Chapter 3

Caroline POV

Five days before the wedding, Bethany arrived.

Under the guise of helping with preparations, she brazenly moved into Gerald Manor.

She was the daughter of the previous Beta. Though she'd only inherited her mother's Omega bloodline, she'd grown up with Isaac.

She was also widely acknowledged within the pack as the woman Isaac loved most.

If Isaac's elders hadn't strongly opposed him marrying an Omega, the Luna position would have been hers long ago.

"Caroline, this evening gown is gorgeous."

Bethany stood before the fitting mirror, wearing what was supposed to be my red reception dress.

The waist had been altered extremely tight, accentuating her graceful figure.

She twirled around and looked at Isaac, who sat on the sofa. "Isaac, don't I look better in red than Caroline?"

Isaac held a financial magazine, not looking up. "Stop fooling around. Take it off. That's for Caroline."

Though his tone was reproachful, there wasn't a trace of anger in it.

Bethany pouted and reluctantly headed to the changing room. "Stingy. I was just trying it on."

I sat to the side, holding my tea, watching quietly.

In the past, I would have gotten angry and fought with Isaac.

Then Isaac would patiently coax me, saying I was petty, that Bethany was like a little sister to him.

Looking back now, I really was quite the joke.

"Caroline, don't mind her. I've spoiled Bethany."

Isaac set down his magazine and reached for my hand. "If you don't like it, I'll have her move out."

"It's fine."

I avoided his hand and poured him tea. "The more people, the livelier it is. Besides, the house has plenty of rooms."

Isaac froze.

Clearly he hadn't expected me to be so magnanimous.

In the past, whenever Bethany appeared, all my defenses would go up.

"You're not angry?" He looked at me tentatively.

"Why would I be angry?"

I smiled back. "She's a friend who'll be around often anyway. Besides, it's just a dress. If she likes wearing it, let her."

After all, I wasn't planning to wear that dress anyway.

A flash of surprise crossed Isaac's eyes, which then became relief.

"Caroline, you've really changed. You've become more mature."

Mature?

You forced me to mature.

Just then, a crisp crash came from the changing room.

Followed by Bethany's cry: "Oh no!"

Isaac's expression changed. He threw down his magazine and rushed over at nearly the speed of a werewolf on the hunt.

At the changing room door, Bethany sat collapsed on the floor, surrounded by shattered porcelain.

It was a sculpture by a contemporary art master—Isaac had spent a fortune at auction to buy it for me.

"Isaac, I didn't mean to..."

Bethany's eyes reddened, looking pitiful. "I tripped just now and tried to steady myself on the sculpture, but..."

Isaac didn't even glance at the priceless artwork.

He crouched down directly, gripping Bethany's hand to inspect it. "Did you cut yourself? How can you be so careless?"

"It hurts..." Bethany whimpered sweetly.

I stood several meters away, watching this painfully glaring scene.

That sculpture had once been treasured by Isaac, who said it represented our unbreakable love.

Now it lay shattered on the floor, and he hadn't even batted an eye.

"Caroline!"

Isaac turned around, his tone urgent. "Get the first aid kit. Bethany cut her hand."

I looked at him, unmoving.

"What's wrong?" He frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with my sluggish response.

"Nothing."

I turned toward the cabinet, my voice flat. "If it's broken, it's broken. It was getting old anyway. Time for something new."

Isaac's form stiffened.

He seemed to hear something in my words, yet also seemed to hear nothing.

He simply devoted all his attention to Bethany's wound, which hadn't even drawn blood.

As if he'd forgotten that while Bethany was just a delicate Omega, she wasn't that fragile.

I returned with the first aid kit and set it on the table.

"Take your time. I'm tired. I'll head upstairs to rest."

As I turned to go upstairs, I heard Bethany say softly, "Isaac, is Caroline angry?"

Isaac's voice sounded irritated. "Don't worry about her. She's never been this cold-hearted before."

My steps didn't falter.

Reaching the second-floor landing, I pulled out my phone and sent Harlan a message:

[Add one pet transport ticket. I'm taking Buddy with me.]