In the end, the Beta brought me to a rose garden.

Looking at the familiar garden, I looked up in surprise.

After getting together with Ethan, I had actually been quite anxious.

The Shadowmoon Pack was too wealthy - a level that an orphan like me could never reach.

To catch up with Ethan, I threw myself desperately into my profession.

Finally, three years ago, I cultivated the extremely beautiful and gorgeous Moonlight Rose.

One flower cost several thousand dollars, but even so, the reservation list was booked solid through next month.

And the rose garden before me was where I cultivated them.

This rose garden only received five customers per day, and knowing I was coming to take over today, they had cleared the place entirely.

Looking at the garden full of delicate, blooming roses, my suffocated mood finally lightened a bit.

Just after signing the transfer agreement, I heard a commotion from downstairs.

"We ordered 9,999 roses and were supposed to pick them up today, but now you're telling me they're temporarily unavailable? What's wrong with your staff? Get your boss to come talk to me!"

The voice was too familiar - I instantly realized it was Ethan downstairs.

The manager beside me looked embarrassed.

"The gentleman downstairs is anxious to give his wife an anniversary gift, so..."

"It's fine. Let's see what the customer wants first."

I took a deep breath, the joy in my heart vanishing completely.

I closed my eyes and looked down at the scene below.

Under the warm yellow spotlights, Scarlett wore an expensive champagne-colored dress, nestled against Ethan's side.

"It's okay, Ethan. I don't really need them. I just heard these roses were beautiful and wanted to see them. Since I can't, it's fine."

"Such a pity. I was hoping to see them before going to the hospital... Never mind, we shouldn't disturb them. Let's go."

Her tone was coquettish, but the disappointment in her eyes was remarkably obvious.

Ethan looked at her sideways, his eyes almost overflowing with heartache.

He pulled her into his arms, his voice tender.

"Silly girl, you're still the same as before. Don't worry, since you want to see them, I'm not afraid of trouble."

Then he looked coldly at the nearby staff.

"Is this your service attitude? Can't you see there's a patient here? I don't care what you're doing - you must get those flowers to me today!"

"Ohhh——!"

Several well-dressed men who were obviously Ethan’s friends immediately started making exaggerated noises.

"Ethan is so good to his Luna!"

"Exactly! Ethan and his Luna are truly a perfect match!"

"What's that she-wolf? A parentless orphan doesn't deserve to stand beside Ethan. Should have dumped her long ago!"

I had long known that Ethan's friends didn't think much of me.

I never expected their disgust to reach this level.

My mind went completely blank.

The Moonlight Rose was the variety I had cultivated by hand in the greenhouse during those years when I loved Ethan most passionately, spending countless days and nights.

Each plant was infused with my hopes for the future and my love for Ethan.

These flowers that carried all my sincerity and love were now being casually presented by him to the very person who had bullied me.

And sick?

Ha.

Looking at the smugness in Scarlett's eyes, I pulled my lips into a mocking curve.

Only someone as blind and heartless as Ethan couldn't see through her little tricks.

A tearing pain shot through my chest, so intense I could barely breathe.

Just then, one of the men nudged Ethan with his elbow, his expression playful.

"By the way, when exactly are you planning to come clean with that Elena ? We can't wait to see how spectacular her face will look when she learns the truth!"

But Ethan's face instantly darkened.

"Who gave you permission to talk about Elena like that?"

The friends looked at each other, and the atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Scarlett tried to lighten the mood.

"Everyone's just worried about Ethan. After all, she's just an orphan, really not suited for you..."

"Enough."

Before she could finish, Ethan cut her off.

"This isn't your concern. I know what I'm doing."

The smile on Scarlett's face instantly froze.

She immediately pulled away, her eyes full of accusation.

"I know you can't bear to let her go, but didn't you promise us you'd humiliate her at next week's anniversary? Are you going back on your word now?"

Ethan's frown deepened.

