I walked into the villa and looked out the window, toward the parking lot not far away.

Molly's pink Ferrari had already driven away. Even the smoke it left behind felt like a sneer.

I took out my phone and called my mother. "Mom, I'm coming back to the Palemoon Pack in seven days. I want to see you and Dad."

My mom immediately felt the tremble in my voice from the other side. She anxiously asked, "Cynthia, are you coming back alone or with Jakob?"

I said with a hoarse voice. "I'm coming home alone."

I could hear my mother's silence. She quickly understood what I meant from what I hadn't said.

She suppressed her fury and worry and did her best to console me. "Don't be upset. I'll pick you up."

I whispered okay, and tears finally rolled down my cheeks.

Later that night, Jakob finally came home. He woke me up with his burning kiss.

He was all drunk and kissed me again and again as he held my face.

Perhaps he was still uneasy about the anger yesterday, so he kept on whispering words of love into my ears.

"I love you so much, honey.

"You can be angry at me. You can hit me, yell at me. But don't leave me, alright?

"Don't worry, I swear I'll treat you well for the rest of my life."

I said nothing and simply stared at Jakob in silence.

He was so drunk that he forgot to clean the lipstick stain on his neck.

I didn't know how he managed to escape the mate bond's punishment, but I could feel it. His love for me at this moment was real.

I couldn't understand it. If he loved me, why did he treat me like this?

When I woke up in the morning, Jakob had already picked out my clothes. He squeezed some toothpaste onto my toothbrush. He even tied my braids himself.

However, when we were at breakfast, he once again gave me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Cynthia. I won't be home tonight. There's a gathering I need to attend in the pack."

My hand holding the fork paused mid-air. I knew he was going to accompany Molly again. I couldn't even be bothered to expose him.

I simply said the same word I always did again. "Sure."

Coincidentally, my best friend Tessa invited me for tea in the afternoon. I needed the distraction too, so I went to the cafe.

I had just barely sat down when Tessa patted my arm excitedly. "Look, Cynthia? Isn't that Alpha Jakob? Why is he standing in front of a bridal studio? Is he going to give you another surprise? Maybe shooting you in a new wedding gown?"

I looked outside, and I just realized this cafe was right next to a bridal photo studio.

Before I could even respond, a seductive she-wolf wrapped her arm around Jakob's and walked inside with him.

The studio's employee was so loud that we could even hear it from our table. "You two are finally here? The bridal shoot setup you booked is already ready. By the way, you two look absolutely perfect together!"

Tessa's laughter stopped abruptly. Then, she saw me looking at what was happening with indifference.

Tessa slammed the table and angrily yelled, "What's going on?! Who's that woman next to Jakob?! He wants to take wedding photos with someone else. This is ridiculous!"

I sighed and then told Tessa everything about Jakob and Molly that had happened lately.

Then I showed Molly's provocative messages and pointed to the bridal shop, my voice shaking. "Look at it yourself, Tessa. It's Molly's birthday today. That's why Jakob is taking wedding photos with her."

Inside the bridal studio, Jakob was adjusting Molly's cuff with care.

His expression was gentle, as if he were touching something priceless.

Tessa clenched her jaw. "I can't take it anymore! I'm going over to splash this cup of coffee on their faces!"

Tessa had always had a temper. She picked up the hot coffee and wanted to walk over, but I stopped her first.

"Wait, Tessa. Don't alert them. I want to see what they'll do next."

Half an hour later, Jakob and Molly walked out of the bridal studio.

Jakob was wearing a black suit, sharp and majestic. Molly was wearing a white gown, showing her slender waist. Jakob's name was even intentionally tattooed across her collarbone.

They got into a luxury car hand in hand and headed straight for the lake in the countryside.

The photography crew had been waiting for a long time. A barrier had already been set up, so no other werewolves could interrupt them.

However, Jakob's barrier never blocked me. He would never expect that I was standing behind a tree, watching him and Molly having a wedding photoshoot.

