WALKED 17

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Сhapter 17

Chapter 17

Celeste POV:

I lifted my head, looking straight into Dominic’s eyes, allowing a hint of disdain to cross my face. “Alpha Kingsford, you’re quite talented at twisting words. Weren’t you the one who desperately wanted a divorce?”

Dominic didn’t respond. He closed in, his dark eyes filled with a dangerous chill. His voice came out quietly, like ice cracking beneath my feet. “These past few days, have you been staying with him?”

At such a close distance, I could clearly see the frostiness in his eyes beneath his thick, dark eyelashes, the red veins staining the whites of his eyes, and the barely restrained rage simmering in his expression.

“No,” I quickly denied. “It’s hard to get a taxi these days. Julian was just passing by and offered me a ride.”

A cold, mocking smirk appeared at the corner of his lips. “Celeste, whenever you lie, your eyes tend to shift upward. After all these years, you haven’t changed a bit. After stubbornly holding on for a year, you’ve suddenly decided to abandon your critically ill father and run away to be with another man?”

I didn’t want to keep explaining. The more I spoke, the more he’d think I was insulting his intelligence.

I forced the conversation back on track. “It doesn’t matter now. Let’s do what needs to be done and complete the dissolution of the MATE relationship as soon as possible.”

Before I could even take one step forward, Dominic had caught my wrist. Though his grip wasn’t heavy, a sharp pain jolted through my weak bones. Frowning, I shot him an annoyed look.

His eyes blazed with cruelty, his voice cold and menacing. “Before, I thought breaking the link between us would be the best punishment for you. But now… I’ve changed my mind.”

“What are you talking about?” I stared at him, stunned.

A wicked smile curved his lips as he gently ran his slender fingers across my cheek, his voice deceptively soft. “I suddenly don’t want a divorce anymore.”

Lowering his head close to mine, his breath brushed against my skin. He whispered mockingly, “Luna Kingsford, aren’t you delighted?”

If he’d said this to me half a month ago, I’d have been ecstatic. But now, knowing everything I did, his touch only filled me with revulsion.

I struggled against his grip, panicked and angry. “Let go of me! Dominic, I have to break the link. Right now!”

With effortless strength, he bends down and effortlessly lifts me off the ground.

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Luna’s Ascent: When I Walked Away, Alpha Wept

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Chapter 17

Dominic’s arms are strong, and what was once a haven for me in those broad shoulders is now a cage that suffocates

me.

“Dominic, have you lost your mind? Let go!” I shouted desperately.

The disparity in our strength was huge, even more so with my body now fragile like porcelain. I was completely powerless, helpless in his hold.

He placed me in the car’s backseat. Even this short struggle drained all my energy. Breathless, I gasped out, “Dominic, what on earth do you want?”

He loosened his bothersome tie with irritation, his cold eyes filled with scorn. “What do I want? Celeste, what I want is to see you suffer. Did you really think I’d let you enjoy your happy little escapades with other men while you’re still my wife? I underestimated you.”

“Not long ago, you claimed you’d rather die than divorce me. Yet now, here you are, throwing yourself at another man the moment my back is turned. Just how desperate are you?”

My head ached violently. Each cruel word he spat pierced my heart like sharp needles.

Fighting back tears, I snapped back, “You’re the one who couldn’t wait to divorce. I’m granting your wish. Why act like this now? You’ve been openly cheating on me for ages, so why does it bother you if I’m with someone else?”

Instantly, he grabbed my chin with rough fingers, forcing me to face him. His voice was devoid of warmth, each word icy and brutal. “Everyone in this world can find happiness–everyone but you, Celeste. Do you understand?”

His dark eyes stared down at me coldly, filled with arrogance and contempt. “Whether or not to break the MATE link between us is always only up to me.”

He leaned closer, his tie brushing both sides of my cheeks, his expensive wool coat immaculately smooth and

wrinkle–free. From his towering position, everyone else seemed like insignificant insects beneath his feet.

The car slowly turned around the traffic divider. At that moment, through the tinted window, I glimpsed a long line of stopped cars across the street. My heart nearly stopped when I saw a familiar crashed Cayenne at the head of that

line.

Wasn’t that Julian’s car?

Panic seized me. My voice trembled as I cried out desperately, “Stop the car!”

Of course, Lucas pretended he didn’t hear me, driving steadily onward without flinching.

My hands shook violently as I desperately tried to force the car door open. Dominic quickly grasped my wrist and pulled me back roughly into his arms.

With a cold laugh, he whispered softly beside my ear, “What’s wrong? Worried about your little lover?”

“Are you insane?” My voice shook, filled with rage and panic. “Julian is just an old schoolmate who took care of me

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Luna’s Ascent: When I Walked Away, Alpha Wept

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at the hospital! There’s nothing between us at all. Why are you doing this?”

He lazily traced my cheek with cool fingertips, eyes glittering cruelly. “Because,” he said slowly, “the more upset you become, the happier it makes me.”

Weakly, I tugged at his shirt, fury consuming me even as my body weakened further. Using the last ounce of my strength, I spoke urgently, “Dominic, my father sponsored Delilah’s education. Even if their relationship wasn’t purely platonic, I know he would never hurt her.”

The instant I mentioned her name, his expression darkened instantly. Rage replaced his mocking coldness as he roughly shoved me away, voice booming dangerously, “What gives you the right to speak her name?”

My back crashed violently into the car door. Pain surged through me as my weakened body slumped helplessly against the seat. I bit down on my lip, fighting off nausea and agony.

At the same time, I was somewhat eerily relieved. It seems I was right in my investigation, and his reaction confirms everything: Delilah really is his lost sister.

At this point, though, I had no strength left to question him further. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, struggling to steady my breathing and hold back the waves of dizziness and pain.

I curled up silently against the leather seat, grateful I’d applied blush and lipstick earlier to hide my pale complexion.

Mistaking my silence for mere sulking, Dominic said nothing further, though the tension in his body remained palpable.

Eventually, the car arrived at the pack villa. By now, my limbs felt like heavy stones. I didn’t want to move another

step.

After Dominic exited the car, Lucas opened my door cautiously, speaking softly, “Madam, are you feeling unwell?”

Before I could even respond, Dominic stood before the door, gazing coldly down at me with undisguised contempt. “Still playing your weak and helpless act, Celeste? You really think your tricks will make me soften towards you?”

Over the past year, I’d indeed pretended weakness in the hopes of gaining his pity.

But I will always seem to him to be merely adept at pretense, and now no amount of real pain on my part will

convince him otherwise.

Seeing me unresponsive, he finally lost patience. His voice turned deadly calm, “If you don’t want me to cause trouble for the Locksley family, you’d better get out of this car immediately.”

My heart lurched painfully. I remembered I’d just messaged Julian without getting a respon I still didn’t know how seriously he was hurt. Biting my lip, I forced my shaky legs to move, stumbling weakly from the car.