Chapter 3

A bucket of ice water was dumped over my head.

I snapped my eyes open.

The wolf guards forced me into an ill-fitting gown and dragged me roughly into the banquet hall.

Beneath the blinding crystal chandeliers, my miserable state was exposed to everyone.

“So this is the vicious woman who abused and killed her own daughter?”

“She actually has the nerve to come out alive. How disgusting.”

“Alpha is truly unlucky, getting stuck with a crippled madwoman like her.”

Mockery surged toward me from every direction, turning into countless slaps across my face.

Celeste walked toward me, holding Pearl’s hand.

She was wearing a familiar white gown, radiant and flawless.

It was the first gift Damian had ever given me the year he took over the Blackthorne Pack.

“Evelyn, you’ve suffered so much.”

Celeste’s eyes reddened, her voice gentle.

I stared at that gown, nausea churning violently in my stomach.

Pearl suddenly threw herself into my arms and kicked hard at my left leg.

A bone-deep pain shot through me. I cried out and shoved her away.

Pearl fell to the floor with the momentum and burst into loud sobs.

“What are you doing?”

My son rushed over and picked Pearl up.

“Did you not spend enough time in the dungeon? Now you won’t even spare Pearl?”

Damian grabbed my wrist.

“On such an important occasion, I will not allow you to throw another tantrum.”

I struggled desperately out of his grip and limped toward the door.

Celeste’s eyes were red, tears threatening to fall.

“Evelyn Hawthorne, abusing Elsie was bad enough. Why won’t you even spare innocent Pearl?”

“As Damian’s godsister, I know I shouldn’t interfere in your family matters, but I truly cannot stand by and watch this anymore!”

“Pearl is still so young! How can your heart be this cruel?”

Her pitiful appearance immediately drew sighs of sympathy from the guests around us.

Suddenly, the giant screen lit up.

Several crystal-image media outlets bought off by the Blackthorne Pack surrounded me.

“Ms. Evelyn, according to our investigation, your father committed domestic violence many times, and your mother brutally murdered him.”

“Did you inherit your father’s violent tendencies? Is that why you killed your own daughter so cruelly?”

The image crystals flashed wildly.

Those accusing voices were shoved right into my face.

I froze in place, their words piercing into my mind like a swarm of needles.

Only after a long while did I come back to myself.

Then I screamed until my voice tore.

“I was framed!”

“Celeste isn’t some godsister at all! She is my mate’s mistress! She destroyed our marriage!”

“Pearl is the illegitimate daughter she had with Damian! They were the ones who killed my daughter!”

The entire hall fell into dead silence.

Celeste’s face turned deathly pale. Her body swayed hard, nearly collapsing.

Damian quickly reached out and caught her firmly in his arms.

Holding Celeste protectively, Damian let out a sigh.

“I apologize, everyone. My Luna was traumatized in the dungeon. Her mental state has never been stable.”

Then he turned his head and leaned close to my ear.

“Apologize to Celeste. Clarify that she is not my mistress. Say you were jealous and slandered her.”

I gritted my teeth and stared at him.

“Never.”

Damian opened his communication crystal.

A prewritten message appeared before my eyes.

Destroy the ashes.

My whole body trembled.

A chill rushed from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my skull.

“Damian, are you insane? That is your biological daughter!”

“You won’t do this. You wouldn’t!”

Damian looked at me coldly.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, his finger pressed the send mark.

“No!”

I dropped to my knees with a thud, tears bursting from my eyes.

“I’m sorry. I was jealous of Celeste. I slandered her!”