Amelia simply stared. Her mind refused to understand what her eyes were seeing.
No... The word echoed soundlessly inside her head.
That’s not possible. Her vision blurred.
I’m dreaming. I have to be.
The world seemed to tilt beneath her feet and her knees weakened. She barely remained standing. Beside her, Rue let out a soft laugh.She had been waiting for this moment the entire journey.
"Surprise."
The single word landed like another blade driven straight through Amelia’s heart.
Amelia stood frozen, unable to look away. Her mind refused to accept what her eyes were showing her.
The newlyweds continued smiling and waving gracefully to the cheering crowd. Rose petals and wildflowers drifted through the air, settling around them as guests applauded and celebrated.
Then they noticed her. Jade’s smile faltered. Dylan stopped walking. For a brief moment, neither of them moved.
Shock flashed across both of their faces as though they had seen someone rise from the dead.
How is she still alive?
Jade’s pulse quickened. The Ellington brothers never spare anyone. The plan was flawless. She should have died weeks ago.
Dylan’s thoughts raced just as quickly. How did she survive? Those monsters don’t make mistakes.
The surprise disappeared from his face almost as quickly as it had come. His expression hardened.
His eyes became cold. "What are you doing here?"
His voice carried no warmth. Only annoyance.
Amelia stared at him, struggling to breathe. "What... is going on?" Her voice cracked beneath the weight of confusion.
Jade recovered first. She smiled again as though nothing had happened.
Slowly, she stepped closer to Dylan and slipped her arm through his with effortless familiarity. "You can already see what’s going on."
She looked up at him before rising onto her toes and kissing him. The kiss was slow and intimate.
When she pulled away, her smile held unmistakable triumph. "We’re husband and wife now."
The words struck Amelia harder than any whip ever had. She tried to speak but nothing came out.
Her throat felt impossibly tight. Jade looked at her with mock sympathy. "Now you finally know the truth."
She sighed dramatically. "That engagement between you and Dylan was never real."
Her smile widened. "Did you honestly believe a powerful Alpha King would marry a wolfless orphan?"
She laughed softly. "You’re more pathetic than I thought."
Amelia barely heard the last sentence. Her eyes never left Dylan. Every answer she needed rested with him. She took one unsteady step forward.
Her voice trembled. "Is... is that true?"
For one impossible second... She hoped he would deny everything. She hoped he would tell her this was all a misunderstanding.
Instead...Dylan looked at her with open irritation.
"It’s true." His eyes narrowed. "But I’m more interested in something else."
His voice grew colder."How are you standing here?"
He looked Amelia up and down before scoffing. "You should’ve been a corpse rotting inside the Ellington brothers’ territory."
He shook his head in frustration. "The one time I expected them to do their job properly..."
Amelia felt the ground shift beneath her. Hot tears blurred her vision.
"No..." She shook her head repeatedly. "No... you’re lying."
Her voice broke."Tell me this isn’t true. Tell me you’re lying." Dylan’s patience disappeared.
Without warning, he shoved her backward. Amelia stumbled, losing her balance before some maids caught her from behind.
Pain shot through her healing body. She barely noticed it. Dylan didn’t even look guilty. "You still don’t understand?"
His voice was calm. Cruelly calm. "I sent you on that mission because I wanted you gone. Get that through your pathetic skull. "
Every word landed like another knife. "I never loved you." He stared directly into her tear-filled eyes. "I didn’t even pity you."
His lips curled slightly. "You were useful. That was all."
Amelia stared at him in disbelief.
The man standing before her no longer resembled the person she had loved for six years. He looked like a stranger.
No...
A stranger wouldn’t have known exactly how to destroy her. Dylan slipped one arm around Jade’s waist. The gesture came naturally.
As though it had always belonged there. His expression softened when he looked at Jade.It became cold again the moment his eyes returned to Amelia.
"Jade has shared my bed..." He pulled Jade a little closer. "...and my heart..."A satisfied smile crossed his face. "...for all six years."
Amelia forgot how to breathe. Every memory she treasured suddenly became poisoned. None of it had been real. Dylan looked at her one last time.
"So do everyone a favor." His voice carried complete indifference. "And crawl back into whatever hole you came from."
The words echoed inside Amelia’s mind. Her knees weakened beneath her. If the maids had not been supporting her, she would have collapsed.
Beside her, Rue laughed quietly. She had waited the entire journey for this moment. Tears streamed freely down Amelia’s face.Everything she had endured suddenly became meaningless.
She had survived torture because she believed Dylan was searching for her.She had surrendered her freedom because she believed she would eventually return to him.
She had trusted Jade with every secret she possessed. Now she knew the truth. The man she loved had sent her to die.
The woman she had called her best friend had stolen everything she believed was waiting for her.
Her vision blurred until the wedding became nothing more than shifting colors and distant shapes. It felt as though the entire world had moved farther and farther away from her.
Jade waved dismissively at her. "You can leave now. We have a wedding to celebrate."
Without another look, they walked away together. The guests who had witnessed the confrontation stared at Amelia with open scorn. Whispers rippled through the crowd like poison.
"Did you hear? She tried to ruin their relationship..."
"Pathetic. Throwing herself at the Alpha King even after he clearly chose Jade..."
"Wolfless trash thinking she could compete."
The rumors spread fast, twisting the truth into something uglier. Amelia stood frozen as the happy couple brushed past her without another glance.
Jade suddenly paused.
She turned slightly toward the maids.
"You can let her go." The maids obeyed immediately. The support beneath Amelia disappeared and her weakened legs gave out without resistance.
She collapsed onto her knees. The impact sent a sharp ache through her body, but she barely felt it. The crimson silk spread around her across the dusty ground like spilled blood.
Jade looked down at her one final time. Her smile never faded. "This is the only mercy you’ll ever receive from me."
Her voice sounded almost kind. The words were anything but. "Leave this territory. And don’t ever come back."
A satisfied look crossed her face.
"Oh..." She pretended to remember something.
"As for your properties..." She shrugged lightly. "It’s all trash now. If you hurry, you might still find the ashes."
Then she turned away. The guests followed after the happy couple until only dust remained where they had been standing.
Amelia stayed exactly where she was. She couldn’t find the strength to move. Rue folded her arms across her chest. A smug smile tugged at her lips.
"You can go look through your garbage if you want."
She looked toward the distant celebration before clicking her tongue. "I have other business to take care of."
She crouched until they were eye level. Without warning, her fingers dug into Amelia’s chin, forcing her face upward. The pressure was painful. "You need to listen very carefully." Her eyes narrowed. "Don’t even think about running."
Her grip tightened. "Not for one second."
Amelia winced. "So stay exactly where you belong."
Rue smiled. "And enjoy every second of your humiliation until I come back to collect you."
Amelia didn’t respond. Her gaze remained fixed on the ground.
The empty look in her eyes irritated Rue immediately and her nails pressed deeper into Amelia’s skin. "Did I make myself clear?"
After several long seconds...
Amelia gave the smallest nod she could manage. "Good."
Rue shoved her away. Amelia’s head struck the carriage wheel with a dull thud. Pain burst across her temple. She gasped quietly. Warm blood trickled down the side of her face, weaving through the tears already soaking her cheeks before falling onto the crimson fabric covering her lap.
Rue stood. Without another word, she walked away.
Soon...
Amelia was alone.Tears continued slipping silently down her face.
A sharp ache spread through her chest. It grew stronger with every breath she struggled to take. She pressed a trembling hand over her heart.
It felt as though something inside her had cracked beyond repair. The part of her that had loved without hesitation.
It had finally broken. And so did the seal.