moon Pack and into Ethan’s assets… will begin the withdrawal process the moment you give the word.”“Recovery can start within twenty-four hours.”“Within six days, we can pull everything out completely.”I stared at the lights scattered across the Pack territory in the distance and nodded.“Do it.”The moment the call ended, I felt it clearly—the rope that had tied me down for seven full years finally loosened.Footsteps approached behind me.Ethan followed out. He frowned at me, impatience all over his face.“Acting all secretive. Who were you talking to?”

I stayed in the hospital for a few days.Ethan didn’t contact me once.No texts. No calls. Not even a token “Are you okay?”The only one who called was the finance director.His voice trembled with panic, careful in a way that didn’t sound like someone who’d worked under me for years.“Luna… no, Nora.”“Alpha… his spending in the overseas resort territory has already passed ten million.”I leaned back against the hospital bed and stared at the heavy gray sky outside the window.“Let them.”The finance director clearly panicked harder. “B-but Nora, if this keeps going, the Pack’s public account will completely run dry!”“The South District joint project is about to settle the first payment.”“If this money gets used, we’ll breach contract immediately and trigger the penalty clauses!”My voice stayed calm. “Do Alpha and the elder know?”There was a pause before he answered quietly. “They said… it’s fine.”“They said as long as you’re here, you’ll fix it.”I let out a soft laugh.“Then br

I froze.“…What do you mean?”Harvey’s voice didn’t shift by even half a degree—steady, emotionless, like he was reading out a verdict he’d written long ago.“Seven years ago, my client, Ms. Emma Miller—Nora Miller’s mother—left a will.”“She placed all her assets into a trust, naming her bloodline as the sole beneficiary, with conditional clauses attached—”My heart sank, heavy and fast.“For the duration of seven years, the trust would continue providing financial support to the Smith and Brown Packs.”“On the condition that you fulfilled your obligation, caring for her daughter properly.”Harvey’s words pushed into my chest like a dull blade, inch by inch.“Yesterday was the final day of the seven-year term.”“The agreement expired. All funds have been fully withdrawn.”“And whether it’s companies under Smith or under Brown—”“From the start, they were all shells built on Emma’s money.”“Now that the money has been pulled, there’s naturally nothing left.”My mind went blank with a s

The first project under my new company crushed expectations.The celebration banquet was held in the most elite hotel in the city—gold light, crystal chandeliers, champagne weaving through the air. The entire hall soaked in the warm afterglow of victory.Halfway through the social rounds, fatigue started to creep in, so I stepped out onto the terrace alone to breathe.The night wind was cool, carrying that metallic tang cities always have. It sobered me up a little.My phone buzzed.Harvey.“Nora,” he said, his voice lower than usual, “there’s something I think you should know.”“Say it.” I leaned on the railing, tone steady.“Ethan turned in your father. And Ann.”My hand paused on the wineglass, just slightly.“He filed a report to the Enforcement Council,” Harvey said. “Submitted a complete chain of evidence for business fraud and embezzlement of Pack funds.”“Including—” He paused. “—records of his private deals with your father. He handed those over too.”I stayed silent, staring