I sat in the waiting room with one hand resting on my lap, the other slowly rubbing my stomach.

The clinic was quiet except for the soft beeping of machines and the television playing softly in the corner. I was not paying attention to it at first, until I heard a familiar name.

“Silas Cross of the Silvercrest Pack and model Elara Stone spotted at an exclusive auction,” the anchor said.

I looked up. The screen showed Silas and Elara standing close together, quite intimate.

Elara's hand rested lightly on Silas' arm, while Silas looked at her the way a man looked at his wife, full of affection and longing.

They looked like a married couple.

“They look so good together,” I overheard someone beside me say. “They’re the perfect pair!”

“That’s true. I heard they’re secretly married.”

“Really? Gosh, that’s so sweet!”

I kept my eyes on the screen, then lowered my head. I sneered.

Silas had told me this was a business trip. But nothing about what I was seeing looked like business. It looked like two people preparing to walk down the aisle.

I inhaled slowly. I wouldn’t let this matter affect me and my baby.

A nurse stepped out from the hallway. “Ms. Lavender? The doctor is ready for you.”

I stood and followed her inside. The doctor greeted me with a soft smile.

“Any pain or discomfort since your last visit?” she asked.

“No,” I answered. I kept my voice steady. “Just a bit more tired.”

“That is normal,” she nodded. “Let’s check on the baby.”

The gel felt cold against my skin, but I stayed still. The monitor lit up, and I saw the tiny form I had memorized from earlier visits. Then the heartbeat filled the room.

It was steady, strong, and alive.

The doctor nodded. “Everything looks perfect. Your baby is growing well.”

Relief eased the tightness in my chest. I didn’t grow emotional, but something inside me settled. The doctor handed me the printed ultrasound picture. I held it carefully.

This was what mattered now.

After leaving the clinic, I drove straight to Silverstone Enterprises. Seeing the name, I realized Silas had combined his with Elara’s.

No wonder he would rather work than spend time with me.

The lobby was busy. People moved quickly, talking quietly. When the receptionist saw me, her expression shifted.

“Mrs. Cross,” she said carefully. “I’m sorry, but you can’t go in right now.”

“Why not?” I asked, keeping my voice calm even as my pulse quickened.

She hesitated. “Mr. Cross has an important visitor. He requested not to be disturbed.”

I blinked. I didn’t even know Silas was back from his trip.

“I am his wife. Surely he wouldn’t mind,” I said.

She looked uneasy. “I know, ma’am. But he left strict instructions.”

I looked at her, and seeing that she wouldn’t hesitate to block me, I turned away.

But I did not leave.

I walked down the hallway to the hidden staircase that led directly to his office floor. It didn’t take me long to get there.

His office was empty. But from the private room beside it, I heard muffled sounds.

The door was slightly open. I stopped and looked inside.

Silas stood near the bed. Elara was in his arms. They were kissing, slow and familiar. His hand rested on her waist.

She smiled against his mouth.

"The baby is growing well. Can you feel it move?" She asked.

Silas touched her belly and chuckled. "How could it already move if it's only a few weeks old?"

Something inside me went silent.

I lifted my phone. My hands did not shake. I took a picture. Then another.

I placed my resignation letter on his desk and walked out.

In the car, I opened a dummy account and sent the photos to Elara’s husband.

I typed, “Is this your wife?”

My ex-fiancé, Lawrence, had cheated on me and chosen Elara. Now Elara was here to take my husband again.

But I wasn’t letting her have him this time.

At home, I gathered everything Silas had ever given me and placed them in a pile on the living room floor.

I lit a match. The flames spread slowly, then grew, swallowing every trace of him. All the memories we shared, the love I thought would last forever, were now being reduced to ashes.

As I watched the fire climb, my phone chimed. A notification.

Silas and Elara were at a bar now. Lights. Drinks. Bodies pressed close. Elara had posted the photos, captioned:

“The best night with the best man.”

I chuckled and liked it. I hearted every picture and tagged Silas openly. I felt no fear. No hesitation.

Minutes later, Silas called.

“Eris, it’s not what you’re thinking,” he said.

The background was noisy, and I heard Elara’s voice calling for him.

“Really? Then what is that? A friendly picture?” I asked, watching the flames climb higher.

“It was just a dare between friends. It didn’t mean anything. You know that.”

“Of course,” I replied calmly, walking out of the house as it burned.

“I knew you’d understand. I’ll come home tonight. I heard you went to the hospital. Are you si—”

I ended the call and threw the phone into the fire, letting it burn to ash.

Outside, the sky was darkening. Sirens were beginning to scream in the distance.

I placed my hand on my stomach.

And then—

I felt the first sharp pain.

Silas leaned against the counter with a drink in his hand, staring at his phone where the call with me had abruptly ended.

His brows were drawn together, his thumb hovering just above the screen as if he intended to call again.

“I didn’t think she’d just hang up,” he muttered.

Before he could place the call, Elara slid her hand around his arm with a practiced, gentle smile.

