Chapter 2

Damon returned to our bedroom shortly after noon.

I was sitting beside the window with a financial file spread across my lap.

He frowned. “Where is my tea?”

I did not look up. “Make it yourself.”

Silence filled the room.

For twelve years, I had made his green tea every morning. I never stopped.

Damon stared at me. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m just tired.”

He watched me for a moment before taking his clothes into the bathroom.

His phone vibrated.

It was Catharine.

Her name was saved with a tiny blue heart.

It vibrated again. I ignored it.

A few minutes later, Damon answered, “Hmm?”

His voice became gentle. “I’ll come.”

He ended the call and glanced at me. “I have something to take care of.”

“Go ahead,” I said.

He expected a question. I gave him none.

After he left, I put down the file and called Mr. Kai.

“Luna Serena?”

“If I reject Damon as my mate and file for divorce, what happens to his position?”

“You mean the Alpha position?”

“Yes.”

“Rejecting him doesn’t automatically strip him of the title. If he remains eligible under pack law, he can remain Alpha.”

“And our property?”

“You’ll be entitled to your share of the marital assets, generally half, depending on how they were acquired.”

“What about the company?”

There was a pause.

“When you made Alpha Damon CEO, you transferred your controlling shares to him.”

I closed my eyes.

I remembered Damon telling me he wanted to build something of his own. I had believed him.

I had handed him the empire my father built.

“So even after the divorce, he keeps the shares?”

“Unless there’s another legal basis to challenge the transfer, yes.”

I looked at our wedding photograph.

After everything I had given him, even the law would leave him with half.

I gave him my name, inheritance, blood, family connections, and company but he had used them to build another life.

“Thank you, Mr. Kai.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes.”

The answer came immediately.

Then I paused, “No. Not yet.”

If I simply rejected Damon, he would lose me but keep his title, company, and wealth. Catharine would remain beside him.

I wouldn’t leave him with a comfortable life after what he had done.

…

By late afternoon, I sat in my car outside the house.

My phone vibrated. I opened Instagram.

Catharine had posted a story.

There were two hands with two matching rings.

I stared at the man’s hand.

Damon’s.

Another story showed a birthday cake at an expensive restaurant.

So this was where my husband had spent his birthday, with the woman he had already marked.

I locked my phone.

For twelve years, I had thought that house was my home. Now it looked like a cage.

I drove away.

…

Damon returned late that night.

“I’m sorry, Sere,” he said with his usual gentle smile. “I had a lot to deal with today.”

A lie. A very polished one.

“It was the acquisition project I told you about.”

He pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead, “I missed you.”

My body stiffened.

Then I saw it.

The ring on his finger. The same ring from Catharine’s photograph.

I smiled. “Your ring is beautiful.”

His fingers curled, “It’s nothing.”

“Where did you get it?”

“A gift.”

“From whom?”

“Someone from our alliance.”

I nodded and looked away.

He changed the subject. I let him.

Then I picked up the financial file, “Damon, can you explain this?”

I pointed to a transaction, “This expense isn’t listed under the acquisition.”

“It’s part of the preliminary negotiations.”

“Then why was it transferred through a separate account?”

“I’ll ask the finance team to correct it.”

“All right.”

He stared at me. “You’re not angry?”

“Why would I be?” I looked up at him.

He said nothing.

I opened the drawer beside me and handed him a small black box, “Your birthday present.”

His eyes widened when he opened it.

A Lamborghini key lay inside.

“You actually got it?”

I nodded.

A genuine smile appeared on his face. Once, that smile would have made me happy. Tonight, it only reminded me of everything I had lost.

This would be the last gift I ever gave him out of love.

Enjoy it while you can.

Soon, I was taking everything back.

…

My phone rang.

Elara called.

“Hello?”

“Where are you?” She was at the bar.

“At home.”

“Come out.”

I almost refused. Then I remembered Mr. Kai’s words.

I needed someone I could trust, “I’ll come.”

She sounded stunned. “You? I thought Damon had locked you in a tower.”

I hung up.

…

The club was louder than I remembered.

Elara spotted me immediately, “Well, well. Did you finally open your eyes?”

I took the drink she offered, “Perhaps.”

Her smile disappeared. “What happened?”

I looked down at the amber liquid, “I want to reject Damon as my mate.”

She put down her glass, “Did he hurt you?”

I laughed softly. “Don’t you have any idea?”

“I warned you before.” She reached across the table and took my hand. “Then I’ll help you.”

“I don’t just want a divorce.”

Her brows furrowed. “Then what do you want?”

I thought about my parents, my blood, my company, and the twelve years I had given Damon.

“I want everything back.”

“Serena…”

“I gave Damon my name, my family’s power, my company, and my blood. He can keep nothing.”

“Do you want to destroy him?”

I shook my head, “I want to destroy everything he built with what he stole from me.”

Elara remained silent, then squeezed my hand, “Then we’ll make sure you get everything.”

I looked down at my wedding ring.

They had taken my parents from me. They had taken my blood and twelve years of my life.

My lips curved into a cold smile, “Now I’m taking them back.”

Damon thought he had stolen everything from me.

He was wrong. He had only been keeping my empire warm until I came to take it back.