Chapter 5

The baby was born premature and went into an incubator.

Coran gripped my hand guiltily, his eyes red. "Rowenna, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to push you. When this summer ends, I'll make Mira leave our house."

I turned to the side, tears flowing silently.

After being discharged, Coran locked me in the house. He even hid my phone.

The first day, they only brought three meals. I held my newborn baby and cried inconsolably.

The second day, I smashed everything in the room and cut my hand.

The third day, Coran finally came to see me.

I broke down and demanded to know why he wouldn't even give me the right to move freely.

He frowned as he bandaged my hand, his expression helpless. "You're too emotional right now. I'm afraid you'll go out and ruin Mira's reputation. She's still a young woman. We can't let your temper destroy her life, can we?"

Mira beside him gave me a sympathetic look. "Rowenna, don't worry. I'll definitely be a good Luna for Bronzefang pack. I'll help maintain your friendships too."

My heart felt like a piece of flesh had been carved out.

I looked disheveled, my face bloodless. "Coran, what gives you the right to let someone else replace my life! Is this what you call love?"

Coran froze for a moment, his patience exhausted. "When you learn how to be a gracious mother, I'll naturally let you out."

He wanted me to learn to be a gracious mother while stripping away my marriage, my work, my freedom.

Meanwhile, Mira enjoyed everything that should have been mine under his protection.

I covered my face, laughing until tears streamed down.

The baby beside me suddenly began wailing. I touched the child's burning forehead, my heart twisting with pain.

"Coran, let me out! Jack has a fever!"

I pounded on the door hysterically, my nails leaving bloody scratches.

The crying finally brought Coran.

He frowned. "What are you making a fuss about now?"

I begged without dignity. "Coran, please look at Jack. He's your son! He could really die!"

Hesitation and conflict flashed in his eyes. "But..."

My mother suddenly entered. She glanced once and said flatly, "Making a big deal out of nothing. You had fevers when you were little too. Some fever medicine will be fine. You're making such a scene—could it be because... today Mira is giving her speech as the new Luna? You wouldn't be trying to sabotage her work, would you?"

Coran's expression instantly darkened. "Rowenna, enough is enough. When did you become so unreasonable? Using even your son as an excuse."

I laughed until my whole body shook. "I'm unreasonable?"

He looked puzzled. "Mira is your sister. Why can she accept all this, but you can't?"

It was as if my breakdown and helplessness were trivial in Coran's eyes. He took a phone call, a smile spreading across his face as he strode away. "Mom, Mira's speech is about to start. Let's go."

I looked at the child in my arms, his face flushed red. As if I couldn't feel pain, I desperately kicked down the door.

But I was covered in blood. Drivers who passed by didn't dare let me in their cars. When I finally got a ride, I realized Coran had confiscated my phone, and I had no bank cards or cash—no way to pay. The driver kicked me out.

By the time a kind person took me to the hospital, the doctor shook his head helplessly. "Why didn't you bring him sooner? The child was already premature. You're too careless as a mother."

Holding my child's cold body as I returned home, my heart dead as ashes, I lit a fire.

In the flames, the roar of a helicopter was particularly harsh.

A figure slowly walked toward me...

"I'm sorry. I came too late."