Gloria didn't plead with Warren. She knew Warren was determined to make her suffer. She knelt on the ground and crawled forward.
Every time she moved, the glass shards would go deeper into her flesh. Christine wanted to tell Gloria to stop but was blocked by others. The Gamma of the Walter Pack said, "Christine, just stay put and watch quietly. If you upset Mr. Middleton, Gloria will suffer even more." The Gamma was both threatening and reminding Christine. Christine was anxious, yet she did not dare to act rashly. "My boss will be very angry if he finds out about this," Christine said. "Sure. Tell me, who is your boss? Who owns the Fittro Club? If he does get mad, just go ahead and tell him that we did this." Warren knew that the owner of Fittro Club was also a werewolf. However, he didn't think the owner would go against them for Gloria's sake. In Gabbs, though Warren and Lanny's packs weren't as formidable as the Black Thorn Pack, theyGloria smiled silently. She was right. Gabrielle was not innocent at all. Gloria never bothered to explain herself to anyone. Gabrielle took advantage and lied to others repeatedly, letting others get Gloria wrong. "Are you smiling? Gloria, what's so funny? Are you smiling, because Gabrielle is dead, and you get what you want? Gloria, you're so shameless! Why are you still smiling? Stop smiling!" Lanny was annoyed by the strange smile of the woman kneeling on the ground. Flames of anger shot through him. Gloria raised her head and looked at Lanny while smiling, not making a sound at all. Her smile was utterly unsettling. The smile on Gloria's face was hard to describe and gave people a chill. Finally, Gloria opened her mouth. Her hoarse voice was harsh to everyone's ear. She said, "Lanny, thank you. I mean it." She thought, 'You shatter my fantasies. Thanks to you, I am finally willing to face my deepest suspicions about Gabrielle. I
Gloria took a sip of whiskey and started coughing. She coughed so hard that she spat most of the whiskey out. "Hey, Miss Carter, the wine is very expensive. Don't waste it," Warren said sarcastically. Those around them continued to jeer, "Drink! Drink up now!" Someone mocked coldly, "Miss Carter doesn't like it. Lanny, you should give her better whiskey." When one was cornered, everyone would love to rub salt into the wound. Why did they hate her so much? Gloria didn't know. Suddenly, someone punched the door, and everyone turned toward it. Then, he punched again, and the door was opened. A tall figure appeared. "Who the hell is that?" Warren complained. In the next second, he saw the person at the door and gasped. It was Patrick, the Alpha of the Black Thorn Pack. Patrick ignored the others in the room. He looked around the room with his sharp eyes and saw Gloria. Patrick panicked as he saw the bo
Patrick glanced at his watch. Then he looked at Gloria and said, "It's a quarter past ten now. You have less than two hours to transfer the money to the card." Gloria suddenly realized what Patrick meant. He didn't want the cash or the check. He wanted a million dollars on that card. "You can't do this to me!" she said. "Yes, I can." Patrick was suddenly in a good mood. His lips curled up. Gloria shouted, "You bastard!" She thought, 'He is so unreasonable! He is playing a word game with me!' "Let me down!" Gloria shouted in panic. "Christine, go to the bank. Take me to the bank!" Patrick pinched Gloria's chin and leaned over. His cold gaze fell on Gloria's face. He said in a low voice, "The hospital, or the bank? Gloria, I'm giving you a choice." He was so close to Gloria that she could see the fine hair on his face. "The bank," she said stubbornly. Patrick reminded her, "Do you want to die?" "I want to g
Looking at Gloria, Patrick asked, "Why did you tear up the check?" "It was just a piece of paper." Gloria's voice was calm. She didn't seem to have any emotion. Gloria's despair was hidden under her calm appearance. She gave up everything, including her dignity, in exchange for the check. However, she failed to redeem her freedom. At this precise moment, she felt despair. She was exhausted. Christine drove quickly to Black Thorn Pack's hospital. Sean was already waiting for them there. He quickly gave Gloria a checkup. "You're lucky," Sean said. "But you won't get so lucky next time. You don't have a wolf anymore, and you suffer from wolf poison from before. Don't you know that you can't drink?" Sean then left the ward and went to the corridor. Patrick was smoking there. Sean walked up to Patrick and asked, "What happened this time?" Patrick didn't answer. He just lowered his head and smoked. Sean was used to su
Gloria said to herself, "Don't bother. Don't try to make him believe you." However, looking at Patrick's calm face, she found it unbearable. She was tortured and he was the reason for her misery. Why should he look so relaxed? She said in a mocking tone, "Do you think Gabrielle was innocent? Do you think she was so perfect? Let me tell you something. She deserved it! She deserved to die!" Patrick suddenly raised a hand and swung it down at her face. Gloria's expression changed, and she subconsciously closed her eyes. She didn't feel the pain she expected. Instead, Patrick punched the wall. "Gloria, you may become humble or miserable, yet you are still Gloria to me. However, she is dead already. Why are you still insulting her? You make me sick!" Patrick couldn't have been more disappointed. He slammed the door and left. Gloria quietly watched Patrick leave. A few minutes later, she let out a hoarse scream uncontrollably. She threw e
