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2,114,008	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2113918}'	No	2024-10-07 16:34	active	1589	😍Read the next chapters👉	“Sir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. I’m not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. “What did he say?” The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. “Madam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.” Zora’s eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. “Okay. Let’s go.” Zora’s heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrah’s stance was clear through it all. “When everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.” Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. “Let’s hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but don’t expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but it’s definitely not you.” The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Coco’s birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zora’s phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, ‘Mr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.’ Zora’s eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldn’t bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. “Ezrah is in the bathroom.” Zora’s hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. “Who are you?” The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, “Piper, his fiancée. And you are?” “Whatever he saved my name with,” Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. “Oh, Zora. If it’s urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.” The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. “Just tell him to call me.” Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. “What are you doing with my phone?” He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, “and I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?” The pout on Piper’s lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. “Is it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.” Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partner’s sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. “I told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldn’t be seen together.” Ezrah’s voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didn’t want Piper’s presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, “I could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I don’t want to be away from you anymore.” Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasn’t easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. “Did anyone call?” He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zora’s name. “Yeah. Zora. She said you should call her,” Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. “What did you tell her?” Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. “I pretended not to know about her existence.” Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrah’s attention was on the phone in his hand. “Do me a favor and don’t answer my calls again.” His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. “I’m sorry. I thought it was urgent.” Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, “Nothing about Zora is ever urgent.” Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. “Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her?” Ezrah hated to be doubted. “You don’t believe me? I’m only with her because she’s carrying my child. As soon as he’s born, I will divorce her.” Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. “Can you go shopping with me? I didn’t bring enough clothes.” Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didn’t know to send it. “I have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,” Ezrah said softly. Zora’s heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. “Did he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?” The butler’s throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I just didn’t want to see you sad.” Zora’s heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husband’s number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. “Zora. I’m busy.” That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, “Ezrah, I want these shoes.” “Try them on. If they fit, you can have them.” ‘So, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.’ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. “Madam, you are awake. Thank God.” Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. “Mrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?” The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. “How is my baby?” Zora asked. The doctor’s eyes dulled. “I’m very sorry, but your baby couldn’t survive the impact.” Tears brimmed in the back of Zora’s eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her father’s company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. “It’s alright. She would have just suffered anyway.” Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. “Excuse me?” The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrah’s indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. “Sorry, that was not directed at you.” There was no warmth in Zora’s apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldn’t do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. “Where is Ezrah?” Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zora’s voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. “Madam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,” Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. “That isn’t my question.” “Boss left here a few minutes ago,” Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. “Don’t lie to my face again.” Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. “Boss said, and I quote. ‘It’s rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. I’m very busy at the moment.” Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. “Thank you, and please excuse me.” Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. “Ma…” “I said, excuse me, Rudolph,” Zora’s voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. “Okay.” As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. “Soph…” “Dad, I’m sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.” Zora didn’t hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, ‘I told you so’ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. “What happened, Zora?” “I had an accident and lost the baby. I’m coming home.” The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, “Oh Zora. I’m coming to get you. Just send me your location.” Zora refused. She couldn’t leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. “No dad, I have a few things to do first.” “What is that? Let me help you with it?” Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing I can’t handle. “Okay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.” Zora smiled and didn’t refuse her father’s kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrah’s return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, “Good news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so let’s get a divorce.” The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldn’t help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasn’t going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldn’t have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zora’s gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. “What is this?” Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. “Do I need to get you a pair of glasses?” Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. “Why? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?” Ezrah’s expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didn’t care anymore. “Please sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,” she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. “We shall talk about it later,” he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: I’m sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You don’t believe me? I’m only with her because she’s carrying my child. As soon as he’s born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. “Where did you get that?” He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. “You have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,” he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didn’t even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. ‘Mr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.’ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldn’t find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldn’t hurt. “It doesn’t matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.” Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. “You want to blackmail me? How much do you want?” He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. “What I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.” She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. “Your father’s company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.” This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. “No. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?” Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. “Did you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.” Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasn’t ‘interested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? “You may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.” Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. “Trust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.” “I don’t believe you,” Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. “As soon as the papers are signed, you won’t hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,” Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. “Alright. I’m not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,” he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrah’s phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasn’t supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, “Are you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?” She couldn’t hear Piper’s response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. “Ezrah, it’s time to finalize our divorce in court.” Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, “just a few minutes.” An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. “You should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you won’t like what I will do,” Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. “I have a gift waiting for you at home.” Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. ‘EZRAH.’ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zora’s handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, “ZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”	LEARN_MORE	https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&	Indulge in story	https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/	810	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	shgjfh.com	DCO		https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KR60p5brSLQQ7kNvgHelArX&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A9-dMbqJtXsVOCPEjksFi_T&oh=00_AYBu8iL0K4as-bv6aij-_xZa6GCVS5COdsME5udvpPyk5A&oe=670A0D4D	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Indulge in story	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,107,062	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2107861}'	Yes	2024-10-06 20:30	active	1587	🔞🔥 Continuer la lecture ➤➤	(Lily POV) Today is my 14th birthday. There will not be birthday cake, singing, or a party. Instead, we are attending a funeral. My sister's funeral, to be exact. Before my sister... died... we had a large party planned for me. I normally do not have a big party, but 14th birthdays are a really big event to werewolves. They are the day that we first meet our wolves. The next monumental birthday is our 20th birthday; that is when can first identify our fated mates. I am our Beta’s youngest daughter, and my father is loved and well-respected. Everyone was excited to meet my wolf and to see what type of wolf she would be. Thus, the guest list for my party was pretty large, and it included ranked wolves from nearby packs. I am normally a little bit of a loner, hence why I usually do not have a big birthday party. However, for this particular occasion, I was happy to have a lot of guests. Meeting your wolf comes with the first shift/ transition, and that can be incredibly painful. As inherently social creatures, the only thing known to help wolves with the pain of the first shift is to have supportive family, friends, and community around you. The way that it typically works is that the pack will host a dinner or barbeque in your honor. As night falls, and the moon replaces the sun in the sky, everyone will gather inside the pack amphitheater. The shifter-to-be will stand in the middle of the amphitheater while guests quietly chant well wishes and prayers to the Moon Goddess. The energy in the space can be electrifying for everyone present, no matter whether there are 25 attendees or 500. Once the first shift is completed, the new wolf will prance around the stage and strut their stuff. The crowd will “ooh” and “aah” until the pack alpha approaches, learns the new wolf’s name, and introduces the wolf to the crowd. The new wolf will also swear his or her allegiance to the pack and to the alpha, allowing the wolf to mind-link with other pack wolves. Finally, the new wolf and any guests old enough to shift will go for a pack run. The whole process is incredibly special and exciting. As you might imagine, décor is also an important part of the party planning process. Each shifter gets to decide the decorations and party theme that will be used for their party. If more than one wolf turns 14 on the same day, the wolves can either agree on a theme or split the party into parts that they can individually decorate. The pack luna will then work some sort of magic that somehow blends the individual areas into one cohesive theme in the center. My birthday is in October, and despite how large our pack is, I am the only one born on that day. I love having an October birthday because my favorite season is fall. For my décor, I had picked flowers and decorations in rich fall colors, including deep oranges, reds, and greens. Unfortunately, none of my party decorations will be used. Or rather, none of my decorations will be used for me. As I mentioned, we are holding a funeral today instead. My oldest sister, Stephanie, died this morning. Pack and religious tradition dictates that we must hold funerals within 24 hours of death. Because Stephanie died shortly after midnight, her funeral must be held today. All food and décor set aside for my birthday party was therefore immediately diverted for the funeral; thankfully my fall themed colors were sufficiently somber-ish to work. All decorations that seemed relatively “happy”, celebratory, or that mention me have been removed. Pictures of Stephanie have now been placed on tables and podiums, and the music I selected has been swapped out for songs about loss or Stephanie’s favorites. The loss of Stephanie is a really hurting. Not only was she my sister and my parents’ oldest and favorite child, she was also widely anticipated to be the mate of Alpha Randall’s son, James, which meant she was most likely the future luna of our pack. Stephanie would have turned 20 in three months, and she and James would have been able to confirm that they were mates then. The pack was so sure that they were mates —and Alpha Randall was so eager to turn the pack over to James and his mate, once she was identified and ready to take on the luna position— that they deviated from standard protocols and decided to begin Stephanie’s Luna training just after she turned 18. If I am being completely honest, something never sat right with me about Stephanie starting Luna training. Part of it is what Stephanie's Luna training meant for me, but that is a separate conversation. The biggest thing was that I did not understand why luna training could not wait until Stephanie turned 20 and could confirm who her mate was. Lunas for generations have waited for their training; why couldn't Stephanie? It also bothered me quite a bit to watch Stephanie hang all over James at pack functions. Our pack frowned upon dating and public displays of affection prior to finding your mate; it created too much risk for problems, anger, and jealousy once your mate was located. For whatever reason, an exception was made for Stephanie. But then again, exceptions always were made for her. Stephanie was strong and absolutely beautiful, and the pack knew her as being kind, smart, and energetic. She could do no wrong in the eyes of my parents, the alpha, or the pack. I hope I do not sound too jealous or bitter. I loved my sister, and her death is hitting me really hard. It’s just that…. I knew a different side of my sister than everyone else, and I know more than anyone that my sister was far from perfect. Had I spoken up before she died, I would have been accused of jealousy and lying. And were I to speak up now, well… I would be accused of jealousy, lying, AND improperly speaking ill of the dead. It is easier to just let it go. Along with my birthday. It isn't that important anyway. I do not want to be selfish or self-centered. The only immediate problem with letting go is that --bad timing or not-- I am going to shift for the first time tonight. There is nothing I can do to stop or postpone it, as much as I would like to do so. I am worried about how it is going to go. Hopefully, during the reception, my mother or father or brother or someone will be willing to step aside with me for a 20-30 minutes just to get me through it. We could then return and act like everything is normal. Or as normal as it can be with Stephanie now gone. Sadly, I should have known that nothing in life is that easy. Chapter 2: The Little Brat (James POV) I watch sadly as the casket is carried from the temple to the burial grounds. It is a cold October day, and the gray sky and drizzly weather adds to the overall somber atmosphere. I cannot help but be impressed at how quickly the pack was able to pull everything together for Stephanie's funeral. All funerals happen quickly in our world, but because of how fast the funerals must take place, the décor and guest list is usually somewhat lacking. It is a testament to how much Stephanie was loved that they were able to put together so many beautiful floral arrangements in her honor, and that so many people were able to be here to honor her life, including many wolves from other packs. If it wasn't for it being such a horrible occasion, I would actually describe the color scheme as beautiful. Then again, fall has always been one of my favorite seasons. I am vaguely aware that we had some other function on the calendar today, but I honestly cannot think of what it was. With a large pack —the West Mountain Pack has over 10,000 members— we have a lot of functions. As the future alpha, I am expected to attend as many of them as I possibly can, but no one expects me to remember what they all are… even if I try to pretend in the moment. Unless reminded by an Omega or my amazing girlfriend, I can't even seem to remember my own mother and father's birthdays most of the time. My amazing girlfriend. I sigh, wiping a tear from my eye. She will never again be around to remind me about birthdays. Sadly, there will be no pretending that I know what today's ceremony is about. Stephanie Brogan was the love of my life, and she was my future mate and luna. I still cannot believe that she is gone. We never even got to fully experience the mate bond, including the sparks betwwen us. Had she lived just three months longer, our wolves would have confirmed one another as mates and Stephanie would have been able to formally claim her proper place in my bed and in my life. Instead of welcoming her body into my bed, I am saying good-bye to her today. I am also saying good-bye to all of our future plans and dreams together. I cannot help but feel anger and resentment about that. This is not how things were supposed to be. As I watch the funeral procession go by --my father, mother, and I, along with the beta family, must stand at the entrance as guests move from the temple to the burial grounds-- I catch a glimpse of Stephanie’s younger sister, Lily. She is standing next to her mother. She looks both sad and innocent, which causes the anger in my body to rise even more. That little brat is the reason that Stephanie is dead. *FLASHBACK TO LAST NIGHT* Stephanie and I are cuddled on the couch in the packhouse living room watching a movie. I have my hand on her arm and I am about to kiss her when she gets distracted by a text message. Stephanie did not let me see the message, which annoys me, but she quickly explains that Lily is lost in the forest after having snuck out to meet a boy. Stephanie’s sister is 13 or 14 years old. She has all the teenage acne and attitude that comes along with being that young. Unlike Stephanie —who has beautiful blond hair and hazel eyes— Lily has reddish brown hair and bright green eyes. Or at least I think they are bright green; she usually has them covered up with large black glasses. Stephanie gets up and tells me that Lily has texted her, begging her to come and find her. I am annoyed by the interruption, but I offer to go with Stephanie to get the little brat. Stephanie says Lily will be upset if anyone else knows about her little escapade. Stephanie reassures me that she will be fine, and then gives me a quick peck. My wolf and I have a bad feeling when Stephanie leaves, but Stephanie has us wrapped around her little finger. It is almost impossible for my wolf and I to disagree with her about anything. We pause the movie and decide to get some work done in my dad's office while we wait for Stephanie to get back. I am a night owl anyway, so I do not mind waiting. Unfortunately, about an hour after Stephanie leaves, I get an urgent mind-link from our pack warriors. They report that the Little Brat had been spotted running out of the woods screaming for help. Before they can say much more, I shift into my wolf form and take off running. I follow Stephanie’s scent far into the woods…. until I come to a small clearing, which is covered in Stephanie’s blood. Her bloody clothes are tossed around, and chunks of her hair are thrown about as well. It is the worst, most savage site that I have ever seen. The smell of rogues is all over, so it is fairly obvious what has happened. The a---holes didn’t even bother to leave her body. *END OF FLASHBACK* Tears threaten to continue to fall as I think back to the scene last night. I have not slept or eaten since I found what was left of Stephanie, and I am having trouble holding my emotions together. Now that my eyes have spotted Lily, my anger with her becomes a welcome distraction. I have a very hard time looking away from her. The truth is that I have always found myself strangely curious about her, but today… today all I want to do is take my anger out on someone, and she seems as good a target as anyone else. Her teenage behavior cost me my mate! And it cost this pack its future luna! My wolf, Luke, begs me to calm down. It is an interesting thing, having the wolf side try to calm the human side. As upset and angry and emotional as I am, it is tempting to ignore him and immediately start teach that Little Brat a lesson. However, I decide to follow Luke's advice after he reminds me that Stephanie deserves to have her funeral be all about her and not some whiny teenage brat. That does not mean that I am going to let Lily get away with what she has done, but I wait until a more appropriate time to take my revenge. I turn my focus back to Stephanie’s casket, which we filled with her bloody clothes, hair, and anything that could be found at the site that had her blood on it. The casket has been brought to the center of the amphitheater. The alpha and beta families take their seats in the front row, and my father and the pack priest move beside the casket to begin the ceremony. The ceremony involves a lot of prayers, rituals, and speakers. The average ceremony takes 2-3 hours, and Stephanie's will most likely take closer to 4-5 hours given her status in the pack and how beloved she was. During the ceremony, I keep trying to distract myself by looking around as others around me. I do not want to be seen as weak by curling into the fetal position and wailing like a baby, even though that is the only thing I want to do right now. My