“She’s probably just tired. You said she’s always bothered if you have been out for so long. If she’s upset, I can talk to her. I can even bring a gift to make peace.”

Silas let out a short laugh, and some of the tension left his face. “You really are sweet, Elara. If only Eris were as understanding as you.”

“She is probably just overwhelmed,” Elara replied, resting her hand against her stomach. “Besides, she will be happy once she has my baby.”

Silas sighed and gave her hand a light squeeze. “You are kind, Elara. You sacrificed getting pregnant just to give me an heir. I just wish things were simpler.”

Her expression softened, warm and reassuring. “I just want to help you. I know you both are having a hard time creating one. Besides, I only want you to relax tonight. You deserve a break.”

They returned to the crowd, drinking and dancing as the music grew louder and the night blurred around them.

Cody stood off to the side, watching with a tense jaw. His phone kept lighting up with notifications, and he tried several times to get close enough to speak to Silas, but Silas was too absorbed to notice.

When it was well past midnight, Cody finally stepped forward.

“Alpha, we should head back. There have been several messages from home. I believe they are from the Madam,” he said carefully.

Silas waved him off with a grimace of irritation, the alcohol sharpening his tone. “I am in the middle of something here. I will deal with whatever it is in the morning.”

“But sir, the calls have been insistent. There could be some problem…”

“Did you not hear me?” Silas snapped. “Answer it yourself if you are so concerned.”

Cody paused, clearly unsettled, but Silas had already turned away again.

Elara spoke gently, feigning concern. “Maybe you should at least check. Maybe Eris is just distressed.”

“No. Do not worry about it. It is nothing urgent,” Silas said. “You know Eris likes to cause trouble whenever she wants. Let her wait.”

He ignored the constant ringing of his phone, choosing instead to stay with Elara. Hours passed before they finally stepped outside into the cool night air. As they exited, a figure hurried toward them.

At first, they brushed it off, but Silas stopped when he recognized his personal secretary. She was pale and out of breath, and the sight instantly sobered him.

“Alpha,” she said, struggling to steady her voice. “A lawyer came to the company. He delivered documents.”

Silas frowned. “Then give them to me tomorrow morning. You didn’t have to drive here and disturb my rest.”

“But sir, it was urgent. The lawyer said that with or without you, the divorce papers will take effect. You weren’t answering your phone, so I came here.”

Silas froze in place. His voice came out low and sharp.

“Divorce? Who would file something like that at this hour? Let me see.”

The secretary handed him the envelope. Silas ripped it open and scanned the pages, only to see my name and my signature clearly printed and sealed.

The room around him seemed to thicken. Anger erupted in his eyes. He immediately dialed my number.

Once, twice, repeatedly, but I did not answer.

“She is asking for divorce because of a few pictures?” his voice rose, cracking. “She didn’t even want to speak to me first?”

At that moment, Cody rushed forward, gripping Silas’ arm in a way that would normally be unacceptable for a subordinate. His face showed real fear.

“Alpha, there is a serious problem,” he said, breathing unsteadily.

Silas looked at him, and the expression on Cody’s face made everything inside him go still.

“The fire department called,” Cody continued. “Those messages from home were from security. Not from her.”

Silas stopped breathing. A sudden tightness seized his chest. It was painful, crushing, as if something inside him had been violently severed.

“What are you saying?” his voice came out louder, anger blending with something far more fragile. “Fire department? Security? Explain to me why they’re calling!”

Cody swallowed hard, the words heavy. “The fire department said there was a fire at your house. It burned down completely. And Madam, your wife, was inside when it happened.”

Silas’ heart skipped, stuttered, fractured.

“And what happened to her?” he asked, voice barely audible.

Cody lowered his gaze. “Sir… There were no survivors. Mrs. Eris died in the fire.”

Silas didn’t speak.

Not at first.

He just stared at Cody like the words hadn’t landed right, like they were still floating somewhere above him waiting to be understood.

“What… what did you say?” Silas finally managed, his voice thin.

Cody swallowed hard. “She’s gone, Sir. Madam Eris…” His voice cracked. “The responders… they said…” He couldn’t finish.

Silas shook his head sharply, almost offended by the idea.

“Dead? Eris? No.” His chest rose and fell too fast.

“That’s impossible. This has to be a joke.”

Cody opened his mouth, but a knock thundered through the office before he could speak again. Two uniformed police officers stepped inside, followed by a pair of firefighters who still smelled faintly of smoke.

Silas’s entire body stilled.

The lead officer spoke gently, too gently, and that was when Silas’s rejection began to falter. People only used that tone when the truth was devastating.

“Mr. Cross,” the officer said as he removed his cap, “we’re here to inform you of an incident. A fire broke out in one of your properties. A woman was found inside. She was identified as—”

“Don’t say her name.” Silas’s voice cut through the room like glass. “Not until you’re absolutely sure.”

The firefighter stepped forward, holding a blackened folder of documents.