Christine did not need Gloria to tell her about her past. She already figured out from the recent events that Gloria and Patrick had a history. Although Christine joined the Black Thorn Pack only two years ago, she had heard of Gabrielle's name repeatedly. She heard that Gabrielle was Damon's younger sister, the woman that Patrick fell for. Patrick rejected his mate Gloria for Gabrielle. However, one day, Gabrielle was killed by rogues, which not only infuriated Patrick, but also depressed Damon. Christine never got it. The Black Thorn Pack's Gamma did a good job protecting the pack, and the pack was safe. How could Gabrielle end up killed by rogues? She understood today, but she did not believe it. Because she knew Gloria. Gloria was a proud person and would never do such a thing. Christine raised her hand and stroked Gloria's head. She didn't ask Gloria why she didn't explain to Patrick and to prove her innocence. On
The Beta of the Walter Pack suddenly thought of something. He said, "I remember something. Warren mentioned Gloria when he called." Then, Daley remembered it too. He said, "Gloria? From the Silver Spring Pack? Isn't she in the werewolf prison? Call Alpha Alger, the Alpha of the Silver Spring Pack. I want to ask him myself." It was late in the night. After the call went through, someone picked up and he didn't sound happy. "What's the matter? It's so late." "Alpha Alger, are you asleep?" asked Daley. Alger was no longer that drowsy after he heard Daley's voice. He said, "Oh, it's you, Alpha Daley. It's late. What do you want?" "Alpha Alger, I'm calling to congratulate you," Daley said. Alger was puzzled. He asked in confusion, "About what, Alpha Daley? What's the occasion?" "Congratulations on your family reunion. Gloria has been released, hasn't she?" Alger's expression suddenly changed. He said with a solemn ex
The next morning, Sean came to the hospital to give Gloria a final checkup. He said to Gloria, "You can be discharged now. But Gloria, don't ever risk your life again." Sean didn't want to say that to Gloria at first. However, for some reason, he suddenly remembered the conversation he had with Patrick in the bedroom at Fittro Club that day. He glanced at Gloria and continued, "Now that you are out of prison, you should live your life more seriously. The past is in the past, and you've paid for what you've done. Three years in prison may not be worth a life, still, it costs you a lot." Gloria had been silent, then, she raised her head slowly and looked at Sean. She asked, "Has everything been paid?" Maybe it was an illusion. Yet Sean thought he heard a hint of sarcasm in her gruff voice. He looked down suspiciously at Gloria, and his eyes became obscure. "What do you mean?" Gloria lowered her head and said, "Nothing." Sean wa
He didn't blame her. He only hated himself for not cherishing her while she was still by his side.Clenching the letter in his hand, he stumbled and slowly turned to leave.His once-proud figure now seemed frail, as if a gust of wind could knock him down."Cline…" Just as he leaned on the car door, preparing to leave, her familiar, tranquil voice called out to him.Hearing his name, he turned slowly, his gaze locking onto her slender, fragile figure under the streetlight.This was the person he'd missed for three years. Just her soft voice was enough to make him want to run to her and hold her tight.But reality was a cold shower, dousing his fervor.He took a step forward, but she retreated three steps, panic in her eyes, as if he were a monster."Don't come closer," she said calmly, her voice clear and unrippled."I've said all I need to. Please don't disturb me again."Cline had hoped she'd called him ba
Cline released Luana with a hint of despair, staggering back a step.His bloodshot eyes locked onto hers as he asked, "Never at all?"Luana's lashes fluttered, her composure unwavering as she shook her head again.The smile on Cline's lips deepened with bitterness. "What about these, then?"He pulled out a letter he'd carried always, holding it before her. His voice cracked, his eyes red as he repeated, "What do these mean?"Luana's gaze fell on the perfectly preserved letter, and her expression froze—a chord struck deep within.She wondered when exactly she'd lost all hope in him.Her thoughts drifted back to that night when he held her close, their intimacy shattered by his cold words, "Don't delude yourself into thinking I'll love you."She'd felt like ice, realizing she was nothing to him but a vessel for his emotions. Yet now...Luana slowly lifted her eyes to Cline, his composure completely undone.Whe
Luana fought with all her might, her slender hands clawing at Cline's arms.Her nails bit through his skin, drawing blood, yet he held on relentlessly."Cline!" Luana roared in fury, finally dropping her Dorothy act and staring him down as Luana.Hearing his name from her lips, Cline's eyes reddened further. "You finally admit it..."Luana sneered. "So what if I do?"Cline froze, his bloodshot eyes slowly meeting hers.Her face was an icy mask, devoid of emotion, filled only with contempt.This cold Luana left him at a loss.As he opened his mouth to speak, Luana turned her head, her calm eyes reflecting Cline's pale face."Did you really mean it when you said you loved me?""Yes..." Cline's heart leaped at the chance to connect, and he nodded eagerly, about to confess a decade-old truth.But Luana cut him off, her voice ice-cold, "If you loved me, why wouldn't you wait until our contract ended before break
