Chapter 2

Mom used to say that one day,I should find a mate who knew how to respect me.

Someone like Dad,who would make her pancakes in the morning,brush her hair for her,and give her the best prey and the warmest shawl.

But after Lily came here,he gave Lily the moonlight perfume Mom loved.

He also gave Lily the maple-leaf brooch Grandma had left Mom.

I knew he did not love Mom anymore.

"I only want this."

Mom's hand trembled,but she insisted on asking for the wrist guard.

Dad still would not give it.

Not until Lily's people came.

"Heir Adrian,Lady Lily has been terrified by a nightmare.She begs you to go see her."

The next second,Dad shoved me aside so hard that I hit the fireplace.

He immediately rose to leave,but Mom clutched the hem of his clothes and would not let go.

"Give me the wrist guard."

The maid kept urging him.Dad sighed helplessly and threw the wrist guard onto the bed.

He even took away every healer in Mom's room.

Mom had lost so much blood,and the bleeding still had not stopped.

I wanted to beg him to leave one healer behind.

But Mom held my hand.

"Be good,Nora.Mommy is fine."

The way Mom used to care for me,I blew gently on the wound on her belly.

At last,she closed her eyes to rest.

But then Dad came in again,bringing Lily with him.

"Lily wants blueberry ice cream,the kind she once ate at the Bennett estate."

"Now the Bennett family only has you left,Evelyn.Go make it."

Mom's voice was very soft.

"I have just lost my pup and am covered in blood.I'm afraid I might ruin the heir and future Luna's good mood."

Lily bit her lip and knelt on the floor.

"This is all my fault.I hurt Evelyn's pup,and I caused the Bennett family to die."

Dad helped her up with aching tenderness.

But when he looked at Mom,his eyes instantly turned cold and hard.

He yanked Mom out of bed.

"When you talk like that,Lily will think you hate her.She has no wolf.She's sensitive and fragile.It's only a dessert.Can't you be a little more sensible?"

Seeing the pain on Mom's face,I stepped in front of them.

"Dad,Mommy doesn't feel well.Nora can make it!"

But Mom pushed me behind the old maid.

She looked at Dad coldly and laughed.

"So this is your compensation?How disgusting."

Dad panicked for a second,but in the end,he said nothing.

The ice cream was not carried to the table until noon the next day.

I went to find Mom and found her lying motionless on the floor,her dress covered in blood.

I ran crying to Dad.

He was feeding Lily the ice cream.

"Dad,Mommy is bleeding so much.She's going to die!"

Dad's expression changed,and he got up to leave.

But Lily grabbed him,her eyes red.

"Adrian,Evelyn must be angry because she had to make dessert for an Omega like me.She only wants to make you feel sorry for her."

"It was my fault anyway.Go to her.I'll clean myself up and apologize to Evelyn."

In an instant,anger entered Dad's eyes.

He slammed his hand hard on the table.

"She's spoiled by my favor.She has always tolerated pain better than anyone.It was only one lost pup.What's there to make such a fuss about?"

He pointed at me.

"And you.At such a young age,she has already taught you to lie with tricks like this.Disgusting.Go back and tell her I'm busy.If she likes acting so much,let her put on the show by herself all night."

Before,if Mom's hand was only burned red,Dad would be frantic with worry.

How had it become like this?

I cried and knelt at Dad's feet.

"I'm not lying.Mommy really fainted!I heard the healer say she would die.She really will die.Dad,please go look at her!"

"Get out!"

Dad kicked me away.

I hit the leg of a chair.My back hurt so much,and my forehead hurt too.Blood ran into my eyes.

But the father who used to cry with fear whenever I had a fever did not look at me again.

He picked Lily up and casually ordered the guards,

"Enough.Take Nora back.Without my permission,she is not allowed to step out of her room again."

I soon passed out.

When I woke again,I was already in the eastern manor,and there was noise outside.

As soon as I stepped out,I saw Mom kneeling on the ground,her face deathly pale.

Lily was crying in Dad's arms.

"Evelyn,I know you hate me,but why did you put wolfsbane in the ice cream?If I hadn't only eaten a little,I might never have been able to bear pups."