And this time… was I really ready to be happy?
I stumbled. Doubt gripped my chest, cold and sudden. A part of me wanted to run away.
“Sophia.”
Zane stood in front of me, his fingers curling a little because he was nervous.
He took a deep breath, straightened his tie, and walked towards me with calm determination.
“Sophia, I know you have a lot of fears. But I want you to know that it’s okay. “I’ve got you,” he said.
I looked up into his eyes, which were so open and honest.
He had grown up next to me, protecting me from cruelty and ridicule. When I left him for David, I thought I was looking for love. But no matter how far I went, he stayed right there, at the crossroads where we had parted.
My parents were below the stage, crying and smiling as they waved at me and mouthed “Congratulations.” They had always been my strength, protecting me from pain.
How could I not let myself be happy?
I smiled and held out my hand to Zane.
“Don’t go with him, Sophia!””
The door suddenly opened, and David’s voice was hoarse and cracked.
He stood there, shocked, looking at the two of us on stage. The happiness on our faces cut through him like a knife. Shock and regret filled his eyes, drowning him.
He was right next to me in a flash, his eyes full of need.
“I was wrong, Sophia. You can’t just get married to someone else because you’re angry. You do love me, right? You love me!”
I looked at him coldly, with no emotion on my face.
“You can’t say that word.” Not anymore. We’re over, David. I don’t want to see you again.
“No-no!””
David lunged forward to grab my hand.
Zane stepped in front of me right away, blocking him with a calm fierceness.
David’s eyes narrowed in anger as he stared at Zane.
“You’re to blame for this! You know she’s mine. How could you go after her?”
A faint, creepy smile spread across Zane’s lips.
“Your legal mate is named Ella,” he said, his voice as cold as winter steel. “Don’t mix up your problems with my bride.”
David pulled back, clearly surprised. “I-I only married Ella to help her. I don’t love her! I’ve only ever loved Sophia!”Zane looked at him with disgust written all over his face.
“So the person you love… isn’t the one you legally bound yourself to? That’s interesting.
David was angry and clenched his jaw. “Ella and I are already getting ready to end our mate bond. Then I’ll do the Marking with my real mate. “Alpha, it’s none of your business.”
There was something sharp in Zane’s eyes.
“Is that breakup mutual? Or are you making her do it and leaving her?”
David stopped for a moment, his voice getting thinner. “Of course it’s mutual.” It was just a deal between us.
“You lie! You pathetic liar!”The doors to the hall flew open again with a bang. Ella was standing in the doorway.
There was a lot of tension in the air. People gasped all around the room.
Ella walked up, rolling up her sleeves to show off her arms, which were covered in silver scars from burns.
“These,” she said, her voice shaking, “are from David.” He hit me. He wanted to kill me.
She shook as she told the whole story: how David had played with Sophia while stringing her along, how he had kept up the lie of being in love with both of them while betraying them both.
She cried as she talked.
“I know I’m not a saint,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I just wanted a place for my daughter to live. And still—David, how could you be so mean?”
