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."

Aria's POV.

Luke ordered a lot of dishes, all of them my favorites.

He busied himself plating the food in the kitchen, glancing up now and then to talk to me.

I responded to him absently and lowered my head to check a new message on my communicator. It was from an unfamiliar code.

I opened it. Dozens of photos flooded in, from prenatal checkup reports to the birth of a child, and then another photo taken two years later, when a younger sister was born.

Both of these children were Luke and Layla's.

"I'm Layla, Luke's fated mate. These are my children with him. The older one is four, the younger is two. You've been married to Luke for five years, yet he only let me bear his children. Do you know why? Because you're a lowly human, completely unworthy of carrying Luke's offspring. You're the third party who ruined our family. Luke has been sick of your temper for a long time. Every second with you suffocated him. Do yourself a favor and leave on your own. Do you know how much Luke loves me? I said I liked the home you personally decorated, and he immediately let me move in. I said I liked your mother's Heart of the Ocean, and he gave it to me without hesitation. Oh, and by the way, I've known for a long time that you installed cameras in the house. So tell me, were you satisfied with the performance Luke and I gave you?"

My stomach churned violently. I covered my mouth and barely managed not to throw up.

It was disgusting. Layla's shamelessness and Luke's hypocrisy completely shattered my understanding of how low people could go.

I was about to block the number when another message from Layla popped up. "I know you saw everything. If you still don't believe me, I'll show you who Luke truly cares about."

Almost immediately, Luke's communicator rang in the living room.

He frowned and rushed out of the kitchen to answer the call, his tone respectful. "Jocelyn? What is it? Alright, I'll return to the Council immediately."

Luke set the fruit salad on the table and hurried toward the door. "Aria, I'm sorry. There's an emergency at the Council. I have to go back right now. Go ahead and eat. Don't wait for me. Get some rest early tonight."

The moment Luke left, Layla sent another boastful message. "Well? The second I said I needed him, didn't he abandon you right away? I didn't have anything important at all. I just told him my new lingerie had arrived. See? That's how obsessed he is with me. Let me tell you a secret. Every time Luke says the Council needs him, he's actually in my bed."

I trembled with rage. Looking at the food that had already gone cold in the kitchen, I had no appetite at all.

I dumped all the food into the trash, as if discarding every last bit of love I once had for Luke.

I didn't want this filthy Alpha anymore.

That night, Luke didn't come home. It was the first time in five years.

Just as dawn broke, I received photos from Layla.

Luke lay beside Layla, fast asleep. A pile of scattered clothes lay at the foot of the bed.

"Luke clung to me all night. He was completely wild. Aria, with that broken body of yours, could you ever satisfy him? You're not worthy of being his Luna."

I ignored Layla's provocation and watched as the sky outside gradually brightened.

I would be leaving soon, abandoning everyone and everything that wasn't worth keeping, and walking away cleanly from this place that had left me scarred.

Aria's POV.

"Aria, it's time to get up and have breakfast."

Luke kissed the corner of my forehead, gently pulling me out of sleep.

"I'm sorry, honey. I worked too late last night. I didn't want to disturb you, so I slept at the office." He asked with a hint of unease, "Last night… did you call me?"

In the past, whenever he hadn't come home by midnight, I used to call every few minutes just to make sure he was safe. But I hadn't called last night. Of course he would find that strange.

I pretended to still be half-asleep, yawned, and said, "I was too tired last night…"

Luke visibly relaxed. He reached out to touch my forehead, his tone indulgent. "It's alright. Your body is too weak. You need proper rest."

"I brought you your favorite crêpes and hot milk. Remember to warm them up before eating."

He leaned down to kiss me, but I turned away. "I want to sleep a bit longer. You should go get to work."

"Alright, get some rest," Luke said without thinking much, smiling as he tucked the blanket around me. "I'll be very busy today, so I might not be able to stay with you. But I made a reservation at your favorite restaurant. I'll pick you up tonight to celebrate our wedding anniversary."

Only after Luke left did I get out of bed. I took out my communicator to confirm the departure time with my father, then went to wash up.

I changed into a simple black dress and removed the wedding ring I had worn for five years.

I placed the wedding ring and the already signed dissolution of the mate bond on the most visible spot in the living room. Taking a deep breath, I dragged the suitcase I had packed in advance and walked out of the house filled with lies, without looking back.

Just as I reached the door, my communicator rang. It was Layla.

I raised an eyebrow and answered. Layla's mocking voice filled my ears instantly. "Aria, you're really something. Your Alpha has been sleeping with me for years and even has two children with me. And you don't care at all?

Then again, that makes sense. You're about to die anyway. Why would you care? Today is your anniversary with Luke. You must be looking forward to celebrating with him. Do you know what gift he prepared for you? An adoption agreement. Luke wants you to raise our children. You bitch! You took everything from me, and now you want to take my children too! I won't let that happen! Luke is mine! The children are mine!"

The call was cut off.

So this was Luke's gift. For me to raise his mistress's children.

How ridiculous.

I couldn't help laughing out loud.

My communicator rang again. This time, it was Luke.

"Aria, I'm sorry. There's been an incident with Council business. I need to go to the outskirts immediately, so I won't be able to have dinner with you. But I'll come back as soon as I can. You have to wait for me."

I sneered inwardly. I wouldn't wait for you anymore, Luke.

Out loud, I said, "Work comes first. Go take care of it."

"That's good. You're being reasonable," Luke said. "Promise me you'll wait, Aria."

I ended the call and stared at Luke's name on the screen. Without hesitation, I blocked him, then deleted all his contact information, chat histories, and photos. Everything related to him had to be erased.

Goodbye, Luke.

Goodbye to this rotten marriage.

My father's motorcade appeared before me. The window rolled down, revealing his stern face.

"Let's go, Aria. It's time to come home."

I opened the door and got in.

The car started smoothly, heading away from the neighborhood.

I glanced back at the familiar house. There was no lingering attachment in my heart, only the lightness of relief.

Everything was over.