Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Kya POV "What? You didn’t mention before that you’re planning to sever a mate bond with an Alpha!" The petite witch with chestnut-brown hair said, widening her eyes in astonishment. "Yes," I said firmly. "Precisely because he’s an Alpha, I had no choice but to come to you. I know you can do it.""Then the price won’t be the same," the witch said, pointing to the ring on my finger. "Add this to the deal." I glanced at the wedding ring on my right hand. I hadn’t taken it off since the day we got married. “Fine, Deal!!”Without hesitation, I removed it and placed it on the table. "Good. I enjoy doing business with decisive people like you. Did you bring his blood?" The witch observed the ring with a sly smile and slid it into her pocket. I took a small glass vial from my pocket and handed it to her. “Here it is. Alpha Owen’s blood!” She drew out a dagger and cut a line across my right palm. The sharp pain made me tremble slightly. One drop, two drops, three drops... She let my blood pour into the same vial, mixing it with Owen’s. "Ten days from now, during the Moon Goddess Festival, when the mate bond is at its strongest, I’ll cast the spell. But this forced severing will be very painful. You need to be prepared." Her big eyes peered into mine. "Once it’s broken, there will be no connection between you two. Ever. Are you sure?""I’m sure. Thank you." I bowed slightly and walked out to feel the fresh breeze fanning my face. I looked up at the crescent moon shining in the sky. In ten days, it would become a full moon. And I would finally get what I wanted— entirely off Owen’s world. But why am I not feeling that happiness? *** When I returned to the Starry Pack, my mate, Alpha Owen, was busy organizing this year’s Moon Goddess Festival. For werewolves, this festival is like Valentine’s Day. During this time, mate bonds are at their peak, and the air is always thick with the scent of passion. Owen and I first met three years ago at the Moon Goddess Festival. Back then, I was wandering like a rogue. Don’t get me wrong—I wasn’t indeed a rogue. I had my own pack, though I could hardly call it my home. When I was five, my father had an affair, and he rejected my mother. By the time I was ten, she passed away. Left with no choice, I moved in with my father and stepmother, only to find they had no place for me in their house or their heart. So, at seventeen, I ran away and started fresh. When I met Owen, I thought I had finally found a home. But once again, I was wrong. “This year’s Moon Goddess Festival will be the grandest in the last decade!” Owen announced from the stage in the pack square. He was as tall and striking as he had been when I first met him. “What surprise have you prepared for Luna Kya this time?” A journalist asked. “A cruise ship named after her! Kya loves the sea,” Owen replied, never hesitating to showcase his affection for me publicly. “OMG…That’s even more extravagant than the last gift!” A young woman beside me gasped, covering her mouth. “I heard Alpha Owen proposes to Luna Kya every time they travel to a new destination. In three years, he’s already proposed her seven times!”“Alpha Owen is truly the best mate in the world! I hope I can meet someone like him at this year’s Moon Goddess Festival!”A girl who looked no older than eighteen said, her eyes filled with admiration as she gazed at Owen. I pulled my hat lower, quietly listening to their conversation. The seven proposals were true. Each time Owen presented a gift, he recited the same vow. “I, Alpha Owen of the Starry Pack, will protect Kya for all my life, remain loyal to her, love her, and respect her.” Every time he said these words, I used to cry and throw myself into his arms. But those vows—once sacred—were shattered by his own hands by cheating on me. These gifts and affection are all just a show. I watched my husband with hurt and let out a bitter smile. You have broken my trust, and I can’t forgive you.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Kya POV I didn’t stay to watch Owen’s performance. Instead, I hurried back home. I prepared a beautifully decorated gift box, placing all the photos inside before locking it shut. It wasn’t until 11 p.m. that Owen finally came back, carrying a faint scent of alcohol. “Kya, I’m sorry I got home so late and couldn’t join you for dinner. You have no idea how busy it is to prepare for the Moon Goddess Festival. I got you a cruise ship—are you excited to see it? ” He walked over to the bed and kissed me on the forehead, displaying more affection. I forced a faint smile. Was it really work? Or was he busy tangling up with Lina? Even though he always shut down our link before meeting her, even though he scrubbed the scent of her roses from his body after every sex. He couldn’t erase all the evidence of his betrayal. Sometimes, it was a stray hair on his clothes. Sometimes, it was a hickey in a private spot. Even now, when he