Lianne's POV:

For three years, Ethan and I shared the same bed, night after night, sharing intimate moments.

There was never a formal mating ceremony between us, yet I convinced myself that he cared for me.

I believed he held back only because he feared the Thorn Pack wouldn't accept me. As long as I handled everything well for him, I thought he would one day stand before everyone and declare that I was his Luna.

Only now did I understand the truth. He had never planned to give me that place.

From the beginning, that title belonged to Ivy.

"Lianne," Ethan called out as he turned back, his brows drawing together when he saw how quiet I had become. "Even after we break the mate bond, you'll still be part of the Thorn Pack. I'll make sure you have everything you need. You'll always be my friend."

"Friend?"

The word hit me hard.

My head lifted sharply, pain rising in my eyes.

After everything we had shared in the past, he wanted to use something as distant as "friend" to erase three years of my devotion and love.

A faint, bitter smile pulled at my lips as I tried to steady myself. "What if I don't agree to this?"

His expression turned cold without hesitation. "Lianne, don't make things harder than they need to be."

I lowered my gaze, keeping the tears from spilling, my nails pressing into my palms.

"What were you about to say earlier?" Ethan asked out of the blue.

I steadied my breathing and forced a faint smile. "It wasn't anything important. It was about Sparkle's new season jewelry launch. There was something I wanted to go over with you, but... I've already handled it."

Bringing up the pregnancy now would only make things worse for me.

He didn't want a child from someone like me. The only person he had ever wanted was Ivy.

"Good," he replied, a hint of ease showing as he reached out to touch my hair the way he always did.

I turned my head without thinking and avoided his hand.

For a moment, his hand lingered in the air before he pulled it back as if nothing had happened.

"You should get some rest. I'll stay in the guest room tonight." Without looking at me, he turned and left.

The moment the door closed, my strength gave out, and I sank beside the bed as tears finally fell.

"I'm sorry... baby," I whispered. "I can't give you a complete family."

...

When morning came, I forced myself out of bed, ignoring the soreness in my body.

The face in the mirror looked pale, with exhaustion clearly showing in her eyes.

I applied heavier makeup than usual, carefully covering the dark circles, then got ready to head out.

The Thorn Pack controlled a wide range of businesses, including Voss Group.

Within the group, Ethan held absolute authority as CEO, while I worked as his chief secretary.

That position once made me believe we were meant to be together, but now it felt like nothing more than a bitter joke.

When I came downstairs, Ethan was already seated at the table, sipping his coffee. He had changed into a dark gray suit, which made him look even more distant and composed.

"Come with me," he muttered as he set the cup aside and looked at me, his voice steady, as though nothing had happened the night before.

My steps halted, and a chill spread through my hands.

After everything he said, how could he act as if it meant nothing?

"There's no need," I replied, lifting my chin, my tone turning cold. "Since we're ending our bond, we should keep our distance. If Miss Brooks sees us together, it might cause misunderstandings. No woman would accept another woman staying close to her mate."

Without waiting for him to answer, I turned and left the villa.

The morning air felt sharp as it filled my lungs, making me cough. A faint pain settled in my lower abdomen.

"Stay strong, little one," I murmured as I flagged down a cab.

The moment I walked into the secretary's office, my assistant rushed toward me, her face drained of color. "Lianne, something's happened!"

Lianne's POV:

I forced down the bitterness that rose in my chest and put on my usual composed expression. "What happened?"

"Sparkle's new season endorser was supposed to be Sia Payne, but her agent, Mary Wallace, just called. She said upper management sent a direct notice that Sia has been replaced," my assistant answered quickly, still looking shaken.

Without wasting a second, I pulled out my phone and called Mary.

The moment she picked up, her voice came through sharp and furious. "Lianne, you were the one who insisted Sia had potential and pushed us to sign that contract. Now you're cutting her out without even informing us? I need an explanation, and I need it right now!"

Holding the phone tightly, I took a slow breath to steady myself. "Mary, I'll look into this immediately. Give me a little time."

Once the call ended, I headed straight for the PR department.

There was no doubt in my mind. Nancy Walsh was behind this.

She came from a mixed bloodline, yet her ambition had always been clear. Over the past three years, she had been looking for every chance to undermine me.

When I pushed open the door, I saw her leaning against her desk, casually applying nail polish.

"So, the chief secretary finally decided to show up," she said, her voice carrying a hint of mockery. "What brings you here?" She didn't even bother to look up.

