Chapter 3

After handling everything, I returned home.

As soon as I pushed open the door, I smelled sickly sweet perfume in the air, and the musky scent of sex.

The living room lights were off. Only warm yellow light leaked from under the bedroom door that was left slightly ajar, along with... some scattered, sticky sounds.

My heartbeat skipped. I walked over quietly.

Two intertwined figures rose and fell on my bed. Tiffany's long hair was messily scattered across Matthew's pillow, her nails digging deep into his sweat-slicked back.

Matthew was panting low, with an obsession I'd never heard before.

No screaming. No questioning.

I gently closed the door, shutting that sordid scene behind me.

Then I took what few personal belongings I had and moved into a hotel.

Fortunately, Matthew had always refused to Mark me all these years.

Now I didn't need to worry about how to break a mate bond.

Early the next morning, I went to the company with my packed luggage to resign.

Beta Thompson knew my identity and my relationship with Matthew. He was still trying to convince me to stay.

Just then, Matthew walked in carrying documents.

My eyes caught sight of the kiss marks on his neck and Tiffany's perfume scent all over him.

Clearly he'd been very satisfied last night.

He used to hate when I left marks on him, saying it affected his work.

So when we were intimate, I tried hard to control myself, or just gripped the sheets instead.

He didn't dislike being marked—he just didn't want it to be by me.

As soon as he walked in, the supervisor immediately spoke up.

"Beta Thompson, your girlfriend wants to resign. Did you two have a fight?"

"It has nothing to do with him."

"You want to resign?"

Two voices rang out simultaneously. In the corner of my eye, I saw his gaze fixed tightly on me, lips pressed together.

"Sure enough, you're angry I cancelled the proposal ceremony yesterday, aren't you?"

Beta Thompson tactfully left to give us space.

The moment the door closed, he stepped forward to question me.

"I already told you yesterday Tiffany hurt her leg, that's why I cancelled. How can you be so petty?"

I tried to stay calm, looking up to lie.

"I'm not angry. I'm resigning because I'm tired and want to take a vacation and rest."

He crossed his arms, frowning in confusion.

"If you want a vacation, just take paid leave. If you suddenly resign like this, people will think you have a problem with Tiffany. How can she stay at the company then?"

He'd forgotten.

This year I'd already used up all my paid leave on every cancelled proposal ceremony of his.

And people's alienation of Tiffany was largely because she lacked ability but was hired through special treatment.

Just because Tiffany reminded him of his own fragile human mother.

I shifted my gaze back to the lipstick mark on his neck, saying nothing.

He noticed and instinctively covered his neck.

"I accidentally scratched myself. Don't overthink it."

I laughed coldly inside. This excuse was too clumsy.

Werewolves had extremely strong healing abilities. How could such a mark remain?

But I nodded, not exposing his lie.

Matthew breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking I'd calmed down, he smiled and put his arm around my shoulders.

"That's more like it. Being generous is what qualifies you to stand by my side. Stop making a fuss about resigning. Tonight I'll take you to Moonlight Restaurant for French food, okay? Consider it compensation."

I still didn't speak. He took it as agreement.

The thought of saying a proper goodbye was pushed down inside me. Now I didn't want to tell him about going to New York.

"Matthew!"

Just then, Tiffany pushed the door open without knocking.

Matthew was startled and immediately let go of me.

Tiffany smiled apologetically.

"Sorry to interrupt your date with Lily, but I had no choice. I don't quite understand this project..."

Hearing this, Matthew walked toward her without looking back, taking the documents from Tiffany's hands and asking patiently what she didn't understand.

Tiffany deliberately stood very close. The two of them whispered in front of me, forming a barrier.

Then Tiffany pulled Matthew outside. The moment the door closed, she turned back with a provocative smile.

In that instant, I saw the clear bite mark on her neck.

No wonder he didn't want to Mark me. He'd already fallen in love with that human.

In the empty room, only my breathing could be heard.

The next second, the gemstone necklace around my neck fell and shattered on the floor.

Without reason.

That was the anniversary gift Matthew gave me on our first year together. He'd said he hoped our relationship would be like that gemstone—forever beautiful and solid.

I was silent for a long time, finally calmly cleaning up the fragments, along with what remained of my reluctance to let go, throwing it all in the trash.

After getting Alpha Silas's approval, I returned to my workstation to hand over my remaining work.

Chris, the colleague taking over from me, usually got along well with me. Learning I was leaving, she seemed reluctant to part.

"Lily, are you really leaving?"

"Then won't I have to watch those two showing off in front of me every day!"

Following her gaze, Matthew was explaining the project to Tiffany.

Tiffany seemed unhappy after being mildly scolded by Matthew.

Matthew sighed and suddenly pulled out a sparkling platinum diamond bracelet from his suit pocket.

She immediately broke into a smile, putting it on right there, even holding it up to the light to look at it.

Then she met my eyes and stood up in apparent panic.

"Lily, Matthew and I have no relationship. It's just an ordinary bracelet!"

As soon as she said this, everyone's eyes immediately wandered between her and me.

In three years of dating, the most expensive gift Matthew ever gave me was probably that necklace that just shattered.

And Tiffany, who'd only been here less than a year, had already received bags, shoes, and now a diamond bracelet.

Everyone thought I was pitiful.

Even Chris standing beside me was indignant on my behalf.

"You're still boyfriend and girlfriend, and they're playing you for a fool!"

I pressed down on her hand, shaking my head repeatedly, signaling her not to impulsively start a fight, then continued looking at Tiffany.

"The bracelet is very sparkly. It suits you."

Tiffany, not seeing me lose my temper, seemed unwilling and continued.

"Lily, it's really not expensive. Please don't be angry at Matthew..."

I just found it baffling.

Angry? No need.

My mother's jewelry box had countless bracelets like this. I just never wore them to the company.

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