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.

Lianne's POV:

There was no way I could finish my shift.

I could not get the necklace on Ivy's neck out of my head. Its harsh glow stayed in my thoughts and would not disappear.

I quickly came up with an excuse, then left Voss Group without looking back.

I headed straight to Moon Bar, the most crowded club in the city.

I just wanted to let everything out and numb those damn feelings with alcohol.

As soon as I stepped inside, loud music filled the space and matched the rapid beat of my heart. The air felt heavy, mixed with cheap perfume, cigarette smoke, and the raw tension from male werewolves.

I took a seat at the bar.

"Miss, drinking alone tonight? Want to try our best-selling tequila?" The bartender moved with ease as he shook the mixer, and his gaze stayed on my bare collarbone.

"Just give me the whole bottle," I said with a faint smirk, my voice rough.

For three years, I stayed away from alcohol and followed a strict routine. I did it to maintain the image of a Luna, to satisfy Ethan's picky demands, and to handle the complicated matters of the Thorn Pack.

But in the end, what did I even get?

Nothing at all.

A hint of surprise crossed the bartender's face, yet he still placed several shot glasses in front of me and filled each one with tequila.

I grabbed one and swallowed it in a single motion.

The alcohol burned down my throat and made me cough hard.

I reached for the next glass, then another. I kept drinking faster each time, as if I was taking it out on myself.

Soon, everything in front of me turned hazy, and the noise around me began to fade.

My hands shook as I pulled out the wrinkled ultrasound report from my bag.

"Congratulations, you're pregnant." The doctor's voice repeated in my head, overlapping with Ethan's cold words. "Even if there were a child, I wouldn't allow it to be born."

My eyes stayed on the faint shape on the paper, the tiny sign of life, and a bitter feeling settled deep inside me.

The child I looked forward to meant nothing to Ethan. In his eyes, it was only something unwanted.

A quiet laugh slipped out of me while tears kept falling.

The report crumpled in my grip before I shoved it back into my bag, then I lifted the bottle and drank again.

"Drinking here all by yourself? Feeling lonely?"

Someone spoke right beside my ear, his tone careless.

When I looked over, a young man stood there, probably in his early twenties.

His blond hair was flashy, and his eyes carried that familiar greedy look of a werewolf.

He moved in closer, and the way he looked at me turned intense. "Your scent is driving me crazy."

Female hormone changes never escaped a werewolf's senses.

Because of the pregnancy, my scent had become more tempting.

"Stay away from me." I swung my purse straight at his face, but he caught it with ease and tossed it aside.

Closing the distance, he pulled me into his arms. His grip tightened, and his other hand slid up along my waist toward my chest.

"Relax a little. Spend some time with me, and I promise you will not forget it."

I fought back with everything I had and shoved against him. In my head, I called out in panic, "Anna! Please help me!"

But no answer came.

Five years had passed since that rogue wolves' attack, the moment my wolf disappeared after saving Ethan.

Back then, I stood out as one of the most promising students at Pack Academy. Everyone believed I would become a strong Gamma warrior.

Now, even a low-ranking werewolf was too much for me to handle.

Hopelessness took over as my body was forced against the bar.

His breath brushed against my neck, making me feel sick.

Right when his hand was about to go further, the temperature around us suddenly dropped.

An overwhelming wave of Alpha pressure swept across the entire bar.

"Let her go."

A deep voice cut through the music, heavy like thunder.

The blond man went completely still.

Out of nowhere, someone seized his wrist with crushing force. A sharp crack rang out, followed by his scream, and he was thrown across the room before slamming into a booth.

My strength vanished, and I dropped straight into a firm, cold embrace.

A mix of sandalwood and a winter-like chill surrounded me, wrapping me completely.

It was Ethan.

He pulled me close without hesitation, his grip tight and unyielding, as if he wanted to hold me inside his own body.

From above, his gaze locked onto me, dark and unreadable like a raging sea.

"We're going home," he said, his voice strained through clenched teeth.

My body felt weak from the alcohol, so I leaned into him and breathed in what little of his scent remained.

"Sir, her purse..." the bartender said nervously while pointing down.

Without a word, Ethan bent over and picked up my purse, his expression cold.

As he lifted it, a wrinkled sheet of paper slipped out from the open zipper and fell near his feet.

The haze of alcohol faded at once, and my heart missed a beat.

That paper was my ultrasound report.