The relentless shock of betrayal hit me so hard that my body gave out. I collapsed onto the ground, still weak from my brush with death.

“Clatter!”

Oh, shoot. My foot accidentally knocked a loose stone by the steps.

Immediately, Rowan’s alarmed voice rang out from inside. “Who’s there?! Who’s outside?!”

Without thinking, pure instinct took over, and I forced my body to move.

I retreated as fast as I could toward the small garden by the courtyard. Then, I deliberately let myself fall.

“Rowan? Is that you?” I called out, struggling to keep my voice steady, as if nothing was wrong.

“Mia? Why are you here alone? Weren’t you supposed to stay at the Moonshadow Palace for a few days?” He gently helped me up. “Are you hurt? Did you twist your ankle?”

In a panic, Rowan had rushed out shirtless. My gaze was locked on the fresh love bites littering his exposed chest, glaring proof of his betrayal.

Thinking I was still blind, he didn’t even bother covering them up.

“I’m fine. I called you so many times earlier, but you didn’t pick up. I got worried, so I came to check on you.”

Yes. Just hours before I was murdered, I had tried to reach him again and again.

“I must’ve fallen asleep. Work has been exhausting lately, and my phone probably ran out of battery.” He casually dismissed my concerns while effortlessly lifting me into his embrace and carrying me back inside.

“You shouldn’t be out alone this late, Mia. You didn’t even bring a wolf guard with you. What if something happened to you? Do you know how worried I’d be?”

Rowan pressed a kiss to my forehead. His voice was as tender as ever, like he hadn’t just been cheating on me moments ago.

He set me down on the couch and kneeled to rub my ankle. Evidence of their recent affair was scattered all over the living room, and right next to me was Evelyn’s lingerie.

Sitting across from me, wearing my pajamas, was my dear little sister. The moment she saw me, she froze.

Oh, Evelyn must’ve been shocked to see me alive.

The heavy scent of lingering desire in the air made me nauseous. Unable to hold it in any longer, I gagged.

“What’s wrong, Mia? Are you feeling sick?” Rowan asked, his voice full of concern. “The Moonlit Wedding Ceremony is in just three days. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself until then.”

I forced a smile. “I’m fine. I must’ve caught a chill running over here too fast.”

“Then rest for a while. I’ll make you a tonic. You need to keep your strength up.”

Ever since I lost my sight, Rowan had been making me different tonics that were supposedly good for my vision.

“Alright. Remember to add two lemon slices for me, okay?” I tried my best not to let my unease show as I sat still on the couch.

A few minutes later, Rowan brought the tonic over. “It’s still a little hot. Let me stir it for you.”

However, as he stirred, I noticed something unusual.

White powder swirled inside the bowl, dissolving into dark, murky bubbles.

Was Rowan poisoning me all this time under the guise of making me ‘healing’ tonics?

The spoon was already at my lips, but I couldn’t smell anything strange.

No. I can’t drink this!

I faked another gag and made a move to knock the bowl over.

“Mia! Are you alright?” Rowan asked anxiously.

I let my body go limp and pretended to faint.

“Huh? Is she faking it?” Evelyn muttered under her breath.

“Shut up! You know medicine, don’t you? Check her condition. She can’t afford to get sick now!”

My palms were damp with sweat. If Evelyn saw through my act, I’d be finished.

“She’s fine. Just a bit of shock and some cold symptoms. She’ll probably wake up by morning.” Then, she added, “What did you put in her tonic just now?”

I wanted to know, too.

“Just medicine to keep her from regaining her sight. As long as she stays blind, she’ll rely on me completely and only love me,” Rowan said coldly.

So this was who he really was. I can’t believe I risked my life to save this man seven years ago!

Suddenly, I felt something warm trickling from my nose.

Was this the witch’s price?

A wave of numbness swept through my body, and I could feel the life draining out of me.

I was dying.

The next morning, I was awakened by voices drifting up from downstairs.

It was Evelyn, who hadn’t left last night.

“Keep your voice down. What if Mia hears you?” Rowan scolded in a hushed tone.

“What’s the big deal? You’re my brother-in-law. Who says a little sister can’t visit her dear sister?” Evelyn said mockingly. “Besides, don’t you think it’s even more thrilling to flirt in front of a blind person?”

“Enough, Evelyn.”

Rowan grew worried. “I’m starting to think she might’ve heard something last night. Her ears work just fine, after all.”

“You worry too much, my love. We’ll test her later and find out.” Then, she shouted upstairs, “Sister, are you awake? I brought your favorite meat pies for breakfast!”

I had no choice but to play along.

Rowan was already waiting for me at the bottom, his bare skin still carrying the hickeys of last night’s affair.

“Evelyn, what brings you here so early?” I pretended to fumble my way to a seat at the dining table.

They had no idea I had regained my sight, and I had no intention of letting them find out.

“You’re getting married soon. I just wanted to spend some quality time with you before you officially become Rowan’s wife.” Evelyn smiled sweetly, but the malice in her eyes was unmistakable.

She pushed a plate of meat pies toward me, along with the usual bowl of tonic. “I even brought our childhood favorite meat pies! Come on, have a bite.”

