Chapter 14: Shattered Bonds
Chapter 14: Shattered Bonds
(Samantha’s POV)
I didn’t reply to Hector’s message. Instead, I lay in the bathtub, warm water lapping against my skin as my fingers probed
my lower abdomen. No movement yet from the baby growing inside me.
Even though I’d made an appointment to terminate the pregnancy, maternal instincts still kindled a glimmer of hope for this child. I’d been so careful these past weeks–avoiding cosmetics that might harm a developing baby, no high heels that could affect my balance, not even a full cup of coffee,
I wished it were all just a nightmare. Upon waking, I would rush into Ethan’s arms and gently tell him the good news. But
reality was harsh, pushing me further away from him with each passing hour.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered to the empty bathroom, my voice echoing against the marble walls.
I found no path to salvage our relationship. The betrayal cut too deep, the wound too raw to heal.
Covering my eyes with a hot towel, I tried to stem the flow of tears. Memories flooded back–years with Ethan, building a
life together, fighting for our place in werewolf society.
A few years ago, I’d wanted to publicly announce our relationship. When I won recognition as the territory’s most talented
healer, Ethan’s career had just begun to take off. He felt unworthy, asking me to keep our relationship private.
“Not yet,” he’d said, holding my hands in his. “Let me build something worthy of you first.”
Later, when he achieved success, he chose to keep our marriage hidden. Although he never denied being married, the identity of Mrs. Blackwood remained a mystery to most.
I had nurtured him from struggling to powerful, only to have Rebecca pluck the fruit of our labors. Just seeing their
names side by side in those news articles felt like a knife twisting in my heart.
Though no blood was visible, the pain was unbearable. I curled up in the empty bathroom, sobbing uncontrollably until my throat was raw and my eyes burned.
That night, I didn’t know how I fell asleep. Lying on our large bed in Blackwood Manor, I stared at our wedding photo–a
picture I had edited myself.
After stepping back from my healer duties, I had repeatedly asked him to take photos together, to commemorate our
bond. He had always been too busy to spare the time.
*Sam, one day I’ll give you a grand wedding, he’d once promised, holding me close at night. “I’ll let everyone witness our
happiness.”
Later, preoccupied with trying to conceive, I frequented the Crescent Moon Medical Center for checkups and fertility
herbs. Exhausted both physically and mentally, I stopped mentioning the photos.
Perhaps our ending was predetermined, a tragedy waiting to unfold from the beginning.
I placed my hand on my lower abdomen. Besides my grandmother, this child was my closest kin.
‘Little one,” I whispered in the darkness, “let Mommy love you for another twenty days.”
As dawn approached, I heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. A sliver of golden light pierced through a gap in the blackout curtains.
The mattress dipped as Ethan pulled back the covers and lay down beside me. The scent of his woodsy shower gel filled
< Chapter 14: Shattered Bonds
the air, familiar and once comforting.
+15 Puntos >
He embraced me from behind as if nothing had happened, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “Wife, James will submit that
woman’s transfer papers to another region as soon as it’s light. Once approved, she’ll never appear before you again.”
I remained motionless, my voice flat. “Ethan, I saw the news.”
The warm body pressed against my back stiffened slightly. If he had wanted to clarify or retract the news, he would have
done it last night. But he hadn’t.
The official announcement video still hung on the Blackwood Enterprises account. So, in his heart, I was still less important than his work.
What had I been expecting? Did I really think I was his whole world?
Women were emotional; men were rational. I had given up my career for him, but he was willing to wrong me for his future. This divorce, I wasn’t proposing it unjustly.
In the past few nights, I had wondered if I could forgive him if he had made Rebecca terminate the pregnancy and returned to our family. But now, I understood my place in his heart. Nothing was more important than power and
influence.
Ethan wrapped his arms around my waist. “Sam, I know you’ve been wronged. Rebecca somehow got involved with Olivia.
Olivia posted that news. If I clarify, it will put the company in an awkward position, causing huge trouble and negative
impact.”
His grip tightened slightly, seeking reassurance I couldn’t give.
“You know how important this alliance with Willis is. It’s not just about me. The team has been working overtime for a
long time. If the alliance falls apart at this point, it’s not just about our standing dropping, but also everyone’s hard work
and effort.”
His voice was filled with exhaustion. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. Don’t worry, once I sign the contract with Willis and that
woman leaves the region, no one will come between us again.”
Sunlight broke through the clouds, a golden ray spilling onto the bed through the gap in the curtains. I reached out and
touched the light, my voice soft.
“Ethan, it’s dawn.”
The dream was over. He couldn’t wrong his sister, his employees, his company, or the pregnant Rebecca. So, he could
only wrong his wife.
The wound he had inflicted last night was torn open again. My heart felt empty, as if a cold wind had swept through it, leaving only numbness.
(Ethan’s POV)
I hadn’t slept well for days. Surrounded by Samantha’s soothing scent, I finally drifted off into a troubled sleep.
In my dream, Samantha stood before me dressed in a gorgeous gown, receiving recognition as the region’s most gifted healer. She rushed towards me with a brilliant smile.
“Ethan, I finally did it! I’m the most respected healer in the Northern region!”
I spun her around, a sense of loss in my eyes. I was afraid she would soar too high. She was so bright and dazzling, and I feared being left behind. So, I had to work harder to keep up with her.
The scene changed. She shed her formal appearance, her hair loosely tied up, wearing a simple white cotton dress, running towards me from the garden of Blackwood Manor.
<Chapter 14: Shattered Bonds
“Ethan, you’re home.”
“Wife.” I embraced her tightly, but the woman in my arms disappeared into the distance.
+15 Puntos >
I opened my eyes. I was alone in the large bed, the sense of loss from the dream lingering in my chest like a physical
ache.
Rubbing my face, I got up and went downstairs, where Ms. Thompson was cleaning the already spotless living room.
“Where’s Luna?” I asked casually, fastening my watch.
Ms. Thompson, usually attentive and respectful, didn’t even look up. Her tone was laced with uncharacteristic sarcasm.
“King, which Luna are you referring to?”
Martha, who kept up with all pack gossip, had clearly seen the news.
“I only have one mate,” I emphasized, my patience wearing thin.
“That’s not necessarily true.” She polished the same spot on the table for the third time. “Didn’t you watch the fireworks with someone last night? So romantic, a million–dollar display, just like that.”
I felt a headache coming on. Given Martha’s usually dedicated service, I decided to let her insubordination slide.
“What’s for breakfast?” I changed the subject, looking toward the kitchen.
“There’s turtle soup, lamb soup, black chicken with herbs soup, and pigeon soup with healing roots.”
I frowned. “Why is it all soup?”
Martha finally looked up, her expression neutral but her eyes cold. “King, running around like this must be tiring. I specially made these strength–restoring soups for you.”
I was speechless at her implication. Without responding, I searched the entire manor but couldn’t find Samantha. Her scent was hours old in most rooms.
Pulling out my phone, I called her number. A mechanical voice answered, “Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable…”
I gripped my phone so tightly that the veins on my hand bulged prominently. A chill entered my voice as I turned back to
Martha.
“Where did my Luna go?”