undressed and headed into the bathroom, I saw a scratch mark on his hip. It was definitely not from me. After his shower, Owen climbed into the bed beside me. I sat up and handed him the gift box from the nightstand. “I prepared a gift for you too.” As I passed him the box, he didn’t notice the missing wedding ring on my finger. But when he accepted the box, the joy and love in his eyes still seemed real. “What is it?” He fiddled with the lock, trying to open it. “It’s a secret. I’ll give you the key on the day of the Moon Goddess Festival,” I said, pressing his hand to stop him. “Kya, you’re so good to me. I love you.” He hooked an arm around my neck, nuzzling his head against the crook of my shoulder, and drifted off to sleep. I returned the box to the nightstand. It truly held a secret. *** The following day, Owen woke up early, as always. He was brimming with energy. Yes, full of energy—how else could he manage his double life? Or perhaps it was Lina who had injected excitement into his days? "Good morning, sweetheart. I made your favorite strawberry cake," Owen said, feeding me a bite and gently wiping the strawberry jam from the corner of my mouth with his thumb. "Let me take you shopping today. I want my woman to be the most dazzling star at the Moon Goddess Festival.""Alright." I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want any dress, but I couldn’t say no. We walked into a high-end boutique. "Alpha Owen, Luna Kya," the designer greeted us politely. "It’s been a while since I’ve seen you both.""My mistake. I’ve been so busy with work this year that I haven’t taken Kya shopping for a long time," Owen replied. He certainly had been "busy" this year, though not because of work. Owen’s apologetic tone earned praise from two women in the store. "Alpha Owen is a role model for all the men in our pack!""Exactly! It’s never about men not having time—it’s about not loving you enough to make the time! Even as an Alpha, he still finds time to take his mate shopping!" Hearing their comments, Owen smiled at me and held my hand tighter. I glanced at him. Perhaps he was a role model for men. After all, wasn’t having multiple wives and mistresses a dream for many of them? "This dress matches your red hair perfectly! Try it on," Owen said, holding up an emerald silk gown against me. He knew my size and preferences perfectly. Who else could know me better than him? "Alright." I smiled, turned away, and sighed softly. But any fleeting warmth I felt was quickly interrupted by a familiar voice. "Hi, Luna Kya." Lina stepped out of a fitting room, wearing a deep V, seductive red gown, and greeted me proactively. Lina was a nurse at our pack hospital—sweet-looking and curvy. There was no way her nurse’s salary could afford the clothes in this store. But she had already paid with her body, and the person footing the bill was right here. Owen was watching me and Lina nervously. I merely nodded at her and shut the fitting room door, cutting off any chance for her to start a conversation. When I came out after trying on the dress, I saw Owen helping Lina zip up the back of her gown. I said nothing, but Owen immediately looked flustered. He hastily pulled his hands away. "Lina’s zipper got stuck, and she asked me to help.""Why don’t you help me zip it up instead, Luna Kya?" Lina said with an innocent smile, playing coy with me. "Lina…" Owen pulled her back slightly, likely realizing her request was inappropriate—or perhaps just feeling awkward being caught between his mate and mistress. "It’s fine, just a small favor," I said, smiling at Owen. His expression relaxed. "I don’t know if it’s because my chest is too full or this store’s dresses are only designed for stick-thin models. I’ve tried so many, but none fit properly," Lina said, deliberately puffing out her ample chest. I knew she was mocking me but didn’t respond to her provocation. Before becoming Owen’s mate, I had spent a short time as a model. What was there to argue about? In ten days, it wouldn’t matter whether Owen slept with Lina or with someone like her, who had a curvy figure. When you decide to discard something, there’s no point in fighting for it. "Do you like this green dress? If you do, we’ll get it. I’ve made a reservation at a restaurant, and it’s almost time for lunch," Owen said, holding me close, eager to leave the store. I could feel Lina’s expression darken as she watched Owen wrap his arm around me and lead me out. The hatred in her gaze was palpable. After leaving the boutique, our driver took us to the restaurant. I clutched my chest and leaned against the car window. Even though I’d already decided to walk away from all this, why did my heart still ache so much? "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Owen leaned over, cupping my face in concern. "I’m fine. Maybe I haven’t been resting well lately," I replied. "I’ll prepare some aromatherapy for you tonight to help you sleep." The love in his eyes was overwhelming. Maybe he hadn’t fallen out of love—he’d simply split his heart in two. Just then, Owen’s phone began to vibrate. He shifted slightly away from me, discreetly replying to the message while stealing glances at me. The buzzing then became more frequent.