Chapter 5

Seeing Damien's message, my heart warmed slightly.

I immediately replied: "Okay."

A month was indeed too long. One week would be enough.

After one week, I would leave completely, and my relationship with Kaelen would finally come to an end.

As soon as I stepped into the villa, I saw Seraphina sitting on the sofa wearing her nightgown.

The sound of the door opening made Seraphina look up slightly, sneering: "You're back? You look so pathetic."

With that, Seraphina stood up and walked over to me, her fingertips lightly hooking under my chin.

"Tsk, look at this face. You're white as paper. Anyone who didn't know better would think you're about to die."

"See these bite marks on my chest? They're all from Alpha Kaelen's handiwork last night."

Seraphina became more and more arrogant as she spoke, leaning down to whisper provocatively in my ear:

"Last night in your bed, Alpha Kaelen said he could only feel like a real woman when he was with me. You're just like a dead fish - utterly boring."

As soon as the words left her mouth, my eyes darkened, and I raised my hand to slap Seraphina hard across the face.

"Seraphina, know your place. I'm still Kaelen's mate right now. At best, you're just a mistress."

"If you push me too far, I'll call a press conference immediately and let everyone know you're nothing but an omega servant's daughter who stole her own sister's mate."

I hadn't wanted to get entangled with her, but Seraphina was asking for it.

Just as Seraphina was about to retaliate, she looked up and saw Kaelen approaching. Her knees went weak and she dropped to the ground.

"Sister, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come back. I'll go die right now so I won't be an eyesore anymore."

Before I could react, Seraphina had already gotten up and was rushing toward a nearby pillar.

Fortunately, Kaelen quickly stepped forward and caught her. "Seraphina, you're my invited guest. If anyone can't tolerate you, then I can't tolerate them!"

A bitter smile appeared on my pale face.

Kaelen supported Seraphina and scolded harshly: "Elara, apologize to Seraphina!"

"I did nothing wrong. I don't need to apologize."

"Kaelen, why don't you ask where I went last night?"

"Could it be..."

Kaelen frowned and interrupted: "I don't care where you went last night, but bullying Seraphina is unacceptable!"

"If you don't apologize today, I'll confine you to the villa immediately until you admit your mistake."

In Kaelen's mind, I was devoted to pack duties, so confinement would be like a death sentence.

But Kaelen didn't know that I didn't love pack work - I just did more so that Kaelen could have it easier.

Seeing that look of despair in my eyes, Kaelen's heart seemed to skip a beat. It felt terrible.

Wanting to teach me a lesson, Kaelen left with Seraphina and had Corbin watch over me.

No admitting fault, no food!

I stared at his retreating figure, tears sliding down my cheeks.

This was the man I had loved for seven years. This time, I would never love him again.

For several days in a row, I was confined to the villa.

Three times a day, Corbin would come ask if I knew I was wrong.

But I just kept looking out the window, never answering once.

Because I was counting down the days - five more days and I would leave completely.

I leaned against the swing on the balcony, my phone constantly buzzing.

All the messages were images sent by Seraphina through the pack mind-link.

The day she left, Seraphina sent a provocative message:

"Elara, you couldn't compete with me for our parents, and you can't win the man either. With just one word from me, Alpha Kaelen won't come home for a month."

Seraphina had done it. For two days straight, Kaelen hadn't come home.

But Seraphina sent me various images every day through the mind-link.

Images of her and Kaelen kissing passionately by the moonlit lake.

Photos of Kaelen personally cooking venison for her.

And intimate images of the two of them together from various angles.

Before, I would have been heartbroken seeing these, but now I only felt numb.

A dirty man should be thrown away.

On the fourth day, I still hadn't admitted fault, and Corbin still hadn't given me any food. I could only drink water to stave off hunger.

That evening, I went to the back garden as usual.

Suddenly, Kaelen's wolfhound rushed out and knocked me down.

A dog normally wouldn't have such force, but I hadn't eaten for three days and was as fragile as paper.

I fell to the ground, my stomach cramping with sharp pain.

Instantly, my pants were stained red with blood. My face went deathly pale, seeming to guess what was happening.

Genevieve had previously urged us to produce an heir, so two months ago we hadn't used protection.

The severe cramping in my lower abdomen made me collapse to my knees. I bit my lip and called to Corbin for help.

Corbin came in and was shocked to see my condition. He quickly carried me to the car to go to the pack healer.

On the way to the healing den, all the roads ahead were blocked and the car couldn't get through.

Corbin said: "Luna, today is Miss Seraphina's birthday. Alpha Kaelen blocked this road specifically for her celebration. We can't get through..."

My clothes were stained with blood. Looking at the fireworks filling the sky, they were all Kaelen's love for Seraphina.

At this moment, I closed my eyes in despair and forcefully removed the mating mark pendant from my neck, using my last bit of strength to throw it away.

I wanted neither the person nor the thing anymore.

When I opened my eyes again, I was already in the pack healing den.

Healer Elias said regretfully: "Miss Vance, you haven't eaten for several days. Your body couldn't provide enough nutrition, and the pup is gone."

I touched my lower abdomen. The little life that had just begun to form was gone.

The woman cried silently. Perhaps the pup knew that mommy and daddy were going to separate, so it wanted to leave this world too.

"Miss Vance, your body needs rest. Where is your mate? It would be best if he could come take care of you."

I steadied my emotions and shook my head: "I don't have a mate."

"Healer, what's the minimum number of days I can stay here?"

I wanted to leave as soon as possible.

"Three days."

I nodded. Three days was exactly when Damien would come for me. That was enough.

As we were talking, the healing den door was suddenly pushed open. Kaelen looked travel-worn: "Why are you in the healing den?"

Corbin beside him was about to speak, but I spoke first: "I haven't eaten for several days. My body is weak, so I fainted."

Seraphina said: "Sister, you didn't live a wealthy life when you were young either. How can your body be so weak?"

Kaelen looked at my frail appearance. Half of his anger from the past few days dissipated, and his attitude softened.

"When did you become so stubborn? Admitting fault won't kill you."

"Since you were already feeling unwell, why didn't you call me?" Kaelen's tone carried some reproach.

I just looked at him quietly, sneering inwardly.

Call him?

He had been busy accompanying Seraphina these past few days, even preventing me from eating just to vent Seraphina's anger.

Calling would only bring humiliation. There was no point.

But thinking that I would be leaving soon, there was no need to say these things. I made up an excuse.

"You've been busy these past few days. I didn't want to disturb you."

Hearing my words, Kaelen felt inexplicably guilty.

Perhaps feeling he had gone too far this time, Kaelen came to visit me at the healing den every day.

On the day of discharge, I kept texting with Damien.

Kaelen remembered that I didn't usually like playing with my phone, but these past few days it never left my hands.

"Elara, who are you texting?"

Kaelen made a move to grab my phone, but I dodged and made an excuse: "Do you need to see girls' conversations too?"

Hearing this, Kaelen withdrew his hand: "Stop looking at your phone. We're almost home."

"Mm."

These past few days, Kaelen had been good to me, but I knew it was just guilt.

After taking me home, Kaelen left.

I went to the study, opened the safe, and put the miscarriage report inside.

I also took out my notebook and added at the end:

"Item 100: The pup is gone."

After writing the last stroke, I closed the notebook.

Bond rejection writ, pack resignation, miscarriage report, and 100 heartbreaking memories.

These were all my mating anniversary gifts for Kaelen.

After packing everything, I took my luggage, left the villa key on the dining table, and deleted my scent markers from the territory boundaries.

I cleaned away every trace of myself from the villa.