"What gave you the authority to replace Sia?" I stepped right up to her, my voice turning sharp. "The board already finalized the decision for Sparkle's endorser. You had no right to interfere."

A cold laugh slipped from Nancy as she finally looked up, something dark flashing in her eyes. "No right? Lianne, do you really believe you got that position because you deserved it? If Alpha wasn't taking your late father's past into account, do you think you'd be standing here giving me orders?"

"How I got here isn't for you to question!" I held her gaze, anger rising in my chest.

She could say whatever she wanted about me, but she wouldn't drag my father into it. He had given everything to protect our family's name.

"Did that strike a nerve?" Nancy stepped closer, her voice dropping as she leaned in near my ear. "Don't think I'm clueless. You've been riding in Alpha's car every day, trying to get his attention, haven't you? Too bad for you. He would never be interested in someone like you."

She had no idea Ethan and I had been together for three years.

For the werewolves in the Thorn Pack, I was nothing more than someone clinging to the Alpha, trying to rise by any means.

Without hesitation, I slapped her across the face. The sound echoed through the entire department.

Nancy's head snapped to the side from the force.

Her hand flew to her cheek as she looked at me in shock. "You actually hit me?"

"That was for teaching you how to show respect," I replied, my voice cold as I stared at her and lifted my hand again. "And this one is to make sure you stop talking."

Before my hand could come down, a strong grip caught my wrist in midair.

The force was firm, and the scent of sandalwood that came with it was familiar, yet the chill in it made my body tense.

I turned, and my eyes met Ethan's.

His expression was hard, and there was nothing in his gaze that resembled warmth.

Without thinking, I tried to explain, "She was the one who started it—"

"Apologize!" Ethan cut me off. His voice was low, but there was no room for argument.

I stood there, stunned, as if something heavy had struck me straight in the chest. "What did you just say?"

"Apologize to Nancy," he repeated, his grip tightening around my wrist until the pain almost made my eyes water.

Out of the corner of my vision, I noticed people gathering at the doorway.

Their looks varied. Some were mocking, some carried sympathy, and others simply watched with curiosity. Each one felt like a sharp sting.

Nancy immediately changed her demeanor, shrinking closer to Ethan with a wounded expression.

I looked at the man I had loved for three years. Right in front of everyone, he chose to strip away my dignity for another woman. Or maybe it wasn't about her at all. Maybe it was just his way of maintaining control.

"I'm sorry," I responded at last, lowering my head as the words came out barely above a whisper.

"Speak up. I didn't hear you," Nancy said, her voice filled with mockery as she lifted her brows.

I bit my bottom lip until I tasted blood, then forced myself to look up. "I'm sorry."

"Make sure it doesn't happen again," Nancy muttered with a satisfied smile before turning and walking back to her seat.

"Come to my office." Ethan let go of my wrist and left without looking back.

The moment the office door closed behind us, everything I had been holding in began to fall apart.

"Why did you replace Sia?" I demanded, my voice choked with suppressed sobs.

Without answering, he returned to his seat and asked, "Did you read the Rejection? If you don't have any issues, sign it today."

A sharp pain spread through my chest, and tears gathered in my eyes, though I refused to let them fall.

"What if I told you I'm pregnant?" I asked, putting everything I had into those words.

I knew what an heir meant to the pack.

For a moment, I hoped he would hesitate. I hoped he would reconsider because of the child.

Silence filled the room.

Ethan looked at me, and a faint, cold smile appeared on his lips. "Lianne, are you really willing to say anything just to stay? The doctor already made it clear you can't have children."

He rose from his chair and walked toward me, each step closing the distance until his presence loomed over mine.

Leaning down, his breath brushed against my face, but his voice carried no warmth at all. "Even if there were a child, I wouldn't allow it to be born."

Lianne's POV:

Ethan's words struck hard, leaving me unable to catch my breath.

Not once had he ever thought about having a child with me.

I had been foolish to believe he might one day return my feelings.

I steadied myself with a slow breath, forcing down the bitterness that rose in my throat.

No matter what, I wouldn't let him see me fall apart.

"You already signed off on Sparkle's proposal," I said, though my voice still wavered. "Then why change Sia at the last minute? She matches the brand perfectly."

"Ivy is coming back to develop her career here," Ethan replied, his tone steady, as if this was nothing worth arguing over. "She needs an opportunity to establish herself. Since Sparkle is a new launch under Voss Group, she'll be its first endorser."

