After that incident, I buried myself so deeply in work that I seldom returned home, leaving Alaric increasingly suspicious that something was wrong.

One afternoon, my mother-in-law—who had never seen me as anything more than a lowly orphan unworthy of their status—called unexpectedly.

“Liora, Alaric told me you argued with him, even though it was mostly your fault that we were delayed at the royal banquet. Even if you come from nothing and no one ever taught you proper manners, the least you can do is not drag my son’s reputation down to your level! You are about to bear the future Alpha, so stop this nonsense. Rumors are already spreading that you and Alaric are on the verge of separating. I’ve arranged a dinner tonight, inviting Alaric’s close friends. Be there on time and do not create a scene.”

From start to finish, she barked her orders before hanging up.

I wanted, just once, to see the faces of the people who had betrayed me, those who had treated me worse than an animal, before leaving for the capital. I took a taxi to my mother-in-law’s house.

Alaric’s mother was seated at the head of the table when I arrived. The room fell silent as Alaric’s friends cast side glances at me, rolling their eyes.

“Aunty, why invite her? She’ll just ruin everything,” one whispered.

“The witch is here again, trying to come between the loving couple,” another added, loud enough for me to hear.

“Liora, sit here,” Alaric’s mother gestured to a chair, but I ignored her, choosing the seat at the far end.

“Hey Liora, remind me—what was your last name? Oh, right, you don’t have one. No father, no name,” Theodore, Alaric’s so-called best friend, smirked, anticipating my embarrassment.

“Who are you again?” I lifted my head and stared at him, disinterest etched across my face, as if he were a clown performing for an audience. The smug smiles drained from their faces instantly.

Shortly after, Alaric arrived with Camilla beside him. Noticing I had come earlier than expected and was observing him and Camilla closely, he immediately put space between himself and her. I saw Camilla remove the pendant from her neck and silently follow my mother-in-law to the kitchen.

Alaric quickly seated himself beside me, brushing my hair aside before placing the diamond pendant around my neck, staging the picture-perfect image of a loving couple.

“This is your first time wearing diamonds, isn’t it? Don’t worry—I’ll buy you your favorite sapphires next time,” he said, his voice smooth and practiced.

“I lost it at the pack house. After speaking with you and realizing it was gone, I rushed to find it,” he added, without a trace of shame, trying to sound sincere.

The pendant felt suffocating around my neck. Without a word, I removed it, startling Alaric.

“Liora, what are you doing?” he demanded.

“To think she’s so greedy… no wonder aunt dislikes her,” someone muttered.

“Liora, why take it off?” my mother-in-law’s glare pierced me.

“It’s too tight,” I replied, ignoring the murmurs around me and turning my focus elsewhere, deliberately silent toward Alaric.

In truth, diamonds had long been considered dishonorable in our royal family. Historically, outcasts received a single diamond as the last token of wealth before banishment. I had not been banished—but I was reclaiming my dignity. I intended to return home.

From the kitchen, I overheard my mother-in-law laughing softly with Camilla, who clung to her arm, acting spoiled.

“Auntie, how could you work so hard alone all these years? If I were here, I would never have let you do it,” Camilla cooed.

“This child! Of course, it would have been different if it were you. Oh Camilla, let Liora help the servants with the dishes. You’ve probably never done these things yourself, even though you’re so considerate toward the maids. If only Liora were half as sensible. Since she moved into Alaric’s house, he dismissed the maid. She’s expected to handle all manual chores herself—sweeping, washing dishes—it’s normal for her. Don’t ruin your beautiful hands; I’ll make Liora do it.”

I bit my lip as Alaric silently agreed, seeing nothing wrong with overworking me.

Soon, they emerged from the kitchen, hand in hand, Camilla seated between Alaric and my mother-in-law.

“Auntie, I’ve missed you so much these past years. I’ve never stopped thinking about Alaric,” Camilla cooed. The people at the table didn’t find anything odd about her words, even though she spoke of longing for another man while already mated.

“Of course, dear. If things had gone differently, you would already have been my daughter-in-law,” Alaric’s mother teased, glancing at me briefly before drawing Camilla closer. Alaric said nothing, still furious that I had rejected his gift.

Turning to me with feigned innocence, she added, “Oh, forgive me. I must have spoken too much in my old age. Liora, meet Camilla, my goddaughter. She and Alaric have been childhood friends, raised together. I heard you made a fuss at home because of her, but Camilla is like a sister to Alaric. You should trust your husband a little and stop keeping tabs on him.”

“Auntie is right. Camilla was only doing you a favor,” Colin, one of Alaric’s friends, chimed in with a smug expression. He had long supported the “perfect match” narrative and secretly nicknamed me the ‘homewrecker.’