"Does it hurt?" Luana silently asked herself.Once, she had known pain—excruciating, soul-crushing agony that had left her curled on a cold floor, voiceless and desperate.It had been a pain that stripped away all hope in this man before her, eroding her very will to live. It had been so severe that even in her final moments, when she'd longed for a glimpse of him, he'd refused even a phone call.That pain was no mere physical wound. It was a despair that seeped into her very being.It was after enduring such torment that she had finally seen Cline for what he truly was—a man utterly ruthless toward her.Yet now, here he was, holding her and asking if she hurt. The irony was bitter, almost laughable.With a cold, expressionless face, she said, "The five minutes are up. Let me go."But Cline, who had finally held the person he'd obsessed over, had no intention of releasing her so easily.He held her tight and said, "
Cline held tight to her arm, as if he'd never let go unless Luana gave him a chance to speak.Luana, brows furrowed, sighed and relented, "Five minutes, right here."Cline's cold gaze shifted to Dorian, who shot him a glare before turning to Luana."Five minutes, then home," Dorian warned.Luana nodded meekly, "Okay."Only after Dorian strode into the villa did Luana turn to Cline, her voice cool and impatient."Well?"In Dorian's presence, Luana had been the picture of obedience, just as she used to be with him.Now, though, Cline saw a change in her—calm, distant, and edged with impatience.This new version of Luana only deepened the ache in his chest.He longed to reach out, to brush his fingers against her face, but as his hand rose, she flinched violently, stepping back as if struck.Luana stared at Cline's right hand, her pupils suddenly clouded with fear, as if the ghosts of past trauma had res
Luana nodded in agreement and turned toward the stairs.But after just two steps, she froze, her fingers brushing the banister.Slowly, she turned back, her voice hesitant. "Clarissa, I came back as Dorothy... What about Gehrmann?"Clarissa had guessed that Luana had returned as her sister Dorothy the moment she heard Dorian call her by that name.Clarissa's smile was warm, reassuring. "I won't say a word to him or Cline. Your secret's safe."Relief flickered in Luana's eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, the word soft as a feather.As Luana walked away, Clarissa watched her retreating figure, worry knotting her brow."Is this luck or a curse?" she thought, "Leaving Cline only to be trapped by Dorian."At the car, Luana opened the passenger door and slid in."Home at ten seems early," she ventured, her tone tentative.Dorian glanced over, his indifference palpable. "Make it eight, then."Luana's lips twitched
Clarissa watched Luana's fingers tighten around the phone until her knuckles whitened. "When I first saw those messages flooding in, I tried luring him out myself—posed as you, planned to bring the cops. But instead of catching a creep, I got..."She trailed off, the memory of the man in the café still prickling her nerves.A man as cold and heartless as Cline—why would he cling to memories of Luana like this?"Anyway," she shrugged, "he never showed. Guess some ghosts stay buried."Luana's voice was a whisper. "These things... they should've been my fight. Not yours."Clarissa cut her off, "If it were me in this mess, you'd do the same. So quit with the thanks already."Luana nodded meekly, her lashes drooping as she glanced back at the phone screen.The mystery gnawed at her—Mr. Night's messages reeked of obsession, yet he hid in plain sight. Why?She couldn't fathom it, and frankly, didn't care
"I had no choice but to pull a dumb move—I seduced Gehrmann and took Naomi's spot as his bedwarmer," Clarissa said flatly, her voice echoing off the brick walls."I thought I could use him to get back at Cline. Turns out I was dumber than a bag of hammers—Gehrmann wouldn't lift a finger against Cline for any woman." She kicked at a pebble, watching it skitter into the shadows. "By the time I figured that out, he wouldn't let me walk away."Clarissa shifted her weight, catching Luana's profile in the dim light."But don't you worry, Luana. I ain't falling for Gehrmann's charm. This world's got exactly one good man left—Albion. And he's six feet under."So, I won't be that girl anymore—the one who pours her heart out for every little kindness, even when it's not worth it."Mentioning Albion again made Luana's eyes dim as if the light behind them had been switched off.She lowered her lashes, hiding the sorrow pooling th
Third Person's POVLuana tightly embraced Clarissa, hoping to alleviate her pain.Clarissa, however, patted her back with a smile and said, "It's alright. After finding out the truth, I was devastated for a while, but then I pulled myself together. I installed surveillance cameras and recorded every moment of their infidelity, which I sent to my lawyer."I won the lawsuit, but I couldn't get the house back. I could only recover the mortgage payments, the money I spent on him, and compensation for emotional distress..."However, what I didn't expect was that someone would expose Albert's bigamy online, ruining his reputation. His company fired him, and no other major firms would hire him. As far as I know, his current salary isn't even enough to cover the mortgage. Plus, his mother has cancer, which is why he keeps begging at my door."Clarissa's voice turned cold as she continued, "He thinks I'm still the naive woman I once was, that if he kneels a