Aria's POV.

"Aria, sweetheart, I brought you your favorite oyster soup."

At ten thirty that night, Luke returned to the hospital with takeout in hand.

After finishing my medication, the nurse smiled and teased, "Aria, you're really lucky. Your Alpha is so busy every day, yet he still brings you food. He's incredibly attentive."

I forced a stiff smile, a flicker of sarcasm flashing through my eyes.

To outsiders, Luke was the perfect Alpha, devoted to his Luna. But no one could have imagined that this seemingly devoted man had long since cheated and even fathered two illegitimate children.

After the nurse left, Luke thanked her politely and walked briskly to my bedside with the food. When he noticed my reddened eyes, concern immediately filled his face. "Baby, were you starving? I'm sorry, council matters held me up. I came back late."

He opened the containers and placed the oyster soup and roasted lamb on the small table in front of me, his tone deliberately pleasing. "I ordered these just for you. You used to love this place's oyster soup, and the lamb is perfectly crispy outside and tender inside."

Looking at the food in front of me, my stomach churned violently.

Luke was lying.

Just half an hour earlier, I had watched through the surveillance feed as Luke and Layla's family happily celebrated their anniversary. The roasted lamb was what they hadn't finished, and the oyster soup was something Layla had ruined.

"I mixed up sugar and salt. It tastes awful." Layla whined to Luke.

Luke laughed and said, "If it's bad, don't eat it. I'll pack it up later."

"Why pack it up?"

Luke replied casually, "I'll throw it in the trash can."

So I was the "trash can" he had been talking about.

For the past three years, had every meal he had "specially" brought me been leftovers from their family?

I couldn't hold it in any longer. Covering my mouth, I ran into the bathroom and vomited until my vision darkened.

Everything was revolting, the garbage Luke brought back and his fake affection alike.

"Aria! What's wrong?" Luke's anxious voice sounded outside the bathroom door, accompanied by urgent knocking. "Was the soup not to your taste? Are you feeling unwell?"

I turned on the faucet, letting the running water drown out my suppressed sobs.

Luke, my Alpha. How could he treat me like this?

The pain surged over me like a tide, nearly tearing me apart.

Perhaps the emotions I had suppressed for so long finally erupted. Not long after I fell asleep, a high fever set in, and Luke hurried to call a doctor.

"One hundred and three point six degrees Fahrenheit!" the doctor said gravely. "The fever is dangerously high. We need to bring it down immediately. Her heart won't withstand this."

My eyelids were too heavy to open. In my fading consciousness, I vaguely heard Luke speaking with the pack doctor.

"Alpha, Aria's condition is worse than we anticipated," the pack doctor said in a lowered voice. "The lung infection is worsening, and the heart failure is progressing. She may not survive long enough to wait for a second suitable heart. Alpha, are you still insisting on giving that heart to Layla's father?"

Luke didn't hesitate. "I am."

"But…"

"Layla can't lose her father. She wouldn't survive that kind of blow. As for Aria, I'll do everything I can to find her another suitable heart."

"Then how do you plan to explain to her that the heart suddenly disappeared?" the doctor pressed.

"Say the donor's family backed out at the last minute." Luke's voice was light, certain. "Aria trusts me completely. She won't question it."

The pack doctor sighed, his tone heavy with disapproval. "Alpha, Aria is your Luna. You once loved each other so deeply. How could you…"

"I love Aria. She will always be my only Luna." Luke paused briefly, a trace of coldness seeping into his voice. "But she's human. Any children she bears will most likely be human. The Perry Pack will never allow such an heir."

"Layla is different." When he spoke of Layla, his tone softened. "She is the fated mate chosen for me by the Moon Goddess. She's a werewolf, and the pups she bears will be werewolves. With proper training, they'll become the finest heirs the Perry Pack has ever had."

"Once Aria recovers, I'll persuade her to adopt Layla's pups." He spoke as if it were a trivial matter. "No one will ever shake her position as Luna. That will be my compensation to her."

I lay on the hospital bed with my eyes tightly shut, forcing myself to breathe evenly, yet the pain in my chest only grew stronger, nearly suffocating me.

Compensation? Did he truly believe that forcing me to raise the children of a betrayer counted as compensation?

Luke was utterly shameless. He had deceived my feelings, taken the heart source meant to save my life, and now planned to trap me at his side, forcing me to raise his children with another she-wolf as a tool to secure his power within the pack.

"Alpha, I hope you won't regret this one day," the pack doctor said with deep resignation.

Luke's fingers brushed gently against my cheek, his touch still tender.

I heard him whisper softly, "I won't regret it."

Aria's POV.

I didn't open my eyes until Luke and the pack doctor had left. Only then did the tears slide down my cheeks and soak into the pillow.

I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to let a sob escape.