“Yes, Liora, you’re always checking up on Alaric. You’re too controlling. Do you think we’d ruin his life? Since Camilla and Alaric are inseparable, if he wanted to leave you, he would have done so long ago. Besides, Alaric has promised Camilla that the two packs will merge soon to form a larger one, so it’s better if you accommodate her. That’s the least you can do as Luna.”

My eyes widened. Our Jade Moon pack was going to be merged with another without my knowledge as the Luna.

Realizing he’d spoken too freely, Colin immediately fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances with the others. The room descended into a heavy, uncomfortable quiet.

“Do you even realize the gravity of this? If the other pack commits a crime, we could be held accountable too—”

“Liora, I know you don’t like me, but please don’t drag my pack through mud like that,” Camilla interjected sharply.

I turned to face Alaric, only to meet his cold glare.

“Camilla is right,” he said, his voice hard. “You never received a proper education, so pack matters are beyond your understanding. How could you possibly grasp whether this benefits us or not?”

He continued, “It’s better to leave these responsibilities to me. Camilla has served as a Luna for over three years; I cannot show favoritism to you, an uneducated orphan.”

My body shivered as his words stung, an insult flung before everyone.

The dinner became unbearable. I did not utter another word, though Alaric kept glancing at me. My mother-in-law seemed delighted with the drama, laughing freely with Camilla. It wasn’t until I reached for an oyster that she snapped, her voice sharp as a whip.

“Liora, I understand you had no parents to teach you, but are you so foolish as to eat such a spicy dish during your second trimester? Don’t you care about the baby? No wonder Alaric had to go to such lengths to protect you.”

“Like he’s protecting me now, from your endless attacks?” I shot back, my words cutting through the murmurs. Instantly, the chatter died down. My mother-in-law was too stunned to respond, and Alaric froze, confusion written across his face.

“This oyster… it’s the one the nurse prepared for better digestion. I brought it here because you rushed me during lunch, asking me to get food for everyone. But now… I feel out of place here, like I’ve made a mistake coming,” I added, my voice trembling but steady.

“Liora!” Alaric called as I rose without eating. He followed cautiously.

“Liora, Mom didn’t mean it that way. Come back with me!”

“To be honest, Alaric,” I said, stepping into the rain, “my parents are alive and well. If I had listened to them, I would have never chosen a place where I am constantly unwelcome.”

He grasped my shoulders, shaking his head as if thinking I was inventing excuses to console myself.

“Liora, let it go this once. You must be a good daughter-in-law… a good wife.”

“Alaric! Camilla is having trouble breathing! Come quickly!” Colin’s voice interrupted us, hesitant yet urgent.

“Liora, come back inside! It’s going to pour. I need to help Camilla first—please wait here for a moment.”

I stared at him, feeling like he was a stranger. He hesitated, searching for the right words, before squeezing my hand briefly and rushing off.

Almost immediately, my mother-in-law messaged me: [You can come in now; I overreacted earlier.]

[Let’s not waste this dinner.]

I smiled faintly through my tears, realizing I had never been truly welcomed in this household. For them, everything revolved around status and appearances.

Three years ago, I had been kidnapped by rogues. My father and brothers searched relentlessly, never revealing my identity to avoid endangering me. Ultimately, it was Alaric, the Alpha of Jade Moon Pack, who rescued me along with others. My mother offered him a large compensation, but I told her I wanted to be mates with him.

My brothers had opposed the match, insisting that, as the sole princess, I had never experienced hardship and that marrying someone as cold as Alaric would be disastrous.

How naïve I had been to believe love could surpass status. Today, the man I loved had openly declared me worthless because of my lack of rank.

The rain soaked me to the skin, but I ignored my mother-in-law’s insistence that I return inside. At that moment, I felt foolish for ever loving such a heartless man. I couldn’t imagine facing my parents. Would they even take me back?

Suddenly, warmth enveloped me as Alaric’s arms held me tightly. He, too, was drenched, yet he gently pulled me aside.

“Are you alright? I’m sorry I left you like this. Just… follow my lead and go inside,” he murmured.

“Camilla is terribly ill,” he continued softly. “I invited her; I couldn’t leave her alone. Even then, she sent me to you. Maybe you should take a lesson from her.”

“Mom’s been trying to call you, messaging you to come inside. Why can’t you stop being stubborn for just a moment?” His voice wavered between frustration and concern as he noticed my pale face.

He swiftly led me to a nearby store so I could change into dry clothes, preventing me from falling sick.

“Are you alright, Liora? I’ll call a taxi to take you home.”

I shook my head. “Aren’t you coming back with me?”

“I have work to finish—”

“Are you going to drop Camilla off at her home?” I interrupted, seeing through his excuse.

His face shifted from indulgence to guilt and anger. Carefully, he replied, “I’ll come home after that. Understand… Camilla is a single mother, and she’s unwell. What if something happens to her on the way?”

“I understand,” I said firmly, cutting him off. “You want to drop her off because she’s sick and can’t care for herself, while I’m perfectly capable of getting home alone.”