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Kya POV I knew it must be Lina messaging him. She resented me because Owen still chose me, even now. Was that resentment born from her love for Owen, or was it just the cheap rivalry that sometimes arises between women? I didn’t know. I didn’t want to dig deeper. For three months, my anger and hatred had slowly cooled and fermented into numbness. This is what people mean when they say the heart has died. In the middle of messaging, now Owen received a phone call. It was Beta Ash. After a few short exchanges, Owen turned to me and said, "Ash said he caught some rogues. They’re locked in the dungeon now, and I need to go check it out. I’ll have the driver take you home first.""It seems like there’ve been more rogues recently," I said "Yes. Ash and I are investigating. We’re not sure why," Owen quickly explained, adding, "But you don’t need to worry about these things. I’ll protect you.""Go ahead. Be careful!" Seeing that I wasn’t questioning him, Owen cheerfully had the driver stop the car by the roadside. Before getting out, he didn’t forget to say, "Wait for me tonight—I’ll join you for dinner." Once Owen got into another car, I turned to the driver and said, "Don’t head home yet. Follow him." The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, then nodded. He had been a silent witness to this affair—neither siding with me nor Owen. Owen did indeed go to the dungeon, but he stood at the entrance without going inside. He was waiting for someone. I had the driver park the car in a wooded area near the dungeon. Soon, a black car pulled up at the dungeon entrance. To my surprise, Ash and Lina got out. She was dressed in a tight black dress and red stockings. The dress was so short that it barely covered her hips. She immediately threw herself into Owen’s arms, clinging to my mate like a limp rag doll. Owen scooped her up and hurriedly carried her into the dungeon. I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my palms. He certainly knew what spot to pick–who would suspect him of meeting someone in the dungeon? I let out a cold laugh and used my mind-link to contact a dungeon guard. I asked him to monitor Owen’s actions in the dungeon for me. I had known this guard before becoming Owen’s mate. Soon, the guard sent me a video. When I opened it, I saw a luxuriously decorated room that clashed starkly with the dungeon’s usual gloom. The center of the room contained a transparent glass shower, a large bathtub, and a massive round pink bed surrounded by whips, ropes, candles, ice cubes, and other things I couldn’t even identify. Moments later, Owen carried Lina into the room, tossed her onto the bed, and used his teeth to tear off her red stockings. My hands trembled, and even my teeth chattered. When I heard Lina moan, I quickly closed the video. "Luna Kya, shall I take you home?" the driver coughed lightly, breaking his usual silence to ask me. Through blurry eyes, I glanced at the rearview mirror. The driver seemed to want to say more but couldn’t find the words. "Let’s go," I said. Shouldn’t I have expected this? Why am I upset? I rolled down the car window, letting the wind dry my tears. I took a deep breath and gasped for air like a fish about to drown. So this was the type of woman Owen liked and I thought Owen was a very traditional man. ** Three years ago, during the Moon Goddess Festival, when Owen discovered that I was his mate, he didn’t mark me right away or make love. Instead, he took me for diving to see the stars beneath the sea. "You’re lying. There are no stars in the sea," I had said, thinking it was just one of his tricks to charm women. But I still followed him. When we swam to the bottom of the sea, he took my hand, pointed upwards, and gestured for me to look. A swarm of glowing jellyfish swam above us, twinkling like a sky full of stars. I had turned to look at him, and through the visor of my diving mask, I could see the starlight in his eyes. My tears had blended with the seawater. A month later, he held a grand wedding for me on a tropical island. That night, we made love for the first time on a bed covered with flowers. He marked me and whispered in my ear over and over, "Kya, you are mine. I love you. I will always love you." That night, I believed that eternal love was real—just like stars could exist in the sea. I thought Owen was different from my father. But after seeing the video, I didn’t know if it was because I didn’t understand men—or because I didn’t understand him. ** "Stop here." As we neared home, I asked the driver to pull over. "Luna Kya..." the driver began. "Just go back, I have something to take care of," I interrupted. I got out of the car, feeling disoriented and nearly losing my balance. Then, I hailed a taxi. "Take me to the used car market," I said.