Chapter 4

By the time Luna Georgina returned home, her body was burning with fever. Her head throbbed, her injured leg ached with every step, and she could barely keep her eyes open. Still, the moment she entered the living room, her exhaustion was replaced by anger.

Alpha Matthew was sitting comfortably on the couch with Marian beside him. Marian was wearing one of Georgina's expensive silk nightgowns, the same kind Matthew had once loved seeing on his mate. Now she wore it as if the entire house already belonged to her.

“Luna Georgina, you're finally back,” Marian said sweetly, looking her over. “You look so sick. Did you really spend the entire night searching through the trash?”

Georgina's hands curled into fists. “Don't pretend to care about me, Marian. You know exactly why I was out there.”

Marian lowered her eyes and looked toward Matthew. “Alpha Matthew, I told you she would be angry. Maybe I should leave so she can rest.”

“You aren't going anywhere,” Alpha Matthew replied firmly, taking Marian's hand. “You're carrying my child, and you need to stay here.”

Georgina stared at him with disbelief. “You didn't even come back for me.”

Matthew finally looked at her. “You were the one who chose to leave.”

“You told me to wait for you,” Georgina reminded him, her voice trembling. “You promised you'd come back.”

“I had to make sure Marian was okay,” Matthew answered without hesitation.

Georgina laughed bitterly. “Of course. Marian always comes first.”

Marian placed a hand over her stomach and sighed. “Please don't fight because of me, Alpha Matthew. I can leave if my presence is making Luna Georgina uncomfortable.”

“You're staying,” Matthew said firmly.

Georgina shook her head as another wave of dizziness hit her. She grabbed the edge of a table and tried to steady herself while forcing herself to remain standing.

Marian noticed immediately and spoke with fake concern. “Luna Georgina, you look like you're going to collapse. Maybe you should sit down.”

“I don't need your concern,” Georgina snapped.

Marian's lips curved slightly before she leaned closer to Matthew. “I was only trying to help.”

“You don't know how to help anyone,” Georgina replied angrily. “You only know how to take.”

Matthew's expression hardened. “Georgina, that's enough.”

“Why?” Georgina demanded. “Because I'm saying something you don't want to hear?”

Before Matthew could answer, Marian suddenly gasped and clutched her stomach. “Alpha Matthew!”

Matthew immediately stood and caught her. “Marian, what's wrong?”

“I feel dizzy,” Marian whispered weakly, allowing herself to lean heavily against him. “My stomach hurts. I think something might be wrong with the baby.”

Matthew's entire expression changed. “Someone call Dr. Estregan!”

Georgina stood only a few steps away, her body burning with fever. She reached toward the wall for support and called softly, “Matthew, I'm sick too.”

Matthew glanced at her, but Marian suddenly groaned against his chest. “Alpha Matthew, please don't let anything happen to our baby.”

Matthew tightened his arms around Marian. “Don't worry. I'll take care of you.”

Georgina stared at them, feeling something inside her go completely numb. She could barely stand, yet Matthew's only concern was the woman in his arms.

Lara rushed into the room and immediately noticed Georgina's pale face. “Luna Georgina, you're burning with fever. Come upstairs. You need to lie down.”

“I'm fine, Lara,” Georgina whispered, although her weak voice proved otherwise.

“You're not fine,” Lara insisted, gently taking her arm. “Please, Luna. Let me take care of you.”

Georgina allowed Lara to guide her upstairs. Before she disappeared, she looked back at Matthew one last time, but he was still holding Marian and didn't even notice her leaving.

Dr. Estregan arrived minutes later and examined Marian first. After checking her temperature and asking about her pain, he examined the baby and finally turned toward Georgina.

“Both women have fevers,” Dr. Estregan explained. “They both need rest, fluids, and medication, but Marian's pregnancy requires close attention.”

“Then take care of Marian first,” Matthew said immediately. “Make sure the baby is safe.”

Dr. Estregan glanced toward Georgina, who was struggling to stay upright. “Luna Georgina also needs immediate care.”

“I know,” Matthew replied, his attention remaining on Marian. “Lara can take her upstairs. Just make sure Marian is all right first.”

Georgina heard every word from the doorway. She didn't argue anymore because she finally understood that no matter how sick she was, Matthew would always find a reason to put Marian before her.

Lara helped Georgina into bed and stayed beside her through the night. She brought medicine, water, and cold towels, while Georgina drifted in and out of sleep with a heavy ache in her chest.