heart breaks as I glance at Stephanie’s parents next to me in the front row, holding on to one another as they cry. Seeing Stephanie’s father —a strong, powerful Beta wolf— break down is a sight I have very rarely seen. The pain in his eyes is heart-wrenching. I also notice Stephanie's brother, Nick, as he clings to his mate, Jenny. Both of them are crying as well. Nick is my best friend, and I have known him since we were tiny pups, but I have literally never seen him cry. I notice that there are no dry eyes anywhere. Even my father has a few stray tears running down his cheeks, although I am sure he would punch anyone who pointed it out. He is a proud man, just like me. As the sky continues to darken, I notice the Little Brat starting to act like she is uncomfortable in her seat. I can tell that Stephanie's mother is getting agitated, and rightly so. For once, can the Little Brat not think about something other than herself? Seriously. It is one ceremony. Just one. For an older sister who died trying to help her. How dare the Little Brat not hold herself together? The next thing I know, the moon is high in the sky and the final rites are being spoken by the priest. As exactly that moment, the Little Brat whispers something in her mother’s ear. Her mother turns and glares at her, causing the Little Brat to put her head down. I then watch as the Little Brat stands up and walks away. She looks like she is in pain, and I hope that she is. How dare she walk away from her sister’s funeral! Especially in the middle of the last rites! I am tempted to follow her and give her a piece of my mind, but Stephanie means more to me than that. I remind myself once again that I will get my revenge on Lily aka the Little Brat soon enough. For tonight, I must remain focused on the love of my life. Chapter 3: Lily Meets Rose “Y-yes.” “Good. Now open your eyes.” I opened my eyes and immediately noticed that I was not human anymore. My feet and hands were paws. I then looked into the water that pooled at the edge of the waterfall, and I saw my reflection… or rather the reflection of Rose. My heart stopped. There are many different types of wolves —alpha wolves; beta wolves; gamma wolves; warrior wolves; silver wolves; white wolves; red wolves; omega wolves. And even within those categories, there are varying sizes and colors and markings. We learn about the types of wolves in school. “Expect the unexpected” was a phrase that was often said about the first transition, but in reality your wolf generally follows your lineage: the children of alpha wolves will generally be alpha wolves; the children of beta wolves will generally be beta wolves; and so on. Typically, the big excitement —especially with children of ranked wolves— centers on the size, color, and personality of the new wolf. Looking back at me in the reflection of the pool was a type of wolf I had never seen or learned about in school. Rose’s fur was a beautiful bluish-silver color that almost glowed. On the right side of her rump was a large black crescent moon symbol, and the black coloring of that symbol matched her solid black paws and black tail. In addition, I noticed that Rose was huge. Although it was tough to tell, it appeared to me that Rose was at least as large as some alpha wolves. “What type of wolf are we, Rose?” “A special type. You will learn more as time goes on, but know that the Moon Goddess has blessed you and I, Lily.” I did not say anything; I was not sure what to say. Rose and I sat by the waterfall for a while longer, until I remembered Stephanie’s funeral. “We need to get back!” I told Rose in a panic. Rose guided me through how to transform back to our human form, and I frantically searched the nearby trees for clothes. I found a men’s t-shirt and shorts. Both were far too big for my small frame, so I opted to just put the t-shirt on. I also grabbed my eye-glasses off the ground and put them on; thankfully they did not break during the transition. Now that I had Rose, I would not need the glasses anymore because she would heal my eyes. However, Rose warned me that —for now— it was best that I continue to wear the glasses and let the pack believe that I did not yet have my wolf. I thought it was a curious thing for her to say, but I had no reason to not trust her. I hurried back to the packhouse and got into the beta suite, hoping to quickly change clothes and re-join the mourning crowd. Unfortunately, once I got in the suite, I was met with the angry, accusing eyes of my mother. “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? HOW DARE YOU MAKE A SCENE AT YOUR SISTER’S FUNERAL! HAVE YOU NO SHAME? ARE YOU SO SELFISH AND SELF-CENTERED THAT YOU CAN THINK OF NO ONE BUT YOURSELF?” I said nothing. What could I say? My mother then did something that, in my 14 years, she had never done before. She slapped me. Hard. And the beating continued from there. Chapter 4: Living in the Shadows (6 years later) (Lily POV) Six years have now passed since that fateful day that Stephanie died. I wish that I could say that life has moved on, and that we have found good in the bad... but for the most part, it isn't true. Stephanie is just as much a part of this pack today as she was before she died. And the grief felt in the pack is just as raw and angry as it was that first day. If anything has changed, it is that --instead of Stephanie being out in the center of things-- she lives on almost like a shadow over everything. She now has a couple of streets named after her --Stephanie Lane and Steffie Avenue (her nickname was "Steffie"); and you can quite literally find some of her favorite outfits on display in glass cases at various places throughout the pack. Even more bizarre, the day she died was turned into a pack holiday, as was her birthday. Everyone but pack omegas have both days off from work, school, and training, and there are somber celebrations and remembrances planned to commemorate each occasion. I once made the mistake of asking my parents whether this was a normal reaction to the death of a single she-wolf. We can love and miss her, but to continue to hold large ceremonies every year? And to treat her as a saint and forget that she had a human side too? That seemed a bit too much to me. As far as I know, the pack has never done this for any other luna or future luna, and it only honors 2-3 historical alphas in such a manner. I was rewarded for my questions by being called jealous and hateful. (I also received a significant beating, but beatings had become commonplace from my mother, so I cannot say that my question necessarily triggered the beating I received that day. Plus, the beating hurt far less than what I received before Stephanie died. But for the slight pain and who did the beating, I almost would not have minded.) Overall, I think the worst part of losing Stephanie six years ago wasn't losing Stephanie... it was how losing Stephanie impacted my relationship with my parents and other pack members. Before Stephanie died, I was well aware that Stephanie was my parents' favorite. My older brother Nick and I would even joke about it from time to time. But even though Stephanie was their favorite, they still treated me really well and loved me. They never would have raised a hand to me before Stephanie died. After Stephanie died, however, my parents could barely look at me. And when they did, I saw the unmistakable wish in their eyes that it had been me, not Stephanie, that died that fateful night. In addition, my parents stopped caring about my well-being generally. I lived in their house until I was 17, but I was responsible for my own meals and necessities. I was forced to take on a part-time job at a nearby diner just to ensure I had clothes and food to eat. (I technically could have eaten the food that was available in the packhouse, but the dirty looks and mean comments made by my parents, James, and other pack members were enough to make that an unrealistic option.) Also, in case you are wondering, I have not celebrated a birthday since Stephanie died. Not one single soul other than Rose has bothered to tell me happy birthday. No one even bothered to ask me whether I had received my wolf. That wasn't because birthdays stopped being important; it was just mine whose meaning changed. I attended plenty of birthday parties, and the pack hosted plenty of 14th birthday celebrations. In fact, I think it was because of one of those birthday celebrations that someone finally questioned whether I had received a wolf. It was a legitimate question, given that I was over 14 and never joined a pack run. Rose encouraged me early on to skip them "for safety reasons," and I was all too happy to do so. Had anyone bothered to ask me directly about my wolf or about why I was skipping the pack runs, I would have been honest... but no one ever did. Instead, a rumor spread that I was wolfless. Pack members speculated that I lost my wolf as a result of post-traumatic stress from losing Stephanie and/or guilt for what I had done to Stephanie. That latter theory was the one that really got under my skin, because I knew that was a theory and rumor spread by James. Shortly after Stephanie's funeral, he told my parents and most of the pack that Stephanie was only in the forest that night to save me. He also said I had gone out to meet a boy. I have no idea why he would say such things; I have never had a boyfriend and Stephanie was the one who asked me to meet her in the forest. This rumor was the main reason that I received a beating from my mother the night of my first shift. And it probably adds to the reason that pack members wish me dead. Notably, though, I have never dared to defend myself. To tell the truth would be the equivalent of talking negatively of both Stephanie and our future alpha.... and would likely lead to a death sentence. So instead, I have always just pushed through. One of the ways that I have survived is to hold on to the faith that one day things will be different. Another thing that I have done is take every last opportunity to leave the pack. For example, I hurried through high school so that I could graduate early, and I then went away to college. To avoid coming home, I have been loading up on credit hours and taking every term of school -including the mini winter sessions-- that I can get. I am also taking advantage of a unique expedited program offered just for werewolves doctors. Given all of these things, I actually expect that I can become a fully licensed werewolf doctor in just a couple more years. Until I become fully licensed and independent, I will have to continue to bear the shadow of my sister and the pain that comes with it. I am required to be present for both of her holidays --all pack members are; there are no exceptions-- but thankfully those are among the very few times that I can reliably be found at the Western Mountain pack these days. My ultimate goal is to meet my mate and become a pack doctor in his pack... which I pray to the Moon Goddess is not the Western Mountain pack. If, Goddess forbid, my mate is in this pack, perhaps I can convince him to transfer packs with me. Goddess willing. Tomorrow is my birthday. I guess we will find out then. Chapter 5: Without His Luna (James POV) Tomorrow will mark six years since Stephanie died. Everything and nothing has changed. I still think of Stephanie every single day. Her beautiful smile. Her laugh. The kindness that she showed to pack members. The ethusiam that she showed for her luna training. Stephanie would have been an amazing and strong luna. Had Stephanie lived, we would have been happily married by now. We would probably have already had at least two adorable pups, who would have been doted on by two loving sets of grandparents. Together, Stephanie and I would have been leading the West Mountain Pack to new heights. Of course, Stephanie is no longer here. And without Stephanie… Well, without Stephanie, I am only a fraction of the man that I used to be, and only a fraction of the wolf. Without Stephanie, I am not even Alpha yet. In our world, most alpha heirs take over from their fathers between 25 and 30 years old. That timing ensures that most alphas will have already found their mates before they take over the running of a pack. Running a pack is not easy to do by yourself. Even with a strong beta and a strong gamma, a luna’s importance to a pack cannot be underestimated. A luna brings heart and balance to a pack and to the alpha himself. She is the alpha’s equal, and she is one of the few werewolves in the pack who can get away with challenging and questioning an alpha’s decisions. If she exercises her role properly and judiciously, a luna’s presence can lead to better overall outcomes, decisions, and governing. This is especially true if the luna is the alpha’s fated mate, because it means she takes on her role with the blessing of the Moon Goddess. Alpha heirs who take over their packs prior to turning 25 typically do so either out of necessity, or because they have been fortunate to have been mated very early to a strong luna. Six years ago, when Stephanie was still alive, my father thought we were going to be part of the lucky latter category. He had been very eager to take an early retirement. He and my mother had fantasized about all the European trips and Caribbean cruises that they would take after I was sworn in as alpha, and they had already had tentative plans for at least one of those trips. Of course, all of those plans were ultimately scrapped. Today, I am old enough to take over as alpha, even without a luna by my side… but my father is concerned that I am not mentally strong enough to do so yet. He sees me as broken. My father is probably right. It is a little hard not to feel broken. The reminders of Stephanie are everywhere. Even after six long years, I feel like I cannot escape from the reminders or from my grief, and it is suffocating. The packhouse has practically turned into a mini museum to her, and almost all of the local businesses have some sort of small dedication, whether it be a dedicated drink, food item, picture, or shelf of Stephanie-inspired items. Worse, twice a year, we hold a series of ceremonies and remembrances for Stephanie. As Stephanie’s mate and as the future alpha heir, I am expected to attend every one of them. I want to be there. I know that I should be there. But… It is complete and utter torture. Every day without Stephanie is difficult, but Stephanie’s birthdays and death anniversaries always hit me the hardest. What I want to do more than anything on those two days is be by myself so that I can process my grief. There is a waterfall that I like to go to. If I could, I would spend all day there on both days. The waterfall isn’t exactly hidden, but to find it, you have to go pretty far within the woods and know where to go. As far as I know, I am the only one in our pack who ever goes there. Being at the waterfall brings me comfort; it always has. That is where I want to be when I am grieving or upset. Unfortunately, instead of spending time in the comfort of my waterfall, I have to spend the two hardest days each year out in public with almost 20,000 eyes watching my every move and every reaction. Instead of just… grieving… I have to be conscientious of how every display of emotion can impact and be perceived by the pack members. As I listen to pack members, Stephanie’s parents, and my own parents take turns telling stories about Stephanie and her good deeds, I am expected to somehow strike an impossible balance between sadness and strength. At each of the events, year after year, the remembrances are largely the same. At this point, I practically have the speeches memorized. The speeches usually include stories about how Stephanie would bake cookies and send her sister to deliver them to the guards working the late-night shift on the borders. And stories about how any time anyone was injured in training or at battle, she would not only have her sister deliver care baskets to patients at the hospital, but she would also put one together for any family members separated from them while they were recovering. My parents talk about how eager Stephanie was to take on her position as luna, and how dedicated she was to her training, even working on lessons for hours at home multiple times per week. Stephanie’s parents talk about their prior dreams for their daughter and the hole they continue to feel in their hearts. Nick talks about how family celebrations do not feel the same without Stephanie there, and Jenny talks about wishing that she still had a sister-in-law to bond with and engage in girl talk. The only blessing is that —as the grieving mate— no one expects me to say anything at these events. But that does not spare me from the staring and judgment. If I show too much sadness, pack members worry that I am weak and will not able to be the leader of the pack in the future. If I seem too stoic or show too much “strength,” pack members could perceive me being disrespectful towards Stephanie’s memory. They will also worry that my reign as alpha will lack balance and compassion…. which I already hear whispers about from time to time. Sometimes, I feel angry about the whole thing. I would never, ever expect anyone who has lost their mate to put themselves on a stage multiple times a year and be judged on whether their external grief is appropriate enough. And yet my parents have no problem doing it to me. I tried to push back once, but only once. As you can imagine, it did not go well. I started the conversation by telling my parents that I did not think it was healthy for me to be surrounded by constant reminders of Stephanie, and I told them that I thought the constant remembrances were counterproductive to my mental health. I suggested that we scale back the events, or make them more private affairs. My father got angry and accused me of being selfish. He told me that being uncomfortable and coping with the pressure of judgmental pack members is part of being an alpha. Meanwhile, my mother reminded me that the ceremonies had been Stephanie’s parents’ idea, and she asked me if I wanted to be the one to tell them it was no longer important to celebrate Stephanie’s life. No, of course I did not want to tell Stephanie's parents that. No, I did not want to be selfish. I just wanted --and still want-- to not feel so sad all the time. Six years in, and the only reprieve I ever get from my grief is when the Little Brat is around. She has made herself scarce the last few years, but when she is around, my wolf and I can sense her from a mile away. My wolf and I fight about her all the time --for some reason, Luke seems to have a soft spot for the Little Brat-- but we can agree that it is nice having her around. For me, it's because I have a worthy target for my anger and rage. Chapter 8: Daddy's Girl (Lily POV) The drive to the pack house was eerily silent. After my father and I arrived at the pack house, my father quickly exited the vehicle and headed to his office, leaving me on my own. I timidly and cautiously got into the beta suite, but I was relieved to find that my mother was already in bed. I decided to go directly to my room and try to sleep as well. Unfortunately, I ended up tossing and turning all night. The look on my father's face when talking to the guards continued to haunt me. When I did sleep, I had nightmares. Strangely, Rose seemed restless too, but other than briefly wishing me a happy birthday after it hit midnight, she did not say anything. I think the main thing that provoked my nightmares and kept me up was that my heart ached for my father. I knew that I wanted to help him with his pain and ease his suffering, but I was not sure what I could do or say to make things better. It has already been six years. If time has not helped heal his heart, what could I do? The truth is, I am not Stephanie and I never will be. The only thing I have ever known how to do for my father is to try to stay out of his way. At least for my mother, I can serve as a literal punching bag to help her relieve her grief. And for others in the pack, I can serve as both a literal and metaphorical punching bag. But, I am nothing to my father: my father has neglected me and ignored the sufferings I went through, but he has never directly participated in any of them. Perhaps that is one reason his pain upsets me more than the pain of everyone else. He is the least awful amongst my current tormentors, and I can sometimes lie to myself that he does not know or agree with how much I have suffered. I know that it probably seems strange that my heart aches for him at all, given that he is someone who, for the most part, could care less about me. However, please understand that for my own sanity, I have chosen to remember and hold on to the good times in my childhood. Of course, there is also the fact that... regardless of how my father currently feels about me... I have always been --and will probably always be-- a daddy's girl. It is just part of who I am. Since I was in diapers, I have looked up to my father and considered him to be my superhero. Before Stephanie died, I never saw an ounce of weakness in him. He was my strength and my rock. I always had an strong desire to make him proud of me. He was always the first one I ran to when I got a good grade on a test, or when I drew a picture I thought he might like. And ...before Stephanie died... he was always the first one to dry my tears when I got hurt or to give me reassuring praise when I felt down. Even though I knew Stephanie was his favorite... even though I knew Stephanie's accomplishments would always be greater, and that he would always be more proud of her... those little things mattered to me. I lived for those moments. Sigh. By 5:30 am, I gave up on any hope of further sleep. Stephanie's first remembrance event was not scheduled until 11 am, so I knew I had a little bit of time. Eager to take advantage of that time and also avoid my mother, I took a quick shower, packed a small backpack, and headed out of the house. Predictably, my feet led me to the waterfall that I had shifted in front of six years ago. I have come here at least twice a year since Stephanie died, usually on her birthday and death anniversary. The waterfall brings me an odd sense of peace. As beautiful as it is, I do not know anyone else who comes here. Perhaps that is why I like it so much. I sighed. "It is easy to tell myself that when I am away from the pack and not having to cope with the consequences. It is a lot harder to believe that I am blameless when everyone around me is crying and upset all the time. You saw my dad last night. That nearly broke me. He is still hurting so much." "That does not make any of it your fault," Rose protests. "Rose, the day before Stephanie died, I prayed that the Moon Goddess stop Stephanie from continuing to hurt me." "She was not hurting you, Lily. She was torturing you. There is nothing wrong with you praying that it stop." "There is if it cost Stephanie her life." "Lily, you are not giving the Moon Goddess enough credit. You are smarter and stronger than this. You need to stop with the emotional vomit and ---" Suddenly Rose stops talking through the link. She is pacing back in forth in my head. I have no idea what is going on, until the overwhelming scent of vanilla and coffee beans hits my nose. "Mate! Lily, our mate is here! Mate, mate, mate, mate, mate!!!" I stand, dust the ashes off of my jeans, and turn around. My heart drops when I recognize the werewolf standing about 200 feet away from me. This has to be a joke. This cannot be happening.	LEARN_MORE	https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10745&u	Massive story	https://www.facebook.com/61560932294131/	0	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	getokn.com	DCO		https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10745&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448731292_973317731140374_4061053005564536888_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k4j2GfkXCykQ7kNvgHQg7fc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ABhf1KiMgRHgnTHZro3KFwr&oh=00_AYBqQbqDRXfXjOYGBA8gt-iP1ZdtnKu23lY01DCyztrYRQ&oe=6708FFCB	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Massive story	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,105,827	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2105825}'	No	2024-10-06 20:09	active	1586			BOOK_TRAVEL	https://linktr.ee/ruhstheatrearts?utm_source=linkt	RUHS Theatre Arts	https://www.facebook.com/RUHSDRAMA/	537	1969-12-31 18:00	Book Now	linktr.ee	CAROUSEL		https://linktr.ee/ruhstheatrearts?