I looked down at my meal.

The meat inside was barely cooked. The crimson juices seeped out onto the plate, reminding me of when I was killed last night.

“I’d love to, but Rowan and I need to go pick up my wedding gown today. I feel like I’ve gained a little weight recently. Maybe I should try everything on first before eating.”

Rowan’s gaze sharpened, and the malice reappeared on Evelyn’s face.

Sensing the sudden tension, I quickly added, “But the smell is just too tempting. Maybe I’ll have half a piece.”

I reached for the tonic, bringing the entire bowl to my lips and drinking it all in one go.

Their expressions immediately relaxed.

I let out an internal sigh of relief.

“Speaking of wedding gowns, I had the attendants deliver your dress here. You shouldn’t have to go out with your condition,” Rowan said tenderly.

He wiped the corner of my mouth carefully with a napkin before helping me toward the dressing room.

Evelyn sneered, “Rowan is so good to you. Your wedding gown is absolutely stunning, Mia. It’s so sparkly, like a sky full of glittering stars. What a shame you’ll never get to see it.”

Rowan silently shot her a sharp glance, but when he turned to me, his expression softened.

“I’ll grab your favorite wolf incense and carefully scent your gown before you try it on,” he said gently.

That incense carried memories I wished I could forget. Back when I first lost my sight, I couldn’t cope with the endless nights of insomnia.

No shaman in Moonshadow Wolf Tribe could help me. It was Rowan who traveled to every wolf pack, crossing mountains and risking his life to enter the forbidden lands, just to get the formula for that incense.

After that, whenever I got new clothes, Rowan would always infuse them with the incense, claiming it would help my body heal.

However, when he brought the incense out this time, my heart dropped. The label clearly bore the mark of wolfsbane.

The love I thought he had for me was a lie! Rowan had been poisoning me all along!

“Everything’s ready, my princess,” Rowan said, eyes gleaming with anticipation as he placed the gown in my hands.

“Rowan, maybe we should wait until tonight to try it on? Don’t you have that urgent meeting today?” I paused, lowering my gaze like a bashful bride-to-be. “Besides, my sister is still here. I want the moment I try on my wedding dress to be just for the two of us.”

My sister shot me a look filled with jealousy and hatred.

“Alright. Get some rest and don’t forget to drink the tonic at lunch. I’ll drop your sister back home on the way.”

They left hand in hand, and the house finally fell into silence.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Today was April 21st. I had only six days left until my soul completely faded away.

The wedding eve.

According to Moonshadow Wolf Tribe tradition, I was supposed to return to the palace and wait for tomorrow’s Moonlit Ceremony.

However, with Rowan gone, I quietly activated my Moonshadow Wolf power, summoning fire to erase every trace of my existence in the villa.

Heartbroken, I left the home we had shared, a place that had held ten years of memories with Rowan.

Time flew by, and soon, the wedding day arrived.

Inside the grand hall where the Moonlit Ceremony was set to take place, Rowan paced back and forth anxiously with his phone in hand.

No matter how many times he called, all he got was a busy signal.

As the minutes dragged on and I failed to appear, whispers rippled through the crowd.

Just as Rowan began to panic, Evelyn appeared... wearing the wedding dress I had custom-made!

“Princess Mia looks like a goddess!”

The crowd eagerly praised Evelyn.

Ever since I lost my sight, I rarely appeared in public, except for critical tribe decisions that took place in the palace.

Even the Moon Goddess officiating the ceremony mistook Evelyn for me and reached out to take her hand until Rowan abruptly stopped her.

“I’m so sorry, everyone. There’s been a slight delay. Please be patient with us.”

With that, Rowan grabbed Evelyn, dragging her to the side. “Are you insane, Evelyn? I’m marrying Mia!”

“But is she even coming? Mia doesn’t want to marry you, but I do!” Evelyn clutched her wrist, wincing where Rowan had gripped her.

“No way! She loves me, and I love her so much. I have to marry Mia. Did you do something to her again? I told you to stop hurting her! She can’t be in danger right now!” Rowan’s voice cracked with desperation.

“Rowan, do you really love her? What about me? I’m pregnant with your pup!” Evelyn cried.

However, before Rowan could even process what she said, the room erupted into chaos.

On the massive wedding screen, photos and audio recordings of Rowan and Evelyn’s intimate moments started playing on a loop.

“No! This can’t be happening! You did this, didn’t you, Evelyn?!” Rowan shouted, grabbing Evelyn by the throat.

Completely forgetting about Evelyn’s pregnancy, he questioned in a blind rage, “Was this you, Evelyn? Did you stage all of this? To force me to marry you?!”

Evelyn gasped, her face turning red as she struggled to breathe.

Then Rowan’s phone rang.

“Rowan, I’m guessing you’ve received my wedding gift by now. Let’s call off the engagement,” I said calmly on the other end of the line.

Rowan immediately let go of Evelyn. His eyes were wide with disbelief as he said, “Mia? What are you talking about? You took those photos? You can see?”

“Yes.” I smiled. “My dear fiancé Rowan, aren’t you happy for me?”