“Stop those tears already. I’ll handle this, alright?”

With a soft sigh, he gently ruffled my hair and dabbed away the tears staining my cheeks. His lips brushed against my face in a comforting kiss before he stood and shuffled toward the medicine shelf, grumbling under his breath.

“You’re supposed to be tough, you know. Brave and bold. Yet here you are, crying again at the slightest bit of pain. What would you even do if I weren’t around?”

I stared in silence at the red, inflamed burn on my wrist. The ache was dull now, but its presence was a cruel reminder.

For seven long years, I’d been coddled, protected, and adored. But what would truly become of me without him?

Still, I didn’t want to keep this up. Not anymore. Not this illusion we pretended was real.

Not you, Isaac. Not this bond you insist we maintain—fragile, counterfeit, and bleeding.

Sleep eluded me that night. Whether it was the burn throbbing against my skin or the churning truth I’d only now begun to confront, I couldn’t tell. I lay drenched in sweat, turning from side to side in the tangled sheets, wishing for the relief of unconsciousness. But slumber only came after an eternity of unrest.

By early morning, before the sun had properly risen, Isaac shook me awake with little ceremony.

I groaned, swatting at his hands as he tugged on the blanket. He chuckled and leaned down, stealing a quick kiss.

The shock of it wiped away all remnants of sleep. I nearly slapped him, my palm twitching midair before I stopped myself.

Thankfully, the kiss had been brief.

“Good morning, my sleepy little mooncake,” he teased.

Disgusted, I turned away and wiped my mouth. “It’s the weekend. Can’t I sleep in for once?” I mumbled, still groggy and annoyed.

Isaac gave me a long look, then sighed. “You had a fever last night. Did you even realize that? Get dressed—we’re going to the healer.”

I studied his face as he spoke, wondering whether his concern came from genuine affection or merely from obligation. His expression was filled with worry, but somehow, I felt like he wasn’t really seeing me.

I didn’t argue. I was too tired for that. Wordlessly, I followed.

At the healer’s clinic, we crossed paths with someone I wasn’t ready to see—Candice. She stood awkwardly in the hallway, trying to walk on what looked like a swollen foot. Isaac’s demeanor shifted immediately.

In a flash, he was no longer at my side. “Candice! What happened?” he asked, alarm in his voice as he rushed toward her.

She gave him a sweet, knowing smile, her eyes flicking briefly to me. “I twisted my ankle. Such a coincidence, bumping into you two. Here for a check-up too?”

Isaac paused, glancing back at me as though remembering I was still there. There was a flicker of guilt in his eyes—barely visible but impossible for me to miss.

“Yeah. Brought my ‘little sister’ in. She wasn’t feeling well last night,” he explained, his voice suddenly cool.

I didn’t flinch. There was no reason to. He’d introduced me that way before—plenty of times. I had long since learned to live with the label. From the day he refused to reveal our bond, I had become the invisible girl in the background, the sibling of a friend he was doing a favor for.

Only a few in his inner circle knew the truth.

Candice nodded politely. “Since she’s staying at your place, it’s only right you take care of her.” Then she motioned toward another building. “Well, I better get going. My healer’s over there.”

As she limped away, Isaac moved without hesitation, swooping her into his arms. “I’ll carry you. No need to strain yourself.”

Then, as though I were an afterthought, he called over his shoulder, “Wendy, wait here.”

My body went cold. Whether it was the fever or something far worse, I wasn’t sure. The strength drained from my limbs, leaving me weak and lightheaded. I didn’t even attempt to argue or call him back.

He hadn’t asked my permission. He didn’t even look twice.

So I stood there silently, leaning against the nearest wall to stop myself from swaying.

Isaac’s act had always been convincing—but only until Candice entered the scene. Then his true self bled through, unfiltered. He never noticed the difference, but I did. Every time.

With a bitter smile tightening my lips, I turned away and made my way, alone, to the section for fever patients.

The healer barely needed to examine me to confirm it—my temperature had skyrocketed to 41.3°C.

Apparently, the burn had become infected, worsened by stress and emotional turmoil, leading to a viral complication. I was given herbs to brew into tea and advised to start an infusion as soon as possible.

Without thinking, I reached for my phone and searched for Isaac’s number.

Then I froze.

What was I doing?

Habit, it seemed, was a cruel thing—more dangerous than any wound.