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Kya POV When I returned home from the used car market, the servants had already prepared dinner. Owen didn’t come home for dinner as promised but called me. He always called ahead when he came home late. As an Alpha, he always had various excuses. Now, I could no longer tell which ones were legitimate or just excuses for his affairs. "Kya, the rogue attacks have increased these past few months, and the crime rate is rising. The dungeon rooms are running out. Ash and I are working on expanding the dungeon. I’ll be home later tonight, don’t wait for me." Owen said sincerely on the phone. He was indeed busy expanding the dungeon but not to imprison criminals—to create a hidden and thrilling place for his affairs. "Mm, you handle your things." I replied plainly. "Kya, you’re so understanding. I love you." His words made me feel sick to my guts, thinking he might be in the dungeon right now with Lina in his arms. It felt like her scent was seeping out of the phone, making me so disgusted that I almost threw up. I quickly hung up the call. Later that night, Owen sneaked back home. When he opened the bedroom door, I was lying in bed, wide awake. "Why aren’t you asleep?" He seemed a bit flustered. This fluster came from guilt after his affair and maybe also from some concern for me. I stared at him intently, and he sat on the edge of my bed, gently touching my face. "You said you’ve been having trouble sleeping lately, right? After finishing my work, I specifically went to get this water lily aromatherapy for you. The scent specialist said it takes a thousand water lilies to make this small bottle. I promise you’ll sleep well tonight." He pulled an aromatherapy bottle from the box, lit it, and placed it on my nightstand. A half-truth is always easier to deceive with than a pure lie. He surely didn’t go to buy it. His Beta did when he might be busy fucking Lina. "Would you like me to massage your shoulders?" Owen continued trying to please me. "No, the aromatherapy smells nice. I already feel sleepy." I closed my eyes, but only until Owen fell asleep. After that, like many other nights, I just stared at the ceiling until dawn as if my fate had been written there. *** "Did you sleep better last night?" Owen asked as soon as he rose. "Mm," I smiled and nodded. "I told you the aromatherapy would work. I'll buy more today. Or maybe I should just open an aromatherapy store for you," Owen said, doting on me. "No need to go through so much trouble." In five days, I wouldn’t need any of this. "Kya, doing anything for you is never a hassle! It only makes me feel happy." I suddenly remembered something my mother once said: if you can deceive someone for a lifetime, that might be love. When I first found out about Owen’s affair, I had tried to convince myself of the same thing. But I couldn’t do it. After breakfast, Owen mentioned that Alpha James and Alpha Travis would be coming to Pack today to discuss a business collaboration project. "They specifically asked me to take you to play tennis this afternoon. You should really get out more and exercise." Later in the afternoon, when I arrived at the tennis court in my baseball skirt, James and Travis waved excitedly at me. "Kya, still as radiant as ever!" James said. "You look so beautiful today!" Travis said, even more enthusiastically kissing my cheek, only to be pushed away by Owen. "Go kiss your own mate, Kya is mine!" Owen held me tightly in his arms like a trophy. James and Travis were my groomsmen at the wedding. They had even written a song and choreographed a dance for it. Those warm memories brought a little life back to me. But perhaps because of my emotional state, my wolf had become very weak recently. Less than half an hour into the match, I tripped and fell. "Kya, are you okay?" Owen quickly dropped his racket and rushed over to me. "I'm fine, just a little scrape on my knee," I smiled. Owen immediately hugged my right leg and blew on my knee. "I'll take you to the hospital.""No need, it's just a small scratch. Don’t you remember, I have Alpha blood in me, it’ll heal quickly." James and Travis also came over. "You guys please keep playing, I'll just head home and rest for a bit.""I'll take you home," Owen said, picking me up. "No, James and Travis rarely get together, you stay and play with them.""Owen is still so considerate! You two are still so in love," Travis patted Owen on the shoulder. Is that so? I sneered inside but didn’t say anything. My marriage with Owen is nobody else’s business, and I didn’t feel like explaining anything to Travis. The driver took me home, but halfway there, I realized I had left my phone in the tennis court’s changing room. I asked the driver to turn around and return to the court. As I walked into the changing room to get my mobile, I I heard Lina’s sharp laugh from the lobby area. I wanted to avoid her, but other voices, along with her, compelled me to peek out. To my surprise, it was none but Owen, James, and Travis. Owen had his arm around Lina’s waist.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

