Ellery POV:

I sat in the most luxurious ballroom in the city, attending the annual charity gala held by the Stone family, the largest pack among the werewolves. And I was the only human at this entire event.

I slowly raised the wine glass in my hand. The server beside me immediately bowed respectfully and poured the Romanée-Conti that had been taken from the deepest corner of the wine cellar into my glass.

Every female who passed by me couldn't help but leave behind either an envious or jealous glance.

Everyone here knew that my fiancé was Jagger Stone. He was the only Alpha heir of the Stone family, the partner every female wolf dreamed of having.

I touched the moonstone necklace resting against my collarbone and smiled with a sense of reassurance and contentment.

The moonstone was something Jagger had personally searched for across three territories just to find for me. Even though our relationship was only a family arrangement, he had never treated me coldly. The sweet words he had once said to me replayed in my mind again and again, making the smile on my lips grow deeper.

At that moment, I still had no idea that before long, everything would become nothing more than a ridiculous joke.

Under the dazzling lights of the ballroom, females in luxurious gowns danced gracefully with their Alpha partners. My eyes searched through the crowd, looking for him.

But in the Stone family's ballroom, I couldn't find Jagger's figure.

I couldn't wait to share with him the moonstone necklace I had redesigned and recreated. Without realizing it, I set down my wine glass and stood up, walking toward the balcony.

The closer I got, the stronger the scent of cedar became. Although I was human, I was familiar with Jagger's scent. I knew I had come to the right place.

The balcony door was open. The cool night breeze entered through the doorway, creating a small current of air. The music from the ballroom gradually became distant. A thin trail of smoke drifted out from the edge of the balcony door, and a hand holding a cigarette flashed briefly into view.

It was Jagger's hand.

The excitement I couldn't suppress pushed me forward. I took another step, until that familiar voice, now carrying an impatience I had never heard before, reached my ears.

"I'm really tired of pretending to be the perfect fiancé."

The smile that had filled my face suddenly became painful. I silently stepped back, returning the foot I had just moved forward.

Those words left me momentarily dazed.

I stood there and forced myself to calm down.

Two black silhouettes stood by the window, their backs facing the light and surrounded by the smoke of cigars. One was the Jagger I knew so well. The other was his closest friend, Pierce Montgomery.

I quietly retreated into the shadow of the heavy velvet curtains. My hands hung weakly at my sides, trembling uncontrollably.

My pride forced me to stay and continue listening.

Pierce seemed to only just realize what Jagger meant. He shifted the arm resting against the railing and slowly exhaled a ring of smoke.

"This is the family's arrangement, man. If I remember correctly, it has something to do with the alliance between your families that has lasted for generations."

Jagger's head tilted slightly. His cold, disdainful laugh reached my ears.

"I'm the only heir of the Stone family, yet I have to be bonded with an ordinary human who can't even sense a wolf's emotions. She can't even understand my feelings. She's more boring than a rock."

The tension made my breath catch in my throat. I quickly covered my mouth, preventing myself from making any sound. My hurried breathing made my throat burn painfully.

"You don't know how fucking fake she is."

Jagger sounded almost frustrated. He took a deep drag before exhaling a thick cloud of smoke into the sky.

"Everyone remembers that rogue wolf attack. Kaitlyn's wrist was scratched and left with a scar, but when Ellery came back, she was completely unharmed. Not a single wound on her body. She used the excuse that everything happened too quickly and she couldn't explain it, but I saw everything."

The cigarette tip flickered with a faint red glow in the darkness, brightening for a moment whenever Jagger took a drag.

"She ran away in panic and left Kaitlyn alone to face those rogues. Kaitlyn was helpless and ended up getting injured by them."

Kaitlyn Preston, Jagger's childhood companion and a female wolf who was always kind and gentle.

The moment I heard that name, my legs nearly gave out. I tightly gripped the curtain beside me, barely managing to keep myself standing.

Before I could even react, a warm drop of water slid down my cheek.

"Are you still hung up on that?" Pierce asked lazily as he turned around, his gaze resting on Jagger. "I remember Kaitlyn has already been abroad for years. Wasn't she there studying jewelry design?"

"She's back." At the mention of her, Jagger's voice noticeably softened. "She's the one who should be beside me. A real female wolf, not a human."

As if remembering something frustrating, he crushed the cigarette in his hand against the railing.

"This engagement makes me feel humiliated. I'm really done with it. Once my father's project is finalized, I don't want to see Ellery Simon's face ever again."

