Chapter 3

In the darkness, a pungent smell came over-wolfsbane.

Serena was bent over by my bedside. With each of her movements, my foot felt like it was burning.

I immediately pulled my foot back and said in a low voice.

"What are you doing?! This is abuse of private punishment. I'm going to tell Marcus!"

Serena listened to my questioning with a smile.

"Punishing you, of course. Don't bother telling Marcus. Even if you tell the Wolf Council, no one will help you."

I tried to struggle to my feet, only to find my limbs were weak.

I could only watch helplessly as Serena used silver needles covered in wolfsbane to pierce my skin again and again.

The wolfsbane seeped into the wounds, bringing excruciating pain and numbness.

Early the next morning, I went to guard the cemetery. Every step I took brought piercing pain.

I grabbed Marcus and tried to expose everything Serena had done to me. Marcus frowned and told me to show him proof.

I looked at my fair, rosy feet without a trace of injury and was speechless, but I couldn't let this opportunity pass.

I pressed my fingers hard, trying to squeeze out the silver needles from the wounds, but the wolfsbane had already seeped into my bloodstream.

The pain made me break out in a cold sweat, but only a few strands of poisoned blood emerged.

Marcus impatiently shook off my hand and warned me sternly.

"Vida, this is the last time. I don't want to hear you slander her again!"

As he turned and left, my last hope was shattered. The light in my eyes dimmed inch by inch.

Every night after that, Serena would come to my room, and no matter how I tried to defend myself, I'd be drugged and unable to resist.

But for my mother's sake, I had to endure no matter what!

Until one day at the crematorium, I saw that familiar face lying among the bodies.

The nurse from the medical station kept saying something in my ear.

I felt cold all over. My fingers trembling, I touched my mother's icy face and immediately collapsed to my knees.

Marcus looked at my empty eyes and suddenly felt extremely panicked. He stepped forward to support me.

He shook my shoulders hard, calling my name with a trembling voice.

"Vida, say something!"

I looked at him with dilated pupils, tears falling on his hands.

"Marcus, I don't have a mother anymore."

I returned to my room and fell into a deep sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, three days had passed.

I went to the medical station to collect my mother's belongings and ran into her nurse.

From her, I learned the heartbreaking truth.

My mother hadn't died from severe injuries-she'd been killed by a large dose of wolfsbane administered by Serena!

And after Marcus learned the news, he immediately suppressed it and disguised everything to look like a natural death.

"Vida, I really couldn't bear to lie to you when I saw your condition, but I didn't dare say much with Marcus there.

That's the truth. You should leave him as soon as possible. He's not right for you."

I thought about how Marcus had once promised me he'd give my mother the best medical resources.

I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The strange looks from people around me fell on me, but I didn't care anymore.

I wiped away the last tear from the corner of my eye and took off the necklace from around my neck, throwing it in the trash.

The debt was paid. The feelings were gone. It was time for me to leave.