Kya POV So, they all know Lina. They all know everything! "Lina is really good at tennis!" James praised Lina, just like he had praised me earlier. "Well, it’s because I’m such a good coach!" Owen said smugly. "I think her skills in bed are even better! She’s got you completely enchanted!" Travis said bluntly. "Alpha Travis, you're so bad! How can you say that about me?" Lina said, playfully pushing Travis. "Isn't that the truth?" Owen pinched Lina's chin. "Go change, we’re going to the bar tonight." Lina bounced off toward the changing room, and I slipped out the back door of the tennis court. It turned out Beta Ash wasn't the only accomplice—they all were helping Owen to deceive me! What do they think I am? A fool or a clown? How many others are watching me like it's some kind of joke? I told the driver to head home, and I wandered down the street, feeling completely lost. I thought about how Owen used to teach me tennis. "Your posture is already good. Let me show you." He stood behind me and gently guided my arms. "Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Hold the racket—""That’s close, but don’t aim for the moon next time.""You have talent. I’ll make sure to reward you tonight." ...... He looked so handsome and confident on the court and used to be so patient while teaching me. Is he teaching Lina the same way? Before, when I used to run into Lina, I had this sense of superiority that she was nothing more than Owen's sex partner. But now, at this moment, my last shred of pride was shattered. A voice in my head told me, You’re just one of his sex partners. *** Four days are left until the Moon Goddess festival, and I went to the Pack clinic for something important to confirm. I walked out of the consultation room holding a small paper bag with medicine inside, still processing what the doctor had said: "Luna Kya, you're not pregnant and don't have any gynecological issues. Your recent symptoms are due to hormonal imbalances caused by emotional stress and lack of sleep. Relax, take the calming medication regularly, and things will gradually improve." I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn’t sure if Owen had other lovers before Lina. Many sexually transmitted diseases have incubation periods, and I was worried that I might have caught something from Owen. I was also concerned that my period being two months late was due to pregnancy. As I reached the stairway, I stopped. I saw two familiar people standing below—Owen and Lina. Lina quietly slipped something into Owen's pocket, then naturally placed her hand on his chest, whispering something with a mysterious smile. Owen noticed someone was watching and suddenly turned his head. When he saw me, his expression flashed with panic, and he quickly stepped away from Lina. "Kya, what are you doing here?" His tone mixed with a bit of nervousness and concern. "And how come you're here?" I didn’t answer him but asked instead. "I brought a few injured soldiers to the hospital, and Lina was helping to take care of them. I just came to check on their condition," Owen hurriedly explained. Lina, however, chimed in with a light tone, "Yeah, nursing work is nothing compared to Luna's easy life." I could hear the sarcasm in her words. My brow furrowed slightly, but I didn’t respond immediately. Owen’s face darkened, and he shot a cold glare at Lina. "Watch your tone with Kya. Don’t forget your place! Apologize to your Luna!" Lina looked hurt, gritting her teeth. Owen glared at her again, but it seemed less like reprimanding and more like trying to shift my attention away so I wouldn’t suspect anything. "Luna Kya, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have offended you," Lina mumbled. Owen walked over and put his arm around my shoulders, speaking softly, "You still haven’t told me, how come you're at the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?""I haven’t been sleeping well, so I came to see a doctor. The doctor said it’s nothing." Hearing this, Owen’s brows slightly relaxed, and his expression became more at ease. He quickly took the medicine bag from my hand, speaking firmly, "Next time you’re feeling unwell, tell me beforehand. How could you come to the hospital alone? I’ll take you home.""But don’t you still have things to do?" I raised an eyebrow, my tone slightly mocking. "There’s nothing more important than you," he said without hesitation, his gaze sincere. I lowered my head and said nothing, letting him lead me out of the hospital. Behind us, I heard Lina snort, but I didn’t look back. In the car, Owen asked a few times about my health. I only gave vague replies. Leaning against the window, I couldn’t help but ask, "What was the thing Lina slipped into your pocket?"

