Chapter 3

I steadied my breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions that threatened to rise. Ignoring Rylie’s obvious provocation, I kept my voice cool and even.

"Beta Gregory," I said, placing two slim folders onto the clutter of contracts his assistant had delivered earlier, "I have some documents requiring your signature."

His hand reached for them automatically, not sparing a glance. His signature flowed across the pages with mechanical efficiency, the same hand that had once written love notes to me without reservation.

As he returned the papers, his eyes flickered—or perhaps it was just my imagination—before he quickly looked away, eager to dismiss me.

I tucked the signed documents under my arm, offering a polite yet distant smile. "Since there’s nothing else, I’ll see myself out. Please, you two continue your important discussion."

Without even glancing at them, he signed and handed them back, seemingly eager to usher me out so I wouldn't interrupt his time with Rylie. I smiled and said, "Since there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. You two continue your conversation."

Just as I turned to leave, a sudden shuffle of footsteps made me pause.

"Kora, wait," Beta Gregory called, his voice tight with urgency.

I turned slowly, lifting an eyebrow in silent inquiry. Behind him, Rylie remained seated, her posture languid, as if she owned everything within sight.

"Rylie is here as a brand ambassador," Gregory said hastily, "we're simply discussing business matters."

The lie was so thin it nearly disintegrated in the air.

I smiled again, this time with an edge. "I know," I said quietly. "You focus on your work. I'll wait for you at home."

Only then did his shoulders loosen, a tension draining from him that he probably hadn’t even realized he was holding. He nodded at Kayden, who silently appeared at my side, ready to escort me toward the elevator.

As I reached the underground parking lot and prepared to get into my car, someone abruptly rushed from behind, knocking me to the ground.

"Kora Lewis, are you really blind now?"

Rylie's voice, no longer sweet, was vicious, like a siren in the night. Her words widened my eyes in shock.

Clutching my scraped palms, I looked up in disbelief, my breath hitching.

"What are you talking about, Rylie?" I rasped. "What do you mean Beta Gregory did this for you?"

A cruel smile curled her lips. Before I could shield myself, she ground the pointed heel of her shoe into my hand.

I gasped sharply, feeling the sharp sting of flesh tearing under her weight.

"You really don’t know, do you?" Rylie sang mockingly, her voice bouncing off the empty concrete walls like a twisted lullaby.

"Seven years ago—the accident that took your mother and ruined your eyes—Beta Gregory made it happen."

Her laughter was shrill, slicing through the stagnant air.

"He loved me too much to see me cry over losing a scholarship, over losing to you. So you became the sacrifice. Seven years... sleeping next to the man who destroyed your life. How pitiful can you be?"

Rylie's words pierced deeper than any physical wound, leaving me momentarily paralyzed.

Although I already knew Beta Gregory had hidden the truth about the organ theft, I never imagined he'd also be connected to the accident from seven years ago. The emotional pain overshadowed my physical injuries, igniting a furious strength within me. I stood up and swung at her with my cane. My limited sight and strength did little damage, but inexplicably, she staggered back, hitting the column with a loud thud.

"Rylie!"

Beta Gregory’s voice thundered through the emptiness, snapping me out of my daze.

Heavy footsteps pounded the concrete, and before I could steady myself, a hard shove sent me sprawling sideways.

My cane skittered across the floor, clattering out of reach.

Blinded more by betrayal than darkness, I scrambled on my hands and knees, searching desperately.

A sudden, crushing pressure exploded across my injured hand.

Gregory’s boot.

He hadn’t even noticed.

Agony tore through me in white-hot flashes, but all he cared about was reaching Rylie.

Despite my cries of agony, the Beta Gregory who once cared deeply for me was blind to my suffering, focusing solely on admonishing me. "Kora Lewis! Are you out of your mind? Rylie was merely concerned about your vision! How could you attack her?"

I wiped the blood from my mouth with the back of my trembling hand, forcing my lips into a cold, twisted smile.

"Why shouldn’t I?" I whispered, each word laced with venom.

My voice gained strength as I pushed myself upright, broken but unbowed.

"Beta Gregory Young," I said, spitting his title like a curse, "my mother’s death, my blindness — you’re telling me she had nothing to do with them?"

Clutching my broken hand, I screamed, prompting a fleeting pause in Beta Gregory's reprimand. He scrambled to explain, "Kora, you're speaking nonsense! What does any of this have to do with Rylie? You've clearly lost it! Apologize to her immediately, and I'll let this go!"

Before I could muster a reply, Rylie’s soft, trembling voice floated over, a masterstroke of false humility.

"It’s not Kora’s fault," she murmured, barely loud enough to hear. "I’m the one to blame. After all, when Musa left her for me... she must have felt hurt. Resentful."

I gritted my teeth so hard my jaw ached.

"Kora, I know you dislike me," Rylie continued, her voice quivering with fake remorse, "but Beta Gregory... he truly loves you. You shouldn’t blame him for my mistakes."

Each word was a dagger sheathed in velvet.

Beta Gregory, oblivious or uncaring, knelt to fuss over Rylie’s nonexistent injuries, brushing her hair back from her face with trembling hands.

"Rylie, enough," he said tenderly. "Let's not waste time here. We’ll get you to the hospital."

I watched the scene before me — Gregory cradling Rylie as if she were made of glass — and something inside me finally snapped.

Who was genuine?

Certainly not him. Certainly not her.

Bitterness coated my tongue as I pressed my broken hand against my chest, cradling my injuries both seen and unseen.

Seven years.

Seven years of blind devotion, of foolish loyalty, crumbled into dust.

A stranger — a low-ranking pack member I barely recognized — rushed over and helped me into a waiting car, taking me to the hospital.

As the vehicle rumbled down the road, my phone buzzed. Weakly, I lifted it.

【Gregory】："Rylie is the face of the company. Your outburst damaged our public image. I had to demand an apology—it was all for show. Don't overthink it. Once this is handled, I'll make it up to you. Please don't be upset, darling."

Darling?

My lips twisted into a grimace.

His words, once able to soothe any wound, now rang hollow, crumbling into meaningless ash.

Whether sincere or feigned, it no longer mattered to me. All I yearned for was to leave this place and him behind. I placed the divorce papers he'd signed on the table at home, in plain view.

The next morning, the lab's vehicle arrived to collect me, but the man who claimed he'd make it up to me never showed. I chuckled; this house, and this man I'd never truly seen or understood, was now irrelevant to me.

Upon arriving at the lab, Professor Anna Jordan, an Omega like me, spoke with great regret, "Kora, the investigation you requested has concluded." She hesitated, then played a private detective's recording: "Aside from the forged signature, the accident that befell Miss Lewis and her mother seven years ago was deliberate. The driver who sped down the right lane was Beta Gregory Young."

Beta Gregory Young... it really was him. Once, his name had sent my heart racing, but now it mingled with my tears and blood, a testament to the cruel joke my life had been. Seven years of deep love and gratitude unraveled into a farce.

I wiped my face with the sleeve of my jacket, steadying my breath.

"Professor Jordan," I said, my voice hoarse but unwavering, "please send this evidence to the largest media outlet in the werewolf community."

I met her gaze, feeling the final pieces of my old self fall away.

"I want everyone to see the real Beta Gregory Young."

No more hiding.

No more forgiving.