Chapter 2 He marked Ella

RUBY~

I stood frozen in the grand foyer, my heart pounding as I heard his words echoed in my mind: "Let's get divorced."

The weight of his declaration weighed over me like a tidal wave, leaving me breathless. Did he just say he wanted a divorce? I mean, asking me, Ruby Moon, who gave him my kidney? On our wedding anniversary while the guests are still outside waiting for us? No! He can't do that.

"Michael, please," I quickly implored, stepping forward, desperation clawing at my voice. "Can we just talk about this? I know things are complicated right now, but we can work through it. I can't lose you! We have been married for years, Mich, we share the same kidney, we promised not to leave each other, didn't we?"

He turned his cold gaze toward me, and the distance between us felt like an insurmountable chasm.

"Ruby, there's nothing left to discuss," he said flatly, his tone devoid of the warmth it once held. I could feel the chill of his rejection wrapping around me, suffocating my hopes. "The mate pull is irresistible; I have to mark or at least... at least bed her tonight. I'm sorry."

"You can't make this decision so quickly; you can't be sure this is not the first time you will be meeting each other, right?" I urged again as my heart raced with fear.

Michael didn't respond; he simply walked past me, his body language signaling an unwillingness to engage.

Desperate for answers, I hesitated only for a moment before following him quietly, hoping to understand the reason behind the sudden request for a divorce. Rejecting his mate is not a big deal; why should we have to divorce for that?

I loved him, and it was clear as day that he did too, until now.

As he slipped out of the house to the garden where the ceremony is held, I rushed after him, but as I made to step out after him, my leg hit the steep stair, and I groaned in pain.

"Mich, help me! I hurt my leg!" I called out, but this man walked amidst the crowd, and before everyone could notice him, Ella shot out of the gathering and rushed into his arms.

The sight sent a pang of jealousy through me, twisting my stomach. From the steep stairs, I watched my husband hug my stepsister Ella tightly and savor her scent.

I was unable to hear their voices, but I am sure Ella just whispered into his ears, something that made him smile but made my heart more clenched. A deep-seated ache settled in my chest. I felt I could turn back the hand of time and warm him against this ceremony.

No, I can't let my husband go like this; the pain I endured when my kidney was removed came back freshly to my memories.

Despite the pain in my knee, I stepped on the stairs and walked to the open garden. Over my dead body will I let Ella snatch my man. Mate or not.

With a boldness that made my stomach churn, I moved towards them, but before I could get any closer, what I heard was Ella's moan.

She was not hurt. She wasn't fucked either, but right here before me, Michael's fangs were in her neck.

Ella's eyes met mine; I caught her smirk through her pains; he just marked her. I mean, Michael... Michael marked my sister!

"Oh look, Beta Michael is already marking his wife." Someone amidst the crowd yelled, and then everyone turned their heads.

I quickly turned around so no one would see my face.

"Ruby looks so good in that blue gown; what brand is that?"

Damn! I looked back; Ella was wearing the same clothes as mine. Did she plan this beforehand?

After marking her, she wrapped her arms around Michael's neck, pulling him down for a kiss.

The sight of them together makes me want to purge, as it sent a shockwave of betrayal through me. Michael responded with an ease that made it clear this was not their first moment of meeting or intimacy.

He had betrayed me. Michael already bedded Ella; it was very obvious. My heart raced as I quickly fought back my tears while hiding my face through my disheveled hair. The disgrace will be too much if all the guests saw me watching while my husband marks my sister.

Seeing me there fueled Ella's boldness, as she leaned deeper into Michael, deepening their kiss, a silent declaration that she was now the one who held his heart.

As if sensing my gaze, Michael finally turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable as he caught sight of me. We both looked into each other's eyes; unspoken, invincible emotions flowed in.

I felt a rush of heat flood my cheeks, a mixture of shame and defiance weighing over me. It won't matter to him anyway, so I turned around and left the garden. It is over, obviously.

I ran to our room with tears and stood at the entrance, the memories of happy days flodded in. 'Is it really over?' This is the question that keeps replaying itself in my brain as my eyes drifted over the room, and there, lying on the bed in plain sight, were the divorce papers.

A shiver ran through me as I stared at them. Each page was crisp and clean, the lines of legal jargon stark and cold.

I felt a pang of sorrow at the sight, but also a strange sense of relief. Here, laid out before me, was the finality of everything-the proof that the life I had built with Michael was ending.

I loved him and wanted his happiness. If his happiness lies with Ella, then so be it. I will give him what he wanted. My fingers trembled slightly as I picked up the pen, hovering over the signature line.

For a moment, I hesitated, not because of anything but remembering the promises he made to me, remembering that even giving him my kidney is useless; I masked my fears and signed the goddamned papers!

As I placed the pen down, a tear slid down my pale cheeks, but I quickly wiped it away. This is my reality now; I am not his mate, and he doesn't want me anymore, so be it.

I packed my bags and took one last look at the room, which carries all of our memories; I hissed and left.