He looked at Scarlett's tearful face, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something.

But in the end, he just looked away irritably without immediately answering.

This brief silence was, for Scarlett, tantamount to the most terrifying answer.

Tears immediately flooded her eyes, while her other hand moved to her abdomen.

"If you've really fallen for her, then I might as well go to the hospital right now and abort this child!"

"After all, he'd be born without a father anyway! Rather than let him suffer his whole life, better to end it now!"

"You're pregnant?"

Ethan's voice rose sharply from shock.

Like being struck by lightning, he grabbed the hand Scarlett had placed on her abdomen.

He lowered his head, his eyes filled with disbelief and wild joy.

"When did this happen?!"

Scarlett winced from his grip, but seeing his loss of composure, a flash of triumph quickly passed through her eyes.

Her face remained pitifully vulnerable.

"Two months ago. I didn't dare tell you. But there's no point talking about it now. I can't let this child become an obstacle between you two. I..."

Before she could finish, Ethan pulled her into his arms.

"How could you be so foolish!"

He cupped Scarlett's face, his voice sighing.

"When did I say I was backing out? Since I promised you, I'll definitely do it. But you must not tell her about this. Understand?"

Scarlett nestled in his arms, breaking into a smile through her tears.

Taking the opportunity, she coquettishly made several small requests.

Like accidentally inserting some "evidence" of me being intimate with other men when playing memory videos.

Like having him publicly announce that this engagement was something I had schemed to steal, and that we weren't married because I was stupid.

Each request aimed to completely destroy my reputation.

And Ethan, still immersed in the wild joy of becoming a father and his guilt toward Scarlett, agreed to everything without hesitation.

My body began trembling violently beyond my control.

Liar.

Ethan, that big liar.

The staff sent by the manager quickly resolved everything.

Tears rolled down my face as I watched them finally finish their discussion and walk out together.

But Ethan didn't leave.

"Wrap up 99 champagne roses for me right now."

Champagne roses were once my favorite roses.

When we got married, Ethan had filled the wedding venue with vast seas of champagne roses.

He had made passionate vows to me in that sea of flowers.

"Elena, in this lifetime, I'll only give roses to you."

Now he was secretly giving 9,999 moonlight roses to another woman.

I shook my head, finding it utterly ironic.

A mocking glint flashed in my eyes.

What was this supposed to be?

Compensation, charity, or a final act of pity?

Compared to my carefully cultivated moonlight roses, they were as crude as a joke.

Ha.

After confirming the fruit of love with Scarlett, had he finally remembered there was a pet at home that needed appeasing?

Were these flowers the last bit of dignity he was leaving for me, the trash about to be swept out the door?

That familiar churning sensation in my stomach began stirring again.

"Honey, you're home?"

Ethan's voice came from the direction of the bathroom.

Fresh from his shower, he only carried the scent of steam and sea salt, yet it still made me want to vomit.

He walked up to me, raising his hand to embrace me, but I dodged without leaving a trace.

His hand wavered in the air for a moment before he casually moved it to his head.

"Why are you so late? I called but you didn't answer."

I lowered my gaze, giving a perfunctory response.

"Nothing much, just went to check out the anniversary banquet venue. My phone was on silent, so I didn't hear it."

Ethan's expression immediately softened.

He strode forward, gently pulling me into his arms and kissing my forehead.

"You can leave these little things to me. You just need to wait five days and dress beautifully for the banquet."

"Just thinking about our fifth wedding anniversary in five days makes me so happy. Honey, being able to marry you is the blessing of Moon Goddess."

He loosened his hold slightly, cupping my face with both hands, his gaze focused as if I were his entire world.

"Honey, if there's anything that makes you unhappy, remember to tell me, okay? I'm the person who loves you most in this world. Don't hide anything from me, hmm?"

If this had been a week ago, I probably would have been moved to tears.

Would there be anyone else in the world who would treat me as well as he did?