“Sir, the blaze was already too intense when we arrived. We did everything we could to assess the scene. The… the body was found near the back room, consistent with—”

“Enough.” Silas stepped back as if struck. His eyes flickered to the sealed photos the firefighter carried.

“That’s… that’s not her. It can’t be.”

His breath trembled. Something inside him began to crack, too sharp and too sudden to hide. He pressed a hand to his chest, frowning as if he didn’t recognize the feeling twisting violently inside him.

“Sir,” the officer said softly, “I’m sorry.”

Silas didn’t answer. Couldn’t.

“Silas!”

Elara’s voice pierced the tension, her hand covering her mouth with wide, tear-filled eyes.

“Oh god… is it true? Is Eris really… is she…” She covered her mouth with a dramatic sob.

Silas stiffened.

Elara glanced hastily at the firefighters.

“How could she die in a fire?” she demanded, her voice rising. “Are you telling me you couldn’t save her? Not even try?”

She shook her head frantically. “No… no! That’s impossible. She shouldn’t be dead!”

Her wails echoed off the walls, too rehearsed for anyone truly grieving, but she made sure her back was turned whenever her tears dried a little too quickly.

The firefighter gave a tired sigh. “Ma’am, we did everything we could. The fire was already roaring when we arrived. The structural damage—”

“Then you didn’t arrive soon enough!” she snapped.

“Elara,” Silas murmured, but even he sounded distant, lost.

The firefighter opened the folder and tapped the burnt, sealed photos inside. “Sir, this is the position where the body was discovered. The dental records—”

Silas turned his head away sharply, jaw tightening. He didn’t want to see. Couldn’t see.

Elara sniffed loudly, wiping her eyes with deliberate jerky movements.

“This can’t be real,” she cried. “She… she can’t just die like that. Why would a fire suddenly happen? And why now, of all times?”

She shook her head and leaned against Silas as if seeking comfort. “Silas, she shouldn’t be gone. It should’ve—”

She stopped herself.

But Silas heard it.

Everyone heard it.

“It must be someone else,” she corrected quickly, her voice trembling with fabricated anguish. “It can’t be her.”

For a moment, she let her face crumple in exaggerated despair.

Inside, however, her heart drummed with triumph.

Finally.

Finally Eris was gone.

Finally she didn’t have to pretend anymore.

She had been planning to do something about me once the child in her stomach was born. She thought it would be quite a long battle, maybe a few years, before she could finally take the position of Luna beside Silas.

Who would have thought that such an accident would occur?

My death was a blessing, and she couldn’t wish for more. But she had to pretend for a while, to show that she cared.

She glanced sideways to see if Silas would pull her closer, comfort her, maybe even agree with her outrage…

She froze.

Because Silas didn’t show the reaction she expected. Every time she cried like this, Silas would gather her in his arms to comfort her.

Now, he wasn’t even looking at her.

He was staring at the firefighters with narrowed, calculating eyes.

“Elara’s right,” he muttered. “How can you be sure the body is Eris?”

His voice gained strength, anger, something fierce. “Where is the proof?”

The firefighters exchanged glances.

Elara blinked. She had not expected that. Her mouth opened slightly in surprise.

“Y-yes!” she quickly added, struggling to keep up with his shift. “Silas is right. Maybe you got it wrong. You should investigate again.”

Silas stepped forward, his voice turning harsh. “You’re telling me she died without anyone seeing her leave the property? Without any witness? Without any confirmation except a charred body?”

His tone sharpened. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

“No, Sir,” the officer answered calmly. “But the evidence at the scene and the dental records—”

“Re-examine it,” Silas demanded. “All of it. I want everything verified.”

The firefighters nodded reluctantly. “We will, Sir.”

Elara nodded along eagerly, pretending to support him while inside, panic crawled up her spine. She thought he’d crumble, not question. She thought he’d cling to her, not to hope.

She forced a tremulous sigh. “Silas… I just can’t… I can’t believe she’s gone. It hurts so much.”

But Silas didn’t look at her.

He was staring at the floor, his fist clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.

Everything in him looked… wrong.

Like a man trying to hold himself together with his bare hands.

Silas wasn’t a man easily shaken.

He didn’t panic.

He didn’t break.

But now, he was trembling.

Before anyone could speak again, his secretary rushed to his side, face pale.

“Sir… sir!” he called out breathlessly.

Silas snapped his head up, his emotions swiftly shuttered behind a cold mask. “What?”

The secretary swallowed. “The stocks… They’re falling.”

Silas’s brows furrowed in immediate fury. “What do you mean falling? Why?”

His voice thundered across the area.

The secretary hesitated. He looked at everyone present, then leaned in closer.

“It’s because of the letter,” he whispered. “The suicide letter…”

Silas’s eyes went wide.

“What letter?” His voice was a low growl.

“The one Madam Eris posted online,” the secretary replied, almost stammering. “It’s everywhere, sir. People think she… took her own life.”