“Again with your ridiculous accusations? You’re imagining things, Liora! It’s not what you think!”

“Then what exactly is it, Alaric?” I demanded, my voice trembling with suppressed fury. “You and Theodore both drove here—why is it suddenly your responsibility alone to take her home?”

A flash of irritation passed over his face before he exhaled deeply, clearly trying to stay composed. “Liora, are we seriously doing this again? You’re jealous of Camilla, aren’t you? How many times must I tell you that she’s like a sister to me?”

“She’s all alone,” he continued, forcing calm into his tone. “Her mate left her, and she’s raising a child without help. How could I not feel compassion for her situation? Camilla has been my friend since childhood—I can’t just ignore her struggles.”

I took a step back, shaking my head. “If she’s really separated from her mate, then why does she want to merge our packs? Doesn’t she realize the chaos it could bring to you?” The bitterness in my voice was hard to hide. I hated the way he defended her so passionately while I—his wife—was treated like an inconvenience.

He frowned, his annoyance seeping through his calm facade. “Liora, stay out of matters you don’t understand and focus on your place at home. The merger will strengthen both our territories and give us an advantage. It’s for the good of everyone.”

He stepped closer, his tone softening as he brushed a kiss against my forehead, fingers tightening around mine as if trying to soothe a child. “Don’t let jealousy cloud your thoughts, Liora. You’re going to be a mother soon. If you can’t control your emotions, how will you raise our child properly?”

I forced a small smile, staring at the man I had called my husband for three years—unaware that I had already lost our baby because of his carelessness.

“But wasn’t it you,” I said quietly, “who joked with your friends that since I’m an orphan, I wouldn’t know how to raise a child—and that Camilla should help me learn?”

Alaric’s expression froze. He looked as though a bucket of icy water had been poured over him. “Were you spying on me? That was a misunderstanding, Liora. I was drunk that night—I didn’t mean what I said.”

Before I could reply, his phone rang, flashing Victoria’s name. I motioned for him to answer.

He hesitated but picked up. A child’s bright voice came through the speaker, cheerful and innocent. “Daddy! I miss you! When will you come and play with Mommy and me? When are you both coming home?”

I stood frozen. The world around me went silent as Alaric’s face paled. He swallowed hard, trying to recover.

“Mark,” he said quietly, “call me uncle, okay?”

“But Mommy said I can call you Dad!” the boy replied in confusion.

“Your mother is here with me,” Alaric said quickly, his voice strained. “We’ll be back soon, okay?” And with that, he hung up.

“Liora—” he began, but I was too exhausted to listen.

My voice came out hollow. “Do whatever you want, Alaric.”

I turned to leave, but his arms wrapped around me from behind, his breath brushing my ear. “You just need to learn to adapt,” he murmured. “I can’t always give you what you want, but from now on, I’ll be around. I’ll take care of our baby.”

He pressed a soft kiss on my cheek as if that would erase the pain.

I wasn’t even home yet when my phone vibrated with a message—from Theodore.

[Sister-in-law, Camilla isn’t feeling well, so Alaric won’t be home tomorrow.]

I knew immediately what that meant. Alaric was planning a grand banquet to welcome Camilla’s pack, yet I wasn’t invited. My opposition to the merger had made him exclude me entirely.

Tears welled in my eyes as I scrolled through my social media feed, only to see Camilla’s latest post:

“Shopping for tomorrow’s party! Trying to find matching outfits for my two favorite men ️”

The attached photo made my blood run cold—Alaric stood smiling, holding Camilla’s son in his arms, while she leaned on his shoulder like they were a family.

Before I could even process the ache in my chest, the driver’s panicked shout pierced the silence.

“Madam! Lower your head!”

I looked up just in time to see the glaring headlights of a truck speeding toward us. The driver swerved, but it was too late. The impact was deafening. Metal twisted, glass shattered, and the world spun as the car flipped violently.

My head slammed against the window. Blood trickled down my shoulder, warm and sticky. My vision blurred, but faint memories began to flicker through the haze—my parents’ smiles, my brothers’ laughter, the palace gardens from my childhood.

“Mom… Dad… big brother…” I whispered weakly as the world faded in and out.

My trembling hand reached for my phone. With what little strength I had left, I dialed my father’s number. He answered on the first ring, his familiar voice a mixture of sternness and concern.

“What is it, Liora? You only remember your father now—”

“D-Dad…” My voice cracked. “I… I’m s-so sorry for disappointing you… and Mom…”

“Liora! Where are you? What’s happening?!” he shouted in alarm, his voice trembling.

“I love you all…” I whispered as the phone slipped from my hand. My body went limp, my breathing shallow. For the first time in years, I felt at peace—free from the pain and betrayal that had become my life.

“Liora! Liora! Damn it—where are you, my daughter?!” my father’s desperate voice echoed faintly from the phone as darkness finally claimed me.