This heart had been found through my father's family connections after enormous effort. I had thought Luke would be happy for the new life waiting for me. I never imagined he had been planning all along to take it, just to hand it over for research for another she-wolf's father.

No wonder Luke's expression had been so strange when he first heard there was hope for a heart source.

I took a deep breath, reached under the pillow, and pulled out my communicator. I sent my father a voice message. "Dad, keep a close watch on the heart donor. Assign your most reliable people to guard them. Do not let anyone from the Perry Pack get near, especially Luke."

Only after sending it did I feel even a little calmer.

"Aria, why did you come out here alone? You should've called for me." Luke found me in the hospital garden and gently pulled me into his arms, looking as if he'd been frightened for me.

A female patient walking nearby smiled and teased, "You're really lucky. Your Alpha dotes on you so much. Unlike me, I've been hospitalized for a week and my husband hasn't even called once."

My chest filled with a hollow ache, and I forced an awkward smile.

She envied me, never seeing the hypocrisy and shamelessness hidden beneath Luke's display of devotion.

I told Luke I was tired of the hospital and wanted to go home. The place reeked of disinfectant.

"Are the roses I planted in the garden still alive?"

Luke's gaze flickered for a moment. "Of course."

He was lying again.

Those roses had long since been ripped out by Layla, replaced with the fragrant lilies she adored.

"Once the heart surgery is over, I'll take you home to recover," Luke said gently, brushing the loose strands of hair from my forehead.

"It's precisely because of the surgery that I want to go back for a couple of days." I gave a bitter smile. "I'm afraid I won't get the chance later."

"Don't say things like that," Luke cut in immediately, his gaze firm. "The surgery will go smoothly. You'll recover. Since you want to go back, I'll have the staff clean the house from top to bottom. I'll make sure you're comfortable."

I sneered inwardly. He wasn't trying to make me comfortable. He wanted to use those two days to erase every trace Layla and her family had left in our home.

I played along with him. "Alright. By the way, have you seen the Heart of the Ocean my mother left me?"

I deliberately touched my neck. "I want to sleep wearing it. It feels like my mother is beside me. That's the only way I can find the courage to face the surgery."

Hesitation flashed through Luke's eyes. After a brief pause, he forced himself to agree. "Alright. I'll bring it to you."

That afternoon, Luke did indeed arrive with the Heart of the Ocean.

What I hadn't expected was that he wasn't alone. He had brought his mistress, Layla, with him.

That woman actually dared to appear before me openly.

Layla wore a plain, elegant dress, playing the part of an innocent patient's family member. She smiled sweetly as she greeted me. "Ms. Green, what a coincidence. My father is a pack doctor, and he'll also be conducting some heart research these days."

Her smile was cloyingly sweet, so fake it made my stomach turn.

I couldn't be bothered to respond. I turned my head and looked out the window instead.

A trace of awkwardness crossed Luke's face. As he bent down to adjust my pillow, he shot Layla a subtle look, then asked me gently, "Do you want some water? I can get it for you."

Before I could answer, Layla leaned in and said with feigned innocence, "Finding two suitable hearts at the same time, Ms. Green, don't you think that's the Moon Goddess watching over us?"

There was a pointed meaning behind her words.

Luke frowned and cut her off sharply. "That's enough. My Luna needs to rest. Don't disturb her here. Leave."

His performance was flawless. The protectiveness and irritation in his tone sounded exactly like an Alpha deeply devoted to his Luna.

Layla's face went ashen. A flash of resentment crossed her eyes, but she didn't dare defy Luke's order. She shot me a venomous glare before turning away unwillingly.

Luke sat down by the bed and reached out to touch my hair. "Get some rest, Aria. Don't let people like that affect your mood."

I tilted my head away from his touch and said coolly, "I'm a little tired. I want to sleep for a while."

He froze for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I won't disturb you. Call me if you need anything."

Watching his retreating figure, I closed my eyes. Only one thought remained in my mind.

Recover as quickly as possible. Only by stepping onto the operating table in my best condition and completing the transplant successfully could I stay alive long enough to take revenge.

Surviving was the greatest revenge against Luke and Layla.

I didn't know how long I had slept before I jolted awake from a nightmare.

The hospital room was empty. Luke was nowhere to be seen.

I threw on a coat and stepped out of the room.

The corridor was silent in the dead of night, lit only by the faint glow of emergency lights.

As I neared the emergency exit, faint, intimate moans drifted through the air. I recognized Layla's voice.

I stopped in my tracks, then moved closer quietly and peered through the glass in the door.

Inside, Luke and Layla were tangled together, naked, their movements frantic.

