Chapter 4

I peeked through the door; Lily lay motionless on the bed, her breathing faint.

The man jerked his arm away.

"Alpha Collins's son fell ill. The Alpha ordered every Healer and medical specialist in the territory to report immediately."

"You can't leave!"

My voice cracked in raw agony. I frantically whipped out my cards.

"How much did he pay you?! I'll double it! Just cure my daughter!"

Terrified he would refuse, I pulled up my phone to transfer the funds on the spot.

That was when I finally saw the memo on the transfer:

It was Jason's rental fee for hiring the healer away from me.

"Ma'am, this isn't about money," the man said coldly. "The Alpha commanded it. I value my life."

No matter how I begged, he pried my fingers off his sleeve one by one and hurried away.

My daughter lay in that room, abandoned.

She was just one step away from freedom. And now, because of her own father, she was left there to die.

A message from Amanda pinged on my phone.

The photo showed Henry with a few minor red hives on his arm.

Yet three doctors were fussing around his bedside.

Jason sat on the edge of the bed, lovingly feeding Henry a slice of strawberry shortcake—Lily's favorite cake.

Amanda's voice note dripped with venomous delight:

"Jennifer Collins, didn't you brag about only wanting money and not needing a man?"

"How does it feel to watch your daughter rot right in front of your eyes?"

"If you hadn't come back to reclaim the Luna title, maybe I would've spared your kid some pity money."

"You only have your own arrogance to blame for killing your daughter."

My grip tightened until the glass screen cracked.

Seconds felt like years.

I dialed Jason's private number over and over again.

Not a single call went through.

Seeing Lily's pulse growing weaker by the second, I switched on my camera, sobbing hysterically into the lens:

"Amanda, you can have Jason! He's all yours! Just send the healer back, please!"

"I'll wire every single cent he ever gave me to your account!"

"Once Lily is saved, I swear we'll disappear forever! We'll never bother your family again!"

The moment I sent the video, Jason called back.

He didn't even wait for me to speak before roaring into the receiver:

"Jennifer Collins! I only reassigned one doctor, cut the damn theatricals!"

"To frame Amanda, you're even willing to fake your own daughter's death?!"

Amanda sniffled softly in the background. "Jason, it's all my fault. Henry felt sick at the wrong time and kept you away from Jennifer..."

Jason let out a bitter sneer.

"Jennifer Collins, pulling this pathetic stunt... are you just trying to remind me that I haven't paid your rental fee for today?"

"Forget being Luna. You should just change your name to Cash Whore!"

The line went dead.

My hands shook violently as I ran to summon the pack guards outside, begging them to bring another healer.

The guards stood outside the doorway, their expressions blank. *Without the Alpha's direct orders, we cannot move.*

I grabbed a silver dagger from the medical tray, slashing wildly through the air like a madwoman, just to carve a path of survival for my daughter.

Back at the mansion, Jason grew restless.

Doubt began to gnaw at him.

*Lily was waiting for life-saving treatment... did I really push it too far?*

Seeing Henry bouncing energetically on the bed, Jason finally got up and sped toward the clinic.

When he arrived, the sight before him brought him crashing to his knees.