Chapter 3
Standing at the door of my house, I stared down at the parchment mate contract in my hand.I took a deep breath.
Just moments ago, after stepping out of the Mate Affairs Hall, Richard had hurried away, rushing back to an important council bidding he couldn’t afford to miss.
Before leaving, his eyes were steady, unwavering.
“Don’t worry. Tomorrow’s bonding ceremony will happen as planned.”
I nodded. When I’d messaged him earlier, I had already explained everything clearly.
I was about to call the driver when my phone lit up.
It was Darius.
I answered. His voice was as gentle as always.
“Julie, I’m sorry.”
I thought he was apologizing for leaving me at the Mate Affairs Hall and canceling the ceremony.
I was just about to respond—
Then came Becky’s delicate, pitiful voice over the line.
“Julie… I’m sorry. I… I accidentally ruined your wedding gown. Please forgive me, Julie…”
And right after, Darius’s soft coaxing followed.
“It’s fine. Don’t cry. Julie isn’t the type to hold grudges.”
Then he turned back to me.
“Julie, since tomorrow’s wedding is canceled anyway, I’ll take you to pick a better gown another day.”
I couldn’t bring myself to answer. My heart was too tired, too heavy.
I didn’t ask why the two of them weren’t at the hospital, but instead in the new house where my gown was kept.
I didn’t ask if Darius had forgotten—that gown was something we designed together back in college. It was supposed to mean something.
I didn’t ask anything anymore. There was no point.
After all, I was already married… wasn’t I?
The days I spent with Darius—I won’t deny they were happy. Back in college, they were even blissful.
And I won’t deny his sincerity; eyes don’t lie.
But that sincerity… it was never mine alone.
From the moment Becky appeared, I was no longer his only choice.
I still remember that night at a party.
I’d had a few drinks, more than I could handle, and went to the restroom to clear my head.
When I came back, I heard her voice—slurred with drink but still bold.
“Darius, I’ll never marry anyone else but you.”
The room went silent for a moment.
Everyone knew Darius was already engaged. Someone quickly cracked a joke to change the subject.
But I stood at the doorway, holding my breath, waiting for his reply.
And all I got was his gentle voice—
“I’ll get her some hangover soup. Becky will have a headache later. You guys look after her.”
I can’t describe what I felt in that moment.
Disappointment? Something deeper?
It doesn’t matter anymore.
I grew up pampered, protected, yet every heartbreak, every humiliation in my life, all came from Darius.
For so long, I compromised, gave in, lost myself.
But now, I finally understood.
It was never love given to me alone.
It was never the kind of love that makes you the only one.
And I didn’t want it anymore.
“It’s fine. Since it’s ruined, just throw it away.”
My voice was flat, emotionless.
On the other end, Darius froze.
No jealousy. No blame. No fight like he expected.
He should have been relieved, yet instead, an unfamiliar panic surged inside him.
“Is there… anything else?” I asked calmly.
He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Finally, silence.
“No. Nothing.”
Just as I was about to hang up, I caught Becky’s voice in the background.
“Darius, look—I’m helping tidy up your clothes. Is that okay?”
Expressionless, I ended the call.
Darius immediately glanced at his screen, his chest tightening when he saw the call had ended.
He looked up at Becky, irritation flashing in his eyes.
“You don’t need to touch my clothes.”
“I’ll take them myself. Once I drop them off, I’ll come back.”
Her eyes welled up instantly.
“Darius, I only have you left. If you leave me too, who else do I have? Will you just abandon me?”
His gaze softened despite himself.
“I won’t abandon you. But Becky, you need to learn to stand on your own. I’ll drop off the things, but I still have to get married.”
“If it weren’t for your accident, tomorrow I would already be bringing my mate home.”
A flicker of sorrow passed through Becky’s eyes—then, slowly, it hardened into determination.
