"Dear Mrs. Franklin, it wasn't your fault that young Luke ate those toxic berries back then. It was because of Miss Maeve..."

“What?” It felt like I was being crushed under a massive weight, unable to move.

It was supposed to be a routine morning. As usual, my Alpha partner, who had been shirking his duties as leader for quite some time, urged me through our mental connection to go to the tribal headquarters to handle both internal and external affairs for him.

Instead, I found Richard’s secretary, Alaina, collapsed at the entrance. I quickly called the doctor to help and take her to the clinic.

When she woke up, tears in her eyes, she confessed a truth that made my entire body tremble. She couldn’t look me in the eye as I stood there, feeling pale and frozen.

"At that time, Miss Maeve brought a snack over, saying it was for Master Luke. We never imagined... there was poison in it..."

I stared at her, feeling as if I’d been thrown into a blizzard, my hands and feet icy cold, my chest tightening painfully.

Five years ago—I had taken Luke to the training ground, planning to leave briefly to take care of some affairs. I never expected him to mistakenly eat those poisonous berries while I was away.

I'll never forget the sight of my son lying in bed, his face terrifyingly pale, purple blotches spreading from his neck to his arm, nearly reaching his heart, his entire body convulsing, calling out to me in a haze.

And where was Richard? I reached out to him through our mental connection countless times, but there was no response—because he was wrapped up with Maeve.

While my child was fighting for his life.

For years, I blamed myself for the incident and couldn’t fend off the tribe’s upper leadership who wanted to take Luke away from me. My guilt left me powerless.

But from the start, it had been Maeve’s scheme...

Struggling through the tribe’s affairs, leaning against the wall, I tried contacting Richard to confront him about whether he knew anything about that incident.

He completely ignored my mental connection. As I stormed to his room to confront him, Maeve’s voice suddenly emerged from inside.

“She’s doing it on purpose, knowing full well we’re together, yet she sends people to disturb our lovely morning.” Maeve complained loudly.

Not just voices, but the sound of the bed creaking echoed—each sound a cruel jab to my ears.

“Don’t be upset, darling; nobody will bother us again.” And my partner, my Alpha, Richard, spoke reassuringly, his voice sweet and soothing, filled with the tenderness that once captured me.

“Oh, Rick, honey, why don’t you break the bond with her? Do you... still love her?”

“Ha, what a joke. I’ve been over her for a long time. That rosemary scent she carries makes me want to gag. You are my only happiness.”

I sat against the wall, knees drawn up, eyes shut, feeling my heart clench painfully. He once said it was his favorite scent, likening it to home.

He lied; he’d always been lying.

“She’s still useful. I couldn’t care less about those annoying subordinates. As long as she willingly handles tribe affairs, I’ll have more time for you.”

“Whatever you say, honey.”

—She’s still useful.

Listen to that judgment. I always believed I was his Luna, his partner in battle, the woman he loved. But in the end, in his eyes, I was just a convenient asset. The one he loved was the woman who nearly killed my son, who kept us apart for years, his lover.

Over ten years, I devoted myself entirely to Richard because he had been my obsession.

I saw him disregard his injuries on the battlefield, rushing to tear apart the assailant threatening me. That moment, drenched in blood, he held me tight, saying I mattered more than his own life. That was my moment of surrender.

Later, we had a bright and clever son, a future heir I was proud of. I thought we would become the happiest family, yet Richard flaunted his affair with Maeve while I was nurturing.

For Luke, I endured the immense pain, covering for him, claiming Maeve was merely a frequent visitor. Even with the ridicule behind my back for being the betrayed mate, I grit my teeth and shared years with Maeve.

But I never expected that my years of silent endurance would lead to their audacity. They took over what was also my Alpha’s room, brazenly indulging next door, openly pairing up in the tribe...

Even plotting against my only child.

I bit my lip hard, unable to stop the tears from spilling down.

...

Reflecting on when Alaina tearfully confessed before I left the clinic, “Mrs. Franklin... I’m pregnant. I finally understand how scary and painful it is to be a mother. I’m sorry; I’ll resign—even if you don’t forgive me.”

I couldn’t respond at the time because my mind was already in chaos.

Everything I’ve been through, all Luke has endured, cannot simply be summarized by “pain and suffering.”

For five years, my son and I were both condemned because of the poisoning incident. People said he was frail, blamed his carelessness, attributed his near-death to incompetence; they accused me of negligence, called me an unfit mother, mocked my pain as trivial gossip.

Even the tribe’s leaders publicly criticized me during meetings with Richard present: “Chief, we’re questioning Luna’s ability to teach the child. The Alpha’s heir cannot be raised as a failure.”

Richard said, “Phoenix lacked experience raising children before; we can’t blame her entirely. You should propose a suitable plan for the heir’s education. The decision will be made by the vote tally, and Phoenix, as the primary responsible party, won’t participate in the vote.”

Then, I thought he was speaking for me out of obligation. Only now do I realize, belatedly, he was merely offering a token gesture to excuse himself from responsibility.

I want to confront him: As the child’s father, aren’t you even remotely responsible? Where were you then? What were you doing? Luke nearly died!

All because he was the tribe’s Alpha, my partner, his word carried authority.

So, the fate of my only son was hastily decided by them—the leaders voted unanimously to send him to a boarding school far south, allowing me only one visit per year.

The pride of the tribe, Luna’s dignity, and a mother’s heart—all trampled into the dirt.

Today, at this moment, I finally see the truth. All of this stems from Maeve’s jealousy, Richard’s indulgence, and my own unwillingness to face reality.