I gave a short, humorless laugh, lowered the phone, and slipped it back into my pocket.

No more calls. No more illusions.

I accepted the medications from the healer, thanked her quietly, and walked myself to the patient rest area, alone.

The morning felt unusually long as I finished the last of the bitter herbal concoction and received the infusion recommended by the healer. My head swam with dizziness, and even a few steps left me shaky, almost toppling over.

I picked up my phone to check for any messages from Isaac, a small part of me still hoping he had at least sent a word. But my heart sank when the screen remained empty—no updates, no questions about my condition, not even a single text showing he cared.

With a deep breath, I decided to call him despite the growing unease in my chest. I didn’t want any assumptions or miscommunications to pile up between us. When he answered and realized I was still in the healer’s care, there was a pause on his end before he spoke.

“Wendy, I’m really sorry. I meant to come back for you after I dropped Candice off, but… she started having stomach cramps, so I had to stay…”

Wait. Did he just say he brought her back home?

Before he could offer more explanation, a voice in the background caught my attention—someone, likely a server, saying clearly, “Sir, your entire meal has been served. Please enjoy.”

I froze. Isaac’s voice turned muffled as he must have covered the speaker in a hurry, but the damage was already done. I had heard enough to understand.

There was a pause. Then I let out a soft breath and replied, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle things on my own.”

Why I said that, I wasn’t entirely sure. Perhaps I wanted to spare him guilt, or maybe I was desperately trying to reassure myself that I didn’t need him—that I could do this alone.

As I moved to hang up, he suddenly called out, “Wendy, just go back home. I’ll explain everything later, alright?”

Explain what, exactly? More excuses? Another carefully constructed lie to keep me in place?

I ended the call without saying another word. Then, without waiting any longer, I arranged for a ride back. But when the evening came, Isaac still hadn’t returned.

Sleep didn’t come easily. The muffled sounds outside the window kept dragging me back to reality. I peered out and saw the sky alight with fireworks—someone must have been celebrating something, probably a romantic surprise.

A sharp twist of bitterness tugged at my lips, forming a humorless smile.

Unable to rest, I turned to my tablet and resumed working on a client’s wedding gown sketches. While scrolling through references, my finger brushed against my messaging app, opening it accidentally.

There, right at the top, was Candice’s newest post.

It was an elegant shot of fireworks bursting across the night, with a caption written like a line from a love poem:

“After so many years apart, I’ve finally returned to your side. These fireworks bloom as if the stars themselves are welcoming me back.”

I stared at the screen, mind blank and chest tight. Then, when I attempted to exit the app, I realized that Isaac’s account was still logged in on my device.

I didn’t have the will to dig through any conversations or see more than I should. I quickly logged his account out and turned the device off.

The following morning, I arrived at the office with a clear goal in mind.

The manager handed me the approval letter for my resignation. When I explained my departure was due to an upcoming bond marriage and that I’d be relocating to another territory, her face shifted between joy and sorrow.

“We’re going to miss you dearly. You’ve always been one of the most reliable people on the team.”

Words failed me, so I hugged her tightly, expressing my gratitude for all her guidance and trust over the years.

After wrapping up the paperwork, my coworkers insisted on treating me to a farewell lunch in honor of my new journey. I agreed and suggested a familiar place—one that Isaac and I often went to, where I knew the food would be consistently good.

Halfway through the meal, I excused myself to head to the restroom. But as I rounded the hallway, I bumped into Candice.

Her smile was bright, as if seeing me was the best surprise of her day. “What a surprise! I didn’t expect to see you here. Isaac brought me here too, back when we completed our coming-of-age rites. We’ve visited this place so many times since.”

I returned her smile with a polite one, not really in the mood for conversation. I stepped to the side, intent on leaving quickly.

But just as I was about to walk away, she called out again.

“I noticed something the other day… Isaac always rinses the shrimp in water before peeling them for you. Do you avoid spicy food too?”

Her casual use of the word “too” made me stop in my tracks.

In truth, I enjoyed spicy food. But over time, Isaac had made a habit of washing the shrimp in water before serving them to me, saying spicy flavors weren’t good for my health. I’d accepted it without much thought, assuming he was just thoughtful and looking out for me.

Now it was clear—he wasn’t thinking of me at all.

The one who didn’t like spicy food… the one whose preferences he remembered and cared for… was Candice.