The photographer approached and smiled fawningly. "You two are so good-looking, as if you're from a painting."

Molly held Jakob's arm with a smile. "Well, I have great taste and chose the best man I can see."

The photographer then said, "I'd like to use your wedding photos to advertise our shop if that's-"

Before the photographer could even finish, Jakob quickly cut him off. "No."

The photographer was startled before he apologized, "Alright, sure. I understand."

Molly's expression darkened.

During the rest of the shoot, she kept on saying that the weather was too cold and asked Jakob to help her put on his coat. Then she said she was not in a good enough mood, wanting Jakob to hold her up so she could find her joy.

Jakob was also patient with her. "How about now? Do you need me to do anything else? Just tell me if you want anything."

For the last shot, Jakob dropped down on one knee.

Even the night wind became still as all eyes turned to him.

Then, under Molly's shocking gaze, he pulled out a bouquet of red roses. There was a ring in the center of the roses.

"You kept on saying that wearing the wedding gown is just a dream of yours. While you said you didn't need a proposal, I don't want you to have any regrets. Molly, will you take this ring?"

Molly was stunned, then tears welled in her eyes as she screamed, "Yes! Yes, I will!"

Cheers surrounded them. "Marriage! Marriage!"

Meanwhile, I glared at what was happening from my car behind the tree, feeling a chill in my soul.

Five years ago, when Jakob had proposed to me, he had looked at me with those same devoted eyes.

I still remembered he was also wearing the same sharp black suit, holding a bouquet of blue roses. He then proposed with a ring that was one-of-a-kind in the world.

He was even teary-eyed when he proposed to me.

"Cynthia, I swear I'll only love you. I'll take care of you. No other woman will ever find a place in my heart. So, please. Bond with me and be my mate, alright?"

I let out a bitter laugh. Then, I broke into tears halfway through.

Everything was a lie. The vow was a lie. Taking care of me was also a lie.

Even love could change…

Tessa couldn't bear to look at me as she gently wiped the tears from my face.

"They're gone, Cynthia. Should we still follow them?"

I shook my head. "Let's go."

"I didn't want to stay here for another second.

Tessa originally wanted to send me home, but I refused her. "It's fine. I know you're worried about me, but my mind's a mess. I need some time alone."

Tessa didn't console me anymore. She knew how I felt.

Once she left, I wandered the streets without aim.

It was during deep winter and the temperature had dropped below freezing. I had only come out wearing a light coat.

But compared to the chill I'm feeling on my flesh, my heart was even colder.

I didn't know how long I'd walked before my phone buzzed again.

It was from Jakob's account.

I tapped them open. Three sweet wedding photos entered my eyes, almost blinding me.

One was when they got out of a car. Jakob was holding up the skirt of Molly's wedding gown as she smiled smugly.

Another one was when Molly was in Jakob's arms. The two of them were intimately close together.

The final one was when Jakob went down on one knee, holding out a dazzling diamond ring.

Molly texted, "We took our wedding photos today, and he even prepared a ring for the proposal. I was so touched. He even came and met my parents. They were very happy with Jakob. Other than being unable to form a mate bond, we had already completed all the procedures. To be honest, I don't mind you being a Luna. Since he'll just throw you aside and always come to me. Just you wait."

Molly's sneers were like blades, stabbing straight into my heart. I froze, unable to respond.

After a long while, I finally forwarded the photos and chat record to Mia, along with a message, "Show these at their wedding."

Then I switched my phone off as I walked on the streets with my mind clouded.

My mind was so consumed with everything that had happened that I couldn't even move when I finally realized a car had lost control and came right at me.

There was an explosion of pain. And then, only darkness remained.

I didn't know how long it had passed. When I once again opened my eyes, all I could smell was the sharp smell of antiseptic typical of medical settings.

Jakob was slouching over the hospital bed, gripping my hand. He instantly noticed when I stirred.

He looked at me with frantic eyes, filled with fear and regret.