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Kya POV "Oh, it’s a car key. Lina found it while helping the soldiers with their wounds. She didn’t know whose it was, so she gave it to me," Owen said, glancing at me. "I can’t grab it right now while driving, but if you don’t believe me, you can check my pocket.""I was just asking!" I responded quickly. He was sure I wouldn’t search his pocket. After we got married, he even told me his phone password. But I had never looked at his phone. There were many things I just couldn’t be bothered to do. At that moment, Owen’s phone rang, disrupting my thoughts. Unlike before, Owen didn’t pick up; instead, he turned the phone off. "Tonight, I’m not answering anyone’s calls. I’m going to spend a nice dinner with my baby!" Once we got home, he immediately went into the kitchen, becoming the perfect husband. "These are all your favorites, try them," he said. Before we got married, Owen didn’t know how to cook. Since I was picky about food, he even found a French chef to mentor him and spent six months learning how to cook. When I first found out about his affair, I tried to convince myself that if I left him, no one would treat me this well. But now, I no longer had that struggle. He could teach another woman how to play tennis and probably cook for her, too. In fact, he might have already cooked for Lina. What he enjoyed was the chase, and I wasn’t the only one he was chasing. "I’m full." After taking a few bites, I quickly returned to the bedroom. "Kya, are you upset because I didn’t have dinner with you the other day? I promise I’ll cook for you every night this month," Owen followed me. "It’s fine," I shook my head and forced a smile. "Are you really okay? You seem... different," Owen asked carefully. "There’s nothing different. I think you’re the one who’s changed," I said, forcing an even bigger smile. "I have changed. I love you more than ever, Kya. I will always love you," Owen said, kissing my neck. I could see the desire in his eyes. He wanted to use his body to prove that nothing had changed between us. But we can’t fake everything. I gently pushed him away, avoiding his kiss. "I took some of the doctor’s sleeping pills today. I’m really tired now." Sex was the last thing I wanted at that moment. Before going to bed, I received a message from Lina: "Don’t think just because you’re Luna that you’re something special. Owen doesn’t even like you!" I thought it was probably because Owen had scolded and ignored her today, which angered her and led her to attack me. But her attacks didn’t matter to me anymore. I didn’t reply. I would leave in three days, and I didn’t want anything to interfere with my plans. Since everyone was lying and playing a role, I could play with them in this final scene. Maybe the frustration of hitting a soft target made Lina even angrier. She sent me a few more messages, including some pictures. "He proposed to you seven times but made love to me 700 times. He married you because of the mate bond! When he sleeps with me, it’s irresistible, it’s true love!""Even though your mate is lying next to you, he’s playing with remote-controlled sex toys with me." It turned out the remote-controlled sex toy was what Lina had slipped into Owen’s pocket this afternoon. I then understood why Owen had been in the bathroom for over half an hour.. Usually, he only needed 10 minutes to shower. I swallowed another sleeping pill without water. The pill stuck in my throat, bitter and unpleasant. *** The next afternoon, Ash came to see Owen and told him that Alpha James had finalized the deal. "I'm going to inspect a factory and will be gone for two days. I’ll definitely be back before the Moon Goddess Festival," Owen explained as he packed his bags. "Okay, go ahead.""Wait for me to come back!" Before leaving, Owen looked back at me again, his eyes filled with concern. "I’ve noticed you haven’t had much of an appetite these past couple of days. I’ve hired a chef to cook for you, to change things up a bit." That was actually a good thing for me. I could take the opportunity to finalize my new identity and book my flight. The place I was going was far away. I couldn’t leave any clues behind that might let Owen find out. When Owen landed, he sent me a message informing me he arrived safely. Ironically, a message from Lina followed right after. It turned out that Lina had gone with him on this business trip. Or rather, the business trip was just a cover, and it was actually a vacation he had arranged for Lina. For the next two days, I received messages from both Owen and Lina. On one hand, Owen would send me goodnight messages every night. On the other hand, Lina sent me intimate photos of her and Owen. Owen even video-called me to prove he was alone, purposely showing me his hotel room. "Baby, I can’t sleep without you by my side," he said, holding the camera towards the empty iron-framed bed. After Owen hung up, Lina would immediately send pictures. On the same iron-framed bed, the sheets were messy, and she had her legs wrapped around Owen's waist while his hand rested on her hip. That hand also had our wedding ring on. But nothing bothered me anymore. I was too busy with my plans. I processed my new ID and set up my phone and SIM card. I even got my refurbished car ready with the gas in it. The flight ticket, which spans half the globe, was also booked, and pre-marriage savings were transferred. With the help of sleeping pills, I spent the last two peaceful nights at Starry Pack. And quickly, the Moon Goddess Festival finally arrived.