Her head tilted subtly, eyes sharp and calculating as she examined my expression like she was solving a complicated riddle.

"I’ve been dying to say this since our first meeting—don’t you think we look uncannily similar, little sister?" she remarked, her voice laced with biting sarcasm.

Her words sent a jolt through my chest. My breath caught, and an involuntary glance at the mirror confirmed what I had always ignored. The resemblance between us was startling—identical hair color, matching eyes, and even the shape of her jawline mirrored mine.

A flood of humiliation and rage surged through me. It had always stung knowing I was just a stand-in for someone else in Isaac’s eyes. But now, recognizing I’d been deliberately molded to resemble her, his true desire, shattered something much more profound within me.

Under the satisfaction gleaming in her eyes, my fragile composure began to crumble. My wolf stirred restlessly, sensing the chaos in my emotions. Unable to stay in the same space with her any longer, I turned on my heel and rushed out.

Back in the private dining room, the genuine warmth of my colleagues gradually softened the frost that had taken over my veins. Their laughter, supportive words, and cheerful presence helped dull the sting left by Candice’s venomous remark. I almost managed to set the encounter aside—until the door burst open with a jarring bang.

Isaac stood in the doorway, his gaze sweeping across the room until it landed squarely on me. For a heartbeat, he remained frozen, face twisted in a mix of smoldering anger and restraint. He clenched his fists tightly before barking my name with venom, motioning for me to follow him into the hallway.

Startled, I followed him into the dim corridor, only to be met with a stinging slap that landed sharply across my cheek.

It was the first time he had ever struck me.

Shock rendered me motionless. I stared at him, eyes wide, heart throbbing with pain. There was no remorse in his expression—just fury.

"Why did you shove Candice?" he hissed. "You knew she had a sprained ankle! I told you I’d explain everything once we got back, but you couldn’t wait, could you?"

His accusations cut deeper than the slap.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Candice approaching with an exaggerated limp. Her blouse was wrinkled, a faint stain on her shoulder, her steps slow and deliberate. As I opened my mouth to protest, she let out a theatrical gasp and tumbled forward.

Isaac rushed past me without hesitation, gathering her into his arms with gentle concern. His voice was tender, his touch soft—so unlike the cold blow he had just delivered to me.

"I told you I’d bring her over to say sorry," he murmured, brushing her hair back. "Why did you leave the room?"

Candice shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears. "It’s really not important. She didn’t mean it. Please don’t be angry with her," she said, voice trembling with faux kindness.

She cast a glance in my direction, then softened her tone further. "If her brother hears about this, it could strain the alliance between you two."

At the mention of my brother Ash, something flickered in Isaac’s face. But it vanished as quickly as it came.

"Her brother trusted me with her," he said stiffly. "Which makes it my duty to correct her when she crosses the line."

A dry, bitter laugh slipped from my lips before I could suppress it. "Correct me? And what exactly have I done that needs correcting? Even in a formal trial, there’s a need for proof before judgment is passed. But you? You hit me without hesitation, without evidence. Is this the leadership your pack looks up to?"

His jaw clenched, eyes narrowing. "There are no surveillance cameras in the restroom, Wendy. You knew that. You thought you could act without being caught."

I stared at him, stunned at the absurdity of his certainty. "No cameras?" I echoed, disbelief thick in my voice. "Then how can you be sure it was me?"

"Why would Candice lie?" he snapped, frustration boiling over. "She’s not someone who lies about things like this."

"But I am?" My voice quivered, cracked with the weight of betrayal.

Seven years. Seven long years I stood by him through every hardship, every victory. And in a single moment, Candice’s words obliterated everything we’d built.

"I see," I whispered, the ache settling deep in my chest. "Believe what you want."

I turned to leave, unable to tolerate another second in his presence.

"Wendy, don’t walk away!" he barked, his command echoing in the hallway. But I didn’t stop. The sting on my face throbbed, a harsh reminder of where I stood in his life.

Returning to the dining room felt impossible. I didn’t want to darken the joyful mood of my colleagues who had done nothing but support me. Instead, I headed to the front counter, requested the bill, and left a message for the group:

"Had to leave due to an emergency. Enjoy the food and drinks—it’s all on me."

And with that, I stepped out into the night, burdened by the crushing weight of everything I had just lost.