Chapter 2

I stood frozen in place, my throat feeling like it was stuffed with cotton.

Coran sighed helplessly and gently wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. "Rowenna, it's just your pregnancy hormones making you overthink everything. Don't get so upset—it's bad for the baby."

The familiar features before me suddenly seemed like a stranger's.

So he did remember I was still pregnant.

Mira scrambled up and headed to the kitchen, her legs still trembling as she walked. "Rowenna, what would you like to eat? I'll make it for you..."

Their concerned expressions made me feel like everything that just happened was a dream.

"When did it start?"

Coran frowned slightly. "January 25th. That day you went for your prenatal checkup and asked Mira to bring me some documents. I couldn't control myself..."

The bright red hickeys on his neck stung my eyes.

The baby in my belly kicked me again. My back hurt so much I couldn't straighten up, and tears fell in heavy drops onto the floor.

So it was that day.

I had taken a taxi to the hospital alone, waited in line, got my number, went through the checkup.

I asked Coran if he could come with me, but he said he had work matters at the pack that needed his attention.

I asked my sister if she could help me, but she said after delivering the documents, a friend needed her help.

My legs were swollen during pregnancy, and someone bumped into me at the hospital. I almost had a miscarriage.

The two people closest to me were locked in passion on his office desk.

And I kept making excuses for him, thinking he was just too busy. I never imagined he was busy in my own sister's bed.

It turned out I was the only fool.

Coran suddenly crouched down and rubbed my legs. "If you hadn't found out, you wouldn't be sad. Wouldn't it be better to just keep playing dumb?"

"Every time we had sex, we deliberately chose hotels far from home so the mate bond wouldn't affect you and make you uncomfortable."

My stomach churned, and I kicked him hard in the chest.

"Coran, you disgust me!"

He took advantage of the momentum to help me onto the couch. "If this makes you feel better, you can kick me a few more times."

As I struggled, my hand touched something on the couch.

I lifted it to see—a pair of torn stockings.

The blood in my body seemed to turn ice cold.

Coran looked like he wanted to say something but stopped.

Mira walked out carrying soup, saw what was in my hand, and her face went white.

She rushed forward to explain in a panic. "Rowenna, it's not what you think..."

Coran calmly took the stockings, his tone casual. "No need to make such a fuss. Yesterday you said you were going back to your mother's house and wouldn't be home that night. That evening I tried something new with your sister on the couch. Not only that, we also went to the bedroom and had sex on your marriage bed. I have to say, it was pretty thrilling."

Tears blurred my vision.

I suddenly stood up and rushed into the bathroom, vomiting violently.

Outside the door came Mira's worried voice. "Rowenna, are you okay? Coran's just talking nonsense. Don't get upset. Your health is most important—you still have a baby inside you."

The nausea only deepened. I looked at my swollen belly in despair.

Why did it have to be at eight months?

Why did it have to be Mira?

Since childhood, I'd given in to her in everything.

When her fated mate died, I stayed by her side through the night, constantly comforting her.

She said my house was closer to her university, so I let her move into the villa I shared with Coran.

The jewelry and luxury goods on her body—I bought them all for her.

I opened the door and stared at Mira. "Haven't I been good enough to you?"

Mira ingratiatingly handed me a bowl of soup, her tone cautious. "Rowenna, please eat something. After you eat, we can talk, okay?"

I knocked the soup bowl from her hands. The scalding liquid splashed on the back of her hand, turning it bright red.

"I don't need your fake kindness!"

Mira's eyes instantly reddened. "Rowenna, how can you say that about me!"

Coran's face darkened, glaring at me with displeasure.

"If you're angry, take it out on me. Mira's just concerned about you. Do you have to make such a big deal out of nothing?"

He rubbed his temples while gently wiping Mira's tears. "See? I told you we couldn't let Rowenna find out. Your parents were right—Rowenna's temper is just difficult. If she knows, this household will be turned upside down."

Mira looked at me with tears in the corners of her eyes, her face full of grievance.

I felt like I was choking. Since childhood, she'd always been like this.

"I'm taking Mira to the hospital. You stay home and reflect on yourself!"

He slammed the door so hard it shook.

I slumped powerlessly into a chair, but soon a strange smell came from the kitchen. They'd left in such a hurry they hadn't even turned off the gas...

I struggled to move my body to open the door, only to discover that Coran had broken the lock when he slammed it.

I desperately called Coran.

Call after call, all rejected.

Until the last one—he answered, his voice impatient. "Can you stop being so paranoid? Because of you, Mira cried herself hoarse, keep asking if Rowenna really hates her. She really cares about you."

I dragged my heavy pregnant belly, my whole body weak and powerless. "Coran, I..."

"I'm busy comforting Mira. If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."

The phone went dead with a beeping sound. The smell of gas had almost filled the entire house. I finally felt despair.

Coran, I won't love you anymore.