Chapter 4

I went home and took a hot shower.

When I came out, I ran into Hector in the living room.

He hesitated for a moment, then actually thanked me: "But thank you for helping me out of that situation."

"We... after all, our marriage is secret. If I'd said it right there, it would've been bad for Layla's image."

"Later... I'll find a chance to make our relationship public."

I didn't remind him that we wouldn't need to make our relationship public anymore.

This marriage was coming to an end. It might as well never have existed.

Better for both him and me.

He suddenly remembered to care about me: "But how did you end up there?"

I smiled and stared at him for a long time without speaking.

Not until his eyes became evasive did I say: "Connor told me to go."

Only then did he remember that today's fireworks show was originally what he'd promised me.

But he'd been too sweet with Layla and had completely forgotten about it.

"Sorry. Next week... no, next week won't work. I have to handle a Rogue attack at the pack border. Next month then. I'll definitely take you."

I shook my head. "We'll see when the time comes."

Hector was satisfied with my understanding and gently hugged me.

Never before had I felt a man's embrace so cold.

After that day, Hector did go on a business trip.

Except he took Layla with him on the business trip.

Outside of work, they had candlelight dinners together and visited the werewolf museum.

They went to eat at the specialty seafood night market he'd never been willing to take me to.

He'd told me: "I'm an Alpha after all. Going to eat that kind of thing—how undignified."

But in front of Layla, Hector had no status. He was just an ordinary man deeply in love with her.

Countdown: three days.

Hector finally came back.

In the half month he'd been away on business, I hadn't contacted him even once.

Looking at the spotless villa, as if he'd suddenly discovered what I'd contributed over five years of marriage, he said to me: "Nora, you've worked hard."

After five years, I couldn't remember the last time he'd called me that.

"I was planning to take you to see fireworks the day after tomorrow, but fireworks are currently banned..."

I could hear that he just didn't want to take me to see fireworks anymore.

Layla had probably said something to him.

"Then forget it."

Hector froze, as if he hadn't expected me to actually just let it go like that.

"You... don't mind?"

If it were in the past, I would've already gone crazy accusing him.

Why could he never keep the promises he made to me?

But now, I no longer cared about those false promises of his.

"It's just fireworks. It's fine not to see them."

Just like Hector—actually, I could do without him too.

After a long silence, Hector spoke again. "Then the day after tomorrow, I'll go with you to see that villa in the western suburbs."

"The flowers nearby are beautiful. We can admire them there."

I looked at my phone. The calendar told me that the day after tomorrow was Layla's birthday.

I only remembered because last year Hector had spent the entire day with Layla on that date. I'd felt unwell and went to the hospital, called him countless times, but he didn't answer a single one.

On such an important day, would he come see me?

He was just putting me off.

"That day, don't you need to accompany Layla?"

Hector's expression stiffened for a moment. He said: "I've been with her so long. I should spend time with you too."

After saying this, he seemed to feel the words sounded too absurd and guiltily lowered his head.

But I didn't expose his lie. I just went along with him and played along.

As it happened, that day was when I'd scheduled the witch to dissolve the mate bond.

Very meaningful indeed.