Chapter 124 — The Dream of the White Wol
This day was supposed to be perfect for Edward and I.
But I didn’t know that while I was brushing my hair and choosing what to wear, someone else was already planning how to ruin it.
Vivian sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers tapping nervously against her thigh.
Edward had told her to pack.
The memory of his voice still echoed in her head.
Vivian said to herself, “leave? After everything?”
After all the years she had spent believing she would one day stand beside him?
Her jaw tightened.
“No,” she muttered to herself. “I’m not leaving.”
She stood up and began pacing her room. Fear mixed with anger inside her. She had already agreed to work with Jasper, but she didn’t trust him in any way.
And she knew one thing for sure–if Edward sent her away now, she would lose the little control she had.
She needed a reason to stay. A strong one.
Suddenly, she stopped pacing.
Her eyes lit up slowly.
“Of course…”
She reached for her phone and dialed her father’s number.
He picked up after two rings.
“Vivian?”
“Dad,” she said quickly, lowering her voice even though she was alone. “I need your help.”
“What happened?” He asked.
“Since you need me to remain in this mansion, you must help.”
There was a pause. “Alright, what do you want me to do?”
She walked toward the window and looked out.
“I need you to fake a break-in.”
“What?”
“At our house,” she continued calmly. “Make it look like someone broke in and stole some items.”
“Vivian, that’s dangerous…”
“No, listen to me,” she insisted. “When Edward asks me to leave again, you’ll call him. You’ll tell him that someone broke into the house and you’re scared. You don’t know if they’ll attack again. You’ll tell him you want me to remain in the mansion for safety."
Her father was quiet for a long time.
“You think he’ll agree?”
“He will,” she said confidently. “He won’t risk anything happening to me if there’s even a small threat.”
“And what if he finds out it’s fake?”
“He won’t.”
Her voice hardened.
“Please, Dad. I need this.”
There was another pause. Then her father sighed heavily.
“Alright. I’ll handle it.”
A slow smile spread across her lips. “Thank you.”
She ended the call and looked at herself in the mirror.
“No one sends me away,” she whispered.
Elara
Later that day, I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing my dress.
My heart was beating fast–not from fear, but from excitement.
Edward was waiting for me outside.
The thought alone made my cheeks warm.
I wasn’t used to this. To someone planning things for me. To someone wanting to spoil me.
I had chosen something simple but elegant. The dress hugged my waist softly, and my hair fell neatly over my shoulders.
When I finally stepped out of my room and walked down the stairs, I could feel eyes on me.
Staff members glanced up briefly.
Some smiled. Others whispered.
I tried not to let it bother me.
Outside, the car was already waiting. Edward sat inside.
When I stepped out into the sunlight, he looked up.
And then he just… stared.
For a moment, he didn’t say anything.
I walked toward the car slowly, feeling suddenly shy under his gaze.
When I reached the door, he finally spoke.
“You look…” He paused. “Beautiful.”
My heart skipped. “Thank you,” I said softly.
He didn’t look away. Not even when Titan adjusted something inside the car.
I was about to step into the car when…
A scream pierced through the air.
“Help! Someone help!” I froze.
It was Callista.
She came running out of the house, her face pale.
“Miss Vivian just fainted!” she screamed. “She just collapsed! I don’t know what’s wrong!”
Everything shifted in seconds.
Edward’s expression changed immediately.
“Titan,” he ordered. “Go. Now.”
Titan didn’t hesitate. He rushed into the mansion.
My stomach tightened.
“Is she okay?” I asked.
Edward’s jaw was tense. “I don’t know.”
Moments later, Titan reappeared, carrying Vivian in his arms.
She looked lifeless.
Her head rested against his shoulder, her eyes closed.
Callista followed behind them, pretending to cry.
“She just fell,” she sobbed.
Edward’s face was filled with concern.
“Put her in the car,” he said.
Titan did.
In seconds, the entire plan for the day disappeared.
Instead of shopping bags and laughter, there was tension and urgency.
“I’m going with her,” Edward said.
I nodded.
“Of course.”
Titan got into the driver’s seat. Edward sat beside Vivian in the back.
The car drove off quickly.
And I was left standing there.
Alone.
The silence felt a bit strange and heavy.
I didn’t know how to feel. Part of me was disappointed. Part of me felt guilty for even feeling that way.
And another part of me wondered. I walked back into the mansion slowly.
Staff members were whispering. I ignored them and went straight to my room.
I closed the door behind me and leaned against it.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Then slowly, I began to undress.
The beautiful dress suddenly felt unnecessary. I changed into something simple and I sat on the edge of my bed.
“I hope she’s okay,” I whispered to myself.
Even after everything, I didn’t want anything bad to happen to her.
A knock interrupted my thoughts. I walked to the door and opened it.
Ma’am Albright stood there. Her expression was gentle.
“May I come in?”
“Of course.”
She stepped inside and closed the door softly.
“I know you must feel disappointed,” she said carefully.
“I’m not,” I replied quickly.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Elara,” she said softly. “I’ve lived long enough to recognize when something smells wrong.”
I frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
She sighed. “Vivian fainting today… just when Edward was about to take you out?”
I looked at her quietly.
“You think she faked it?” I asked.
Ma’am Albright crossed her arms.
“I wouldn’t be surprised.”
I shook my head slowly. “It doesn’t matter.”
She studied me.
“It does matter,” she insisted. “But I’m proud of you for not reacting.”
“I’m not worried,” I said honestly. “I just hope she’s alright.”
Ma’am Albright smiled gently.
“You have a good heart.”
I hesitated.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” I said slowly.
Her expression turned serious.
“What is it?”
I walked toward the window. “I had a dream.”
She waited.
“It felt real,” I continued.
“What kind of dream?”
I swallowed.
“I saw a white wolf.”
Her eyes sharpened immediately.
“What about it?”
“It was standing in the middle of a large crowd,” I said softly. “Everyone was bowing.”
Ma’am Albright’s breathing changed.
“And then?”
“And then someone placed a crown on its head.”
Silence filled the room.
“I could feel everything,” I whispered. “The power, the weight, the responsibility.”
Ma’am Albright stared at me.
“I think…” I hesitated.
“Say it,” she urged quietly.
“I think the white wolf was me.”
The air shifted.
Mama Albright’s eyes widened.
Her lips parted slightly.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
And the silence between us felt louder than any scream.