Then erupted in echoing agreementb: /b

b*/bAlpha Ferris is bright/bb! /bHandmade gifts have more human bfeeling/bb!/bb” /b

“The ring had bno /bheart–this scarf’s stitching bis /bbso /bunique!”

“This youngdy is truly skilled with her handsb!/bb” /b

bI /bstood frozen in ceb, /bfeeling all the blood in my body congeal.

No one knew that I had bspent /bover bsix /bmonths personally searching beneath the frozen ins for the silver shadow ore to forge that ring.

In bthe /bendless wind and snowb, /bI had nearly lost consciousness from cold.

But the first thing I did upon returning to Silver Moon Pack was personallymission an elderly runic craftsman to engrave spells on the ring’s bsurface- /b

This ring would not only glow when worn by truly loving partners, but could also deflect one fatal attack.

Now it was discarded like trash, all to support Ashley.

Actually, thinking carefully, hadn’t such scenes happened countless times beforeb? /b

He could abandon important meetings for Ashley but couldn’t remember my birthday.

bHe /bcould stay up all night caring for sick Ashley but couldn’t even call when I had a high fever.

bHe /bcould fly halfway around the world for one word from Ashley but begrudged even the time to share a meal with me.

Every time, he would choose Ashley without hesitation, just like today when he discarded my gift without hesitation.

gently touched my heart, which had once beaten so passionately for him but now was as calm as stagnant water.

So this was how loving someone could bepletely exhausted.

All those former flutterings, expectations, and pain had been gradually worn away by his repeated choices.

would no longer be sad for him, because my heart was now empty.

bNext/bb, /bin the banquet hall, everyone’s attention focused on Ashley.

hose guests who had just been mocking her shabby appearance nowpeted to surround her with ttery.

stood in the corner and pulled at my lips in a bitter smile.

hese were the rules of aristocratic games–one look from Alpha Ferris could make everyone flock to curry favor.

That bwas /bfine.

After Ferris and I severed our mate bond anyway, he would probably make Ashley the new Luna of Silver Moon directly. Bringing her into public view now vas justying groundwork in advance.

The banquet ended and guests gradually departed.

I stood at the entranceb, /bseeing off each guest with a proper smile on my bface/b, as if I were still that impable Luna.

bOnly /bafter thest guest left did I breathe a slight sigh of relief. But when I turned around, I saw Ferris and Ashley standing at the doorway.

Heavy brain /bpoured outside, curtains of water weaving through the air as cold wind carried moisture rushing in.

Ashley shivered and couldn’t bhelp /bsneezingb. /b

Terris frowned and immediately btook /boff his suit jacket to drape over her shoulders.

“Still cold…b” /bbAshley /btrembled.

Ferris’s gaze swept around and suddenly fell bon /bme.

bI /bwore ba /bcashmere shawl bover /bmy shouldersb–/blight beige with a bsoft /bbtexture /bthat gleamed delicately under the lights.

b“/bGive Ashley your shawlb,/bb” /bhe said.

My fingertips trembled and my bface /binstantly paled.

“This is from my grandmotherb…/b”

“I know it was handmade by your deceased grandmotherb,/bb” /bFerris interrupted. “Ashley is just borrowing it. Why be so petty?”

My throat tightened as my fingers gripped the shawl’s edge desperately, but finally, I slowly foosened my hold and took it off.

I knew that even if bI /brefused, Ferris would have someone take it from me directly.

He had already taken my bone marrow without hesitation–what was a shawlpared to that?

When I handed it over, Ashley reached out with an apologetic smile: “Thank you. I’ll wash it and return it to you.”

“No need!” I quickly shook my head, anxiously repeating my instructions: “This absolutely cannot be soaked in water–it needs dry cleaning. I’ll send someone to collect it tomorrow.”

Ashley nodded: “I understand.”

Just then, the driver brought the car over, stopping steadily at the entrance.

Ferris nced at Ashley, noticing her paleplexion, and frowned slightly before turning to me: “Ashley has caught a cold. I’ll take her home first. It’s not on your way, so get home yourself.”

Without waiting for my response, he was already helping Ashley into the car.

The door closed, the engine started, and the ck sedan quickly disappeared into the rain, leaving me alone at the entrance as rainwater sshed my dress hem.

The rain–soaked streets were deserted.

Previously we always went home together after events, so the driver had already left early.

bI /bstood in the cold wind for forty minutes before getting a taxi.

When I returned home, I was soaked through and felt dizzy.

My forehead burned frighteningly hot. I forced myself to take fever medicine and copsed unconsciously on the bed.

In the middle of the night, my phone kept vibrating, but my head hurt so badly that bI /bcouldn’t even lift my hand.

bI /bthought hazily, could it be Ferris? bNo/b, he never cares about my life or death, and he would never call me so many times…

But what if it really was him?