Chapter 7

Ashley's POV

Silvia faked her health issues to play the victim.

And the idiotic, arrogant Alpha-my ex-husband-willingly became her sharpest weapon, discarding me without hesitation.

My stomach churned violently, but this time, it wasn't because of pregnancy. No, it was pure, uncontrollable disgust. Brian, the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack, could have uncovered the truth in countless ways if he cared to.

But he didn't. He didn't even doubt her for a second. He swallowed her lies whole because he wanted to believe them. Because those lies handed him the perfect excuse to dump me and rekindle his new flame.

I was deceived. My husband, my marriage, the three years of effort and pain I endured-everything was built on a ridiculous lie. That woman, with her fake tears and fragile act, not only stole my husband but also turned me into the laughingstock of the entire pack.

I bent down, picking up the papers one by one. I didn't rip them apart. Instead, I carefully placed them back into the brown envelope.

Why expose her?

No.

I'm not going to do it. Brian deserves this. The best punishment for him is to let him stay deep in those lies, give everything for her, and then finally discover the truth. He should understand what it feels like to be betrayed by someone you thought you loved.

I locked the file folder in the safe, taking a deep breath to force myself to calm down. Walking over to my desk, I pressed the intercom button.

"Leo, come in. We need to go over the Moonlight Salon plans."

A few seconds later, my assistant Leo knocked and stepped in. Full of energy and highly capable, he handed me a document. "Ms. Rebecca," he said, placing it in front of me, "here's the initial layout and guest list."

I took the folder, but my mind was elsewhere. Then, suddenly, Leo's phone rang, its sharp tone cutting through the silence. He glanced at the caller ID, hesitation flashing across his face.

"Ma'am, it's Alpha Brian."

My heart clenched, tightening painfully in my chest.

"Answer it," I said, my tone calm and devoid of any emotion.

Leo hit the speaker button. "Good evening, Alpha Brian," he greeted politely.

"I need your assistance," Brian's deep, commanding voice came through the line with that undeniable air of authority. "I want one of my wife's paintings to be showcased at the upcoming Moonlight Salon."

My wife.

For just a second, my breath caught in my throat.

He still remembers that I love painting? That passion he once dismissed as a "pointless hobby," the one I buried deep in my heart-he remembers? A faint, almost laughable flicker of warmth stirred in my chest for half a second.

"She's always loved painting," Brian's voice continued, carrying an uncharacteristic trace of gentleness. "Her work is incredibly talented."

But the next moment, that flicker was extinguished completely, doused by a bucket of ice-cold water.

Because I heard Silvia's frail yet overdone voice: "Oh, Brian, don't say that, you're making me blush..."

So, the "wife" he spoke of was Silvia. The "incredibly talented work" he admired belonged to another woman.

Leo, my assistant, responded with his usual professional tone, "I'm sorry, Alpha. All the submissions for this salon were finalized two weeks ago. If you're interested, you can apply for the next selection round."

"The next one?" Brian's voice chilled instantly, dripping with arrogance, as though he couldn't believe someone dared to refuse him. "Do you know who you're talking to?"

"Brian, don't be like this..." Silvia's voice came in right on cue, trembling as if she might break into sobs at any moment. "I... I might not make it to the next one... I just wanted... wanted to leave something behind before I go. Please, sir, just think of it as granting a dying woman's final wish, will you?"

What a performance. The Oscars seriously owe her a trophy.

Leo turned to me helplessly, his eyes filled with silent pleading for guidance.

I took the phone from his hand, walked to the window, and lowered my voice, speaking in that cold and distant tone that belonged to "Rebecca": "Miss, we don't know you. The gallery has no obligation to fulfill the last wishes of a stranger. Rules are rules."

There was a brief silence on the other end, and then Brian's anger erupted. "You're absolutely heartless! All she wants is to showcase one painting! Can't you have even a shred of compassion?!"

"Compassion isn't a valid reason to break the rules, Alpha," I replied, completely unfazed.

I had the final say in this matter, and I simply didn't want her painting displayed.

"I command you!" Brian's Alpha authority came through the phone, his voice carrying that familiar dominance, trying to force me to comply. "Give her a spot now!"

I let out a short, derisive laugh, dripping with disdain. "Let me remind you, Alpha Brian. The Rose Gallery, while under the wolf alliance, isn't part of Blackwood Pack. You have no authority to order me around."

And with that, I ended the call.

The world fell into silence. I leaned against the icy glass window, and memories came rushing back like a flood.

I remembered, back then, when I shyly told him I loved painting. He'd barely reacted, just frowned a little and said, "You're the Luna now. Shouldn't you focus on more meaningful things?"

From that day forward, I never picked up a paintbrush again. The grand Alpha Manor had a greenhouse, a gym, a home theater-but not a single space that could be called my studio.

And now, for Silvia, this woman who only knew how to disguise herself with lies and tears, he, the Alpha, had set aside his pride to plead with a "stranger."

The difference between love and indifference could really be that stark, that cruel.

My chest felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand, the pain so sharp I could hardly breathe. I let out a bitter laugh. This was the man I had loved all these years.

"Ms. Rebecca?" Leo finally broke the silence cautiously. "Alpha Brian sent a message... He said, no matter what, he hopes you'll take a look at his wife's artwork."

Attached to the message was an image.

I was ready to delete it without a second thought, but against all reason, I clicked on it.

I froze.

The moment I saw the painting, I changed my mind.

I would accept Silvia's work for public display.