I didn't even realize I had been holding my breath until I heard those words. I quickly covered my mouth, taking a shaky breath and forcing myself not to make a sound.

When I stepped backward, I finally realized my legs were so weak that I could barely stand.

The man who had once crossed mountains and territories to find the thing he loved for me died completely in that moment.

No. They were never the same person.

I lowered my presence as much as possible and retreated back into the ballroom. I wiped away the dried tears on my face. When I faced the crowd again, I had already returned to my calm expression.

"Ellery, your necklace is beautiful!" A passing female clan leader looked at the necklace around my collarbone and sincerely complimented it.

I smiled faintly. "Thank you. This design is already outdated. I'll continue creating a new one."

The female clan leader nodded appreciatively. Her eyes shifted behind me, and then she lowered her gaze and elegantly walked away.

I turned around and saw Jagger and Pierce walking toward me, one after the other.

The moment Jagger met my eyes, the impatience on his face instantly transformed into the familiar gentle expression he always showed me.

He came to my side and naturally reached out to wrap his arm around my waist, but I instinctively stepped aside.

The moment his arm missed its target, the impatient expression immediately returned to his face.

I reached out and picked up a champagne glass from a passing server's tray. Then I nodded politely at him with a faint smile.

"Enjoy your evening, Jagger."

Jagger still tried to reach for me, but I took a step back, put away my smile, and turned to leave.

I could feel his irritated gaze following my thin figure. Maybe it was because of the cold sweat running down my back, but I felt a chill travel through me.

Yet my heart felt strangely lighter. I knew he hated the feeling of losing control.

By the time I realized it, my body's instinct had already brought me back to the top-floor apartment where we lived together.

I didn't turn on the lights. Following my memory, I walked into the master bathroom. The sensor light above the mirror turned on, revealing a lifeless face reflected in the glass, a face drained of all emotion after the devastating blow.

The moonstone resting against my collarbone gave off a faint glow, looking painfully bright.

Slowly, I reached my hand behind my neck. With a gentle twist of my fingertips, the necklace slipped away from both sides of my neck.

As it fell, the moonstone pendant seemed to become infinitely larger in my eyes, as if even time had frozen for a single second.

The next moment, the moonstone struck the floor with a dull crack.

I looked down at it. The clear fractures spreading across the stone completely shattered the final trace of hope I had held for this relationship.

Ellery POV:

The feeling of sadness swept over me like a huge wave. I didn't know when it happened, but I had unknowingly fallen asleep on the sofa, exhausted. When I woke up, the chill of the night still seemed to linger on my body, and I shivered unconsciously.

I smelled the stale scent of expensive whiskey filling the air. I glanced toward the bedroom. His clothes, stained with traces of alcohol, were still scattered on the floor, and the door remained tightly closed. Jagger had been back.

On the coffee table in front of me was a calendar, and today's date was circled. It was Jagger's birthday.

I got up and walked toward the kitchen.

The noise from the kitchen must have woken Jagger. He entered the room with a dark expression on his face.

I noticed his approaching footsteps and casually pushed the glass of freshly filtered fruit juice toward him.

"Happy birthday." The moment the words left my mouth, they sounded even more ironic than I had expected.

It seemed my indifferent response had shattered the composure he had finally regained. His impatience deepened as he frowned."What exactly do you mean by that?"

Jagger had always been impatient and quick-tempered. It was just that before, I had been trapped in the beautiful dream he created for me. Now, everything about him was painfully clear.

I turned around and slowly sipped my own juice. "Nothing. I'm just tired."

The feeling of punching through empty air only made him more irritated. An Alpha's instinct made him unable to tolerate this kind of indifference from his mate.

"Tired?" He let out a cold laugh. "Or are you bringing your embarrassing little designer hobby's emotions back home again?"

My fingers tightened unconsciously around the glass of juice.

I understood. His change in attitude was because the person he had always wanted most had returned.

He no longer had any patience left to spare for me.

And I didn't need it anymore.

"That is my work," I replied calmly. "I have never brought my work emotions home."

"A designer who always prides herself on being rational and composed..." Jagger's voice turned colder, each word laced with contempt. "Yet when the Rogues attacked, you were the first one to panic. You pushed an innocent person in front of you just to save yourself. Don't tell me that was an accident."

"You should never forget the scar left on Kaitlyn's wrist."

I stared at his unwavering expression. The scar on my back, the one that had already healed, suddenly seemed to ache again.

