“Have you cooked breakfast already?” That was the first thing he said to me this morning.

They were holding each other’s hands like a married couple in front of me. How ironic. I had no plans of running into them, but they woke up early. I didn’t expect that.

I cooked their breakfast and ate mine. I don’t want to sit and eat with them.

“I did. You can eat now,” I said.

“Thank you, sis,” my sister replied, looking at me with triumph. At first, I didn’t understand why. I thought it was because of what happened last night between them. But when my eyes moved to her body, I realized she was wearing my dress.

“Oh, sorry. I had to wear this because last night I couldn’t walk anymore. I got so limp, he made me so tired. Rowan asked me to wear this dress of yours. Is it okay?” she asked, pretending to be innocent.

“It’s okay, Dea. I will have someone buy her new clothes,” Rowan said. “Tons of it in exchange for that.”

“No, it’s okay. I actually planned to burn that dress since it’s old and overused. I see it as trash. She can have it if she wants. Everything inside that drawer is hers now,” I answered coldly.

I saw Dea’s face contort in shock, anger, and embarrassment. All because I called her someone who happily accepts my trash.

“I’ll change before breakfast, love,” she said quickly and turned her back, trying to save herself. “I have to wear something else.”

That left me alone with Rowan. I was about to head back to my room when he spoke again.

“I have a party to attend later. I want you to come with me,” he said.

I froze in surprise and looked at him. “Why?”

He never brought me to any parties as his wife, only as the gamma. We were always separate, only together during project events. And now…

“Of course you’ll be there. You’re the gamma. You know all about my project, right? Don’t overdress. Stay unnoticed. You have to attend. Don’t give me your drama,” he said before walking away.

Another obligation. See? He will never want to be seen with me and let the city know I’m his wife. To him, I am just the gamma. But I’m resigned. If only he knew.

I had no choice but to follow his orders. I used the driver’s car that night because he left early. I didn’t know why. I didn’t even ask. But when I arrived at the venue at the same time as his car, I saw he wasn’t alone.

In his arms, my sister clung to him tightly, flashing a smile and overdressed. He told me to wear plain clothes to stay unnoticed while he flaunted his mistress.

“Stay behind us always,” he told me once I approached.

I rolled my eyes, and Dea saw it. She responded with a smirk before they walked toward the entrance. Their arrival was announced and applauded. Mine was dismissed and ignored.

“Alpha, this way is your seat. We heard you’re married, so we prepared one for your wife too,” one of the greeters said.

I knew he’d dismiss the wife part and reject the seat. He always did. So my eyes started looking for my own chair.

“Yes, thank you.”

Surprised, I turned to him because he never accepted a seat for me. I wasn’t planning to sit there even if he wanted me to. But when I saw Dea sitting on it, a smirk on her lips, I turned away so they wouldn’t see my face flush in disappointment.

Never did I sit in that wife’s chair. But his mistress could. A lump formed in my throat. I found myself heading to the restroom.

But I hadn’t been there long when Dea followed me.

“Look who’s here,” she taunted. “Even your real parents and your husband won’t choose you over me, right?”

She reapplied her bright red lipstick and kept throwing remarks at me.

“Bye, loser,” she said, sticking her tongue out before leaving me there.

I cried again. The anxiety was eating me up, so I stayed in the restroom longer. But when I finally returned, I didn’t expect to find a cheerful party anymore. The curtains were already burning, and everyone was in chaos.

Panic rose in me, especially when the ceiling looked like it would collapse. I had to run for my life. People were screaming at the entrance and exit. They were pushing each other.

I walked and ran, desperate to escape. But I got stuck in the crowd. I was shoved multiple times, bodies colliding into me, arms slamming against different parts of mine.

I could hardly breathe, but my eyes searched for Rowan. I couldn’t find him anymore.

Tears fell from my eyes as the realization sank in. They were gone. He must have saved Dea first and left me. He didn’t even try to go back. He didn’t even send someone to look for me.

“Argh!” I cried when someone’s heel stomped on my foot and another elbow hit my stomach.

My vision blurred. The noise faded. My body grew cold as my stomach throbbed and something inside felt like it was being pulled out of me. Until finally, darkness pulled me in. No one came to save me. No husband arrived to rescue me from the burning building or the panicking crowd.

No one.

“She’s stable now. She’ll be fine, Mr. Fiasco.”