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=c9b747bf-32ff-4b98-9014-2837bb70fef4	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462118631_540472985230979_1389240015857876097_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sYr03UxqkMgQ7kNvgFVrapB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AbvhEtHJNHgCU-zU5k5blH8&oh=00_AYBSX5hJxTnGO-E-W25AzomRQz8sOmaXGYJe06gi1UDCHw&oe=6708F851	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	RUHS Theatre Arts	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,112,049	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":1,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":1,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	Yes	2024-10-06 21:57	active	1588	[Exclusive] Estate Planning Event!	Join us in Reno for the Estate Planning Event of the Year—for FREE! Our goal is to give you and your family the tools to understand the recent changes so you can avoid the top Estate Planning Mistakes! 🙌 You’ll Learn: 👉 Avoid common mistakes when building your estate plan. 👉 How to protect your estate and family from lawsuits, bankruptcy, divorce, and creditors. 👉 How to avoid probate, long delays, and fees all with a simple plan. 👉 Ways to ensure your nest egg lasts no matter how long you're retired. Location: National Automobile Museum (Reno, NV) The event will fill up quickly and there are limited numbers for the venue. Register now for this complimentary event which is 100% on us! 🔥 To register for the event is simple: ✅ Click the picture below to reserve your seat ✅ You’ll receive a confirmation email/text ✅ Our team will reach out to book your table We look forward to seeing you there!	LEARN_MORE	https://www.retiring-wise.com/abshire-event-1/	Retire Wise	https://www.facebook.com/retiringwise/	155	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	retiring-wise.com	IMAGE	Seating is limited. Reservations are required.	https://www.retiring-wise.com/abshire-event-1/	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462136359_424373877339808_3507713659764638653_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=N21M9s5I6zMQ7kNvgEG5HQF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AIogYMOY_m-1iG3agMs_9X8&oh=00_AYCNqYympYRdXGlImOBlNU1qhJP_Sfe2mEeSdnXytc6-sg&oe=67090E6E	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Retire Wise	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,112,050	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":true,"simple_request_ratio":0.024793388429752067,"is_bh_selenium":null,"selenium_ratio":null,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	Yes	2024-10-06 21:57	active	1588		You gotta book this airbnb when you're in 📍Kingston, Jamaica 🇯🇲 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #airbnb #airbnbjamaica #visitjamaica #jamaica #caribbean #fyp #explorepage #Kingston #burnaboy	BOOK_TRAVEL	http://airbnb.com/h/theclubhouse876	ultimateairbnbs	https://www.instagram.com/_u/ultimateairbnbs	0	1969-12-31 18:00	Book now	airbnb.com	VIDEO		http://airbnb.com/h/theclubhouse876	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/393297451_632656898777053_593136899337462407_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s206x206&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=01e7c5&_nc_ohc=jCoHHZ98rYYQ7kNvgGol6ro&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AYA-4hkzeaoML3GPCcrA4NKab2Tw2UIsjv8LHoW3pr_Nag&oe=67091FE8	IG_ADS_IDENTITY	1	0	ultimateairbnbs	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,111,104	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2111101}'	Yes	2024-10-06 21:54	active	1588	Mermaid City Fest \| Sat. 11/9	Mermaid City Craft Beer and Wine Fest kicks off on Saturday, November 9 🍻 All tickets include unlimited tastings of 40+ varieties of beer and wine + multiple food trucks, vendors, and live entertainment including DJs, karaoke, and more!	SHOP_NOW	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mermaid-city-fest-tic	Waterside District	https://www.facebook.com/WatersideDistrict/	61,924	1969-12-31 18:00	Shop Now	eventbrite.com	DCO	{{product.description}}	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mermaid-city-fest-tickets-1028938541877?cid=wsdmarketing	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462284007_846117704400229_6418780270914978136_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EEf-RCXT1lgQ7kNvgG3R9ED&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AQybuYt69bNWhgGCrprp_i-&oh=00_AYCxWiWIT75BQiHBgP9DrPjd8QYe-SEC7GwEIARB5NJk7Q&oe=67092074	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Waterside District	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,112,706	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2112910}'	No	2024-10-07 16:31	active	1589	😍Read the next chapters👉	This wasn’t the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be her… Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owen’s family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changed… He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldn’t believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain why… I had to confront him. “Owen?” I called out. “Owen, where are you?” He didn’t answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: “No, I don’t think I love her anymore.” His words gave me icy chills. “You should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.” Owen continued. “He said...what?” I couldn’t believe my ears and cried in my heart, “How dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! ” Hearing Owen’s frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, “Question him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I don’t think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.” So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. “Just in time for your dinner, hun!” I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. “Where are you going? It’s getting late and dinner is ready.” I said. “Dinner with a client. Don’t wait for me.” Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food I’d carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasn’t hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that weren’t perfect. My belly wasn’t as flat as it used to be. Maybe I should’ve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... “Joise”! “Josie…? Were you with Josie?” I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldn’t understand. I couldn’t believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didn’t recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. “Owen, are you OK?” I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, “If you’re sick, go see a doctor.” I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: “Josie”. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said “Josie”. He answered: “Hello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.” I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldn’t hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he would’ve never let me suffer like this. “I’ll pick you up later.” Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. “Please, don’t leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. I’m too weak to be all by myself.” He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldn’t help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: “In sickness and in health, in good times and bad”. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: “Hello, Noah?” The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. “I’m so sick, I’m so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, please…” I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. “I’ll be right there.” Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. What’s wrong? I didn’t have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owen’s uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymond’s appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his family’s business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. “Does Owen know you’re sick?” Raymond said, looking concerned. “How did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?” I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. “Don't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.” Oops, I must have pressed the number of “Owen’s Boss” instead of “Owen”. I apologized for the inconvenience. “You are a member of our family, Noah. It’s my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.” Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. “Thank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.” I said with a relieved sigh. “Of course, Noah. Whenever you need me, I’ll be there.” He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldn’t have shared my family’s private problems with another man who I didn’t even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? “I don’t think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.” I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. “How could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!” Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. “Please, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.” I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymond’s aftershave smelled a little special. “Raymond? Noah? What are you doing?!” I suddenly heard Owen’s angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didn’t seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. “So, you’ve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!” Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasn’t the one who couldn’t be trusted! “Owen! How dare you talk to her like that! It’s not our family’s manner!” Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymond’s fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didn’t want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. “Raymond, it’s okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.” I said gratefully. ‘Please, don’t say anything about Josie’, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldn’t detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. “Owen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymond’s number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.” Owen grabbed me and said, “Well, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and ‘fall’ right into his arms.” He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. “You can go back to your important job now, uncle. I’ll look after my wife.” Raymond’s eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that he’d better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didn’t want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. “Owen… What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?” I asked. “So what? Whose wife do you want to be?” Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. “I know you cheated on me, Owen.” I uttered with pain in my voice. “You’ve been seeing Josie, right?” Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. “What do you know, Noah?” he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: “Someone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didn’t want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. “Owen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I can’t believe you would cheat me like that!” I cried, “Owen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!” His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldn’t answer, Owen said: “It’s true. I love her. I love Josie.” Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? “Why, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?” I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. “Owen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.” He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, “I don’t have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!” I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didn’t fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldn’t get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: “You lost your footing. It’s not my fault.” There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. “Raymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.” “I came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You haven’t … Noah?” Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. “This is how you treat your wife?! I don’t believe you. Don’t you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!” Raymond raged at his nephew. I didn’t even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. “Twice in one day? That must be a record.” The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, “Not by choice…” The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. “I don’t normally need so much help, you know.” I broke the ice. “I happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.” Raymond laughed heartily. “Jokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.” I continued. “Why did you come over tonight, Raymond?” “Owen hadn’t come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.” Raymond explained. “I just can’t believe what he did to you!” He continued. “If he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. I’ll teach him a lesson.” His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. “Thank you, Raymond. I’m okay now. It was an accident. Owen didn’t push me off the stairs on purpose. He didn’t mean to hurt me.” I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. “Goodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.” I said with feeling as he hugged me. “Bye, Noah. It’s been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.” He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldn’t believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didn’t he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josie’s betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. “How dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for God’s sake!” I cried out. They hadn’t heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasn’t so devastated, it might’ve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josie’s blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. “I don’t believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!” I insisted. Josie hid away in Owen’s arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: “You’ve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?” “I am done with you.” He continued. “Our whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie should’ve been with me all along!” I didn’t understand. “What are you talking about, Owen?” He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josie’s collarbone. “Remember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. You’ve made her suffer long enough!” I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didn’t believe me. “Josie,” I cried. “How could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! We’ve been best friends since the orphanage, haven’t we? Does that mean nothing to you?” “Noah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,”Josie played innocent with me, “I should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.” This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldn’t see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural？ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josie’s waist and warned me, “You’d better stay out of our life from now on. I’ll move to another villa with Josie.” I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each other… But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, “necklace” is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didn’t believe our years of affection couldn’t prove my heart. “Noah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.” Josie said. “One day you’ll both regret this. I didn’t do anything wrong.” I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: “It’s my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldn’t have suffered so much.” I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owen’s whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owen’s angry shouting: “How dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I can’t believe your jealousy would drive you this far!” Chapter 6 - Choice Noah “What?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I replied to the angry voice on the phone. “More lies! I can’t believe you, Noah. You're despicable!” Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. “Owen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?” “Josie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!” He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. “Oh, it’s our ‘old friend’.” The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josie’s room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. “Finally! That took you long enough.” He whispered angrily. “Josie is sleeping.” He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. “I have no idea what happened, Owen.” I said honestly. “Can you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?” “Are you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.” He shook his head, then continued. “Josie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.” “What? That's horrible!” I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. “Stop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.” No wonder he doubted me. But I couldn’t believe the trust between us was so fragile. “Would you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?” I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: “Never again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.” I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me！ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. “I didn’t prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?” I said plainly. I didn’t know why he came back at this time, but I didn’t care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, “You still don’t want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!” “Josie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!” I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. “I choose divorce.” I said coldly. “Okay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and I’ve prepared another ‘surprise’ for you.” Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile.	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2,107,837	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2107413}'	Yes	2024-10-06 20:32	active	1587	😍Read the next chapters👉	Chapter 1 “Sir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. I’m not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. “What did he say?” The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. “Madam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.” Zora’s eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. “Okay. Let’s go.” Zora’s heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrah’s stance was clear through it all. “When everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.” Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. “Let’s hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but don’t expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but it’s definitely not you.” The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Coco’s birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zora’s phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, ‘Mr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.’ Zora’s eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldn’t bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. “Ezrah is in the bathroom.” Zora’s hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. “Who are you?” The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, “Piper, his fiancée. And you are?” “Whatever he saved my name with,” Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. “Oh, Zora. If it’s urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.” The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. “Just tell him to call me.” Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. “What are you doing with my phone?” He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, “and I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?” The pout on Piper’s lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. “Is it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.” Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partner’s sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. “I told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldn’t be seen together.” Ezrah’s voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didn’t want Piper’s presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, “I could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I don’t want to be away from you anymore.” Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasn’t easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. “Did anyone call?” He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zora’s name. “Yeah. Zora. She said you should call her,” Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. “What did you tell her?” Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. “I pretended not to know about her existence.” Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrah’s attention was on the phone in his hand. “Do me a favor and don’t answer my calls again.” His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. “I’m sorry. I thought it was urgent.” Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, “Nothing about Zora is ever urgent.” Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. “Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her?” Ezrah hated to be doubted. “You don’t believe me? I’m only with her because she’s carrying my child. As soon as he’s born, I will divorce her.” Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. “Can you go shopping with me? I didn’t bring enough clothes.” Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didn’t know to send it. “I have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,” Ezrah said softly. Zora’s heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. “Did he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?” The butler’s throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I just didn’t want to see you sad.” Zora’s heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husband’s number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. “Zora. I’m busy.” That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, “Ezrah, I want these shoes.” “Try them on. If they fit, you can have them.” ‘So, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.’ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. “Madam, you are awake. Thank God.” Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. “Mrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?” The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. “How is my baby?” Zora asked. The doctor’s eyes dulled. “I’m very sorry, but your baby couldn’t survive the impact.” Tears brimmed in the back of Zora’s eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her father’s company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. “It’s alright. She would have just suffered anyway.” Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. “Excuse me?” The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrah’s indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. “Sorry, that was not directed at you.” There was no warmth in Zora’s apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldn’t do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. “Where is Ezrah?” Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zora’s voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. “Madam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,” Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. “That isn’t my question.” “Boss left here a few minutes ago,” Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. “Don’t lie to my face again.” Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. “Boss said, and I quote. ‘It’s rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. I’m very busy at the moment.” Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. “Thank you, and please excuse me.” Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. “Ma…” “I said, excuse me, Rudolph,” Zora’s voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. “Okay.” As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. “Soph…” “Dad, I’m sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.” Zora didn’t hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, ‘I told you so’ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. “What happened, Zora?” “I had an accident and lost the baby. I’m coming home.” The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, “Oh Zora. I’m coming to get you. Just send me your location.” Zora refused. She couldn’t leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. “No dad, I have a few things to do first.” “What is that? Let me help you with it?” Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing I can’t handle. “Okay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.” Zora smiled and didn’t refuse her father’s kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrah’s return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, “Good news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so let’s get a divorce.” The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldn’t help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasn’t going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldn’t have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zora’s gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. “What is this?” Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. “Do I need to get you a pair of glasses?” Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. “Why? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?” Ezrah’s expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didn’t care anymore. “Please sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,” she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. “We shall talk about it later,” he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: I’m sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You don’t believe me? I’m only with her because she’s carrying my child. As soon as he’s born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. “Where did you get that?” He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. “You have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,” he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didn’t even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. ‘Mr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.’ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldn’t find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldn’t hurt. “It doesn’t matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.” Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. “You want to blackmail me? How much do you want?” He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. “What I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.” She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. “Your father’s company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.” This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. “No. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?” Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. “Did you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.” Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasn’t ‘interested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? “You may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.” Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. “Trust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.” “I don’t believe you,” Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. “As soon as the papers are signed, you won’t hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,” Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. “Alright. I’m not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,” he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrah’s phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasn’t supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, “Are you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?” She couldn’t hear Piper’s response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. “Ezrah, it’s time to finalize our divorce in court.” Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, “just a few minutes.” An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. “You should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you won’t like what I will do,” Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. “I have a gift waiting for you at home.” Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. ‘EZRAH.’ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zora’s handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, “ZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”	LEARN_MORE	https://shgjfh.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=13232&u	Indulge in story	https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/	810	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	shgjfh.com	IMAGE		https://shgjfh.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=13232&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/455908072_482275414430538_4443620739669370115_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BwrQJtWeU1QQ7kNvgFesAC5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AGqikiQA60IgINLkdCxWtJ7&oh=00_AYDGa9AkPF4wtJWCyr6Y6OiM3aHsWsBoVi4T1cuX5vPlzA&oe=6708F9BF	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Indulge in story	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,112,396	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2112389}'	No	2024-10-07 16:30	active	1589	🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉	One Neah “Where the heck is she?” I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I don’t make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. “Alpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.” Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didn’t need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. “We are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!” I don’t answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didn’t have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didn’t mess around and he had the largest pack. “He is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!” Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesn’t tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. ”Useless Wolf.” He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that don’t quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. “Is this the way you greet all Alpha’s?” His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. “I’m sorry.” I whisper, getting to my feet. “I…I thought I was alone.” I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesn’t introduce himself either, why should he? “Come forward.” He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as I’m told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. “You smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?” I nod, though I couldn’t tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. “I would prefer it if you spoke to me.” He growls, “I’m not in the mood to play games.” “Yes.” I whisper. I couldn’t help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? “Why do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.” “I…..” I hated the question. “Spit it out, I haven’t got all day!” He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldn’t scent him. I knew why I hadn’t been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. “You should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. It’s rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?” His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. “My Wolf abilities were bound,” I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasn’t interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, “Why would someone do that?” If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. “It was a punishment.” I whisper. It wasn’t far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. There’s a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldn’t tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me “Neah, what the heck are you doing in my office?” He turns to the crimson eyed man. “I am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.” Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Alpha Dane’s voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. “Neah,” My name rolls off of his tongue, “was kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.” What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. “Go and get Beta Kyle.” Alpha Trey seethes. “Tell him that our guest is here.” I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. “Beta Kyle,” I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. “Alpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.” He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. “You’re lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.” Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesn’t speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesn’t last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. “Neah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.” I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should have…. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. “Neah is your sister, correct?” Alpha Dane questions my brother. “She is.” Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. “Why do you treat her like vermin?” Straight to the point, my brother wouldn’t like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. “Neah was responsible for our parents' death.” Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. “Responsible how?” Alpha Dane’s voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. “She served them Wolfsbane.” Two Neah Don’t make a sound. Don’t make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesn’t squeeze. “You poisoned your parents?” “I was six.” I splutter. “I just made them lemonade.” My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. “Hardly seems fair to blame a six year old.” “A six year old should know the difference between plants.” Alpha Trey snaps “Sounds to me like she was set up.” Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. “We all know that standard wolfsbane doesn’t affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.” What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasn’t lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. “Which only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.” Alpha Dane mutters “You weren’t there, Alpha Dane.” My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. “It was Wolfsbane.” He nods his head. “You are right, I was not present.” Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. “But tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?” “I didn’t ask you here to talk about my slave!” Alpha Trey spits. “Or what happened to my parents.” Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alpha’s he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alpha’s, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. “You’re right and now I have a few things to mull over.” “I thought we agreed.” My brother exclaims “Nothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.” The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. “What the heck did you say to him?” My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. “N..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.” “Did you tell him?” Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. “WELL?” My brother yells when I don’t immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. “But I didn’t say it was you.” I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they weren’t Wolves, they probably wouldn’t have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. “If you have ruined this, you won’t see daylight again.” He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. “Please….” I beg. “He was an Alpha…I… I had to answer him.” My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. “Alpha Dane, I thought you had left.” Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. “I said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?” “As I said,” my brother holds his ground, “She is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.” “You should keep your nose out of other packs' business!” Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. “If I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?” “We don’t….” “Really?” He cocks a brow, “You really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.” “She did do it!” Alpha Trey seethes “And she has nothing to do with our deal.” “That’s for me to decide.” His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. “Where is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.” I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. “On second thoughts, why bother her. I’m certain she is just as vile as you.” He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. “I have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.” Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother “We have already agreed on terms.” “Well, I’m adding one. And if you don’t agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you don’t want that.” “I take it that your new terms have something to do with her?” Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. “You would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.” Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? “Deal.” Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesn’t take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. “I will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.” He reaches a hand out and cups my face, “Ensure you have everything packed.” He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. “If I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.” He struts out, slamming the door behind him. “Get out of my sight!” My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadn’t slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, that’s why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane “Tenth bride’s the charm.” Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. “Shut up!” Eric snaps at him “Both of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!” ‘He will never learn.’ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. “Just give me a second, I need to speak to my men.” The door closes and neither one of them speaks. “She isn’t like the others. Don’t speak to her, don’t look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.” I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didn’t know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. “I mean it!” I snap at Jenson's smug face, “Being my brother won’t change my mind!” He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. It’s barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. “Are you ready?” I call out. “If you just want to…..” Beta Kyle starts. “I was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.” The expression on Beta Kyle’s face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. “Where are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packed” “That’s all she has.” Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. “That’s it?” I stare at him. “That’s all her belongings? She’s what, in her early twenties and that’s all she has?” “What more does she need?!” His Beta sneers. ‘Kill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.’ “What are you waiting for?” I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neah’s reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. “Take her Alpha Dane. I’m sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.” Her shrill voice goes straight through me. “Look at the silly girl, she’s going to pass out.” The blonde bimbo laughs “You don’t get to talk about her like that anymore.” I glare at the blonde, “She is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.” “DISOBEDIENCE!” The woman screeches just as Neah’s hip hits the floor. “How dare you! If anyone is disobedient, it’s that rat in the corner.” ‘Who the heck is she calling a rat?’ Aero growls “You should make yourself familiar with our agreement.” I snap. “It seems your mate has not told you everything.” Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. “All that for your help?” His mate’s eyes are wide “I don’t do half-witted contracts.” Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Trey’s chest “Shall we go to the office?” Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. “You are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.” “Are those my only options?” she whispers, keeping her eyes low “For now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.” She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like it’s fighting to hang on to life. “So what will it be?” “I….” Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. “I….. The office I guess.” “Good choice.” I hold out a hand for her but she doesn’t take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. “Take a seat.” I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. “Sit!” I say it a little louder “She doesn’t have that privilege here!” The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement “Sitting is not a privilege.” I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldn’t see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. ‘It better be!’ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. “And I suggest,” I look at Trey, “You tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.” “Alpha Dane, you are in my home…..” “And you want my help, correct?” The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. “Let’s just get this done.” Trey snaps, “The sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.” “You should read the contract.” I muse “I agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.” “Idiot!” Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. “Done.” Trey mutters “Good, you can get her out of my house.” Trey’s mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldn’t have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they can’t have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, “Come, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.” Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesn’t even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. “Come.” I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. ‘Is she okay?’ Eric links me. “Neah?” I step in front of her and she doesn’t move. She seems to be staring right through me. “It’s time to go.” “Okay.” Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. “I’ve got you.” I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didn’t weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. “Keep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!” I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. “Come.” I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I don’t wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. “I’m fine.” She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. “Let me give you a tour.” I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not “The omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.” I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. “If there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.” Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. “So tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.” Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room “Well?” I ask. “I don’t need anything.” She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasn’t fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. “I know you want to say something, so just say it. I’m not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You don’t have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. “You have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.” “Mark me?” I didn’t think her eyes could get any wider. “Yes, I will mark you.” She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadn’t said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. “You….You brought me so that you could mark me.” She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. “If Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.” “I’m a murderer.” She gasps. “Why would someone like you want me for a bride?” ‘Blood’ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. “What’s that? Are you injured?” I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. “It’s nothing. It’s just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget it’s there.” Forget? How could she forget a wound? ‘Why isn’t she healing?’ I feel Aero’s panic. ‘She’s been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.’ His need to protect her was strong. It hadn’t occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. “Show me!” “It’s fine.” She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. “It’s not optional.” I mutter. “If you won’t show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.” Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. “Can.... can we go somewhere more private?” “Private?” I didn’t really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. ‘Office,’ Aero mutters. ‘I was just going to suggest that!’ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. “This way.” I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. “See, it’s fine.” she whispers. “You need to stop saying that.” She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. “No,” I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. “Let me see the rest of them.” It wasn’t optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didn’t want guests to see. More importantly, they didn’t want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. “You need to see a doctor.” “It’s …..” she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. “It always heals, eventually.” “Did Trey do this?” I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. “Cassandra?” She still doesn’t answer me. “That prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?” She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. “Anyone else?” “The pack.” She whispers. ‘I’m going to kill them all.’ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, “Because of what you allegedly did to your parents.” She nods. “I don’t believe you were responsible.” She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. “Because of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah “I…I don’t know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?” I whisper He frowns at me. “Your brother said you knew the difference between plants.” “I…” I didn’t have an answer. I couldn’t remember, not fully. “Blood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I can’t imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brother’s story doesn’t add up.” “Oh.” “I won’t stop until I find out who did this, Neah.” His crimson eyes narrow. “I will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.” He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. “Right now, you do need to see someone about the infection.” I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? “Come, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.” Frozen to the spot, I don’t move. Did he just say ‘our bedroom,’? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if I’m his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didn’t seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. “You don’t need to be afraid.” I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. “Hey,” His rough fingers tip my face up. “It’s just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.” Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. “The alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?” He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. “I really wish you would talk more, Neah.” Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if I’m in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didn’t care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. “Neah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.” Alpha Dane’s voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadn’t even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. “Coming.” I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. “It’s not much, as we don’t have anyone with as small a waist as you.” He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. “You will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.” He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasn’t like that. “Let’s go.” He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didn’t get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. “Raven, this is Neah.” Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, “Alpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.” It didn’t sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. “She will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.” “I have a wound.” I whisper. “And you are not healing?” Raven asks, confused “I don’t have my Wolf.” I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. “Her Wolf was bound when she was a kid.” Alpha Dane tells her. “That’s why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.” My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Raven’s dark eyes hover on me. “Wow, okay.” She grabs my hand. “This way, let’s take a look at this wound of yours.” She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. “How long ago?” “A few days.” I mutter, though I wasn’t sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasn’t hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. “This is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.” “Neah, you need to tell us the truth.” Alpha Dane orders “I don’t know.” “NEAH!” His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. “I swear, I don’t know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind of…. I’m never not bruised.” There’s silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didn’t already know. Now here I was, sitting in another pack’s hospital, revealing the truth. “Heal her!” Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. “You will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.” Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound “Your brother?” I whisper, opening my eyes “Ah, I see he informed you. I’m guessing he didn’t tell you that Jenson is our brother too?” I shake my head, I’m guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. “Jenson is considered to be our brother’s Gamma.” “Gamma?” I had never heard of the term. “Yep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what I’m good at.” She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. “Now this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasn’t changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.” “Thanks.” I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldn’t read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. “Cream, three times a day.” I show him the pot and he takes it from me. “Good, come.” He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. “Show me.” He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasn’t going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. “I don’t want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you can’t remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I don’t want to have to guess what you mean.” “Okay.” I couldn’t say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. “Stop holding your breath.” He tells me, getting to his feet. “I am not going to hurt you.” It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didn’t feel real.	LEARN_MORE	https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u	Galaxy in the Story	https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/	1,374	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	wwwedb.com	DCO		https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hoZXmpsTT0YQ7kNvgE7wXzx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A4thAtUcreA-Koy_dnS3ohN&oh=00_AYDbpurnJcvsXpHe5RWlwyoYMwuUUKTHA432R0R840Fn6g&oe=670A1833	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Galaxy in the Story	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,104,898	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2104897}'	No	2024-10-06 19:56	active	1585			VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	http://instagram.com/selfcarewithbai	selfcarewithbai	https://www.instagram.com/_u/selfcarewithbai	0	1969-12-31 18:00	Visit Instagram Profile	instagram.com	CAROUSEL		http://instagram.com/selfcarewithbai	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/461616024_1192397238506993_6090289092531558372_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s206x206&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=01e7c5&_nc_ohc=RjhUDGc3IHwQ7kNvgH_gcNp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AYAYG4o6-MdG4wU5BkCNBQYqoDmEh5eH76WZdIc3cX_ZUQ&oe=6708F6E7	IG_ADS_IDENTITY	1	0	selfcarewithbai	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,111,166	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2024-10-06 21:55	active	1588	5 Beds 5 Baths House	5 Beds 5 Baths House - $4,200.00 Available for showing from 10/16/2024. Before seeing the property, a Zillow application must be completed. Available for move in on 12/1/2024. Welcome home to this beautifully fully renovated Colonial that has it all! As you enter, you are greeted with a two-story open foyer with dramatic staircase that is open to the second floor. On the main level there is a private office with French doors, great for working from home! The main level also has a living room and large dining room great for dinner parties and guests to gather. When you enter the open-concept kitchen and family room you will be surrounded by light with floor to ceiling windows. The kitchen is great for any chef with lots of counter space and island for prepping or gathering. Sliding doors illuminate the breakfast room, with a full view of the backyard. The generously sized family room is a great place to relax and kick your feet up, equipped with a beautiful, secure automatic gas fireplace. Also on the main level is a half bath, large laundry room and garage access. Upstairs you will be pleasantly surprised by the oversized owner suite with sitting room, walk in closet and large bath with a standing shower and soaking tub. The second bedroom is an ensuite, with its own private bathroom. Bedrooms #3 and #4 share a spacious full bath. Heading to the lower level you will be amazed at the 1000 finished sq ft that includes a separate family room, full bath, a large 5th bedroom with French doors, and exercise room. The generous yard and friendly surroundings will have you feeling at home in no time! A few items to note: Large backyard, Central HVAC, Automatic Gas Fireplace, Reverse Osmosis System (in kitchen), Hardwood Floors, Carpets, Washer and Driver, Dishwasher, Double Oven, Gas Stove, Kitchen Island, Sump Pump (in basement), Garage, driveway, and off-street parking. Recent upgrades: • Heating pump for heat, 2019. • Water heater, 2016. • New carpet in bedrooms, 2022 • New roof, 2018. • New siding on the front of the home, 2021. • HVAC routine maintenance, 2022. • HVAC and Dryer Air Duct Cleaning, 2022. • New Sewage Ejector Pump for Basement, 2022. No smoking allowed. No pets allowed. 1-year lease. $4200 security deposit. Renewal available at end of lease. 60-day notice for lease termination. Tenant is responsible for utilities and lawn maintenance. See leasing agreement for full details. Property: • Area: 4,264 sqft • Levels: 3 • Lot: 10,459 sqft Bedrooms and bathrooms: • Bedrooms: 5 • Full bathrooms: 4 • 1/2 bathrooms: 1 Basement: • Finished Basement • Includes a full bathroom, generous recreation room, workout space, and a large bedroom with double doors. Flooring: • Luxury Hardwood (first and second floor), Carpet (basement), Wood Floors HVAC Cooling/Heating: Central A/C • Cooling features: Electric • Heating features: Forced Air, Heat Pump, Natural Gas Appliances: • Appliances included: Double Oven, Gas Stove, Double-door Refrigerator, Microwave, Dishwasher, Reverse Osmosis System (kitchen), Water Heater, Gas Fireplace, Laundry Room with Washer and Dryer Interior Features: • Luxury Hardwood, Kitchen Island, Eat-in Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Dining Room, Family Room, Living Room, Entertainment Room, 2 Ensuites, Open Floorplan, 9'+ Ceilings, Tray Ceiling(s), 2-Car Garage Parking: • Parking features: Attached 2-car garage and driveway. • Total spaces: 4+ • Garage spaces: 2 • Driveway spaces: 2+ • Street parking available Location/Community: • Region: Frederick • Subdivision: Walnut Ridge (HOA Community) Facebook Marketplace	CONTACT_US	https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/260591476626	Still Eze	https://www.facebook.com/Still-Eze-1838749282938627/	0	1969-12-31 18:00	Contact us		IMAGE		https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/2605914766260161/	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462164520_910356711139849_6894078399954014336_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9oojRBeq77QQ7kNvgFCkGQw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AQ5q0Pfq76VKa_QCN4UxU8L&oh=00_AYBSDeMI055SihZ-XeO1gLslPrhbAMS1utrGmGi_ejOq1g&oe=6708FA1D	REGULAR_PAGE	1	1	Still Eze	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,106,660	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":1,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":0.8420947531326444,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	Yes	2024-10-06 20:12	active	1586		Chapter 1 Mandy's POV ..."I, Alpha Andrew Miller, reject you, Amanda Anderson, as my mate and Luna." He stated, gazing at me with his cold eyes. Am I imagining things? Is this really Andrew - my Andrew? I quickly searched my mind to check if last night was real. Yes, yes, yes it was! Here I am in his hotel room bed, sore, a little bruised, and sated. I just found my mate, my other half, and I was finally, wholeheartedly happy. Just to have my heart crushed? No! This had to be a bad dream. I blinked my eyes a few times, holding the bedsheet to my chest for dear life, and stared at him, dumbfounded. "What did you say?" I finally asked. “Are you deaf? I said I reject you as-” “I heard you the first time.” I cut him off, standing up from bed searching for my dress “...but why?” I found the dress and quickly put it on, not caring about my nakedness or lack of underwear. He stood there with a cold demeanor. I couldn't decipher his emotions. Where is that sweet, caring, and loving guy from last night? Is he bipolar, perhaps? Putting his hands in jeans pockets, he took three large steps forward. Stopping a few inches before me, I had to tilt my head up to meet his gaze. He was so tall. "You thought I would accept you?" he scoffed and continued, "You are just a weak and pathetic human. You are not fit to be Luna. I need someone strong, someone who is capable of leading by my side, a worthy one." I stood there frozen in place, not daring to move my shaky legs. I knew once I moved, I would collapse. I refused to give him this satisfaction. I would not break. He lifted his hand and tucked my loose hair behind my ear, sending shivers down my body. His lips formed a disgusting smirk, and he added, "Although... I must say. You were a good fuck." He chuckled. "Probably the best I’ve had, sweetheart." And that was it. I stepped away from him, with all the courage I could muster, sizing him up. I looked him dead in the eyes and opened my mouth, “I, Amanda Anderson, accept your rejection." And with that, I left... ... Beep, beep, beep I woke up in a cold sweat, panting. Dear God, what was that? It had been five years since that horrible night, and four years since the last time I dreamt about it. What does it mean? I haven't thought about him in years. And I was surely not thinking about him now! Was I going crazy? Was this the effect of overworking myself? Yep, that must be the answer. I got up from my comfy bed and looked at the digital clock on my nightstand. It showed the time in big green numbers: 6:45am. Dragging my numb body to the bathroom, I stopped in front of the mirror and checked the damage. My brown hair was chaos, a huge mess. It definitely needed to be taken care of. Not just my hair - my face looked pale, and I had dark circles under my gray eyes, probably the effect of lack of sleep. And my eyes, God my eyes were lifeless. I could play a zombie role in some stupid sitcom. Is this me? I wondered. Unfortunately, yes. Sighing, I started my morning routine. After a refreshing, warm shower, I wrapped a white towel around my small frame and went straight to the walk-in closet to find a proper outfit for work. After looking for a few minutes, I finally decided to wear a knee-length red sleeveless dress that hugged my upper body tightly then flared out over my hips in a flowing skirt. I chose a matching set of underwear and black stilettos to go with it. After blow drying my hair, I put on enough makeup to at least look presentable. Then I left my bedroom and went to the kitchen in search of the love of my life: coffee. The kitchen opened up to the dining room, only separated by an island with a dark wooden countertop. My kitchen was painted dark gray, which perfectly fit the white cabinets and stainless-steel equipment. I loved the industrial style, that's why my whole house was arranged this way. Thank you, 'Magnolia Design' and Debbie Mitchell, for your work. I loved my home. It gave me a sense of security and peace. After switching on the coffee machine, I started to make breakfast. Today's special was a veggie omelet. Picking up the ingredients from the fridge and beginning to cook, my thoughts went back to my dream. Why now? Was it a warning or something? How to interpret it? Was it a good or bad sign? I was rejected, humiliated, and left heartbroken - all because I was human. My wish to be loved was the most stupid thing I could have ever longed for. It wasn’t that I still cared about him or missed him or even loved him. It was just one night - a one-night stand. It was just a little irrelevant episode in my life. Not worth mentioning to anyone. After finishing my breakfast and coffee, I went to my car and drove to work. After driving for 30 minutes in my lovely golden BMW, I reached the underground parking lot and parked my car in my designated place. I went inside the elevator to William's Holding building. I pressed my floor number and waited. At the main lobby, the elevator doors opened, and more people came in, greeting me with a smile, which I returned. Feeling a little tired, I took a few steps back and closed my eyes, placing my head on the elevator's wall to rest. "Hello Ms. Anderson, how was your weekend?" a familiar voice made me snap out of my rest. Damian Kelly, our new IT project manager, who started two weeks ago. Good asset to our department. "Hello, Mr. Kelly, it was full of relaxation, good food, lots of fun, and a great amount of sleep!" I answered with a trained fake smile. My weekend was the opposite of my made-up claim, but he didn’t need to know that. "Looks like you had fun, Ms. Anderson. Perhaps you will share some good stories at our monthly meeting this afternoon?" Is he trying to piss me off? Cause he might succeed. "Well, Mr. Kelly, my private life stays private. I hope you will present some magnificent project ideas at that meeting." I answered coldly to shut him up. Remember who's the boss here. He responded with a nod and turned back, waiting for his floor. Reaching the top floor, I went straight to the CEO's office, and after walking in without a knock, I was met with the most horrible sight. My boss, the famous Ryan Williams , was sucking face with his new flavor of the week. I think her name is Darcy or Daisy, whatever. Gross. I cleared my throat to announce my presence. They immediately stopped and looked my way. Embarrassed, she jumped off his lap and rearranged her black, way-too-short-for-the-morning dress and stood next to Ryan's desk. I had gotten used to that kind of situation over the past seven years of working with Ryan. He excused her and whispered something in her ear, making her blush. Giggling, she gave him a peck on the lips and headed to the door. I walked her out with my eyes. After seeing the door close, I turned back and looked at him. "Well, well, well, I see you had a great weekend." I teased. "You should try it sometime. It's refreshing and relieves stress. I'm all at your service." He said, wiggling his eyebrows. I laughed; full belly laughed so hard I had to put my hands on my stomach. A few tears left my eyes. Moments later, I could finally open my eyes and look at Ryan. "Every time it’s the same reaction. Will you ever consider my proposal?" he asked, annoyed with my response. "You know I love you Ryan, but this," I pointed my finger between us, "will never happen." "I'm persistent." "And I'm stubborn." Sighing, he sat in his chair and put his hands on the black wooden desk. "What brings you here at 8:00am? It's not something I forgot, is it?" He asked, a little nervous. "No, you are off the hook this time." I smiled. "Uff, then what is it?" he visibly relaxed. "Peter." was my simple response. Peter Collins, my best friend, joined our company six years ago, and we immediately felt a connection, like we were twins. Although we looked very different. While I was short at 5'4, he stood tall at 6'2. Peter had auburn hair, while mine was dark brown. He had beautiful amber eyes, mine were gray. I was human while he was a werewolf, but we kept that a secret. Besides looking physically opposite, we had similar characters: stubborn, crazy, hardworking, and loyal to family and friends. Lately, he had started to act strangely. Skipping our Friday movie marathons at my house. Finding any reasonable excuse to not go to Barry's for Monday's beer evenings. He even stopped crashing at my place after his Saturday family dinner to complain about them. It must be something serious. This can't be something as simple as a hidden partner he was dating in secret to not scare him away with his lifestyle or family problems . He would have come to me first to find a solution to something like that. I was concerned about him, and I needed to find out what was going on. "What about Peter? He's dead?" Ryan widened his eyes. I sighed, shook my head, and put my hands on his desk. "No. He's not dead." I answered. "His behavior seems odd these last two weeks, and I don't know what's going on." I cleared my throat to ask a frightening question..."Did he..." I gulped, "Did he resign?" I looked him straight in the eyes, hoping his answer wouldn’t break me more than I already was, but his soft and sorrowful eyes said it all. "He did," I stated, defeated. I hung my head even lower, trying to fight the tears that appeared in my eyes. I bit my bottom lip hard to not let them flow. Moments later, I stood up straight and released the breath I didn't know I was holding. I turned to leave his office. "Listen, Mandy, he asked me not to tell you until he's ready. " Ryan's voice stopped me when I was reaching for the doorknob. "Thank you for telling me. Your secret is safe with me. " I answered, not looking back. "I'm sorry, Mandy!" was the last thing I heard as the door closed behind me. ... Finally, the day was over, and after my morning conversation with Ryan, my mind couldn't focus on anything other than Peter. He was leaving me. HE WAS LEAVING ME. Why? What happened? I needed answers, but I couldn’t pry. I had promised Ryan secrecy. All the meetings today flew by in a blur. I just asked my assistant to email me the notes. I would deal with them in the evening when my mind was clear. I hoped. Even Daniel didn't make any comments about my behavior. Good boy. Descending in the elevator to my car, my phone rang. Reaching into my purse, I grabbed it, and when I saw the name on the screen, my heart started to beat at 100 mph. Should I answer or not?! Taking a few deep breaths and preparing for 'the end', I clicked the answer button. "Hello handsome, glad you remember your bestie," I said with a smile, hearing him chuckle on the other end. "Well, hello to you too, gorgeous," he replied, with a happy voice. "I'm in the elevator now. Can I call you back when I get home?" I tried to postpone my heartbreak for a little while. "That's alright. I'm actually at your place right now. I ordered pizza and brought beers. What do you say?" It wouldn't have surprised me before, but now, after not knowing what is going on, I was confused. What was the occasion? "Fine with me, baby. Be there in 40 minutes, I need to pick up my order from Pam's Bakery, ok?" I replied. "Oh, please tell me you ordered strawberry muffins?" he asked dreamily. "You know I love them. Damn girl, I'm already drooling!" he yelled. "Yep, I did," I said with a smirk. "Ok, gotta go if you want those muffins." I ended the call and exhaled. "Oh God, please don't do this to me." I prayed while buckling my seat belt and starting the engine to head back home. "You can do this. You are strong." I told myself, leaving the parking lot. ... "We need to talk." I gulped. This is it. Prepare for the impact. When I came home, Peter was already sitting on my black leather couch, munching on pizza, and drinking his fourth beer. 'Great, thanks for waiting.' I thought to myself. He greeted me as usual with a bear hug and a long kiss on my cheek, giving me his million-dollar smile. I took notice of his demeanor. He looked confident, happy, even a little bit proud but what was most noticeable was his glow. What the fuck happened? "I know baby girl, that I've been avoiding you for some time lately," he said, putting his arms on my shoulders. "But I have my reasons," he continued, "You know you are my baby girl, my best friend, and my person to rely on." He looked me in the eyes, and I couldn't help but gulp again. He was breaking up with me. He was leaving me. "Shit!" He cursed, taking his hands from my shoulders to run them nervously through his hair and turning his back to me. I stood still; frozen and afraid. A sudden sense of déjà vu hit me. The whole scene felt familiar. Where had I felt this before? Suddenly, the memory of my dream appeared in front of my eyes. Rejection. That’s what the familiar sensation was. All the blood drained from my face, my heart dropped to my stomach, and my legs started to shake. This was it, the end. Another one was leaving me. I lost my mate. Now I was losing my best friend. I cleared my dry throat, put my hand on the back of his shoulder, and whispered, "Tell me what is wrong?" He let out a huge gush of air and turned around. Putting his hands in his pants pockets, he opened his mouth. "I found my mate." Chapter 2 Mandy's POV I couldn't believe it was really happening. Peter was leaving me. Oh My God! What was I supposed to do now, all alone, heartbroken again? Was this some sick joke or something? My brain kept shouting all the negative thoughts at me. My heartbeat increased. Was I going to have a heart attack? This was it. I was going to die now. He said it. He said it… Wait!!!! Did he say mate? I didn't imagine it, right? Or was I starting to go mental? "Did you say MATE?!" I finally found my voice, still frozen in place. "Yes." I blinked a few times and started to pace around the living room, biting my thumb nail. My mind started to shut down, and the only word that I repeated constantly was 'mate.' "Mandyyyy?..." Peter's concerned voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh, my fucking Gooooood!" I shouted in realization. Clapping my hands, smiling like an idiot, and jumping in place, I turned to face Peter. His face showed a lot of emotions, my outburst must have shocked him, but the most prominent emotion was worry. He probably thought I was mental, but I couldn't control my emotions. I was happy for my friend. Giggling like a teenage girl, I jumped on the coffee table and let my feelings out. "My Peter found his maaaaaaate!!!! Ladies and Gentlemen, my Peteeeer," I pointed at him dramatically, "fooooound his MAAAAAATE!" "Get your butt down here, baby girl." he ordered, shaking his head, "NOW!" he added. Putting his hands on his hips, he furrowed his eyebrows and pouted his lips, waiting for me to cool down. Coming back to my senses, I jumped off the table and took predatory steps his way. "You!" I pointed my finger at his chest, and let my words flow. "You made me feel like I was losing my mind! You were avoiding me, making lame excuses, making me feel abandoned. And to top it all, you resigned from work without even telling me!" I punched his arm. "And you feel authorized to scold me?!" Pointing at myself, I shouted, releasing tears. "I... I..." I couldn't find my voice. I threw myself at him and broke down. He held me close and let me cry my heart out, murmuring sweet nothings into my ear. When I finally calmed down, I took a few deep breaths, composed myself, and moved away from his embrace. "So." I cleared my throat. "Let's start again. You were saying...?" He chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "I said...I found my mate." This time, I reacted properly. "Oh my God, Peter, I am so happy for you! Tell me everything. Do I know him? Is he a werewolf? When did you meet?..." I shot my questions at him one after another. He laughed and led me to the couch. Sitting beside