After Amy and I finalized our partnership, she flew to Northia to handle the opening of our herbal remedy lab.

I, on the other hand, met with an experienced advisor from within the pack.

Since Ryan and I were never officially marked as mates, a simple mate dissolution agreement was enough.

When I saw the line "voluntarily forfeits all rights to territory and property inheritance", I didn't hesitate. I pressed my thumbprint firmly beneath it.

Right as the stamp hit the page, Clare sent me a video.

The screen opened on an extravagant ceremonial hall, draped in silver feathers and blooming flowers. Front and center hung a grand sign painted in shimmering silver ink that wrote, "Welcome to the Bonding Ceremony of Ryan Hardin and Clare Lambert."

The camera shifted. Ryan stood there, going over the event details.

"I just casually mentioned wanting to be bonded, and he immediately started planning the whole thing for me. The ceremony is in two days. You're invited, of course."

That day just so happened to be my 29th birthday. It was also the same day I had planned to leave.

I stared at the message, then blocked her number without hesitation. Afterward, I started packing.

In all my years living in the villa, I had never bought a single thing for myself. I moved in with one worn-out duffel bag. And now, nine years later, I was leaving with the same one.

I had barely set it by the door when Ryan entered.

"Make me a bowl of crab chowder."

He still ordered me around out of habit, like I was nothing more than a maid he kept at his side.

I figured this would be the last time, so I didn't argue and just did as he said.

When I set the bowl down on the stone table, Ryan stared at me for a long moment. "You've been awfully quiet these past few days."

I used to revolve around him, finding things to say, telling stories, and sharing gossip, even though he barely ever responded with more than a grunt.

I replied evenly, "My throat's been sore. I didn't feel like talking."

Ryan clicked his tongue in disdain and dropped it.

He didn't come home again for the next two days.

The day he and Clare held their ceremony, I laid our mate agreement from nine years ago and the freshly written mate dissolution agreement on the stone table in the study.

Then, I picked up my old duffel bag, took one last look around the house that had caged me for nine years, and walked toward a future that finally belonged to me.

…

When I arrived at the boarding gate, Ryan suddenly called me.

Without hesitation, I rejected the call. Then, I pulled out the SIM card and tossed it in a trash can.