4

I always knew Victoria disliked me.

She saw me as the woman Alexander rejected who then latched onto her son, embarrassing Ethan.

Her disgust only grew with each of my miscarriages.

But because she was Ethan's mother, and because I believed my lost pregnancies were my fault, I felt guilty.

And since Ethan used to defend me, I always tolerated her behavior.

Now, with Ethan busy fawning over Sarah, who would remember my existence?

Victoria continued berating me relentlessly. This time, I refused to endure it. I stood up and said directly:

"I heard you seduced the Alpha into an affair and gave birth to Ethan, which is how you became the current Alpha Female. Is it because you're naturally a homewrecker that you prefer Sarah, another homewrecker?"

I looked at her with utter contempt and said: "You Omegas are truly pathetic."

Victoria's face flushed red. Her finger trembled as she pointed at me, unable to form a single word.

I turned away, pulling out my phone to send Derek a message: "Come get me tomorrow."

I walked upstairs without another word, only to discover that Sarah's bedroom door wasn't fully closed.

As if drawn by some dark force, I approached.

Through the gap, I saw Sarah lying on the bed with disheveled clothes, Ethan on top of her.

"Ethan, you've always cared for me the most. Alexander can't have children. If you let Aria give birth to a pup, he won't be able to inherit the pack, and I'll never become Alpha Female."

Ethan was breathing heavily, his eyes red with desire:

"Is Alexander good to you? Has he mistreated you in any way?"

"No, since I became pregnant, he practically worships me. He's afraid I'll get tired, even washes my feet himself, and is especially gentle with me in bed."

Ethan's expression turned bitter:

"As long as he treats you well, as long as you're happy, I have no regrets."

"Alexander, you've helped me so much. Since I couldn't marry you, I can at least give myself to you. Tonight, I'm yours."

Ethan lost all restraint, his movements becoming more forceful as they frantically rolled together on the bed.

I never knew that Ethan—always so cold and controlled—could have such an irrational side.

I calmly returned to our bedroom.

The entire night, Ethan never came back.

The next morning, Ethan looked at me apologetically:

"Aria, I meant to come back and be with you last night, but my mother kept me talking until dawn. I couldn't get away."

I didn't expose his lie, simply turning to wait for him by the door.

Suddenly, Sarah appeared before me.

"Aria, did you enjoy watching Ethan wild with passion on top of me?" she taunted with a smirk.

So she had left the door open deliberately.

"Miscarriages are painful, aren't they? But you won't have that problem anymore, since you'll never be able to conceive again."

"You were brave to keep getting pregnant, one after another. Did you think you could compete with me for the Alpha Female position? Don't dream. Ethan gave up his chance to inherit the pack for me. He even helped me get pregnant. And those dead pups of yours? I consumed them all. Your children's bodies contained powerful energy that my child has absorbed. My pup will be the strongest Alpha wolf in the pack."

I jerked my head up, my voice shaking:

"What did you say?"

"Why do you think Ethan always told you your babies were already buried after each miscarriage? Why wouldn't he let you see their bodies? Because I told him their flesh would strengthen me."

Despair, rage, and disbelief flooded my mind simultaneously.

So this was why Ethan never let me see my children?

For Sarah, how could he go to such extremes?!

Sarah laughed cruelly:

"Don't give me that pitiful look. Who can you blame but yourself? Blame your own weakness. With a useless mother like you, your children were only fit to become nourishment for my child!"

Unable to contain my fury any longer, I raised my hand to slap Sarah's face.

SMACK—

The slap never landed on her face. Ethan had pulled Sarah behind him, taking the blow himself.

He shoved me to the ground forcefully, shouting:

"Aria, what the hell are you doing?!"

Sarah cried with feigned hurt:

"Ethan, I was just trying to comfort Aria, telling her not to grieve over her lost pup."

"But she's jealous of my pregnancy. She said I stole her future Alpha Female position. She tried to hit me and swore she'd make me miscarry."

Before I could explain, Ethan glared at me darkly:

"Aria, I never knew you were such a vain woman."

"You couldn't keep your pregnancies, that's your failure. Why take it out on Sarah when she was only being kind? Don't covet things that don't belong to you. Apologize to her, now!"

My failure? The audacity...

I stared at his face, suddenly feeling like I was looking at a stranger.

"Ethan, tell me, where did you really take the bodies of my dead children?"

Ethan frowned:

"They were buried, of course. I've already told you that."

His acting skills were truly impressive.

"You're right, Ethan. I shouldn't desire things that don't belong to me. After all, wasting emotion on garbage like you isn't worth it."

With that, I turned and walked away without hesitation.

Ethan watched my retreating back, a sudden panic rising in his chest. He wanted to call out to me, but Sarah grabbed his arm:

"Ethan, I'm so frightened from what just happened. My stomach hurts. Could you take me to the hospital?"

Ethan hesitated for two seconds, but ultimately didn't come after me.

Back home, I gathered everything Ethan had given me over the years and threw it all into a fire pit.

My phone rang. I glanced at the screen.

"Aria, I only had to mention a stomach ache, and Ethan anxiously summoned the entire pack's healers to treat me."

"Even though we're not in the pack territory, he didn't hesitate to use a helicopter to bring them here. Aren't you jealous?"

I ignored her message and continued tossing items into the fire, watching the flames consume them, turning everything to ashes.

I wasn't worried about Ethan seeing what I was doing.

Because I knew he wouldn't be coming home tonight.

Sure enough, Ethan called:

"Aria, Sarah's having stomach pains. Alexander isn't home, and as her brother-in-law, I have to take care of her. Don't be angry."

I thought about the photo Sarah had just sent me, showing her with rosy cheeks, eating fruit Ethan had personally cut for her. She didn't look the least bit unwell.

Ethan paused, then continued in a gentle voice:

"Aria, I didn't mean to snap at you earlier. I know you're emotional because of losing the baby."

"But Sarah is pregnant with the pack's bloodline. You and I can no longer produce an heir for the pack. If something happened to Sarah, I'm afraid my parents couldn't bear it."

I found it laughable. Why bother with so many excuses?

"Be good and stay home. Tomorrow is your birthday. I've booked the best restaurant and prepared a surprise for you. I'll come home to get you tomorrow."

By noon the next day, Ethan still hadn't returned, but Derek's message arrived: "Little wolf, waiting at the border."

I placed the Alpha Council's mate bond dissolution decree on the table. The judgment would automatically take effect in five hours, severing the mate bond between Ethan and me.

I also set a voice recording to be sent to Ethan at a specific time.

With everything done, I picked up my bags and headed for the border.