He had always been this stubborn. But before he removed his mask, I thought those stubborn opinions were just his way of caring about me.

Seeing that I remained silent, he probably assumed I was feeling guilty. He decided to stand even higher on his moral ground and continue.

"Kaitlyn knew the Rogues weren't targeting her, yet she still saved you out of kindness. And you pushed her out to take the attack for you. You have no heart!"

"Is that really what you've always thought?"

The face I had once trusted and loved so deeply was now twisted with accusations directed at me. A cold sensation spread through my entire body.

"This is the truth!" He didn't hesitate for even a second. This was the truth he had already decided on, regardless of his blurred memories or Kaitlyn's one-sided story.

No matter what, it would never be my explanation.

I couldn't help but laugh. For the first time, I truly felt what it meant to be completely powerless.

At that moment, my phone lit up with a new notification. It was a reminder from the restaurant where I had made a reservation for tonight. A month ago, I had booked that table for Jagger's birthday at his favorite restaurant. Without thinking, I forwarded the reminder to him.

His phone chimed. He opened it almost immediately, as if afraid of missing something important. But when he saw the message was from me, his expression subtly changed.

I picked up the unfinished glass of juice and walked past him, pouring it into the sink. The sound of running water mixed with my cold voice.

"Don't be late tonight." The relationship between Jagger and me, along with our engagement, needed to come to an end.

I walked out of the kitchen without looking back at him.

That night, I arrived at the restaurant on time.

The crisp clinking of wine glasses mixed with laughter and conversation filled the elegant dining room. I sat there expressionlessly, cutting my steak and eating quietly.

The atmosphere between Jagger and me was completely out of place with the warmth surrounding us.

While eating, Jagger occasionally glanced at me from the corner of his eye. It seemed like he was waiting for me to say something, waiting for me to soften first.

Several times, he almost reached his utensils toward my plate, only to pull them back.

That was the greatest concession he was willing to make when he believed I was refusing to submit to him.

Finally, as if he couldn't stand it anymore, Jagger spoke in a low voice. "Are you still angry about what happened this morning? You didn't even come here with me."

I ignored him and continued mechanically cutting my steak.

Jagger hated being ignored more than anything.

Suddenly, he slammed his hand against the table, drawing the attention of nearby guests. Then, in a voice loud enough for those around us to hear, he said: "You are always like this. Whenever something happens, you act like it has nothing to do with you. No wonder you pushed Kaitlyn away and let her take the attack for you when the Rogues came."

He thought those cruel words would hurt me. But my feelings for him had already disappeared along with the moonstone that shattered yesterday.

Under the curious gazes around us, I calmly put down my knife and fork, folded my hands in front of me, and looked at him without expression.

"Are you finished?"

Confusion flashed across Jagger's face.

I picked up the linen napkin beside my plate and gently wiped the corner of my mouth. My gaze fell on the wine glass glowing faintly purple under the light. Then I lifted it with my free hand.

Jagger thought I was finally giving in and raising a glass to him. He immediately sat back, wearing that arrogant expression again.

"Let me tell you, even if you..."

The crystal-clear red wine flew through the air in a perfect arc. It landed directly on Jagger's arrogant face, flowing down onto his expensive white shirt.

The sudden movement attracted even more attention from the surrounding guests. Almost everyone in the restaurant witnessed the humiliating state of the Stone family's heir.

Jagger shot to his feet, his face filled with embarrassment and fury. "Ellery!"

I calmly placed the empty glass back on the table.

Then I looked directly into his eyes, staring at the handsome face I once believed I would love for the rest of my life.

"Happy birthday, Jagger," I said clearly and firmly. "Consider this my last gift to you."

His expression turned into disbelief again. Strangely, seeing that reaction gave me a small sense of satisfaction. I spoke calmly.

"This will be the last birthday I spend with you."

Jagger was still consumed by the humiliation and anger. Before he could fully process my words, I calmly picked up my bag, stood gracefully, and walked away.

Only after I stepped outside the restaurant did the cool night breeze brush against my face and pull me out of the anger I had been suppressing. I steadied myself and took a deep breath.

My phone vibrated inside my handbag. I took it out and opened the chat. The conversation was filled with messages where I had told my friend about Jagger's cruel behavior.

At the very bottom was a message from my best friend, Chloe.

"Is it over? I'm waiting for you at The Daily Grind. Forget that bastard."

Ellery POV:

When I entered the café, the bell above the door rang softly.

