I was already in Selene's house when I saw her draping over Tristan, her arms around his neck. He whispered something to her, soft and tender. Something I hadn’t heard in years.
When he saw me, his eyes hardened. “You’re late,” he snapped. “If Selene’s treatment gets delayed—”
“Tristan, don’t,” Selene said softly, her eyes wide and innocent. “It’s not Ember’s fault. She’s always had… bad impression of me.”
Tristan’s glare deepened. “Enough with that, Ember. Go and clean this place up. I’m not marrying a jealous mate who can’t do anything right.”
He left, carrying her out like some tragic princess. I stood there, trembling.
“I wouldn’t marry a lying, cheating Alpha either,” I whispered.
I stepped inside, the scent of stale perfume and betrayal hitting me. The bathroom floor was soaked. In the trash, two used condoms. My stomach churned. So this was it. His overtime, his excuses—it had all been for her.
Selene’s room was a shrine to luxury. Designer bags, high-end skincare, glittering jewelry. I thought about the lipstick I had asked Tristan for, just days ago. How he had sneered at me.
“Twenty-four years old and still trying to act like a teenager?”
I clenched my fists, the memory burning. I wasn’t eighteen anymore, but that didn’t make me worthless. It didn’t make me disposable.
I pulled out my phone and took pictures of everything. Not for revenge. For me. Proof of what I had endured.
Upstairs, I packed quickly. Everything I owned fit into one suitcase. Three years, and this was all I had. The only gifts Tristan had ever given me were things to keep me in my place—kitchenware, cleaning supplies. I left them all behind.
I called Cherry, my best friend. She answered on the fourth ring.
“I was wrong,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I gave up everything for him. I want out. I need out.”
Cherry sighed. “You should’ve left years ago.”
Minutes later, a new message came through:
Cherry: Flight booked. Three days. Be ready.
The dam broke. Three years of tears, of pain, of hoping for something that would never come. They all poured out.
In three days, I would be free.
For the first time in years, I felt a glimmer of hope.