Chapter 3

That afternoon at the corner café, I met my friend Zoe Hart. She wore a sharp business suit, her golden bob perfectly styled.

I slid the encrypted drive across the table. "All the evidence of Adrian's affair is in there. And..." My voice trembled slightly. "Records of him drugging me. He wanted to destroy my fertility so that child could inherit legitimately."

Zoe's usually composed expression cracked for the first time. She grabbed my wrist: "God, Celeste... This is serious mate betrayal under wolf law."

As I laid out six years of deception, her expression shifted from shock to icy fury.

"They must pay for this," her voice was low and dangerous. "We're taking back everything that belongs to you."

I looked at her, lowering my voice: "I found several suspicious financial statements in his study. Large sums flowing to unknown recipients. I need you to investigate—we might uncover more."

Zoe nodded. "Give me some time."

Her efficiency was indeed startling. In less than half a day, her call came.

"The conditions for dissolving the mate bond are met." She said over the phone. "But I found something more serious."

She paused: "Millions in funds flowed from the Carter family business to a shell company. Every transfer is marked 'Frostwhisper Floral Development Fund.' Your parents... likely knew."

When we met again, Zoe placed a thick stack of photos on the table.

I trembled as I took them, each photo silently telling another betrayal.

Until I saw that Christmas Eve family photo, my blood seemed to freeze instantly. My parents, James and Margaret Carter, sat by the fireplace with them, every face glowing with happiness.

My mother intimately embraced Isabella's shoulders, my father's eyes showed affection I'd never received as he handed Liam a gift. The table held my mother's specialty roasted chestnut cake—my most anticipated holiday treat as a child.

I remembered that Christmas Eve when they were all absent, those excuses about being delayed on the road. Tears fell silently.

For six years, all my loved ones had woven this lie together. I knew I had nothing left to lose.

I paid a high price to bribe the administrative manager at Isabella's studio, securing an intern position.

In the employee changing room, I put on plain work clothes. A brown wig hid my silver hair, clear-lens glasses covered most of my face.

My target was clear. Isabella's private office.

The décor inside stung my eyes—my mother's aesthetic in every corner, my father's taste on the walls. They'd carefully crafted this space for her.

On the desk, tucked between floral design sketches in a silver frame, was a photo of Isabella in a white dress with Adrian in the moonlight forest. My parents, Adrian's parents—all had attended this secret ceremony I'd never known about.

So before marking me, Adrian had already chosen her. And my parents were accomplices.

This shocking discovery pierced my heart again.

I quickly scanned the area, carefully attaching a micro-recorder under the desk.

When I returned to the apartment, Adrian wasn't there. I turned on the recording device, the audio clear in my earphones.

"Everything must be arranged before the full moon ceremony." Adrian's voice was frighteningly calm. "Liam's inheritance rights can't be delayed any longer."

"Will she object?" Isabella asked.

"No. She's always so understanding." Adrian's laugh carried contempt. "Besides, her parents have already signed the consent forms. As long as the alliance between our packs remains solid, the entire Carter family will support this decision."

"What about her?"

"She'll continue being Luna—a powerless figurehead. Her parents want it that way too—maintain surface peace, let Liam hold real power."

I removed the earphones, my hands trembling uncontrollably. Not just Adrian—even my parents were part of this conspiracy. In their eyes, I was merely a pawn to maintain the alliance, a piece that could be sacrificed at any time.

My hands shook beyond control—not from sadness, but from all-consuming rage.

The next day back at the studio, while organizing financial documents I discovered more anomalies: floral purchasing amounts far exceeded reasonable ranges, some funds flowing to unknown accounts.

This wasn't just emotional betrayal—it was a massive fraud involving money, power, and inheritance rights.

Just as I photographed the last invoice, Isabella suddenly burst in.

Her gaze locked onto me with sharp scrutiny. Gray Wolf instinct made her sense something wrong—no matter how good my disguise, it couldn't hide the lingering tension in the air.

"What are you doing here? Take off your mask."

My heartbeat spiraled out of control, each beat hammering my ribs. I rapidly considered escape options.

Just then, the administrative manager rushed in, face clearly nervous: "Sorry, Miss Frost, this is the new intern. She's been unwell these past days. I told her to wear a mask so she wouldn't infect others."

She gripped my arm tightly, half-pushing me quickly toward the back door. "Sorry, we'll arrange someone else to organize your office."

Outside the studio, feeling my gradually steadying heartbeat, I messaged Zoe: "Evidence collection complete."

She replied quickly: "Received. Be careful."

I stood at the corner, quietly gazing at the "Frostwhisper Floral Studio" sign. This fortress built on lies would soon crumble under the truth.