"You're finally awake, Cynthia! Do you feel pain anywhere? Should I call the healers? I'm so scared…"

I turned my head slightly, my eyes falling on Jakob.

His clothes were all wrinkled and his eyes were red. It was obvious that he had been staying by my side for a long time.

His pain was also genuine, like he wished he were the one suffering the injuries and not me.

But all I felt was disgust.

When I looked at his face, I was reminded of him taking those wedding photos with Molly.

'Jakob… Which is the real you? I can't trust you anymore.'

"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you feeling pain anywhere? I'll get the healer right away!" Jakob immediately got up, but I stopped him.

I asked him in a hoarse voice, "Why are you here?"

Jakob was stunned by my question.

When the healer called, he was dining with Molly and her parents. When he heard about my accident, he didn't hesitate when he rushed over, leaving Molly and her family behind.

Thankfully, my wolf was quite powerful, and most of my injuries were healed, so I was mostly fine.

He then said, "I was having dinner with my business partners. We were finalizing details for a big project, but when the healer called me about the accident, I came right away."

I repeated parts of his sentence. "Dinner with your business partners?"

Jakob held my hands up to his cheek, as if trying to show his vulnerable side. "That's right. Business talks are quite exhausting."

Another lie.

I closed my eyes slowly and didn't offer him any comforting words.

Jakob accompanied me, but his phone suddenly started ringing.

He decisively hung up the call, but the other side kept on calling. The caller didn't seem to want to give up.

Jakob had no choice but to switch it to silent mode and started typing away with his head low.

A minute later, he excitedly switched off the phone and made up an excuse before leaving the private room.

It was long when Tessa walked in with a dark expression.

"Cynthia, guess who I ran into on my way here?"

It was such a simple question. I sighed. "Jakob?"

Tessa furiously said, "He left you alone and went out after what happened? I quietly followed him and noticed that he and Molly went to the gynecology department. Jakob was practically grinning when Molly received her pregnancy report!"

I looked down with a thought in my mind, but my expression didn't show any hint of being upset. "I see. Molly's with pup?"

Tessa looked at me carefully. She felt something was off with my reaction.

"Aren't you upset? You don't have to act strong in front of me."

I revealed a pale smile. "No… There's something you don't know. Jakob has a genetic condition. The best healer once told me he could never have his own pup."

Three years ago, Jakob and I tried our best for one entire year.

I thought I was the problem, so I secretly went for tests at the hospital.

The result was that Jakob had a congenital infertility disorder.

I couldn't sleep that night. I couldn't accept that I'd never have my pup.

I even hid this truth on Jakob's behalf. Telling the outside world that I was the one with the problem, and I could only have my own pup after long-term treatment. All because I was worried that Jakob's dignity and reputation would be ruined.

But now, after seeing Jakob being so excited for a pup that wasn't his, it made all my effort to hide this for him feel meaningless.

"What?! That's huge news!" Teresa almost jumped out of her seat after hearing what I had to say.

Then, her eyes narrowed as she came up with an idea.

"Let's see here. You're going back to the Palemoon Pack in five days, so we'll pretend we don't know about the pregnancy. Once the baby is born, we'll send Jakob his own infertility report. He will be so regretful he'll go insane."

The next day, Jakob didn't show up at the hospital.

Mia came to my private room. After she reported to me about the preparation for the wedding, she was hesitant about mentioning something else.

I frowned. "Tell me what you have in mind."

Mia then whispered, "When I went to the villa this afternoon to take some files, I saw Molly walking out of the bedroom in your sleepwear. Luna, you've always been kind to me. I simply can't ignore this. That's why I want to tell you about this first."

I felt utterly crushed.

I was still in the hospital, and Molly couldn't wait anymore and moved into the bedroom that Jakob and I shared?

No wonder Jakob told me to inform him before being discharged, so he could pick me up.

I gritted my teeth, and my throat almost closed up. I could hear the ragged sounds of my breathing.

"Thanks. I understand."