Chapter 4

The next morning, as I packed my things to leave the clinic, I bumped into Daniel at the corner of the hallway.

His eyes weren't on me. All his attention was focused on the girl beside him.

She was wearing a patient gown, looking pale and fragile, clinging to him like a frightened little deer.

So, this was the girl who made him abandon me at our own ceremony.

Perhaps my gaze was too heavy, because Sophia noticed me first. She instinctively shrank behind Daniel, her fingers gripping his coat.

Only then did Daniel look up. His brows furrowed immediately, his tone laced with impatience.

"Emily, Sophia is very fragile right now. Let’s talk at home. Don't make a scene here and scare her."

Sophia peeked out from behind him, her voice barely a whisper.

"Emily, there's nothing going on between Daniel and me... Please don't misunderstand."

I gripped my medical report, my knuckles turning white, but I forced a smile.

"You’re overthinking. I'm just here to get my prescription from the healer."

With that, I ignored them and walked past.

Daniel's expression flickered with confusion. He hadn't expected me to be this calm, and a sudden emptiness seemed to wash over him.

He reached out to grab me. I instinctively turned, and my eyes fell on the dirt smudge on his jacket.

His eyes followed mine. Seeing me shrink back, he took off his jacket and tried to drape it over my shoulders, but I dodged him.

He froze, then tried to take my bag.

"Let me carry that. Since you love this jacket so much, I’ll take it back and have it dry-cleaned for you."

I shook my head and threw the jacket straight into a nearby trash can, my voice flat.

"Just throw it away. I don't like things that are stained. You know I'm a perfectionist."

Seeing my cold face, Daniel's smile stiffened.

He knew I wasn't just talking about the jacket. I was talking about us.

Before he could say another word, I turned and walked away.

Not long after I left the clinic, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Daniel:

*Don't be mad at me. I ordered those chocolate tarts you love from that bakery downtown. Make sure to eat them.*

When the delivery arrived, I stared at the familiar pink box and smiled bitterly.

In the past, whenever he made me angry, he would always buy these tarts to coax me.

I took a bite mechanically.

It used to taste so sweet. Now, it just tasted like ash.

Daniel didn't come home that night.

Ending a seven-year relationship was far more painful than I had imagined.

I couldn't sleep. By midnight, I got out of bed and started packing my things.

The matching hoodies in the closet, the photo frames lined up on the bookshelf, the sticky notes on the fridge...

Every single item felt like a thorn covered in memories.

I remembered the year Daniel had just become Alpha. He was drowning in work.

Yet, he would still run to see me during his few hours off, his eyes shining like stars.

"Emily, once I get the pack settled, we’ll have our mate ceremony."

Three years later, he stood before me with a diamond ring, his voice trembling.

"I did it. I built us a home. I kept my promise."

The sun was so bright that day. I held him and cried for a long time, believing I was the luckiest girl alive.

We decorated our house together, planting sunflowers on the balcony because I loved them.

He said he wanted our home to always be filled with sunshine.

But now, this house had no room left for me.

By the time I taped up the last moving box, the sky was turning gray.

When the moving truck arrived, both of our families showed up.

I hadn't told my parents about Daniel yet, so they still didn't understand why a couple who was supposed to be mated two days ago was suddenly splitting up.

My parents sighed but didn't push. They only said, "If you want to come home, just come home."

But Linda held my hand, refusing to let go.

"Emily, please give Daniel another chance, okay? What happened at the ceremony... he was just confused..."

I remained silent, letting the movers carry the boxes.

Just as Linda was about to beg further, the front door opened.

Daniel walked in.

And he brought Sophia with him.

***