I pressed my hand to my mouth, trying not to cry out loud, and quietly stepped out of the hospital room.
I didn’t know where to go.
I had one day left to live.
I thought about going for a walk by the beach, but it was so far away, and I didn’t have the strength.
Was I dying already? But it wasn’t time yet.
What should I do?
In a daze, I dialed a number.
The next thing I knew, I woke up to the sound of a familiar voice—Selena Hunt, my best friend. She had rushed all the way from Horizon Pack’s territory to see me.
We met in college. Back then, she never liked Leo. She always thought he wasn’t good enough for me, and that he didn’t deserve my love. We fought about it back then, and I didn’t listen to her.
She didn’t come to my Marking Ceremony.
I knew I shouldn’t have called her. But she was the only one I could trust now.
“What have you done to yourself? You’re almost dead! Where is your mate?! You always told me how happy your family was. But now look at you!”
Selena cried as she spoke, her voice full of frustration.
I had an oxygen mask on my face, and I smiled weakly at her. She was still the same—quick-tempered, loud, and caring. Those who didn’t know us would think we were arguing.
“How did you get poisoned by Silverthorn Wolfsbane? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” She cried, tears streaming down her face.
I wanted to speak, but my lips wouldn’t move. I was at the end, and I couldn’t control my body anymore.
I motioned for her to look at my bag.
She pulled out the contract, and she broke down again after reading it.
“Viola, you can’t die! I won’t allow it! You can’t die!”
She collapsed next to me, sobbing uncontrollably.
I glanced at the clock on the wall.
Only two hours left before I would leave this world.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed. Selena picked it up and showed me the screen.
[Viola, after all these years of fighting with me, you finally lost! Your parents, your mate, and your son—they’re all mine now! You’ve finally faced the truth, haven’t you? In your parents’ eyes, you’ll never be better than me!]
Selena shouted angrily. “I’ve never seen anyone so shameless!”
In the past, I would have argued back. But now, I only felt regret.
I regretted letting my parents adopt Jane, the girl who was abandoned at the orphanage. She was only three back then. Other kids would bully her, and she couldn’t eat. She had to sit in the corner and go hungry.
She was so pitiful.