But now, having seen his true face, I only felt utterly disgusted!

Though I didn't understand why he still thought we had a future. He had already promised Scarlett he would strike against me at the anniversary in five days.

Yet now he was saying these things. Did he want me to unknowingly "adopt" his and Scarlett's child?

Or was he planning to simply send Scarlett and the child somewhere I couldn't see them?

One family outside, another family with me. Playing me for a fool?

Enormous disgust and fury at being manipulated erupted like a volcano in my chest.

Yet I had to force down the nausea.

He seemed to sense something.

If he discovered I was planning to leave, would I still be able to go?

I didn't know.

But it was only five days either way. I could endure a little longer.

After drinking a glass of water and lying down, I felt an abnormal dizziness wash over my head.

This obviously unnatural phenomenon filled my heart with desolation and disbelief.

I had only drunk that one glass of water, and had even eaten dinner outside before coming home.

Ethan, do you hate me this much?

Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes as I lost consciousness.

When I regained awareness, I felt a piercing light flashing before my eyes.

A voice spoke hesitantly.

"Alpha Ethan, are you really going to remove a kidney? Your Luna is eight weeks pregnant with a very healthy fetus. If nothing goes wrong, it's likely a boy. But if you insist on removing a kidney, this fetus probably won't survive, and your Luna might hemorrhage severely."

"She's actually pregnant?"

I could hear the shock in Ethan's voice.

I thought he might show some consideration for the child in my belly, but the next second, his voice turned cold.

"Do it! This is what she owes Scarlett anyway. It's just a child - she can get pregnant again later!"

"Besides, she's an orphan. Any child she bears would just be illegitimate anyway."

I bit my lip desperately, my whole body trembling.

This was too absurd!

He had given me a fake mating certificate, deceiving me like a fool all along. Now he was calling my child a bastard!

And this child I had never even realized existed, who hadn't even had a chance to see the world, was about to be killed by his own biological father!

I couldn't control my violent trembling.

As for Scarlett's illness?

Ha!

Would she really be sick?

Thinking of what my investigation had uncovered, I couldn't help but want to laugh at the sky.

Ethan, oh Ethan, if you knew what she's been doing behind your back, would you regret treating me like this today!

Perhaps my trembling was too intense, as Ethan noticed.

"What's happening? Has the anesthesia worn off?"

The doctor looked back.

"Probably just too cold. The anesthesia dosage was sufficient, Alpha Ethan. Don't worry, she won't wake up this quickly."

"Good, start now."

Ethan responded casually.

I could feel his consistently gentle gaze fall upon me.

"I love you, honey. Sleep well. When you wake up, everything will be better."

Just as the doctor was about to begin surgery, I suddenly heard his phone ring.

Scarlett's voice came through.

"Find a way to paralyze her legs, so there won't be any accidents later."

Why!

They were taking away my child, and now they wanted to strip away my ability to walk too?

I felt like I was falling into an ice cellar.

Yet my body was rigid as a corpse, unable to move.

I heard the doctor hesitate for a moment, then respond in a low voice.

"Yes, Miss."

A tear rolled down from the corner of my eye.

The sound of metal instruments clashing rang in my ears.

I could feel something cold penetrating my body.

Suddenly, I felt a strange tugging sensation from below.

Something important was being forcibly torn away.

"The surgery was very successful, but the lady lost quite a bit of blood. She probably won't wake up for two or three days."

"Excellent."

Ethan's voice drew near again.

"She won't remember anything, right?"

"There will be a brief period of memory confusion after surgery - that's a normal reaction to anesthesia."

I heard Ethan breathe a sigh of relief.

He kissed my forehead tenderly, the sticky sensation making me nauseous.

"You've suffered, honey. Be good, and it won't be like this anymore."

My consciousness began sinking again.

Before falling completely into darkness, I heard Ethan answer a phone call.

"Don't worry. Yes, next week's anniversary banquet will proceed as planned."