So it all came back to Ivy. The moment she returned, everything else became secondary.

"And if I don't agree?" I retorted.

"I'm speaking as the Alpha of the Thorn Pack," he replied, his tone leaving no room for defiance.

No one in the pack could go against an Alpha's order.

My throat tightened, each word scraping painfully as I forced them out. "Alright. Since you've decided, I'll handle it."

Without waiting, I turned and left his office. The second the door closed behind me, the strength I had been holding onto slipped away.

I hurried down the hall and locked myself inside the restroom, bending over the sink as the nausea hit.

My stomach twisted violently, but there was nothing inside. All that came up was bitterness.

When I looked up, the reflection staring back at me felt unfamiliar. Pale skin, red eyes, someone I barely recognized.

My hand moved to my stomach, still flat beneath my palm. The tears I had been holding back finally fell, hitting the cold surface of the sink.

"I'm sorry, baby," I whispered. "He doesn't want you, but I do. Don't be scared. I'll protect you, no matter what it takes."

After composing myself, I returned to my office and called Mary back, promising that I would do everything I could to secure another endorsement for Sia.

Once the call ended, I leaned back in my chair and pressed my fingers against my temples.

My eyes drifted to the Rejection. A bitter laugh escaped me as I picked it up and read it.

Ethan was indeed generous.

The terms were generous. Three hundred million in cash, along with several properties in the heart of the city.

Even so, I felt nothing.

Later that afternoon, I had to bring an urgent document to Ethan, which forced me to return to his office.

Before I even reached the door, a sharp scent hit me. It was the scent of another she-wolf, strong and unmistakable.

The door hadn't been fully closed.

Through the narrow opening, I caught sight of what was inside.

Ethan sat on the couch, and a woman leaned against him, her arms wrapped around his neck as she pressed close into his chest.

There was no doubt. It was Ivy.

Her long hair fell over his shoulders, and the two of them looked as though they belonged together.

"Ivy, I've already secured the Sparkle endorsement for you," Ethan said.

"Ethan, you're so sweet," Ivy responded with a soft laugh as she leaned in and brushed her lips against his cheek.

The folder slipped from my grasp. Papers scattered across the floor.

At that moment, something inside me broke apart, and I felt as though I couldn't even stay on my feet.

The sound drew their attention, and both of them turned toward me.

Ivy saw me standing there, yet instead of pulling away, she smiled even more brilliantly.

She let go of Ethan and walked toward me, her steps slow as she approached with a gentle sway. Reaching out, she took my hand as if we were already familiar.

"So you're Lianne? I've seen your photo before," she said with a soft smile that carried both innocence and quiet pride. "I hope we didn't startle you earlier. Ethan and I haven't seen each other in a long time, so we got a little close. You don't mind, do you?"

She had a pretty face, but it made something churn in my stomach.

"It doesn't bother me," I replied, forcing a faint smile as I slipped my hand out of hers.

"I'm glad," Ivy answered, lowering her gaze slightly as she touched her neck.

That was when I saw it.

My breath caught.

Resting against her skin was the Moonstone Necklace, clear and radiant.

That wasn't just any piece of jewelry. It was the heirloom of the Thorn Pack, a symbol meant only for the Luna.

Three years ago, on the day Ethan and I first came together, I had seen that necklace displayed in the family cabinet.

Back then, I had imagined wearing it more times than I could count. To me, it meant recognition. It meant I belonged at his side.

But when I reached for it, what had he said?

He had stopped me without hesitation. "Lianne, we haven't completed the mating ceremony. Wearing this necklace is against the rules."

I had believed him. I had waited, hoping that one day, he would place it around my neck himself.

And now, he had given it to Ivy.

Rules?

So that was what those rules meant—an excuse to stop me from wearing the necklace.

"Do you like it?" Ivy asked when she noticed where I was looking, her voice carrying a quiet sense of pride. "Ethan put it on me himself. He said I'm the only one who should have it."

At that moment, everything became clear.

Those three years had been nothing more than something I played alone.

"It's beautiful," I muttered, my voice steady in a way that surprised even me. "It suits you well."

I bent down and gathered the papers scattered on the floor, each movement feeling distant as my heart grew colder.

Ethan didn't say a word. He remained where he was, silent.

After placing the documents neatly on his desk, I turned and walked out without looking back.

This time, no tears came.

When something inside truly breaks, even tears stop falling.