Chapter 3
I raised my head along with where the voice came from, and locked eyes with the beautiful she wolf.
Seeing her face, I only felt the blood in my body freeze, and the wolf nature that had been silent for a long time seemed to have been awakened at that moment.
Marina.
Marina stood behind me, her exquisite white cashmere coat hugging her slender figure perfectly, and her ears adorned with rare Australian white pearls that gleamed elegantly under the lights.
The luxurious shawl wrapped gracefully around her neck was worth at least tens of thousands, making her appear gentle and refined.
Instantly, the saleswomen flocked around her eagerly.
“Luna Kingsford, is Alpha Kingsford not accompanying you to select jewelry today?”
“Luna Kingsford, we’ve received the latest arrivals today–each piece suits you wonderfully.”
“Luna Kingsford, the jade bracelet you asked me to reserve has arrived. Please try it on; it will beautifully complement your complexion.”
One after another, they addressed her as “Luna Kingsford,” their voices echoing around me, and Marina cast a deliberate, victorious smile my way.
My hands clenched tightly by my sides, nails digging painfully into my palms. Why did I have to encounter the very person I loathed most when I was at my lowest?
Marina tilted her head gracefully, speaking to me gently with barely disguised mockery. “Selling such high–quality rings for quick cash will probably result in a significant loss, won’t it?”
. forced myself to reach out and snatch back the ring box. My voice was steady, but my heart burned. “I’m not selling it anymore.”
“Not selling?” Marina feigned disappointment, shaking her head lightly. “What a pity–I actually liked this ring quite a bit. Given our previous relationship, I would’ve offered you a generous price. Miss Parker, aren’t you desperately short of money?”
Her smile told me she knew my weakness and relished exploiting it.
The saleswomen, eager to please Marina, also chimed in, trying to persuade me. “Miss Parker, this is Alpha Kingsford’s fiancée, BlueOcean Pack’s future Luna–surely you understand she’ll offer a good price. You wouldn’t even have to go through the usual procedures; you’d get your money immediately.”
Their repeated use of “Luna Kingsford” grated sharply against my nerves, turning into painful irony.
1 umat Awent When I Walked Away. Alpha Wept
Once, I’d vowed to never give Dominic up. Yet, after barely a year, I’d become the joke of our entire pack. My mating bond with Dominic had turned into nothing but a farce.
Marina moved even closer to me, her fingers pressing gently on the ring box, her voice soft but cold.
“Celeste, there’s no need to stubbornly cling to your dignity when you’re already at rock bottom. If I were you, I’d let it go. Has no one ever told you how pitiful you look, clinging desperately to things you can’t have?”
Something inside me finally snapped, and I glared back at her coldly. “Marina, if you’re so fond of snatching what’s not yours, why don’t you just rob a bank instead?”
The tension between us was growing. Not wanting to be here any longer, I reached out to retrieve the ring box, but Marina’s finger remained pressed down on it. This clash caused the ring box to spin on the smooth glass countertop. fly off, and fall to the floor. The ring slipped out of the fallen open box and flew further away.
Panicked, I pushed aside the people in my way and rolled across the marble floor in search of the ring. The glittering jewel rolled next to the pair of polished leather shoes in the doorway.
My fingers froze mid–motion, and I slowly lifted my gaze upward.
Dominic stood there, tall and imposing, his expression icy and unreadable. He still held a black umbrella, raindrops dripping quietly from its edges onto the floor.
My heart twisted painfully in my chest as memories flooded back. I remembered clearly the first time I ever saw him–I was only sixteen, and he twenty, standing amidst golden sunlight in a white shirt, radiant and dazzling. imprinting his image forever within my heart.
But now, standing in front of him, I realized just how insignificant I truly was–just a pitiful speck of dust compared to his perfection.
The ring I once held so dear landed at his feet, stained with rainwater.
All the precious feelings I’d had for so many years had also fallen at the soles of his feet and been coldly and mercilessly stomped on by him.
Marina crossed to me without looking back and naturally wrapped her arms around Dominic, her voice soft and innocent: “Dominic, you’ve come at just the right moment. Celeste was about to sell her mating ring.”
Dominic’s gaze darkened further, and he fixed his icy eyes on me. His voice was filled with chilling disdain, “Were you planning on selling this ring, Celeste?”
I struggled fiercely to control the tears welling up, forcing my lips into a bitter smile. “Yes, Al Kingsford. W you be interested in buying it?”
He scoffed, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. “I remember you once cherished this ring more than anything. It seems your so–called love wasn’t as deep as you claimed. But it makes sense–for something without a heart, isn’t it just worthless trash?”
Luna’s Ascent: When I Walked Away. Alpha Wept
Chapter 3
Gritting my teeth against the pain, I silently picked up the ring. Walking back to the counter, I gathered the box and receipt without another word.
I fought back the stabbing pain in my stomach and straightened my spine as I walked out of the jewelry store. As! passed Dominic, 1 murmured quietly, just loud enough for him alone to hear.
“This ring is just like you, Alpha Kingsford. Once, it meant the entire world to me. But now, it’s nothing more than a worthless stone I’d gladly trade for money.”
Dominic suddenly grabbed my arm, his grip firm. His voice was low and suppressed: “What’s wrong with you?”
I slapped his hand away, “None of your business.”
Without looking back at him or Marina, I walked away, leaving them behind me. Even if my body trembled in agony, I would not fall apart in front of him–not ever again.
Finding a secluded corner, I quickly fished out some painkillers from my purse, swallowing them down hastily. I knew these simple medications could barely relieve my agony, but I had no other options.
Though reluctant, for my father’s sake, I knew I had to try reaching out to one person I’d rather never see again.
Returning home briefly to tidy myself up, I soon arrived at that grand villa in Grandview Garden of the pack.
I received a call from her a little over a year ago, the first time she had reached out to me in almost twenty years, After all these years, I wondered how she was doing.
Observing the elegant villa, it appeared she’d lived quite well over these years.
After explaining my visit, the servant guided me into the luxurious living room. There she sat, as dignified and beautiful as I’d always remembered.
“Celeste,” she said gently, looking directly at me.
But as I stood facing her, no matter how desperately I tried, the word “Mom” simply wouldn’t come out of my mouth.
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