Chapter 3

As Chloe was pulled away, her foot slipped, and she fell to the floor.

The porcelain teacup shattered, and a sharp shard pierced her palm. Wolf blood pooled on the smooth marble floor.

Through the glass walls of the conference room, Silas saw her fall. With hundreds of elite werewolves watching him, he slammed his files down, pushed open the door, strode over, and pulled Chloe into his arms.

"Who the fuck hurt her?!" His Alpha aura erupted instantly, freezing and suffocating.

The well-meaning coworker stumbled back, pale and trembling.

"I did it," I lied. "She got what she deserved."

Chloe glared at me through tear-filled eyes and cried out, "That's right, I deserve it! It's my fault for falling in love with a mated Alpha! It's my fault for letting people call me a homewrecker!"

"But Silas," she sobbed, clutching tightly to his shirt, "as long as you love me, I'll always stay by your side. No one can tear us apart."

She cried so beautifully. Even while saying something so ridiculous, she still looked brave and devoted.

Silas let out a soft chuckle, and the oppressive tension dissipated. He wiped away her tears with his thumb. "Be good. Look at you, crying like a little pup."

He really was different with her.

I lowered my eyes, too exhausted to watch anymore. "It's my birthday today," I said to Silas. "I want a hundred thousand dollars."

It was both tragic and comical. Our marriage was blessed by the Moon Goddess, yet our mind-link had been closed off for ages. I never reached out to him unless I needed money.

Silas always hated me, calling me a gold digger. Yet, in the past, whenever I asked for money, he would sign the check without hesitation.

But today was different. He looked at me, a cruel, mocking smile playing on his lips. "You want money? Fine."

"But Aria," he drawled, "bow your arrogant head and apologize to Chloe first."

He was actually trying to buy my dignity with a hundred thousand dollars, just to get an apology for Chloe.

This was the first time he had used his wealth to humiliate me, all for the sake of another woman.

I slowly clenched my fists, a faint smile ghosting my lips. I swallowed the metallic taste of blood rising in my throat and turned toward the elevator.

Suddenly, I didn't want the money anymore.

I found myself gripped by a morbid curiosity.

Silas, I thought, if you knew that money was just to buy me a little more time... to make my descent into death a little less agonizing, if you knew how much I suffered before I died... what kind of face would you make?