me, he reached the table and offered me a beer. I took it vigorously and gulped almost half of it to calm my nerves. "Easy girl," he said, taking the bottle from my hand. "His name is Benjamin, Ben for short. And no, I don't think you know him. He's not from here." he answered dreamily. "He's a werewolf, he came here for business purposes, and we met in the club." he paused. "We bumped into each other when I passed the VIP room in 'Stairs'. It was..." he sighed. "I can't even describe it, magical, I guess. I was speechless, just stood there starstruck admiring his gorgeousness..." "Wow." I blurted out uncontrollably, staring in awe at my best friend. "He invited me for a drink, and since then, it just went naturally." How on earth didn't I recognize the symptoms? For two weeks, he wasn't himself. He wasn't my Peter, the carefree and spontaneous freak. He was reserved, like guarding some precious treasure against the ugly world. Now I know. He found his treasure. I can't blame him, can I? "Can I meet him?" "That's why I'm here. I wanted to ask can I bring Ben here tomorrow for dinner?" His eyes pleaded for me to say yes. I smiled and nodded my head, "Yes, of course." We spent the evening talking about Ben, well I was just listening, mesmerized by his story. His strange behavior had everything to do with Ben. He is a Beta from a pack in South Carolina and came here to finalize their new project. He told me about the dates they've been on and how complete and safe he makes him feel. He is undeniably in love. I am happy for him. At least he has his happy ending. After talking, laughing, and planning tomorrow's dinner, we called it quits and ended the night. Peter stayed and occupied 'his' bedroom at my place. Lying in bed, I was exhausted but content, not thinking that, in the end, he will leave me. South Carolina is on the other end of the country. Sighing, I closed my eyes and fell asleep. … "Wake up, sleepyhead!" Something heavy hit me. Trying to steal a few more minutes, I didn't move. "Come on baby girl. It's time for coffee." "Go away, I don't know you," I reached for the sheets in an attempt to hide, but he predicted my moves, tossed them away and grabbed my ankle. "If you don't want me to treat you the same way, you better move your ass and march to the bathroom. Coffee and breakfast are waiting," he ordered. Defeated, I did as I was told. After finding my outfit and putting on my makeup, I went to the kitchen when the smell of coffee and bacon hit me. My stomach growled in anticipation. Eating and talking about today's tasks at work, I couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't you tell me you resigned? You went straight to Ryan. Why?" Putting our empty dishes into the sink, he sighed. "I'm sorry I did it behind your back, but I wasn't ready to tell you. Mr. Williams never asks for reasons, and I knew he would accept it without demanding answers," he explained. "Besides, it was inevitable, knowing Ben lives in a pack and I don't," he added, taking my empty plate. "You're right. I would interrogate you in a flash," I said, smiling at him. I put my coffee mug in the sink, then turned around and hugged him. "I'm so happy for you, really happy." He patted my head and kissed my temple. A few moments later, we broke our hug and headed to work. The day went quite fast, a few members of Peter's team complained about his decision, saying he was the best and they won't work with anybody else. Some congratulated his bravery and wished him good luck. I was still a little sad about his leaving, but I knew I could deal with it in time. Coming back home early to prepare dinner, I quickly took a shower and changed my clothes to yoga pants and a loose t-shirt. Putting my wet hair in a messy bun, I started to cook. Forty minutes later, everything was almost ready. I put the salad at the table with sweet potatoes and white wine. The chicken will be ready in 5 minutes. I quickly went to the bedroom and changed into a simple summer light blue dress and sandals. Nothing fancy, but classy. Just when I was taking the chicken from the oven, the doorbell rang. This was it, the moment I was waiting for. Opening the door, I was met with a grinning Peter wearing dark blue jeans and a cream-colored sweater, and when I turned my head right, I was met with a huge wall of muscles in tight black jeans and a black button-down shirt smiling friendly at me. He had dark blonde hair pulled into a manly bun and brown eyes. I wasn't shocked or intimidated. I have seen such a big man before. He looked similar to my brother or his Beta minus the tattoos. Through his collar, I had a little peek of ink on his neck. Big Bad Beta, I thought. Smiling back, I gestured for them to come inside and closed the door. "Come in, make yourself comfortable, perfect time for dinner." I led them to the dining table. "Mandy, I would like to introduce to you my mate, Benjamin Owens," he said, facing me. "Ben, this is Amanda Anderson, my best friend," he added. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ben. Can I call you Ben?" I said, extending my hand for a handshake. "Yes, you can, and the pleasure's all mine," he replied in a low voice, taking my hand in his, and to my surprise, he kissed the back of my hand and sent me a wink, making me giggle. "Such a flirt you have here, Peter." I addressed him and looked back at smiling Ben. "Congratulations on finding your mate. You couldn't get better than Peter," I said, with a smile. "Thank you, and you're right," he answered, sending a playful wink to Peter, making him blush. I chuckled at that. When we sat down at the table, Peter immediately started to put food on Ben's plate, complimenting my cooking skills. We ate in a comfortable atmosphere and made small talk about their story. Ben also told me a little bit about his pack, friends, and family. Sudden and strange pain hit my heart hearing that his best friend, an Alpha, is a widower. It broke my heart knowing she died giving birth to their only son. At least he is not alone like some people. After dinner, the guys sat on the couch, bringing their wine glasses with them. I quickly cleaned the table and put the plates in the dishwasher. Grabbing two more bottles of wine, I joined them. … "...And then he said you will probably kill him for not telling you earlier about me and that I have to protect him from your wrath." Ben continued talking about Peter's concerns, laughing at the same time. Peter was sending Ben daggers with his eyes, making me laugh. We had recently finished our fourth bottle of wine. While it made me a little flushed, they stayed unaffected, damn those werewolf genes. "Must admit he looked so cute at the time," he said, putting his right arm at Peter's shoulders and pulling him closer to his body, kissing his forehead. That gesture made me awe them. "Well, I must admit that at some point I was hurt he didn't tell me, but I wasn't angry - a little disappointed, yes, angry, no." I answered honestly and took another sip of wine. Peter released a relieved breath and smiled satisfied, then apologized sincerely. We talked until midnight, laughing, and getting to know each other. Ben was a really good guy, they fit together. Peter is lucky. After we said our goodbyes and made plans for another day, I took a quick shower, put on my purple shorts and white top, and went to bed. Before the darkness consumed me, I thought about the Alpha and his son, and the same pain hit my heart again. Putting a hand on my chest, I closed my eyes and dozed off. ... The next few days were filled with many activities such as trips to bars, watching movies, or having fun playing paintball, they even let me win once. They persuaded me to sing one night at the karaoke bar, which was embarrassing. Although they tried to convince me I was great. Yeah, I know better, no more singing. That night we ended up in a fight. Some guy decided to hit on Peter, which made Ben go full Beta on him, and we had to apologize and pay his medical bills. Thankfully he didn't press charges against us. After that, we simply hung around my place or ate at restaurants avoiding pubs. Although we had fun and spent a pleasant time together. I knew my time with Peter was coming to an end. In three days, Ben had to go back to his pack and be in charge during his Alpha’s absence due to an alpha training he'll take part in. I wanted to fill my days with Peter's presence as much as I could, knowing that our time is limited. We were shopping at the mall. Our 'Drama Queen' needed to purchase new clothes for his new place to make a good impression. That's my Peter. Worse than any girl. "Can you please hurry up, I'm hungry?" Ben whined after another hour of shopping. "You can't rush perfection besides don't you want me to look good? " Peter answered, looking at the full-length mirror in the changing room checking his next outfit. Sighing, Ben plopped onto the couch I was already sitting on and put his head on my shoulder. "Goddess, where does he want to fit it all at my place, I'll need to expand my closet," he said, gesturing for at least ten bags of clothes Peter already bought. "I love him, but I'll go bankrupt in less than a year if he doesn't stop." he sighed, letting his head fall back onto the couch's backrest and closed his eyes. "This is my fault," I said, apologetically while rubbing his shoulder in comfort. "I had him for six years, he is my best friend, and I treated him like family. Most of the time, it was just us, so I might have spoiled him a little." I made my best puppy dog eyes hoping for forgiveness. He only turned his head left, opened one eye, and looked at me accusingly. "A little?" "Is 300 dollars for a pair of sneakers a little?" he narrowed his eyes, "What more did you do to him? I need to prepare myself," he added. "Well...." I began, just as his phone started to ring. "Oh Goddess, please don't say it, I don't want to know." Standing up from the couch, he took out his phone from a pocket and excused himself to take the call. "Call me when he's done," he said over his shoulder, heading to the exit. "Ok, I'm done, I have everything I need. Where's Ben?" Peter appeared in front of me with at least ten different clothes in his hands, his eyes searching for his mate. "Great, so let's pay," I said, taking out my wallet while walking to the counter. "Ben had a phone call, so he went outside to answer it." The shop assistant smiled at us when we argued about me not paying, but I won. Peter took his bags, and we left the shop in an attempt to find Ben. We spotted him in Domino's sitting at a table, probably waiting for the food he ordered, still with a phone attached to his ear. He looked funny. Dressed in all black. Showing his muscular body covered in tattoos and a cold face emitting his domineering aura. He was surrounded by giggling teenage girls trying to be noticed and boys feeling intimidated by his cold demeanor. If you didn't know better, you might think he's some mafia leader. We made our appearance just in time to hear him ending the call. "Yes Boss, I'll be there as soon as possible." "Problems, babe?" Peter asked, concerned when he sat next to Ben and gave him a peck on his lips. Ben growled in pleasure and put a hand at Peter's neck while he was retreating and brought him back, just to smash his lips with Peter's. That made Peter let out a little moan, and the giggling girls whined in dissatisfaction. The boys instead whispered a little 'yes' and made a winning gesture with their hands. Not waiting for live porn in public, I cleared my throat. "Em, guys, you have an audience, and as I'm happy to see you in love, I'm sure this strange couple in the left corner is about to call the manager, so I suggest you wait until you get home," I advised taking the empty chair across Ben and sat down. "I don't mind, he's mine, and I can kiss him whenever and wherever I want," Peter announced a little loud for the whole restaurant to hear and smiled at Ben. Ben only smirked at him mischievously and responded. "Wherever, you say? I have plans for later, so I hope you don't mind being caught." he winked at him, and Peter gulped. "So, what's the problem Ben, we heard you before you ended the call," I asked worriedly. "Well, first. I hope you don't mind me ordering for all of us. Pepperoni pizza and extra cheese and mushrooms for you, Mandy," he said while putting his arm around Peter's shoulders. We both nodded, waiting for him to continue. "My Al...." he looked around checking if there was anyone listening. "My boss wants me to come back sooner. There are some issues with our rivals (probably describing rogues), and I need to take care of the matter. Because he already left for his trip," he said apologetically, looking at me, because he knew that my time with Peter was precious. "When?" Peter asked the dreaded question I couldn't form because of the dryness in my throat. We both looked, expecting Ben to answer. "Tomorrow" was his simple answer. Tomorrow. I have only this night with my best friend, and then he'll be gone. I know that South Carolina is not the end of the world. But not having him here with me will be different, difficult. I'll need some time to adjust to my new life without him. Can I manage? If someone asked me if I can manage to take another department and lead an extra 500 new people, I would say yes in an instant - piece of cake. This is something I can do on a daily basis, but we're talking about private life. Letting someone important to you leave you to live on the other side of the country, that's different. But I think I'll have to figure out a way to survive that. I still have Ryan, although he rarely has time for me, preferring to relieve stress in his favorite way. Man whore. So, it leaves me with my brother and his mate. Shit! Still not a good idea, he's not around either, living far away in South Dakota. "Mandy? "Peter's concerned voice brought me back from my daze. "Sorry I zoned out a little." I giggled. "You were saying?" "I asked, do you want to help me pack my things tonight? The flight is at 9.00 am, and I need help with all the new stuff I bought. Are you ok?" He took my hand and gave a reassuring squeeze. I smiled at him in response just as our order was delivered. My appetite was long gone after the bomb Ben threw at me, but I couldn't show how devastated I felt so I said a quick, “I'm ok.", took a slice of my pizza, and started to eat. There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before Ben excused himself and went to the restroom. "I'm sorry Mandy. It was not my intention to make you feel sad," Peter said looking straight into my eyes, pleading for forgiveness. I stopped eating. "I'm not sad honey, he's your mate, and understandably you want to be together, either here or at his place. It's just..." I took a deep breath and continued." I never thought it would be so far away, I'll miss you." Tears fell from my eyes when I said the last words, causing Peter to grab me and put me on his lap to hug me tightly. I put my head on his chest and let myself cry harder. It must be some show to people around us seeing me falling apart in a guy's lap after his boyfriend left. "I'll miss you too, baby girl, but we always have phone calls or FaceTime, or you can come to visit me on weekends, thank Goddess, you are rich, so you can afford the tickets." he joked, kissing my head repeatedly, making me laugh. "At least I won't spend it on your new unnecessary shoes." I giggled, looking at his face, God he's gorgeous. I want a Peter for me too. He's perfect. He pushed me away from him a little and held my arms, raised one eyebrow and gave me the 'are you fucking serious' face. "Unnecessary shoes?" he asked accusingly. I just sniffed and nodded. "You are all wrong, woman. Without those 'unnecessary shoes', I wouldn't have found my mate, because I was bending over to lace my 'unnecessary shoes' just in front of the VIP room at that club. If I didn't, I would have just passed by and never met him. So I should thank you for buying them for me. It's all thanks to you that I'm complete now." he assured me, and with a final sniff, I put my hands around his neck and hugged him tightly. His hands went around my waist, and he put his head in my hair, giving me another kiss. "Please, just don't forget me." I pleaded into his neck. "Never." was his simple reply, and he tightened his grip around my waist. After a few moments of us hugging each other, I took my previous seat and continued eating. Ben came back shortly after our moment, and the talk went smoothly again. Later in the parking lot, I was searching for my keys, when a voice from behind made me turn. "You didn't answer my question!" Peter shouted from about six parking places away. "What question?" I shouted back. "Will you help me pack this evening?" his voice was pleading. Smiling at him, I answered. "I'd be honored, see you later!" I waved and climbed into the car, starting the ignition. Checking my view, I stepped on the gas and drove my way home. .... "Deacon?" I sniffed after hearing the other side pick up the call. "Are you alright, Mandy girl? Are you hurt? Why are you crying?" my brother's concerned voice invaded my ear. I sniffed a few more times before I could make a coherent sentence. "He's leaving me, D. He's leaving me all alone here." my voice broke down at the end and I let my tears flow freely. I promised myself to be strong, to take it like a champ, but I couldn't. When I entered 'his' bedroom at my house, all the memories came, and I collapsed on the white, fluffy carpet and cried my heart out. Maybe if I cry now, I won't later. Bullshit. I'll cry myself to sleep at least for a month before Ryan will intervene and give me his famous speech about life being hard. "He's leaving D. He found his mate, and now he's going to live with him and will forget about me like everyone does." I said, climbing into his bed and smelling the pillow that still has his scent of citrus and something earthy. "Who's leaving?" Deacon asked, concerned. "Peter." "Oh, Mandy, I'm so sorry to hear that, but it's a good thing. He's a werewolf, and finding a mate is the most exciting thing for us. You know that." He tried to reason with me. "I know, but still, it hurts," I whined. "Mandy, you should support him, not make it harder for him, you knew this would come eventually. When he finds out you cried about it, he will feel guilty for finding his mate and might do something stupid." Deacon lectured me, "and you don't want that, right? You don't want him to reject his chance to be happy just because he's moving a little away from you." he deadpanned. He was right. I can't take this opportunity from him just because I feel insecure. Remembering my happy time with my mate, I forgot who I was talking with and spilled the beans unintentionally. "If finding a mate is so important to werewolves, why did mine reject me?!" I shouted to the phone without thinking. There was dead silence at the other end, and when I registered what I had just said, I clapped my hand over my mouth with a hard slap, but it was too late. "What did you say?!" my brother growled into the phone so loud I had to pull away the phone to not make me go deaf. He was seething with anger. Oh, my stupid ass, why did you say that? "Nothing, I didn't say anything. I'm just an emotional mess right now, and I say whatever my tongue wants." I said, jokingly, hoping he would buy it. But of course, he didn't, he's my brother after all, not by blood but still. "Mandy, did you just say you found your mate?" he asked coldly. Sighing, I answered, defeated. "Yes." I think it's about time to share my little secret with him. It's been so long, keeping it to myself, that saying it out loud made me feel a little relieved. "When?" "Five years ago," I answered and immediately put him on speaker, placing the phone on the bed. I knew he would shout and probably cause some damage. I wasn't disappointed. I heard a ferocious growl and a sound of wood breaking. Probably his office desk, God why me? After a few moments of hearing cracking noises and heavy breathing, he finally asked, "Who?" His voice was so deep I instantly knew his wolf emerged. And that's not a good thing. Almost, immediately I heard Linda's concerned voice asking what happened. After a second, I heard her voice through the speaker, confused. "Mandy, is that you? What happened?" her voice was between plea and demand. Deacon was still breathing hard. "I told him my secret," I whispered. "What secret? What are you talking about, Mandy?" she asked, intrigued and a little confused. I took a deep breath and explained. "I found my mate five years ago but got rejected." I sighed at the end, waiting for the drama to start. As expected, the questions were thrown at me. "What?!" "Who?" "I'll kill him." "Calm down Deacon, she won't say anything unless you calm down," Linda said soothingly. "Why didn't you say anything, Mandy? Goddess - five years! If I knew, I would have..." Deacon asked, finally sounding calm. Probably Linda had something to do with that. "I know, you would have killed him. That is why I didn't say anything." I explained. "But why? We're family. Does Peter know?" Linda asked. "No, he doesn't. You're the first. And I guess I was embarrassed. I know everything about mates, from how to recognize them to how they complete each other and all that stuff," I stated, "but I didn't do my job properly, he was disappointed in me being human, that's why he rejected me, even after...." I stopped. "Even after what?" Deacon's angry voice hit my ear. "After we mated," I whispered. The growls and breaking sounds started again. Deacon was furious. Well, what did you expect from an Alpha? "Mandy, can we call you back in a while, please?" Linda asked pleadingly to say yes. "Yes, of course, I'm sorry Linda. I didn't mean to cause trouble." I apologized, grabbing my phone to end the call. "Don't, we're family. We're here to help. Now let me calm down this Alpha male, and then we'll talk, ok?" she suggested. "Ok, bye." I ended the call and collapsed on the bed exhausted and fell asleep instantly. … I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing somewhere in the bedsheets, searching with my hand and closed eyes. I finally found the culprit and answered the call. "Mandy, I'm sorry for my outburst, but I was shocked." my brother's apologetic voice filled my ear. "That's understandable, D. It's not every day you find about your little sister's rejection. I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner," I said with my eyes still closed. "Still, I'm sorry, but I'm your older brother, it's my duty to protect you, so why?" he asked. "As I said, I was embarrassed. As a mate, I was supposed to be everything he needs, and seeing you and Linda or Nick and Anna despite all the differences, you're still together. I thought it was me. That I'm not worthy to have a mate, that's why I was silent. I know you love me D, but you can't fight all my demons. I need to do it myself, starting with my ex-mate" I explained. Hoping, he'll understand. "Who?" I knew he would ask that. "D, I love you, but this I won't tell. I don't want you to do something reckless. I'm fine now. Please understand." I reasoned with him. "Ok, but promise one day you'll tell me?" "I promise," I vowed, looking out the window. It's almost sunset. In an hour, I should be helping Peter packing. "I have an idea. Maybe it's stupid but hear me out sis." I focused on his words. "Why don't you take a vacation. It's almost summer, and what's better than changing the environment to let yourself heal. Come home or go to Europe, just let yourself relax, what do you think?" he asked hopefully. Thinking about his proposal, I didn't see anything wrong with that. It's a good idea. "You might be right. I'll think about it." I answered in excitement. "Thank you, D. You're the best big bro a girl could have. It's a great idea. I'll call you later, I need to head to Peter's now." I said, and we said our goodbyes. Taking a quick shower, I thought about our conversation. It was a good opportunity to deal with my emotions, and slowly adjust to my new situation. Without Peter close.	