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

Kya POV When I woke up to the morning light of the Moon Goddess Festival, Owen was downstairs, looking as lively as ever. Ash was following him, carrying a pile of gift bags. "Baby, did you miss me? Take a look at what I got for you," Owen said as he walked in, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his head on my chin. He still smelled like the familiar ocean scent. I used to think it was refreshing, like endless summer, but now, it just felt sticky and fishy. "Let me see," I said, pretending to be happy as I unwrapped the gifts and gently pushed him away. There were cinnamon cookies I used to love and a pair of emerald earrings I had once liked. Was he trying to make up for his guilt with gifts? It’s just an old trick men use. Before my mother passed away, she had many useless gifts that my father had given her. But those jewels that once hung around her neck now adorned another woman. "I’ll put these on for you," Owen said, holding the earrings to my ears "See? Don't they match your eyes perfectly? But no gem can be as beautiful as your eyes.""Is that so?" I scoffed. "Don't you like them?" Owen quickly picked up on my mood. "I do," I forced a smile. I used to like them, just like I once liked the person in front of me, but that was in the past. I looked at us in the mirror, a radiant young couple. But when I thought about the hands that were pinching my earlobes, had been fondling another woman last night, a wave of nausea hit me. I couldn’t help but gag. "Kya, what’s wrong?" Owen asked, clearly worried. "Nothing. Maybe I just didn’t have breakfast today.""Could it be... could you be pregnant?" Owen asked with a hopeful and joyful look in his eyes. "Once the Moon Goddess Festival is over, I’ll take you to the hospital for a check-up!""How could that be?""You used to say you wanted to enjoy our time alone, and I agreed. Now, do you think we should consider having a child?" Owen said as he pulled me closer, his hand rubbing my stomach. "Let’s wait a little longer, you’re so busy right now," I tried to pull away from him, but he just held me tighter. "No matter how busy I am, I’ll still make time to have a child with you." He slid his hand under my shirt. "It’s all my fault. I’ve been spending too little time with you lately. I promise, today I’m all yours. Do you think our first child will be a boy or a girl?" If he had asked me to have a baby three months ago, I would have smiled and said, "Let’s have a pair of twins, a boy and a girl, I’d love them both!" But now, carrying this man's child would be even harder to bear than watching him sleep with Lina. Before I could answer, a servant interrupted us. "Luna Kya, someone sent you a package.""What is it?" Owen released me and stepped forward to grab the package from the servant. "Oh, it’s some massage oil I ordered online." I nervously took the package from Owen's hand and set it on the table. I couldn’t let him know it was the potion the witch made for me to mask my scent. "After the Moon Goddess Festival tonight, I’ll give you a massage!" Owen said, stuffing a cinnamon cookie into my mouth. "You’re not allowed to skip breakfast again. I’ll make you some fruit yogurt." I nodded, but as soon as I sat down at the table, his phone rang. He picked up the call, his brow furrowing slightly. After a brief conversation, he smiled apologetically at me. "Sorry, I need to grab a document from the car, I’ll be right back." I watched his retreating figure, feeling like something was off, but I didn’t want to pursue it. I walked into the kitchen alone, intending to make a simple fried egg. I glanced out of the kitchen window and froze. I saw the one person I never wanted to see—Lina, standing in the Villa’s backyard. They had been sneaking around in hotels, dungeons, tennis courts, and hospitals, but now, she had the audacity to come to my house openly!