"Ah… deeper, Alpha… it's all Aria's fault. She insisted on kicking us out of the house. I couldn't swallow that anger, so I just… You even snapped at me this afternoon. I was so hurt." Clinging to Luke, Layla asked softly, "Alpha, will you regret giving the heart to my father? After all, you love Aria so much…"

"I won't regret it." Luke said firmly, "This heart was meant for your father from the beginning. But you shouldn't have provoked Aria."

"She took you from me, took the house, and now she even wants to take my Heart of the Ocean. I just wanted a small bit of revenge."

"Alright, don't be angry. This heart source will go to your father for research first. I'll have James Ward assist him. Hopefully, their findings will serve the pack in the future."

The sounds grew even more obscene. A chill ran through my entire body.

So this was why Luke had claimed James couldn't operate on me. He was being reassigned to assist Layla's father.

I had thought that once disappointment piled high enough, my heart would stop hurting. I never expected lie after lie to follow, leaving me in pain so intense I could barely breathe.

Forget him, Aria. And if forgetting was impossible, then hate him.

Aria's POV.

"I've departed. I'll arrive tomorrow afternoon."

It was my father.

I put the communicator away and let out a long breath. It was time to end all of this.

While Luke was away from the hospital, I checked myself out and took a taxi back to our home.

Standing at the front door again, staring at everything that felt both familiar and strange, my emotions tangled into something difficult to name.

Memories of my intimacy with Luke flooded back. I once ran into our new home hand in hand with him. He held me and kissed me beneath the Christmas tree. We curled up by the fireplace together, watching old movies.

Looking back now, those scenes felt nothing but ironic.

I walked straight into the master bedroom. Our wedding photo still hung on the wall.

In the photo, I leaned against Luke, smiling with pure happiness, as if mocking my own foolishness.

The thought of Luke and Layla using our bed more than once made my stomach churn. I forced myself to look away.

I opened the wardrobe and began packing.

I carefully placed my mother's Heart of the Ocean into its velvet case. A few everyday outfits, some important work documents, and everything I owned fit into a single small suitcase.

As for the gifts Luke had given me, I found them tainted. I packed them up casually and gave them away to members of the pack.

I despised those gifts, but perhaps other werewolves would find them useful.

The house was purchased under my name, and I instructed my men to help list it for sale at a low price as soon as possible.

I had poured endless effort into this house. It carried all my hopes and ideals about love. Luke didn't deserve it.

"Aria!" Rapid footsteps approached as Luke pushed the door open. His eyes were full of panic. "Thank the Moon Goddess, you're alright!"

He rushed toward me and reached out to touch my forehead, but I turned aside and avoided his hand.

"Why didn't you tell me you came home?" His voice was urgent. "I couldn't find you at the hospital, and I couldn't reach you on the communicator. I was going out of my mind!"

"Maybe it was on silent. I didn't hear it," I said calmly, offering a perfunctory apology as I pulled open the living room curtains.

The garden outside was barren. The lilies Layla had planted were gone, but Luke hadn't had time to replant the roses. The exposed earth looked pitifully bare.

Luke's gaze shifted immediately. With a hint of guilt, he said, "It's my fault. I've been too busy lately and didn't take care of the roses. They withered."

He took my hand. "I'm sorry, Aria. Once your surgery is over, I'll plant them again with you. We'll fill the entire garden."

I looked at his hypocritical expression and suddenly smiled. "No need. I don't like roses anymore."

Luke froze, then hurriedly asked, "Then what flowers do you like now? We'll plant whatever you want."

I deliberately dragged out my words, watching his tense expression. "Then let's plant lilies."

Luke's face darkened instantly, his fingers tightening unconsciously. "Lilies…"

"I was kidding." I looked away, my tone cold. "I don't like lilies at all. I don't have a favorite flower right now. I'll tell you when I do."

Luke visibly relaxed and nodded quickly. "Alright. We'll do whatever you want." He paused, then put on a gentle expression. "By the way, tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. I've prepared a surprise for you."

I sneered inwardly. You already gave me a surprise, Luke.

Your betrayal, giving away the heart source that belonged to me to Layla's father, wasn't that the greatest surprise of all?

"I don't want to go back to the hospital. Let's stay here tonight," I said to Luke.

Luke didn't refuse.

He took out his communicator and ordered dinner to be delivered to the villa.

Watching his back as he turned to make the call, I suddenly spoke. "Luke, if I don't live long enough to get the transplant and I just die like this, would you be sad for me?"

Luke's body stiffened abruptly. When he turned back around, panic was written all over his face.

"Don't talk like that! Aria, the surgery will succeed. You'll recover."

The worry in his eyes was real. If I hadn't already known about his betrayal, I might have been fooled again, even felt guilty for asking.

But now, the heart that once loved him was already dead. No matter how convincing his performance was, it could no longer stir even a ripple.

I pulled my hand back and gave a faint smile. "I hope so."