LEARN_MORE	https://app.appsflyer.com/id6451033410?pid=faceboo	Good reads	https://www.facebook.com/61560773657705/	76	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	app.appsflyer.com	VIDEO		https://app.appsflyer.com/id6451033410?pid=facebook&is_retargeting=true&af_js_web=true&af_force_deeplink=true&af_prt=kangyuanincn181&af_dp=dailyfm%3A%2F%2Fdailyfm.co&deep_link_value=dailyfm%3A%2F%2Fdailyfm.co%2Fplayer%3FbookId%3D1707%26jumpType%3D2001%26source%3DdeepLinks%26testGroup%3DBOTTOM_PLAY	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462092706_530919832857685_4866350579119838016_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e4pWH-THyMAQ7kNvgEft277&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=Afo6jQ10hKz9YZYH7duxz4n&oh=00_AYAXRCAMZqx-aBkdFbNG4y4xTr4G5-nYu0Bh9u-YBCRDxA&oe=67091853	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Good reads	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,107,136	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2107861}'	No	2024-10-06 20:31	active	1587	🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉	My mother blamed me for my sister's death and hit me unconscious to the ground, but when I finally woke up, only to find myself being taken to my sister's death memorial while her once boyfriend, now my fated mate, mind-linking me about his sleeping with another woman last night... Lily POV "What makes you think that you have the right to eat this morning? On the anniversary of your sister’s death?" I thought I was alone when I snuck into the packhouse to grab something to eat before Stephanie's memorial began. But there was my mother standing in the door with a look that could kill. "Do you have any idea what Stephanie is eating right now? NOTHING. She is eating NOTHING because SHE IS DEAD. Because of you!" With that, my mother slapped me hard across the face. I stumbled back, trying to avoid falling. My face hurt like burning. Still I refused to make a sound. I held the tears back and bit my cheek harder causing more blood to fill my mouth. You may ask why I don't fight back. I won't. Mom loved me once, before Stephanie died. She became this monster only because she thought I got her favorite daughter killed, which was so not the truth. It was a rumor spread by Stephanie's boyfriend Alpha James. The night Stephanie died, she told James I asked her to go pick me up in the unfended woods where she later was torn apart by the Rogues. Because I was meeting a boy there. A complete lie. I never had luck with boys. I was always ignored in school. Yet the lie haunted my entire teenage years, even till today. "And do you know what James is going to announce today?" my mother continued angrily. "he is TAKING A CHOSEN MATE! It should be your sister Stephanie to be our future Luna! Not those easy girls he used as distraction!” Chosen Mate？ But he was my fated mate. Yeah, my sister's boyfriend and I, the Moon Goddess must be playing with us. That night by the waterfall, James held me into his arms and kissed me in the most amorous way. But when he realized it was me instead of my sister, his eyes turned from gentle to angry. "How can it be you? You were ... ugly！Where is your glasses? And, what happened to your freckles?" "I am no longer 14, James, I've grown up." James simply went mad. He only wanted to see me punished, as the revenge for his girlfriend's death. "Mark my words, Little mate, betrayal pains can kill a wolf." He snarled at me. Maybe this is his way? But before I could figure this all out, another slap sent me down the stairs. I fell unconscious. James POV I see Lily being taken to the arena all wrapped like a body bag. I walk close and pull the blanket. She is covered in scars and bruises. What happened to her? I looked up, finding Lily's mother avoiding to see Lily as if she were hiding something. "What happened?" I asked Lily's brother who brought her here under my command. "Mom said Lily fell down the stairs by accident." Nick said. But that doesn't explain those deep and bleeding wounds. Her eyes closed, her body shivering, her hair a mess. For a second, I think if I made a mistake by insisting she be brought here. No, don't feel sorry for her. She needs to pay for what she did. “Please bring Lily to her seat in the front next to Sheila.” I say to Nick. My father puts his hand on my shoulder. “Son, I do not think that is a good idea. It looks to me like Lily needs medical attention. You wanted Lily here, and she is, but why don’t we just keep her on the side or in the back until the event is done?” “NO! She will sit in the front next to Sheila, like planned.” “Son….” “No, father. Lily and Sheila must sit together.” Just as I say Sheila's name, I hear Lily’s heart beginning to race. I smirk. She heard me. “Little Mate, does it bother you that you have to sit next to Sheila today?” I ask Lily via mind-link. Her increased heart-beat tells me that she is very much awake. “I invited Sheila to sit next to you when she left my bedroom this morning. You know, she stayed the night in my bedroom last night, which she often does these days." I see a tear slip from Lily's closed eyes, which confirms that I am right. She can definitely hear me. "Get ready, Little Mate. Sitting next to Sheila is only one part of the fun that I have planned for you this morning.” I end the mind-link. “Bring Lily to her seat,” I say again to Nick. “It is show-time.”	LEARN_MORE	https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10745&u	Indulge in story	https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/	810	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	getokn.com	DCO		https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10745&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/456055937_963242915600245_680381809046226054_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oZtlJbfZXBkQ7kNvgE5cdL8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AXYrjMXq44tzJ7qjGzw3Vp2&oh=00_AYByu0lyJU6UCv4FOMd1JAhI7Cl_Hr1J-CkQZWH1fGPEuA&oe=6708F72D	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Indulge in story	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,113,546	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2113541}'	No	2024-10-07 16:33	active	1589	🔥🔥👉Click to read the remaining chapters for free🔥🔥	Timothy Yeager is the sole successor of Caelumis, the most powerful force of Efral. He has billions of dollars in inheritance and countless subordinates! On this day, he returns to civilization with the marriage contracts his mentor has set for him so he can keep his promise and protect his fiancées. However, as soon as he gets home, most of his fiancées call off their engagements to him. "Do you think you're worthy of marrying someone from the Barton family when you're so useless?" "How can the daughter of the Lynde family marry a peasant like you? It's a humiliation to her!" "Today, we're gathered here to annul the marriage contracts with a loser like you!" "You're dreaming if you think a peasant like you is worthy of marrying any of our daughters!" Amidst the insults and mockery, an icy voice rings out. "Since all five of you are annuling your marriage contracts with him, I, Mavis Jefferson, shall accept it." Timothy looks in her direction, and his heart clenches. It's her! Chapter 1 The bed was comfortable. It felt much better than the shabby wooden bed in the mountain. The pillow cushioned the head snugly, and the bolster was incredibly soft. Seriously, it was just like a woman's body… Timothy Yeager sighed contentedly with his eyes closed and squeezed the bolster. Suddenly, his heart dropped to his stomach! Something was wrong—the sensation felt off to him. The next moment, he heard a woman's soft moan. Timothy's drowsy eyes snapped open, and he sat up abruptly. When he saw the scene in front of him, he froze. On the big bed in the five-star hotel suite, a woman with a curvy figure was lying right next to him. Her body was stunningly beautiful. Her gorgeous side profile could make one wonder if she were a perfect specimen that the creator personally crafted. She was facing away from Timothy, completely naked. Her skin was flawless and smooth. Timothy winced as he looked at the woman in bewilderment. What was going on? How did a woman end up in his bed? The alcohol from last night made his head throb. He massaged his temples and slapped his forehead, recalling what had happened. He was back in Lormford City—his hometown! The day before, he had bid farewell to his mentor, Remy Franklin, and returned alone. He had arrived in Lormford City at night and decided to book a hotel suite near the airport to spend the night, intending to go home the next day. Timothy felt bored at night, so he went to a bar for a drink. After that, he got heavily intoxicated. The last thing he remembered was a stunningly beautiful woman coming to his booth drunkenly and toasting him. The haze in his mind cleared instantly. He looked again at the beautiful woman lying beside him with a complicated expression. She was the woman from last night. Timothy cursed and felt like slapping himself silly. He had descended the mountain to get married. Remy had six candidates lined up for him, and he had to choose one of the six to be his wife. Timothy returned with great anticipation and joy. He hadn't foreseen that something like this would happen. A thought crossed his mind, and Timothy quickly lifted the blanket and looked at the bedsheet. On the pristinely white sheets, there was a glaring dark crimson spot. Timothy's hand froze, and his heart sank further. This was the last thing he wanted. Timothy felt overwhelmed and smiled bitterly. What should he do now? While he wallowed in distress, the woman turned over. Upon getting a clear view of her face, Timothy couldn't help but hold his breath. She was so beautiful that she could make any man submit to her! Timothy had seen his fair share of women, but none had ever made him think they were the epitome of beauty. This woman was the first. She frowned slightly in her sleep, seemingly having an unpleasant dream. Perhaps feeling insecure, she hugged herself. In doing so, her perfect bosom was strategically pressed together for Timothy's eyes to feast on. He gulped hard at this breathtaking sight. The sound of his swallowing could be heard clearly in the extremely quiet room. Mavis Jefferson stirred upon sensing the slight movements next to her. She opened her beautiful doe eyes with a hint of confusion. The first thing she saw was the white and plain ceiling. Then, she saw a somewhat roguish yet handsome face. Timothy and Mavis locked eyes. The atmosphere in the room became palpable. After three seconds of silence, Timothy looked at Mavis with a lopsided grin and said, "Hey, pretty lady. You have great knockers." "Ah!" A loud scream disrupted the silence in the room. Mavis sat up right away, wrapping the blanket around her. She shrank into the corner of the bed and stared at Timothy in horror. "Who are you? How did you get here?" "I should be the one asking those questions. This is my room," Timothy shot back. Mavis was stunned to hear that. Subsequently, a look of confusion appeared on her pretty face. She glanced around, and her face fell slightly—this wasn't her room. Her heart sank. She wondered if she had entered the wrong room in a drunk stupor last night. Almost instinctively, Mavis lifted the blanket and looked underneath it. When she saw that she was stark naked and noticed the trace of blood on the bedsheet, she froze. She looked at Timothy with teary, reddened eyes. In a trembling voice, she asked, "You… Did we have sleep?" Timothy lit a cigarette and smiled. "Are you questioning my ability or your own looks? You climbed into my bed. And when a man and woman are alone in a room, on a bed… You know what happens. I wouldn't be a man if I didn't sleep with you." With tears brimming in her eyes, Mavis threw a pillow at Timothy in despair. "You beast!" "Hey, why are you cursing me? You were the one who got drunk and entered the wrong room. It's not like I forced you—" "Shut up!" Mavis' voice sharply rose by an octave. Her tears fell, sliding down her beautiful face. She felt wronged, angry, and sad. More than anything, she regretted her impulsive actions. She had been too obsessed with finding the genius doctor who could cure her grandfather, Arlo Jefferson, to no avail. If she hadn't been incredibly upset about her fruitless search, she wouldn't have gotten so wasted. And if she hadn't gotten wasted, she wouldn't have been tainted by such a man. Mavis bit her lip as her tears continued to stream down her cheeks. She was the kind of young woman who had everything—good looks and an elite family background. Everyone in Lormford City knew who she was. Many young and talented men admired and pursued her. If they all lined up, the line would stretch for miles. Even so, she didn't fancy any of them. She was waiting for that man. Mavis had held on to her virginity for over 20 years, but this carefree man popped her cherry so thoughtlessly. The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. Her tears just wouldn't stop. She looked at Timothy again. Upon seeing his unshaven face and his cheap, wrinkled clothes, she fell into despair. She scolded herself for letting a lowly man like him have her first time. Timothy exhaled a puff of smoke and said languidly, "Alright, don't be too sad. I'm set to marry someone, but I can still take responsibility for you." "Take responsibility?" Mavis wiped her tears and said coolly, "What makes you think you can take responsibility for me? How are you capable of that?" Timothy stared at her and said seriously, "I have money and power. I have everything you'd ever want." "Not only are you a ruffian who dresses poorly, but you're also one who likes to talk big. You're the type of man that I hate the most!" Mavis retorted mockingly as if she'd heard the biggest joke. Her eyes were full of scorn. "I'm serious—" "Enough! I don't want to hear any more nonsense from you!" Mavis took out three bundles of cash from her bag on the bedside table and threw them at Timothy coldly. "Now, we're even. Please don't bother me anymore." Timothy looked at the three bundles of cash and grimaced. "What do you mean by this?" "Nothing. Consider it as payment." "Do I look like someone who would need three thousand dollars?" Mavis glanced at the cheap clothes Timothy was wearing. "Yes." Without another word, she got up and got dressed. After she was done, she stood by the bed and glared at Timothy silently. Her eyes were filled with hatred that was mixed with a hint of sadness. After a while, she took a deep breath and turned toward the door without looking back. As she reached the door, Timothy spoke up. "I can really take responsibility for last night." Mavis paused and stood still. Chapter 2 However, Mavis only paused for a second before she continued walking out. She said coldly, "There's no need. We're not from the same world." As her words fell, she was gone. Silence quickly enveloped the room. Timothy narrowed his eyes at the three bundles of cash in front of him. After taking the last puff of his cigarette, he couldn't help but laugh. He found it absurd that Mavis had looked down on him. As the sole successor of Caelumis, the most powerful force in Efral, he had thousands of soldiers under his command. Furthermore, he possessed insane medical skills that most people would find unbelievable. Even the Spectral Healer, who was revered throughout Efral, was the least capable of his twelve apprentices. As for his wealth, he wasn't sure how much money he had. His assets across Efral probably totaled up to trillions of dollars. Countless women pursued him. A few days ago, even Efral's Four Greatest Families wanted him to take their granddaughters as his lovers. However, despite his wealth, power, medical skills, and influence, a woman looked down on him and underestimated his worth that day. Not only that, she threw three thousand dollars at him disdainfully. Timothy touched the tip of his nose, feeling amused. Mavis' cold and contemptuous look replayed in his mind again. The next moment, he decided to let it go and not dwell on it. Relationships come and go. There was no point feeling troubled about it unnecessarily. Besides, he still had six potential marriage candidates to meet. Just as he was thinking this, his phone rang. He answered it and heard a respectful voice from a middle-aged man coming through the other end. "Chief, I'm waiting at the entrance of the hotel you're staying in. If you need anything, just say the word." Timothy scratched his head. "Are you from the Sechydra Chamber of Commerce?" "Yes, I am Zack Larson, the president of the Lormford City branch of the Sechydra Chamber of Commerce. I heard from Mr. Franklin that you returned to Lormford City last night, so I came over to wait for you," Zack answered. Timothy said listlessly, "Got it. I'll be down soon." "Alright!" Downstairs, at the entrance to the hotel lobby, a middle-aged man in black hung up the phone. He was Zack Larson, the richest man in Lormford City and the president of the Lormford Chamber of Commerce. The moment he hung up, everyone from the 30 Rolls-Royce cars behind him got out and lined up respectfully. Despite being one of the most influential people in Lormford City, Zack didn't put on airs. Instead, he appeared respectful and nervous. It was because the person he was about to greet was like a god to him. Just then, Mavis walked out of the hotel carrying a messenger bag. Her stunning beauty wasn't the least bit diminished, even though she looked pale and tired. Upon seeing the scene in front of the hotel, she was shocked. She did a double take as she recognized Zack. Of course, with her current status, she wasn't acquainted with him. Nevertheless, she knew who he was since he was the richest man in Lormford City. Mavis was astonished to see Zack standing at the entrance with so many men and cars, seemingly waiting for someone. Who could that person be? A bodyguard wearing a black suit approached her and said, "Please leave. We're clearing out Sterling Hotel for today." Mavis was stunned and asked curiously, "Are you waiting for someone?" "Yes." "Who are you waiting for?" "We cannot disclose this information. Please leave quickly," said the bodyguard sternly. Mavis bit her lip and glanced at the hotel entrance. She wanted to stay and see, but the bodyguard's steely gaze effectively chased her away. Ever so perceptive, she knew that people of this status were not someone she could see just because she wanted to. Left with no choice, she walked toward the parking lot. As she got into her car, her phone rang. Mavis answered and heard her father's panicked voice. "Mavis, why didn't you come home last night? Where are you now?" Patrick Jefferson asked. Mavis bit her lip and fell silent for a moment. She then composed herself and said, "I had to take care of some matters at the company, so I didn't come back." "Hurry home. We received news that the man you're engaged to has returned to Lormford City today," Patrick said. Mavis was startled by the news. "He's back?" "Yes, come back and get yourself freshened up. We're going to meet him. Also, have you managed to find any information about Dr. Luther's whereabouts?" Mavis was crestfallen by the question. "No, Dad. Dr. Luther is said to be an apprentice of the Spectral Healer. A person of his caliber is hard to find. How about we find someone else to treat Grandpa?" Patrick sighed. "I understand. Just come home first." "Okay." Mavis hung up, feeling ambivalent. She had signed a marriage agreement, which stipulated her consent to marry that man years ago. But on the night before his return, she had a one-night stand with another man. This was the most ridiculous turn of events! Mavis sighed and looked into the rearview mirror, hoping to see the man Zack had held in such high regard. Just then, Timothy walked out of the hotel wearing cheap, wrinkled clothes and looking unkempt. Mavis' face darkened at the sight of him. Why did he have to appear right at that moment? "What rotten luck!" she spat and glared at Timothy in the rearview mirror. She instantly lost interest and no longer felt like staying, so she started her car and left. With that, Mavis missed the jaw-dropping scene that unfolded next. If she had stayed a second longer, she would have witnessed something unbelievable. Zack and his entourage knelt on one knee before Timothy! With his tone full of reverence, Zack said loudly, "Greetings, Chief!" Timothy looked at them, and a smile gradually formed on his face. "Alright, there's no need for such formality. Get up." "Yes, Chief!" Zack and his men stood up respectfully. "Please get in the car." Timothy nodded and got into the Rolls-Royce in the center. Zack also got in, acting as the driver for the day. He was the richest man in Lormford City, but he was only fit to be a driver for this man. In the car, Timothy crossed his legs and said smilingly, "Who told you I was back? Was it that old man?" Zack broke into a cold sweat and replied nervously, "Chief, it was… it was Mr. Franklin who informed us. He told us to protect you. You're not angry, are you?" "Protect? Would I need his protection?" Timothy sneered, looking like he couldn't care less. But in his heart, he felt a surge of warmth at Remy's gesture. Although Remy always played tricks on him back on the mountain, he still cared about him. Timothy turned to look out the window at the bustling city. He felt a wave of nostalgia followed by a pensive emotion. The car soon arrived at the suburbs on the western side of the city. Timothy's home was located in an old neighborhood here. The convoy of Rolls-Royces immediately attracted the attention of the locals. The scene was spectacular and caused a stir. Soon, the convoy stopped at an intersection. Timothy's home was further inside, but the cars couldn't go through the narrow alley. Timothy got out and looked around. He then said to Zack, "There's no place to park here. You should go back. I'll contact you if I need anything." Zack nodded respectfully and handed over a new phone. "Chief, this is your private phone. It has my contact information. Feel free to give me any orders." Timothy took the phone and said, "Good job. I'll keep it." Zack was overjoyed and responded excitedly, "Thank you, Chief!" Timothy smiled and walked toward the intersection. With that, Zack and his convoy left. As Timothy walked along the familiar path, a sense of familiarity overwhelmed him. Three years had passed since he last came home. How were his parents? How was his younger sister? He had left home without a word back then. They must have been worried sick. When he spotted his home's small courtyard from a distance, he couldn't help but quicken his pace. Chapter 3 When Timothy finally arrived at the gate, his heart skipped a beat as he looked inside. With just one glance, his expression faltered. The once quaint courtyard had become incredibly dilapidated. It was filled with piles of junk that made it look uninhabitable. As a gust of wind blew past, it added to the desolation. Timothy rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. How could this have happened? Was this really his home? Just then, he heard the sounds of footsteps nearby. Upon turning his head, he saw an elderly couple picking up trash. Both of them were emaciated. They had white hair and faces full of wrinkles. Their clothes were dirty and tattered, covered in patches. The weight of the bag of junk on their backs bent their frail bodies. With every step, they had to stop and rest. Timothy looked at the elderly couple and felt a deep sense of pity. They were so old and still had to pick up trash for a living—it was truly pitiful. He walked up to them, intending to help. As he got closer and saw their faces clearly, he froze on the spot, feeling thunderstruck. At that moment, an indescribable emotion surged within him. His eyes welled up with tears. Unable to hold back, he said in a trembling voice, "Dad, Mom… No way. How could this be?" The elderly couple stopped and slowly lifted their heads to look at Timothy. Upon seeing him, they were so startled that they dropped the trash bags they were carrying on their backs. "T-Timothy?" "Dad, Mom, it's me! Your son!" Tears filled Timothy's eyes as he hugged his parents tightly. The two elders cried as well. They were indeed Timothy's parents—Joseph Yeager and Cora Lambert. Cora clung to Timothy, crying uncontrollably. "My son, you finally came back. I've been looking for you all these years!" Timothy let his tears fall freely. Seeing his parents in such a state filled him with sorrow. "Mom, why are you two picking up trash? I remember you both had jobs." After a while, Timothy let go of them and wiped the tears on their faces. He couldn't understand how his parents ended up in this miserable state. Joseph and Cora exchanged a look full of complicated feelings. Cora's eyes were reddened as she smiled and said, "Let's not talk about this now. Come, let's go home. You must be hungry. I'll cook for you." Timothy's heart couldn't take it, and he almost cried again. As he followed his parents into the small house, his confusion