(Theodore’s POV)

    I took the file from her trembling hands, my eyes scanning the medical report. The words blurred together as I realized what she was using me of.

    I stepped forward, reaching for her hand. “Olivia, let me exin-”

    She jerked away from my touch like I’d burned her. Her eyes zed with a fury I’d never seen  before.

    “Don’t make your desire for control sound so noble!” she spat, her voice shaking with rage.

    My wolf recoiled at the venom in her tone. This wasn’t the submissive mate I remembered.

    “You didn’t just rece my prenatal vitamins with contraceptive herbs,” she continued, her words cutting through me like silver des. “Now you’ve escted to giving me a sterilization potion!”

    The usation hit me like a physical blow. I opened my mouth to deny it, but she wasn’t finished.

    The soft rustle of fabric filled the silence as I slipped out of my old clothes and pulled on the dress I had chosen. It wasn’t anything extravagant—just a simple navy-blue dress that fell to my knees, its sleeves brushing lightly against my arms. I smoothed the fabric down my front, swallowing against the lump in my throat. In the mirror across the room, my reflection looked back at me: pale, tired, broken…

    Behind me, L’s voice wavered. “You look beautiful, Hailee… but I wish it wasn’t for this reason.”

    I blinked hard, forcing back the flood of tears that threatened to undo me again. My lips curved into the faintest, saddest smile. “Thank you, L.”

    Grabbing my bag from the floor, I zipped it up with trembling hands and set it by the door.

    I turned to L and noticed she was trembling, her hands twisting in herp as though she wanted to stop me by force but didn’t know how.

    I took a shaky breath and stepped closer, my bag resting by the door like a silent reminder that I had no more time left. My throat ached with unshed tears.

    “L…” My voice cracked, and I reached for her hand, squeezing it tight. “Thank you. For everything—for standing by me when no one else did, for being my sister when blood couldn’t. You’ve been my safe ce.”

    Her lips trembled as tears spilled freely down her cheeks. “And you’ve been mine. Hailee, I don’t know how to do this without you. You’ve always been here. You’ve always been… you.”

    I pulled her into a hug, crushing her against me as though I could imprint her warmth into my soul. My body shook with silent sobs. “I’ll miss you so much,” I whispered into her hair. “Every single day. But I need you to stay happy.”

    She shook her head fiercely against my shoulder. “How can I? Hailee. You were my best friend.”

    More tears spilled down my cheek, and we pulled apart slowly, our hands still clinging together like neither of us could let go.

    “Promise me you’ll keep living,” I pleaded, brushing the tears from her face with trembling fingers. “Study hard. Laugh. Don’t let my absence be a shadow over your life. I’ll call you once I settle down.”

    “Please do.” she whispered hoarsely, though her tears betrayed the struggle in her heart.

    A sudden knock sounded at the door, and my heart stopped.

    Peter was here.

    The air grew heavy with reality. I squeezed L’s hand onest time, memorizing the feel of her fingersced through mine, before I let go.

    “Goodbye, L.” My voice trembled, but I forced the words out, knowing this was thest time.

    “Goodbye, Hailee,” she whispered back, her voice breaking as another sob slipped free.

    The door creaked open, and Peter’s tall figure filled the doorway, his eyesnding on me immediately.

    He narrowed his eyes at me but didn’t say a word. Rather, one of the men who hade with him picked up my bag from at the door and left. Peter stepped into the room, his voice gentle in a way that made my stomach twist.

    “You’re ready,” he said softly, almost tenderly, as though this were a reunion instead of a prison sentence. “Good. You look… presentable, Hailee.”

    My throat tightened, but I forced a nod. “Yes, Peter.”

    He didn’t ask any questions. Instead, he reached out and brushed his fingers over my arm, the touch deceptively calm. “Don’t be afraid,” he murmured, his tone like silk wrapped around iron. “Everything will be as it should.”

    I swallowed hard, my skin crawling under his touch, but I stayed silent.

    “Come,” he said, tilting his head toward the hallway. “The Jet is waiting.”

    I nced back at L onest time. She was clutching her shirt, her eyes red and swollen, silently screaming all the words she couldn’t say aloud. My chest ached, but I forced myself to turn away and follow Peter.

    We moved through the narrow hallway, his presence close beside me like a shadow I couldn’t shake. At the bottom of the stairs, my mother stood in the sitting room, her hands sped tightly together. Her face was pale, but she tried to hold herself steady as our eyes met.

    “Hailee,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

    I gave her the faintest smile, though my heart was breaking. “Mother.”

    Peter’s hand pressed lightly at the small of my back, urging me forward. One of the men who had carried my bag was already outside, waiting by the sleek ck SUV parked at the curb.

    The air outside was heavy, suffocating. The SUV gleamed under the afternoon sun, its tinted windows reflecting my own pale face back at me. My legs felt like lead as Peter guided me toward it, every step echoing like the closing of a door I could never reopen.

    Mother slipped into another car while Peter led me to the one I would share with him.

    When the rear door was opened for me, I nced back once more. L stood at the threshold, her lips trembling as she gripped the doorframe like it was the only thing holding her upright.

    I swallowed hard, forcing the words out before they caught in my throat.

    “Goodbye.”

    Then I ducked into the car. The door shut with a final, echoing thud.

    The SUV rolled forward, carrying me away from everything I loved.

    The SUV glided down the street, the world outside blurring past the tinted ss. My chest felt tight, like every beat of my heart was a hammer against my ribs.

    Then it happened.

    The shrill buzz of my cellphone shattered the suffocating silence. I flinched, fumbling as I pulled it from my bag. My breath caught in my throat when I saw the name glowing on the screen.

    Nathan.

    My vision blurred with tears. My thumb hovered over the screen, desperate to hear his voice just once, to pretend I still had a choice.

    But then Peter’s gaze slid to me from across the seat. Concerned but also warning. That single look told me everything: Don’t you dare.

    I trembled under his eyes. My throat burned as tears spilled freely, dripping onto myp. With shaking hands, I unlocked the phone, staring at Nathan’s name onest time. The screen pulsed with his call, like his heart reaching for mine.

    My chest cracked open with grief. I pressed my lips together, choking back a sob as I pulled the SIM card out with trembling fingers.