Slowly, I stood, biting my lip hard enough to draw blood.

I’ve had enough.

For the first time, I considered leaving—not in defiance, not impulsively, but from a profound sense of despair.

I've lost track of the nights since Richard stopped sharing a bed with me, and Luke wasn't by my side either. In the depths of night, that dreadful nightmare returned.

My son, Luke, faced another round of evaluation at preschool. Under relentless pressure, he seemed unable to defend himself. His skin was still marked by ominous purple bruises from the poison, and he lay curled up, barely able to move. Dodging blows seemed to sap all his energy. It's heartbreaking because, despite being only five years old, he usually excels in physical education, his talent allowing him to spar and even counter his instructor.

Luke let out a pained growl, his veins bulging as he endured the poison's agony, while his adversary showed no mercy. My heart wrenched as I cried out, "Stop hurting him! Please stop! No—"

My pleas went unheard as if they existed in another dimension. I watched helplessly as Luke was beaten black and blue, covered in bruises. His opponent taunted him, calling him too weak, undeserving of being an heir.

Desperation drove me to try and shield him, to take the blows meant for him, but an impenetrable glass wall stood between us. It was as hard as stone, impervious to my attempts, and beside it loomed a cold, locked iron door.

Powerless, I was consumed by self-loathing, my heart pierced with every beat. Why couldn't I protect my own son? I could only stand by, an impotent witness to his repeated, one-sided beating, until he lay on the ground, barely clinging to life.

And all that remained was the demon's voice, echoing in the confined space: "You're too weak. Come back when you can defeat me, hahaha..."

I awoke from the dream with tears streaming down my face. Still trembling and shaken, I stumbled out of bed, barefoot, heading straight for Luke's room.

The door was slightly open, a sliver of light leaking through the gap. My heart leapt—was my Luke back?

Hope ignited within me as I approached and pushed the door open with eager anticipation. "Is that you, Luke?"

But the figure that sat up in the bed drained the warmth from my expression in an instant. She was dressed in black lace lingerie, unashamed of the love bites marking her skin. Morgana. She showed no fear or shame at my arrival.

"Why are you in my son's room? Get out." Anger flared in me like a newly ignited furnace.

"This hasn't been your son's room for a while now. Didn't you hear us last night?" Maeve taunted with a sneer. "But then, you probably sleep like a log, no wonder Richard isn't into you."

I seethed, her words a challenge. She pressed on, mockingly, "You sent your kid off for extra training because he couldn't perform, and you still have the nerve to come here?"

"My son's issues were because of your—" My retort was cut short as she tumbled theatrically from the bed, landing softly on the plush rug, feigning injury and crying out pitifully, "Lilyana, I know it's hard for you to accept me with Richard, but I truly love him. Can't you stop hitting me?"

Suddenly, a force hit me from behind, and my arm struck the cabinet with a painful thud, rendering me speechless from the shock.

Richard rushed past me, enveloping Maeve in his protective embrace. He turned to me, frowning, "Lilyana, I don't want to lose my temper with you. You're a dignified lady, surely you can speak calmly instead of resorting to violence?"

I clutched my reddening arm, Richard's unjust accusation choking the words in my throat. "I didn’t hit her; she fell on purpose. And take your lover to another room. I can pretend I didn’t see anything, but why bring her to Luke's room?"

Maeve feigned tears, fragile in his arms. "I know I upset Lilyana, but if she wants me gone, I'll go. I just don't want her to be mad, even if she hits me."

Richard comforted her, not sparing a glance to ask if I was okay. "Alex, it hurts so much...," she whimpered.

He soothed her, then turned to me with a dismissive wave, "Fortunately, Maeve is fine, so I won't pursue this today. Remember your status. If someone sees this and accuses you of being violent, I can't protect you."

He refused to see anything other than what was before his eyes, as he did when Luke was poisoned, jumping to conclusions without seeking the truth.

Bitter frustration churned inside me like a bubbling cauldron about to overflow. But I swallowed it down, refusing to let my rage boil over.

“Reflect on your actions,” Richard said curtly, before wrapping a coat around Maeve and escorting her away.

I stood there in the chaos they left behind, the aftermath of their indiscretion staining the room. With tears in my eyes, I quietly tidied up Luke's room and locked it with a heavy padlock; no one would violate this sanctuary again.

The next day, I gathered all the gifts Richard had ever given me, planning to have them dealt with. They held no meaning anymore.

Who would have thought that the man who once insisted on holding me tightly, running his fingers through my hair, and promising me the world would reveal such a truth? He had vowed to spend all he had on the things I loved, even daring danger for the most precious treasures, all just to please me. It was all a facade, words and gestures meant to manipulate me. He acted as if he loved me, but it was all a ruse.

He said he loved me more than once, and I foolishly believed him. But in the end, I was the fool, played like a puppet.

The sweet words he whispered, the moments we shared—all lies, meaningless.

These days, I had cried every tear I had over this; I was like a dry riverbed after a drought—only cracked earth and unforgiving stones remained. I vowed not to shed another tear for him, not to let him affect me anymore.

From now on, I would live for myself.

Julius arrived for his usual work briefing, and I informed him that I planned to travel soon, entrusting him with the inner affairs of the community in my absence.

He hesitated, concern in his eyes. “Ma’am, this might need the Mr.'s approval first. Without it, I could face punishment. I hope you understand...”

“I’ll discuss it with him,” I assured him, trying to ease his worries.

“Discuss what? Where are you going?” Richard's voice suddenly cut through from behind me.