Chapter 3

When I opened my eyes, I was lying in a community Healer clinic.

My entire body felt like it had been run over by a semi-truck. I forced myself to sit up.

"My baby... how is my baby?"

The Healer looked at me with pity.

"I'm sorry... it's gone."

My mind went completely blank.

James. He had killed our baby with his own hands.

Suddenly, my phone started vibrating like crazy.

"Elaine Carter, you shameless homewrecker! You’re fired!"

"Stealing someone else’s boyfriend? A bitch like you should just die!"

"If you're that desperate, go sell yourself. Stop ruining other people's lives!"

A flood of hateful messages from coworkers and strangers popped up on my screen.

Nina had posted online, accusing me of being a mistress!

My body was incredibly weak after the miscarriage. Suddenly, a sharp, stabbing pain gripped my chest.

I clutched my heart, unable to stop a cry of agony from escaping my lips.

Right then, James called.

My voice trembled violently.

"James... we’ve been together for seven years!"

I came from a poor family and worked multiple part-time jobs during college.

On the day he confessed to me, James had held a bouquet of flowers, looking incredibly solemn.

"Elaine, I might be poor right now, but I will do everything in my power to give you a better life. I will never let you suffer."

When we were together, even if we could only afford instant ramen, James would always give me the only egg.

But now, he paused for a second before speaking coldly.

"Nina is young and insecure. She just posted that to blow off some steam. Don't make a big deal out of it."

"You're not at home. Where are you?"

All the misery and unfairness I had bottled up finally erupted. I choked out through my tears:

"I'm at the Healer Clinic. Our—"

"Elaine, you’re not a teenager anymore. Throwing a fit and running away from home is getting old."

Before I could finish, James cut me off impatiently.

His voice was completely indifferent.

"Your health has always been great. You used to work three part-time jobs a day without complaining. How could you suddenly be sick? Stop faking it."

"Nina is emotionally unstable right now. Come over and apologize to her."

I couldn't believe my ears.

"Nina lied and got me cyberbullied, and you want me to apologize to her?"

"Am I supposed to just watch her get dragged online until she kills herself?" James’s voice flared with anger. Seeing my silence, his tone dropped.

"Elaine, I'm the one paying for your mother’s hospital bills."

My heart froze.

My mom’s health was terrible. She had been admitted to the ICU three times this year.

The astronomical medical bills had nearly crushed me.

Seeing how stressed I was, James had taken the initiative to move my mom to the VIP ward and covered all the expenses.

He told me he got the spot through a pack application, and I believed him.

I had worked myself to the bone to save money, hoping to pay him back.

I wanted our relationship to be on equal footing.

And now, he was using my dying mother to blackmail me.

An overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over me. I suddenly realized there was no point in arguing anymore.

With tears streaming down my face, I nodded. I followed the address James sent and arrived at the Silver Creek Pack estate.

The miscarriage had left me completely drained.

I could barely drag my feet forward, but the security guards blocked me at the gate.

"I'm here to see James. I'm his girlfriend."

The guard looked at me suspiciously.

His eyes went blank for a second, as if receiving a telepathic order. When he snapped out of it, he let me through, his face full of disgust.

"Everyone knows Alpha James's mate is Miss Nina Shaw. Unbelievable. These days, even side chicks have the nerve to show up at the front door."

When he saw me, a smug smile appeared on James’s face, as if everything was within his calculations.

"Be good, and I’ll keep paying for Mrs. Carter’s medical bills."

He led me to the Silver Creek Pack’s grand hall.

"In front of the entire pack later, admit that you tried to get between Nina and me, and apologize to her."

I snapped my head up, staring at him.

"You're calling me the homewrecker?"

Nina let out a soft giggle.

"James has already announced me as the pack’s Luna. If you’re not the homewrecker, then who is? Me?"

James didn't answer my question.

Instead, he frowned, handed me a piece of paper, and said, "Elaine, be good."

"Just read what's on here. Don't feel pressured. It’ll be over soon."

The paper was filled with lies, stating that I had tried to seduce James out of jealousy to ruin his relationship with Nina.