I opened my eyes when I heard that voice. It wasn’t familiar to me, nor was the room I woke up in.

“You’re awake, Luna,” I heard Beta say.

“W-why am I here?” I croaked.

My body felt so heavy and tired. I couldn’t remember anything after hitting the glass door while escaping the fire.

“My son saved you before the hall’s ceiling collapsed, Luna. You were brought here to the hospital and…” he sighed deeply.

I tried to sit up, but there was a strange pain in my stomach I couldn’t explain, so I held it tightly.

“And what, Beta Alex?”

His eyes saddened, and he let out another sigh. “You’re pregnant, Luna. You didn’t know that?”

My eyes widened. It took a long moment before his words registered in my brain.

“P-pregnant?” I whispered, shocked and anxious. Then I clutched my stomach. “T-then, is the baby okay?”

I was so hopeful. After everything I had been through, after almost dying, I thought maybe there would be one good thing to come from it.

But the longer Beta Alex stayed silent, the colder I felt. The ache in my stomach grew sharper.

“You lost the baby, Luna. I’m so sorry for that.”

And just like that, the glimmer of joy I thought would erase the trauma of last night disappeared. I shut my eyes as tears tried to fall. I didn’t deserve to cry.

“I l-lost my baby and… and it’s my fault…” I whispered. Maybe if I hadn’t locked myself in the bathroom with my ugly thoughts, maybe I could have escaped earlier.

Maybe I wouldn’t have had to fight through the crowd, and I could have made it out safely.

“The alpha doesn’t know yet that you’re here. He’s busy because Dea Morsettis sprained her ankle while running—”

“—sprained her ankle?” I gasped and looked at Beta Alex. “And he’s there, t-taking care of her while I’m here and I lost o-our son?” I said through clenched teeth.

I hated that the words came out of me, but it hurt more that Beta Alex didn’t deny it. His eyes said enough.

It felt like being stabbed again and again. All I could do was hold my stomach and mourn the life that should have still been there.

I shouldn’t have been at that party if it weren’t for Rowan. How could he not even try to find me?

“The doctor said you must stay here for three more days.”

If I could, I’d stay here for a month just to avoid going home. But I knew the hospital wouldn’t allow that.

I spent every night crying. Mourning for the child I never even got to hold. Our parents wanted us to have a baby, believing it would strengthen our bond and secure the pack’s future.

They sent us to an island last month. Rowan did mate with me there, but only for his own pleasure. I could count on one hand the moments I felt any happiness while he used my body. I could count them, but I couldn’t even remember them now.

I never expected anything would come of it. He didn’t care if we had a child or not. I was the only one who would’ve been happy. And now…

“I am the only one grieving for you, baby…” I whispered into the air.

I failed, didn’t I? As a person… and now as a mother.

I thought being in the hospital would protect me from the stress outside. But then I received an email from my mother. It read, “Did you know that your sister sprained her ankle? You couldn’t even send her flowers? She sprained it because of you. I heard you threw a tantrum over a simple seat. If she didn’t follow you, maybe she wouldn’t have gotten hurt. You’re so immature!”

A humorless laugh escaped from my lips. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Now it was my fault? Because of a minor incident she caused herself? What about me? Who do I blame for losing my baby?

Dea has my husband caring for her while I lie here shattered. And still, I’m the villain? The immature one?

I’ll never be enough for any of them, not even my own parents.

They knew I was at the party and the fire. But no one asked if I made it out alive. All they cared about was Dea.

Dark thoughts flooded my mind as I stared out the hospital window. Only one solution echoed.

I pulled out my IV and stepped closer.

It was exactly twelve o'clock. October 23. My birthday.

And all I wanted was to end it all. My life.

I sobbed uncontrollably while inching my foot toward the glass window. Just then, my phone rang. I jumped in shock, a broken whimper escaping from my lips until it turned into cries.

I answered the call without meaning to. I tried to cover my mouth so the caller wouldn’t hear.

“Yen, I cannot wait for a month. I’ll take you after this week. I’ll have you.”

But when I heard that voice… I broke down. I heard him cursing softly under his breath.

“What the hell happened, Yen? Did he hurt you again?” he asked, trying to stay calm.

This man… he saved me, didn’t he? From the beginning until now. The man I couldn’t choose has always been the one saving me, even without knowing it.

I sniffled and hugged the phone to my chest. “D-Diego… t-tomorrow… fetch me, please.”