She cast a glance in my direction, then softened her tone further. "If her brother hears about this, it could strain the alliance between you two."
At the mention of my brother Ash, something flickered in Isaac’s face. But it vanished as quickly as it came.
"Her brother trusted me with her," he said stiffly. "Which makes it my duty to correct her when she crosses the line."
A dry, bitter laugh slipped from my lips before I could suppress it. "Correct me? And what exactly have I done that needs correcting? Even in a formal trial, there’s a need for proof before judgment is passed. But you? You hit me without hesitation, without evidence. Is this the leadership your pack looks up to?"
His jaw clenched, eyes narrowing. "There are no surveillance cameras in the restroom, Wendy. You knew that. You thought you could act without being caught."
I stared at him, stunned at the absurdity of his certainty. "No cameras?" I echoed, disbelief thick in my voice. "Then how can you be sure it was me?"
"Why would Candice lie?" he snapped, frustration boiling over. "She’s not someone who lies about things like this."
"But I am?" My voice quivered, cracked with the weight of betrayal.
Seven years. Seven long years I stood by him through every hardship, every victory. And in a single moment, Candice’s words obliterated everything we’d built.
"I see," I whispered, the ache settling deep in my chest. "Believe what you want."
I turned to leave, unable to tolerate another second in his presence.
"Wendy, don’t walk away!" he barked, his command echoing in the hallway. But I didn’t stop. The sting on my face throbbed, a harsh reminder of where I stood in his life.
Returning to the dining room felt impossible. I didn’t want to darken the joyful mood of my colleagues who had done nothing but support me. Instead, I headed to the front counter, requested the bill, and left a message for the group:
"Had to leave due to an emergency. Enjoy the food and drinks—it’s all on me."
And with that, I stepped out into the night, burdened by the crushing weight of everything I had just lost.
Dragging my weary frame back to the house I had shared with Isaac for the past seven years, I came to a stop at the threshold and took a long, quiet look at the structure that had once felt like my haven.