Chapter 5
“But won’t Juliette be upset?” Scarlett asked, her voice dripping with false concern. “You’re handing over your entire
fortune, after all.”
Maximilian hesitated, as if only now realizing I was in the room. Then he rushed to explain.
“Juliette, don’t take it the wrong way. Mother and I agreed to name Scarlett’s pup the Frosthowl heir, so I’m transferring the shares to her. It’s a last resort. You can’t have children anymore, and the Frosthowl Pack needs an Alpha heir. I have to
put my hopes in Buddy. I’m sure you understand.”
My ears rang, and disbelief pinned me in place. “What’s his name?”
Maximilian froze. Guilt flickered in his eyes as he looked down.
Buddy.
The name we had chosen together, a wish for a strong, joyful child. I had whispered that name into the dark for seven years, clinging to it while mourning every lost pup. And now he had given it to Scarlett’s child.
How could he be so heartless?
“Buddy,” Scarlett repeated sweetly, feigning innocence. “Maximilian said it means a healthy, lively little one.”
That was the final straw.
They could humiliate me, hurt me-but how dare they trample a mother’s love?
I lunged at Scarlett, wheelchair and all, desperate to drag her down with me. But my legs failed me, and I crumpled to the
floor.
Pain exploded through my elbow. No one moved to help.
Maximilian’s mother sneered from across the room.
“Pathetic. Can’t even stay upright. If I were you, I’d have flung myself into the river long ago. You’re nothing but a curse on
this household-a leech draining the life from all of us.””
Maximilian took a step toward me, but Scarlett clutched her chest with a soft
gasp.
“Maximilian, my chest’s so full. It really hurts.”
Without hesitation, he swept her into his arms “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
They vanished into a bedroom, leaving me on the cold floor. His mother picked up the sleeping pup and glared down at
“So you crawl back here and can’t even lift a finger in the kitchen? What now-waiting for me, an old woman, to spoon-feed you like a babe?”
I dragged myself up, fists clenched so tight my nails pierced my palms.
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Enjoy this dinner.
After tonight, every one of you will be on your knees, begging for mercy.
I made the meal, glancing around the living room. There was no sign of Maximilian or Scarlett.
At the bedroom door, I froze.
What I heard on the other side made my stomach turn.
Through the crack, I saw Scarlett, half-naked and straddling Maximilian’s lap.
“Isn’t this exciting?” she giggled. “Juliette’s right outside.”
“You little temptress,” Maximilian murmured, pulling her closer. “Always so naughty.”
Their moans deepened.
Swallowing my revulsion, I pulled out my phone and hit record.
They were too wrapped up in each other to notice.
At dinner, Scarlett-unusually kind-piled food onto my plate.
“Juliette, you’ve just had a miscarriage, and you still cooked dinner? You’re working too hard. Eat up.”
After a few bites, nausea churned in my stomach. I wheeled myself out into the woods, trying to breathe.
Then something hit the ground at my feet.
A small glass vial. The label read: Seventh.
Scarlett’s laughter rang out like a dagger. “How was dinner, Juliette? Guess what I slipped in?”
I stared at her, stunned. Something inside me snapped.
“Look at you. Like a pathetic little dog. A legless one.” She curled her lip. “You make me sick. If I were you, I’d have died a
long time ago. What gives you the right to keep living?”
“You’ll never be me. So what if you’re his fated mate? Maximilian is obsessed with me. He even killed your seven pups for
me.”
“I could’ve just used lab samples, but he insisted on taking them straight from your womb. Said it was better that way.”
Rage burned through my veins, my hands trembling uncontrollably. I pushed my wheelchair forward in fury.
But before I reached her, Scarlett slapped herself-twice-then flung herself into a thornbush with a dramatic cry.
“Ah!”
My wheelchair toppled over.
Maximilian came running, eyes filled with fury. “Juliette! How could you?!”
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slapped me and pushed me!”
Maximilian’s face darkened. “You can’t give me a child, and now you’re jealous of the one who can? I didn’t think you could
fall this low.”
I looked him straight in the eye. “You murdered my pups, Maximilian. How much longer are you going to lie to my face?”
His expression flickered, but he said nothing. Just held Scarlett tighter and walked away.
“You’re out of your mind,” he muttered.
I watched them disappear into the castle.
That was the moment the last trace of warmth in my heart died.
I turned my wheelchair around and left.
Then I pulled out my phone and dialed Maximilian’s greatest rival. “It’s time to make your move.”
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