I immediately spotted Chloe Sullivan sitting in the center of the café. Her fiery red hair cascaded like flowing lava, representing her free-spirited and rebellious personality. The moment she saw me, a flash of joy appeared in her amber eyes, but it quickly turned into dissatisfaction and anger.

Chloe was a female wolf from an allied pack, and she was the only true friend I had in this world.

"This is for you." She pushed a cup of steaming hot cocoa into my hands. "You look terrible."

The messages we exchanged yesterday were only a small part of everything. I told her in detail what had happened last night all over again, including what happened at the restaurant just moments ago.

Chloe slammed her hand on the table in anger, causing the cup to jump slightly from the impact.

"That bastard! Who does he think he is to say those things about you? He must have lost his mind!" Chloe's anger made her suddenly stand up, leaning forward across the table.

"You are the one who saved Kaitlyn," she said, desperately trying to control her emotions and lower her voice. "The scar on your back was left because you took the Rogue attack for her. You're a woman, and you were left with a scar like that because of her. I..."

"Enough."

I looked at Chloe gently and motioned for her to sit down.

Only then did Chloe reluctantly pout and sit back down, but she still leaned forward, as if afraid I wouldn't hear her defending me. "That scar on Kaitlyn's wrist isn't even that serious. A scratch from a kitten would probably leave a deeper mark. So why does it become such a huge deal when it's her?"

Hearing the truth being spoken so plainly by my best friend eased the tightness in my chest. After a moment, I smiled faintly and said, "It has nothing to do with how serious the injury was. What matters is the person. He only believes everything she says."

"Are you really going to let him continue living in his stupidity like this?" Chloe grabbed my hand, her gaze firm. "I can't stand watching you just let this go."

Seeing the desire for revenge in Chloe's eyes, I immediately held her hand back and tried to calm her down. "No, it's not time for that yet. I want to return to the career that truly belongs to me."

I told her that my design contract with Stone Holdings was about to expire. I had no intention of renewing it.

"Under Stone Holdings, I am nothing more than 'Jagger's designer fiancée.' All my achievements are attributed to his reputation and his influence."

A hint of excitement flashed in Chloe's eyes. "Are you saying you want to work independently and open your own studio?"

I nodded. "Yes. I need a partner. Someone who understands this industry, someone I can completely trust." I looked directly at her.

Chloe stared at me for a few seconds before understanding what I was implying. She was also a talented designer, but she had always been held back by the expectations placed on her by her own pack.

"Oh my God, Ellery! You want to work with me?" Her voice trembled with excitement, and she stood up again.

"You're the best person for this, Chloe." I looked at her helplessly.

But neither of us let go of each other's tightly held hands.

We quickly immersed ourselves in our new plans.

Inside the café, our voices intertwined with excitement and passion. The brand name, design philosophy, target customers, every detail was discussed and refined by the two of us.

For the first time in these past two days, a genuine smile returned to my face, blooming for a future that I would create myself and that truly belonged to me.

Suddenly, Chloe paused as if she remembered something. "Oh, right. Look at this."

She took out her tablet and opened a social media application.

The screen showed Kaitlyn Preston's profile. Her latest post was a selfie.

In the photo, Kaitlyn was standing inside one of the offices at Stone Holdings that once belonged to me. On the design desk behind her were the unfinished sketches I had submitted last week.

Those were the designs I had spent countless nights revising and poured my heart into.

The caption read: "A new beginning. I am very grateful to Jagger for giving me this opportunity. I will work hard and learn everything I can."

Those simple words felt like a public declaration that she had already taken my place.

I stared at the photo. The warmth that had risen on my face because of my new future slowly faded away, eventually turning into a silent stillness.

"She has already started publicly taking your place," Chloe said in a low voice, her tone filled with anger.

I placed my hand over the tablet and pushed it back toward her. After a moment, a cold smile appeared on my lips.

"Good. I hope she truly has enough ability to handle everything she has gained."

I took out my phone and dialed the Human Resources Department of Stone Holdings. "Hello, this is Ellery Simon. I would like to schedule a meeting tomorrow morning to formally complete the procedures for not renewing my contract after it expires."

The person on the other end briefly confirmed my decision and informed me that the process would begin immediately.

The moment I hung up the phone, I finally felt that I had completely drawn a line between myself and my past life.

And I would never look back again.

I left the café and returned to the new apartment I had chosen to rent. I focused all my attention on the new future that was about to begin.