grew. When he left, their house was in good condition, and his parents had stable jobs. Why had everything become so bleak? He had also noticed faint scars on Joseph's body. What on earth had happened? After they got seated at the table, Timothy couldn't hold back anymore. He asked, "Dad, Mom, what happened these years? Why has our family come to such a sorry state?" Joseph's weathered face was full of deep wrinkles. After a moment of silence, he sighed and said, "Timothy, it was all Helen Swift's doing." Timothy was stunned. "Aunt Helen? How is that possible?" Joseph smiled bitterly. "Timothy, you should remember that a few years ago, your Uncle Greg and Aunt Helen came to borrow money to start a business." Timothy nodded. "I remember. You gave them all our savings. I think it was… 20 thousand dollars. Did they ever pay it back?" Joseph shook his head and sighed deeply. "If I had known what kind of person Helen would turn out to be, I wouldn't have lent them a cent." Timothy was puzzled. Joseph explained, "After they became successful, not only did they not repay the money, but they also tried to force us to sell our home to them. "They had heard rumors that this area would be redeveloped and could fetch a large sum of relocation compensation. Your mother and I refused, leading to a fallout with her. To retaliate, Helen made us lose our jobs." At this point, Timothy finally learned the truth behind his family's misfortune. He clenched his fists, his eyes becoming cold. "Aunt Helen is shameless! I've misjudged her." Cora said with a sigh, "Timothy, Helen is now a successful businesswoman. Don't cause trouble with her. We won't be able to compete with her." Timothy felt awfully bitter upon seeing his parents in such dire straits. He had to confront Helen! However, he didn't want his parents to worry, so he nodded and said, "I understand, Mom and Dad. Don't worry. I have a plan." Joseph and Cora looked relieved as they smiled warmly at him. Cora then asked, "Where have you been all these years? When you left without a word, your father and I were worried sick and couldn't sleep all day and night." Her eyes reddened again. They had even thought Timothy was dead. When they finally saw him again after so many years, they couldn't help but feel emotional. Timothy looked at his parents with a deep sense of guilt. "Dad, Mom, I left suddenly back then and didn't have time to tell you anything. I've spent those years on the mountain learning from my mentor. Now that I've finished my training, I'm more than capable of giving you a good life." Joseph smiled. "It's good that you're back. We don't need much. A peaceful life together is more than anything I can ever ask for." Cora added, "That's right, Timothy. You're in your 20s now. The most important thing is to find a good job and get married so that we can have grandchildren." Timothy laughed. "Mom, work can wait. The important thing now is to introduce you to your daughter-in-law." Joseph and Cora were taken aback. Cora asked in surprise, "Do you have a girlfriend?" Timothy shook his head. "No, but my mentor helped me set up a few marriage agreements with a few young women. I need to choose one of them to be my wife. They might visit soon." His parents exchanged a shocked look to learn that Timothy had not one but several marriage prospects. They felt incredibly happy. At their age, their biggest wish was to see their son get married and set up his own family. Cora hurriedly told Joseph, "Dear, hurry and clean up the courtyard. If the young ladies see all this trash, it'll give them a bad impression." Joseph immediately got up to clean the courtyard. However, Timothy held his arm to stop him. He said with a laugh, "Dad, there's no need to clean. They're eager to marry me. They won't mind." Joseph frowned and said seriously, "Timothy, we must be down to earth. Given our situation, why would anyone want to marry you? Let's clean up a bit. We may not be rich, but we can at least show some sincerity." Timothy laughed helplessly, aware that Joseph thought he was boasting. He smiled and said no more. Joseph tidied up the courtyard to the best of his abilities. However, it still looked shabby, especially with the pile of trash in the corner. Cora thought for a moment and said, "Dear, let's change into cleaner clothes. We don't want the young ladies to make any snide comments." Joseph agreed, and they went inside to change. When they emerged, Timothy felt a lump in his throat. The clothes they changed into were wrinkled and worn, albeit cleaner than the previous ones. They were faded and had small holes in the collars and cuffs. Upon noticing his gaze, Cora pulled back her sleeves a little to hide the frayed edges of the cuffs. Her face flushed slightly, and she had an awkward expression on her face. She was worried they might embarrass Timothy. But then, these were the best set of clothes she and Joseph had. She looked at Timothy and said cautiously, "We haven't bought any new clothes over the years. These are the best outfits we have. Is… Is this okay?" Timothy took in all the changes in Cora's expressions. She was his mother, yet she spoke to him with such inferiority. He felt a tingle in his nose, and his eyes stung a little. Timothy was heartbroken. Of course, he understood Cora's concern. She was worried that Timothy would think that they were a disgrace to him. Timothy looked up to force back his tears. He took a deep breath and said with a smile, "Dad, Mom, these clothes are fine. You look great." Joseph and Cora were relieved by his response, and their faces lit up with joyful smiles. They were happy as long as Timothy didn't despise them. The three of them sat in the courtyard and waited. Timothy remained calm, but his parents were nervous. Soon, his ears picked up the sounds of footsteps outside the courtyard. Finally, someone was coming. Chapter 4 At the gate of the small courtyard, several people came into view. Timothy looked over and saw that the person in front was a woman. A few men followed her closely. The woman was tall and slender, with delicate features and an outstanding bearing. She would be a standout beauty in any crowd. However, she wore an exceptionally cold expression on her pretty face. Timothy smiled lightly. It seemed Remy hadn't tricked him. She was indeed a top-notch beauty. Upon entering the courtyard, the woman stood in the center and surveyed her surroundings. Her gaze lingered on the pile of trash in the corner, and she frowned. Joseph and Cora were stunned at the sight of her. They had never expected their daughter-in-law to be so beautiful and elegant. Overjoyed and tongue-tied, Cora exclaimed, "Timothy, is this the young lady you're engaged to? She's so gorgeous! I can't believe my daughter-in-law is so stunning." Joseph was equally pleased. He added, "Good job! You've really brought honor to our family. Finding yourself such an outstanding wife is truly a blessing." Timothy laughed and said, "Dad, Mom, what did I say? I can have any pick when it comes to finding a wife." The tensed wrinkles on Cora's face smoothed out as she beamed with joy. She whispered to Joseph, "Dear, let's get a chair for her to sit on. I'll get her some water." Joseph slapped his forehead while exclaiming, "I almost forgot!" He hurried to fetch a chair while Cora set it down and handed the woman a cup of water, smiling warmly. "You must be tired from standing. Have a seat and drink some water." The woman glanced at Cora with a frigid expression and said nothing. Cora realized the young woman was reluctant to sit on the old wooden chair. She quickly bent down and meticulously wiped it with her sleeve. With a slightly embarrassed smile, she said, "I've cleaned the chair, young lady. You can sit down now." The woman looked down at the chair and then at Cora judgmentally. She then said, "I won't sit on it. It's dirty. And did you call me your daughter-in-law just now? Look at yourself. Are you even worthy?" With that, she slapped the mug from Cora's hand. It fell to the ground and smashed into pieces, spilling water everywhere. With a look of disgust, she said, "Get away from me. You're filthy!" Cora's smile froze as she stared at the broken mug on the ground. The woman then turned her icy gaze to Timothy, her voice devoid of warmth, "Are you Timothy Yeager?" Timothy's smile slowly faded. He looked at the woman and narrowed his eyes. "Yes, what about it?" The woman tossed an annulment request paper at him and said coldly, "Nothing much. I'm here to inform you that our engagement is nullified. The marriage contract is void. I, Isabelle Barton, hereby cancel our engagement." The courtyard fell into dead silence as Isabelle's words echoed in the air. Then, her icy voice broke the silence again. "I can give you five million dollars as compensation. You can collect it from my family. My only demand is that you sign this annulment paper and never mention our engagement to anyone. It's a disgrace to me!" She glanced at Timothy with disdain. She was the eldest young miss of the Barton family, one of the Six Great Families in Lomford City. Meanwhile, he was the son of an elderly couple who picked up trash for a living. They were from two different worlds. How could she be his fiancée and even marry him? That was simply impossible. The annulment paper lay at Timothy's feet. He looked down at the dirtied paper and frowned. An annulment paper? And did she say she was canceling their engagement? Timothy felt a deep sense of irony. This morning, he had been scorned by one woman. Now, one of his fiancées was here to break off their engagement. He felt like a clown at that moment. Joseph and Cora were completely taken aback by this development. They had eagerly awaited their daughter-in-law's first visit, but she came to annul the engagement. After a moment of silence, Cora put on a forced, subservient smile and pleaded, "Young lady, we can talk this over. There's no need to cancel the engagement. I know you come from a wealthy family that is much better than ours, but my son is honest, hardworking—" "Honest? Hardworking?" Isabelle scoffed and cut her off. "That means nothing to me. I don't care about that. What I care about is your family's worth! "Look at your house! Look at yourselves! How dare a trash-picking family dream of marrying someone from the Barton family?" With that, Isabelle rolled her eyes and glanced at Cora with a mocking smile. "How shameless! And how dare you call me your daughter-in-law! Take a look at yourselves. Disgusting!" Isabelle waved her hand in front of her nose as if repelled by a foul odor. Then, she looked at Cora with disdain. "Stay away from me. You reek all over. Your whole family are filthy beggars." Cora's face became flushed for a moment before blanching. Isabelle's words stabbed into her heart like knives. Yet, Cora didn't retaliate. Instead, she continued to smile obsequiously. She said, "You're right, young lady. I am a beggar… but… but my son Timothy is not. He's a good man who's very outstanding… Please give him a chance. Please don't annul the engagement…" As she spoke, her eyes reddened. Isabelle was beautiful and exceptional, but she looked down on them. They were holding their son back. Cora felt a deep pain as tears brimmed in her eyes. She was sad, ashamed, and aggrieved. Cora hoped Isabelle would stay and not abandon Timothy because of their poverty. No matter how much she was humiliated, it was all worth it as long as Isabelle didn't annul her engagement with Timothy. Upon seeing Cora beg without a shred of dignity, Timothy felt a pang in his heart. This was his mother! For his sake, she humbled herself so much. His gaze turned icy as he looked at Isabelle. "Who are you calling beggars?" Isabelle crossed her arms, her face full of disdain. "So what if I call you filthy beggars? Not only you, but your parents too. You're nothing but a family of filthy beggars!" Instantly, a terrifying, icy air burst forth from Timothy. What were the words to describe the exact feeling he gave off? Bloody, gloomy, cold, hollow, dark, sinful… Timothy's eyes reflected the depths of hell at that moment. "Insult my parents, and you'll pay with your life!" A fierce, sinister light flashed in Timothy's eyes as he surged forward menacingly, ready to strike! Chapter 5 Cora was terrified. She hurriedly grabbed Timothy, who was about to lash out with tears in her eyes. "Timothy, listen to me," she said. "Let's talk this out. We can't resort to violence. Exceptional young ladies like her do not come by easily. Please, we can talk this out. I'm begging you…" Timothy looked at his weeping mother, and his heart began to ache. He forcibly stopped himself. "Mom…" His voice was hoarse, filled with a torrent of emotions. He felt as if a knife was stabbed into his heart when he saw Cora behaving so pitifully. It was unbearable! Meanwhile, Isabelle felt a shiver run down her spine, and a deep-seated fear rose within her. The air Timothy had just given off had scared her. The feeling he gave off and his gaze were both beyond words. At that moment, she felt like she was a measly ant before a dragon. She had no doubt that from his gaze just now, he meant to kill her. Isabelle instinctively took two steps back. Her bodyguards immediately stepped in front of her. They all stared at Timothy icily. The courtyard was suddenly filled with a murderous tension. With her bodyguards shielding her, Isabelle regained some courage and looked at Timothy with disdain as if he were an insect. She jeered, "Hmph! How dare you filthy beggar from a trash-picking family make a move against me? Do you know what the Barton family represents in Lormford City? "I can make it so that your whole family won't survive in this city. Go ahead and try coming at me again, you worthless piece of trash!" Timothy closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. This time, his gaze was devoid of any restraint, filled only with overwhelming rage. He looked at Isabelle and said in a cold, hoarse voice, "Years ago, my mentor made the marriage agreements on my behalf for two reasons. "Firstly, it was to undo the destined misfortune as seen from my astrological house. Secondly, it was because your families were sincere back then. So, my mentor thought I could protect your family from harm upon my return. "But now, the situation has changed. You've shown your true colors as a member of the Barton family, and you're nothing but despicable! "I gave you a chance and showed you leniency, but you not only insulted me but also my parents. You deserve death for all that you've said and done!" Isabelle smirked derisively. "So what if I insulted you? Who do you think you are to protect my family? We are one of the Six Great Families in Lormford City, and you're just a filthy beggar. I could crush you in an instant, and there's nothing you could do!" Timothy had a sinister look in his eyes. "You're hilariously clueless, aren't you? The Barton family is nothing to me." As soon as he finished speaking, Timothy moved like a gust of wind. Everyone only saw an afterimage before realizing he had somehow left the spot he was standing at a moment ago and was now right in front of the bodyguards. The bodyguards were all thrown back with a loud crash. They landed on the ground with broken limbs and coughed up blood. Isabelle screamed, shocked by Timothy's terrifying fighting skills. Her face turned pale as she stared at Timothy in horror, like she was seeing a ghost. Timothy didn't stop. He stretched his neck to loosen his muscles as he walked toward her. Isabelle stumbled back, her body shivering violently, and fell to the ground. She backed away, supporting herself with her hands. The look on her face showed how terrified she was. "Y-You… Don't come any closer! If you dare touch me, the Barton family won't let you off!" she yelled fearfully. Timothy seemed not to hear her as he took steady steps toward her with a faint smile. "The Barton family? What of the Barton family?" "You—" Before she could finish, Timothy had reached her. An overwhelming sense of fear and helplessness engulfed her, and before she could react, Timothy gripped her throat and lifted her off the ground! As Isabelle stared into Timothy's bloodthirsty eyes, she was so terrified that she lost control and wet herself. Timothy slapped her hard across the face. Isabelle screamed in agony, her hair becoming disheveled, and blood trickled from her mouth. A bright red handprint appeared on one side of her face. "How dare you hit me…" "So what if I hit you?" Timothy gave her another slap. She was slapped so hard that her face seemed to become lopsided. This time, blood streamed from her nose. Her once beautiful face was now unrecognizable. Just then, Timothy smiled. However, his smile was bone-chilling and glacial. Isabelle closed her eyes in despair, genuinely terrified. Timothy shook his head and delivered one last slap. With that, Isabelle was sent flying and crashing to the ground. Cora and Joseph stood where they were, utterly stunned by the scene before them. Their faces became drained of color as realization set in. Everyone knew the Barton family in Lormford City. Yet, their son had just beaten up the young lady of this prestigious family. They shook like leaves and were at a loss for words, feeling utterly despaired at the situation. Timothy looked coldly at Isabelle, who was on the ground. "This engagement can be annulled, but not by you or your family. "It is I, Timothy Yeager, who canceled the engagement! Your family isn't worthy enough to turn down the marriage. I'm the one who called an end to this. Now, scram!" His words, filled with unparalleled arrogance, shook everyone to the core. Isabelle was still on the ground with her hair in disarray. She covered her swollen face and looked at Timothy in terror. "You dare hit me?" "As I said earlier, so what if I hit you?" Timothy replied coolly. Isabelle's heart sank as she stared at Timothy's calm expression. She felt an overwhelming wave of disbelief. What made him so confident? He had dared to hit her. Didn't he know what the Barton family represented in Lormford City? Upon looking into Timothy's eyes, Isabelle felt a shiver deep in her soul. He looked at her as if she were truly nothing but an ant to him. This was the first time she had felt such terror in her 20 or so years of being alive. Isabelle cradled her face and wanted to curse at him but ultimately swallowed her words. She stepped back and forced out a chilling statement through gritted teeth. "So what if you hit me? The engagement will still be canceled! No one will agree to marry you today. Just wait and see!" she spat. Timothy glanced at Isabelle with a frown. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard. Several women entered, their voices cold and resolute as they stated their intentions. "The Thornton family annuls the engagement with this useless man today!" "The Shaw family also annuls the engagement!" "The Reed family annuls the engagement!" "The Lynde family annuls the engagement today!" Four annulment requests were thrown at Timothy simultaneously. They fluttered down and fell before his feet. The courtyard fell into a deathly silence. Cora and Joseph were so shocked that they sat on the ground, feeling weak. Timothy was stunned for a moment as he looked at the newcomers. So, they were all here to annul their engagements with him. His gaze turned icy and terrifying, and there was a chilling coldness in his eyes. They had all come on the same day at the same time to annul their engagements. Upon seeing the others arrive, Isabelle regained her courage and laughed arrogantly. "See, Timothy? This is how pathetic and insignificant you are! Did you really think I was the only one who thought you were unworthy? "Think about it, who would want to marry a man like you? With a family background like yours, you're just a joke compared to our families." Isabelle's laughter echoed in the courtyard. "Timothy, you're nothing but a clown. No one will marry you!" As her words faded, a voice suddenly came from the courtyard entrance. The voice was calm and noble, carrying a hint of pride. Everyone fell silent instantly. "Why are you so sure no one will marry him when I haven't shown up yet? Your families are thriving now. But if it weren't for Mr. Franklin's help, you wouldn't enjoy the success you have right now. You're repaying his kindness with betrayal. Aren't you ashamed? "Even though he may seem lowly, the Jefferson family is not heartless. Since the engagement was made, and if no one else will marry him… Then I, Mavis Jefferson, will marry him!" The crowd was shocked, and all eyes turned to the woman at the entrance. Timothy turned to look at her as well. His heart pounded when he laid eyes on her.	LEARN_MORE	https://huncnapp.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=1382	Fantasy reading	https://www.facebook.com/61559983820642/	2,978	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	huncnapp.com	DCO		https://huncnapp.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=13822&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/458381366_1293950115348016_4206265348027256421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yRle-qwAt9cQ7kNvgGWrFZU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AnseV2xs2w09wT9aDWXINVi&oh=00_AYBI0NWDKgxTmk_uuuITKMf8mW-iB50BiY_SXEiMiTO3-w&oe=670A2473	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Fantasy reading	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,111,526	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2111522}'	Yes	2024-10-06 21:56	active	1588	Squatch Epoxy		SIGN_UP	https://squatchepoxy.com/	Squatch Epoxy	https://www.facebook.com/100094265422471/	124	1969-12-31 18:00	Sign Up	squatchepoxy.com	CAROUSEL		https://squatchepoxy.com/	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462227057_1050844616253134_7807836934488045477_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ygdHshUOQw0Q7kNvgGqXB40&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AcJgSZYZJKxYM2Gywz3WhIA&oh=00_AYCvNpOJxBgnr_8MLs7KcTIu9UuEumhp06hCJY7rj3ggfg&oe=67091A43	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Squatch Epoxy	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,111,534	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2111529}'	Yes	2024-10-06 21:56	active	1588			VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	http://instagram.com/sandysandovalpromotion2	sandysandovalpromotion2	https://www.instagram.com/_u/sandysandovalpromotion2	0	1969-12-31 18:00	Visit Instagram Profile	instagram.com	CAROUSEL		http://instagram.com/sandysandovalpromotion2	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/451728051_1031993021911674_5885020828420288992_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s206x206&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=01e7c5&_nc_ohc=8pgsTm3RR4MQ7kNvgHqudlW&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AYA9ibgs2LvjZjaUYEzkGMjuyiSQfp1WEgRwbc95fwoywA&oe=670904B6	IG_ADS_IDENTITY	1	0	sandysandovalpromotion2	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,104,636	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2104632}'	No	2024-10-06 19:55	active	1585			VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	http://instagram.com/priamworldwide	PRIAM	https://www.facebook.com/61556734000014/	5	1969-12-31 18:00	Visit Instagram Profile	instagram.com	CAROUSEL		http://instagram.com/priamworldwide	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/461302597_1002641835028360_6666734102370251233_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-tzFKTANnlwQ7kNvgE8Hoh3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AiVQtZgxtv23ZApTwGOW-_b&oh=00_AYDDbBtAjrQzIJ40E7A8Z1BokdfyZZ4dfPmUu4eSvts0xA&oe=6708EEB0	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	PRIAM	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,111,042	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2111039}'	Yes	2024-10-06 21:54	active	1588			VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	http://instagram.com/streetrattattoos	Street Rat Tattoos	https://www.facebook.com/100068644041021/	58	1969-12-31 18:00	Visit Instagram Profile	instagram.com	CAROUSEL		http://instagram.com/streetrattattoos	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462236233_384299497952278_4578567294779964884_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sArLww5ud7kQ7kNvgEG6rAO&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A4ZmerNA7JF1TW2EQi-nHos&oh=00_AYC6ksXyGWq25L5BmfDvRJjJdbf-04O8AQt6ep1-NVhcgw&oe=67092A31	PERSON_PROFILE	0	0	Street Rat Tattoos	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete

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