Chapter 96 Chapter 96. Severing the Bond
After a moment, his hoarse voice emerged from the smoke. "Fine. I agree… I agree to cut the bond."
His voice trembled slightly, and the calm he had maintained for so many years finally collapsed.
"When will I be sent to Lysander?"
"Tonight."
"Then prepare the bond termination contract now. We’ll complete the procedure immediately. No problem, right?"
Zephyr froze. He had still been clinging to a sliver of hope, planning to wait until Zoria returned from Lysander before discussing the bond termination with her again.
Zoria caught the look on his face and let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Zephyr, do you really think I still believe any of your damn promises?"
"Fine. I’ll have someone bring the termination contract over." With that, Zephyr turned and left the bedroom.
Zoria watched his retreating figure, then lifted a hand to lightly wipe the corner of her eye—where there wasn’t a single tear—and let out a soft laugh. She felt cold all over, as if shards of ice were flowing through her veins.
Hamburger seemed to sense that something was wrong with her mood and walked over, resting his head against the top of her foot.
Zoria squatted down and gently stroked his small head. "Hamburger, I can finally leave this hellhole. I’m so happy. I really am."
As for Lysander, Zoria’s memories of him were still stuck two months ago. Back then, he had said he could help her cut the bond with Zephyr, as long as she was willing to go with him. She had refused. Yet he had resorted to underhanded means to force her into his trap anyway. Lysander was no good person. In Zoria’s eyes, he and Zephyr were cut from the same cloth.
She stayed squatting there for a long time, her expression under the light looking vague and distant. She didn’t know how she was supposed to escape after leaving one wolf’s den only to step straight into a tiger’s lair.
Less than two hours later, the bond termination agreement was delivered. Along with it came Seven—the same lawyer who had appeared in the previous bond termination lawsuit.
Seven briefly explained the contents of the contract. Zoria opened the folder in her hands, flipped straight to the last page, and fixed her gaze on the section labeled "post-termination compensation."
There was a clear figure written there: 380 million dollars.
Zephyr was indeed generous. But Zoria tore that page cleanly out.
"I don’t want your money. I just want this dog."
In many people’s eyes, her decision was undoubtedly stupid—giving up 380 million for a single dog. But to Zoria, Zephyr’s money wasn’t worth a second thought.
Zephyr fell silent for a moment. Zoria—an Omega who was half wolf, half human—had once been ruthless enough to abandon the child in her womb, yet now she stubbornly clung to the dog he had given her. He didn’t know whether he should feel happy or heartbroken.
"Fine," he said at last. "I agree."
Zoria still did not feel at ease about the contract. Zephyr had deceived her too many times before, so now she was cautious about everything she did. She handed the document to a lawyer she knew and asked him to review it. Once he confirmed there were no issues, she immediately pressed her fingerprint and signed her name on the contract.
Watching Zoria sign without hesitation, Zephyr unconsciously pressed a hand to his chest. It felt as though a blade was twisting there, the pain so sharp it stole his breath. This contract would sever the bond between him and Zoria completely, drawing a clear line that could never be crossed again.
After finishing, Zoria slid the contract across the table toward Zephyr.
"Sign it."
Every stroke of ink on the page felt like a knife carving into Zephyr’s heart. His fingers trembled as he picked up the document. The paper shook violently in his grasp, just like his heart at that moment.
On the final page, the last line already bore Zoria’s fingerprint and signature. He laid the paper neatly in front of him and bent forward. His right hand carefully closed around the pen. He took a deep breath, then pressed his mark and signed his name.
When the final stroke fell, Zephyr heard a soft clatter. He jolted, realizing the pen had slipped from his fingers and fallen to the floor. He laughed bitterly to himself. He had signed countless documents before, yet never had one made him feel as though he were wagering half his life the way this contract did.
He looked toward Zoria, seated not far away. His mate… no, his ex-mate now. It was as if a blade had suddenly plunged straight into his chest. His heart throbbed painfully, as though something inside him had just snapped.
His vision blurred, his eyes burning as if scorched by fire, the pain so intense he felt he might go blind. Zephyr suddenly remembered two years earlier, when he had forced Zoria to sign the bone marrow donation agreement. Back then, had Zoria felt the same pain he was feeling now?
What was even more absurd was that at the time, he had clung to a strange illusion—that Zoria would love him forever. No matter how grave his mistakes were, she would never leave him. He could not understand how he had ever been so arrogantly confident.
"We should have ended this bond two years ago," Zoria said as she reached out, took a copy of the contract, and held it carefully in her palm.
"It’s almost dark. So now I’ll head to Lysander’s place, right?"
Zephyr lowered his head, keeping his expression hidden from Zoria. From her higher vantage point, she could only vaguely see his lips, pale as if all the blood had drained from them.
Up until now, Zoria had been nothing more than a worthless presence in his heart, someone insignificant. Comparing her to a kite could not have been more fitting. As long as he held the string tightly in his hand, no matter how far the kite flew, a gentle tug would bring it right back to him.
Zephyr had always been that confident. He had never imagined that one day the string in his hand would snap, and Zoria would leave him.
Seeing that he remained silent, Zoria held the contract, let out a soft laugh, and turned away.
"I’m leaving. I’ll let you off this once. If I make it out of Lysander’s place alive, I’ll personally send you and Faye straight to hell."