Adrian looked at me with a complex expression, and then his gaze fell on the luggage I was packing.
“I’m planning to take Sophia to the southern territories first. You don’t need to pack.”
I did not stop packing and just nodded lightly. He seemed uncomfortable with my cold attitude and looked uneasy.
“What’s wrong with you? You seem like a completely different person.”
My hands paused momentarily as I forced a strained smile. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just packing some things. After you leave White Moon Pack, I’m moving back to the Harrington residence.”
After our parents died, Sophia and I had lived with the Northgates. Our original home had been sitting empty all this time.
He breathed a sigh of relief and explained, “It’s not that I don’t want you to come to the southern territories. It’s just that Sophia has never seen the southern scenery and wants to pay a visit. I’ll come back for you in a few months.”
I nodded absentmindedly. In my previous life, he never came back for me — not for ten whole years. He only returned, heartbroken, after Sophia mated with an Alpha from a southern pack.
Adrian stole glances at me, clearly uncomfortable with my silence.
“You’ve always said you wanted to take some wedding photos. Let’s go take them tomorrow,” he said suddenly, breaking the awkward atmosphere in the room.
I looked up in surprise, then refused. “Forget it. Don’t waste the money.”
I was planning to buy some supplies for college tomorrow. I did not have time for such meaningless activities.
Adrian frowned in displeasure. “I can afford wedding photos, Elena. You don’t need to be so frugal.”
Just then, Sophia walked in, linking her arm intimately with Adrian’s. “What are you talking about? Taking photos? I want to take pretty pictures too!”
Adrian smiled and patted her head. “Sure. We’ll all go together tomorrow.”
I wanted to refuse again, but Adrian cut me off firmly. “Nothing is more important than taking mate photos. It’s decided!”
Sophia fanned the flames from the side. “Elena, you’re not refusing just because of me, are you?”
I did not want to argue with them, so I reluctantly agreed.
Early the next morning, I heard Sophia’s cheerful laughter. She was wearing the beautiful wedding dress I had bought, chattering nonstop while leaning against Adrian.
Adrian wore a handsome suit, smiling as he looked down at her, his eyes unable to hide the gentle adoration he felt. The two of them looked like a perfectly matched couple in love.
I turned to look at the calendar on the wall. The circled numbers reminded me that there were only two more days before I could leave.
In two days, I could completely escape this miserable life.
I waited silently by the door. It took them quite a while before they finally came out, taking their sweet time.
Adrian carefully adjusted the wrinkles in Sophia’s dress train. I smiled bitterly and looked away.
What had made me believe that after becoming mates with Adrian, he would treat me with the same tenderness? This special treatment was reserved only for Sophia.
While I was lost in thought, Adrian approached me with a red face, holding out a ring set with moonstone.
“My lieutenant said this symbolizes the mate bond. I bought you one.”
I stared blankly at the ring. In my previous life, I had never received such a symbolic gift.
When Sophia saw the ring Adrian gave me, her expression changed, and she said pitifully, “What a big moonstone! It’s so beautiful… I want one too!”
I generously handed the ring to her. “If you like it, you can have it.”
Adrian’s face darkened immediately. “Don’t be ridiculous! That’s our mate ring!”
Sophia snatched the ring and put it on directly, showing off by wiggling her finger proudly.
Adrian looked completely helpless and could only nod indulgently. He then said to me guiltily, “I’ll buy you a new one next time.”
I nodded indifferently. He had never kept a single promise he had made to me, but what did it matter anymore?
I no longer cared about any of this.