“Lara, is Alpha Matthew still downstairs?” Georgina asked weakly when she woke.

“Yes, Luna,” Lara answered gently. “He's staying with Marian while Dr. Estregan monitors her.”

Georgina closed her eyes again. “Of course he is.”

By morning, Georgina's fever had lowered slightly, but she still felt weak. She woke after hearing voices downstairs and slowly sat up, hoping that Matthew had finally come to check on her.

Instead, when she reached the hallway, she noticed several packed suitcases near the entrance.

“Lara,” Georgina called as she carefully made her way downstairs. “What's happening?”

Lara appeared from the kitchen and immediately hurried toward her. “Luna, you shouldn't be walking yet. You need to rest.”

“Where is Alpha Matthew?” Georgina asked, looking around the quiet house.

Lara hesitated before answering. “He left this morning with Marian.”

Georgina's face went still. “Where did they go?”

“They went to a resort,” Lara said carefully. “Alpha Matthew said Marian needed somewhere peaceful to recover after becoming sick. He thought a few days away from the pack would help her relax before the baby arrives.”

Georgina stared at the suitcases. “He took her on vacation while I was still sick?”

Lara lowered her eyes. “Yes, Luna.”

Georgina slowly nodded, forcing herself not to show how deeply the answer hurt. “I understand.”

“Luna, I'm sorry,” Lara said softly.

“Don't apologize,” Georgina replied quietly. “You stayed with me. He was the one who chose to leave.”

She turned toward the stairs, determined to return to her room. However, before she could take another step, the room suddenly spun around her.

“Luna Georgina!” Lara cried as Georgina's injured leg gave out.

Lara rushed forward and caught her before her head struck the floor. “Someone help me! Luna Georgina has collapsed!”

Georgina was rushed to the hospital, where she remained unconscious for hours. Her fever rose again, and the doctors kept her under close observation while Lara stayed anxiously beside her.

When Alpha Matthew received Lara's call, he immediately left the resort and returned to the Silver Moon Pack. “Luna Georgina collapsed?” he asked, his voice suddenly tense.

“Yes, Alpha Matthew,” Lara replied. “Her fever became worse, and she lost consciousness. You need to come back.”

“I'll be there,” Matthew said before ending the call.

Several hours later, Matthew entered Georgina's hospital room and found her awake. She was lying quietly beneath the blanket, her face pale and her expression strangely calm.

“Georgina,” Matthew said as he approached the bed. “Why didn't you tell me you were this sick?”

Georgina looked at him without emotion. “You were busy taking Marian on vacation.”

Matthew frowned. “It wasn't like that. Marian needed rest.”

“And I didn't?” Georgina asked quietly.

“You were being taken care of,” Matthew replied.

“By Lara,” Georgina said, looking away. “Not by you.”

Matthew sighed and pulled a chair beside her bed. “Georgina, don't start another argument. I came back as soon as I heard you collapsed.”

“You came back because I collapsed,” she replied. “Not because you remembered I was your wife.”

Matthew fell silent for a moment before finally speaking. “Marian's baby will be born soon. I have to give it a name. I have to make it legitimate.”

Georgina slowly turned toward him. “And what does that have to do with me?”

Matthew took a deep breath. “If you don't want to raise this child with me, then we should get a divorce.”

For several seconds, Georgina said nothing. Then she calmly nodded. “Fine.”

Matthew looked surprised by how easily she agreed. “You agree?”

“I'll agree to the divorce,” Georgina answered firmly.

His shoulders relaxed slightly, but Georgina wasn't finished. “On one condition.”

Matthew frowned. “What condition?”

“Marian has to apologize to me,” Georgina said, keeping her voice calm. “She has to apologize to my face, not through you, not through tears, and not through another fake performance.”

Matthew's expression darkened. “Georgina, what else do you want?”

Georgina looked directly into his eyes. “She has to slap herself ten times.”

Matthew stared at her in disbelief. “You can't be serious.”

“I am.”

“She is pregnant,” Matthew reminded her.

“Then she should be careful with her strength,” Georgina replied coldly.

Matthew's jaw tightened. “You're making this unnecessarily difficult.”

“No,” Georgina said, meeting his eyes without fear. “I'm finally making you face the consequences of your choices.”

Matthew remained silent.

Georgina's voice became colder as she delivered her final condition. “Say you're sorry ten times. And slap yourself across the face, hard, ten times. Do that, and I'll sign the papers.”