"There you go—an instant blush, dear sister. Now you won't look so ugly." I added, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
As expected, Ashton rushed to Tiana's side, comforting her with gentle kisses on each cheek—a sickening display that only deepened my disgust.
"I still can't believe you're capable of fighting back now, Kathryn…" He muttered, clearly unsettled.
I smirked, unfazed.
The Kathryn who once obeyed his every command, lowered her head, pleaded, and shed tears for him was gone.
I had killed that part of myself.
Thinking about it now, I could only laugh at how foolishly I had fallen for him.
Back when we were newly mated, Alpha Philip had asked us to live at the Fire Heart Kingdom with him for a while. Of course, under his father's watchful eye, Ashton was forced to show me kindness, a hint of affection, and even the appearance of love.
I remember those days well.
Once, when someone bullied me and shoved me into the rose bushes at the kingdom, Ashton immediately helped me up, his fury aimed at the bully.
"This behavior will reach the Alpha! Apologize to her right now!" He commanded, his voice fierce. The bully, intimidated, dropped to his knees and apologized.
Later that night, Ashton came to me with a medical kit in his hands. "Did the rose thorns hurt you?" He asked softly, reaching for my arm. With tenderness, he dabbed my skin with a damp cotton ball, careful with every touch.
There were other moments too—times when Ashton would prepare meals for me, look after me when I was sick, bring me flowers and gifts, take me to the farm to feed the cows, and even teach me to ride a horse.
Those moments felt genuine.
But his tenderness only lasted for a year, just long enough for me to fall deeply in love with him.
I truly believed he had changed, that he'd finally learned to love an Omega like me.
But it turned out he was only putting on a show, biding his time until Alpha Philip granted us our own mansion.
The moment Ashton received the mansion, everything changed. His kindness vanished, replaced by cold indifference and resentment.
Unfortunately, my feelings for him didn't fade…
"Do you really think I could love someone like you? In your dreams, Kathryn!" He yelled, his voice filled with contempt.
I forced a smile, my heart breaking. "It's okay. I still love you, and I'll keep on loving you."