Chapter 6

Carl's panic lasted only a few seconds.

His gaze flickered over my hand pressed against my wound, then settled on Bianca's trembling shoulders.

He frowned, muttering under his breath as if convincing himself. "It's just a reopened wound. The hospital's close. She can handle it."

His words stung like a needle piercing my eardrum.

I watched him carefully help Bianca up, even brushing dust off her skirt.

The tenderness in his actions was something I never received.

Bianca leaned into his arms, throwing me a provocative glance over her shoulder.

A triumphant smirk curled her lips.

Carl guided Bianca toward his car, not sparing me another look.

The driver approached me, his voice anxious. "Ma'am, are you okay? Should I take you to the hospital?"

I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, my voice shaky but firm. "Please, take me to the nearest hospital."

When we arrived, I could barely stand, clinging to the car door.

Blood had soaked through my clothes, drawing gasps from passing nurses.

They supported me as we hurried toward the emergency room.

At the corridor's corner, I ran into Arthur, dressed in his white coat.

His pupils contracted when he saw my state.

He rushed to my side, grabbing my arm.

His voice brimmed with concern and anger. "How did this happen? Where's Carl? Didn't he come to pick you up?"

I shook my head, too weak to explain, my vision blurring.

Arthur immediately called for a wheelchair and pushed me to the operating room himself.

As the surgical lights flared, his hand paused, holding the forceps. "Is he worth getting yourself into this state?"

The sharp scent of disinfectant stung my eyes.

I stared at Arthur's focused profile as he tended to my wound.

I remembered the day of my bonding, when Arthur warned me that Carl loved someone else.

Back then, Carl's "honesty" blinded me, and I trusted the Moon Goddess's blessing.

Now, with the searing pain in my wound, my heart finally crumbled completely.

"Arthur," I whispered, my voice heavy with unprecedented exhaustion. "I regret it."

Arthur's movements froze, and he looked up at me.

Surprise flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by empathy.

He set down the forceps, gently pressing gauze against my wound, his voice soft. "At least you haven't lost all sense."

After the surgery, Arthur sat by my bed.

He held a document and slid it toward me. "I contacted Felix, a jewelry design mentor from the Silverlight Tribe. Didn't you always want to study further? I've handled the initial paperwork. If you agree, you can leave next week."

I looked at the familiar university name on the document, the place I dreamed of before my bonding.

Felix was a friend of Arthur's father. He must have prepared this long ago.

But Carl had said, "As my Luna, you can't go anywhere."

My dreams were shelved.

Now Arthur placed that hope back in my hands.

A spark reignited in my eyes.

I looked up at him, my eyes warm with tears. "Thank you."

He held my gaze, then reached out and ruffled my hair. "You deserve better."