Chapter 16 Chapter 16

Chapter 16 Chapter 16
Amira’s POV

I clenched my hands tightly before pointing a trembling finger at her.

“You better not try that again,” I warned sharply, my voice trembling with anger. Without waiting for her response, I turned and stormed upstairs.

The moment I left, murmurs filled the room behind me. I didn’t have to look back to know that the ones who’d been hiding earlier had now come out and were crowding around the girl I slapped, fussing over her with concerned faces.

“Don’t mind her, she’s just a slut.”

“She acts all innocent, pretending to be righteous when everyone knows what she really is.”

I heard every word, but I didn’t turn back or confront them. Let them talk it’s their mouths after all. Even if I stopped them now, what about tomorrow? Or the next day? I couldn’t silence gossip forever.

That night, I refused to go downstairs for dinner, and just like always, none of the maids came to call me.

I knew no one in this house liked me. I told myself countless times not to care, not to let it hurt, but no matter how much I tried, I still ended up crying over every cruel word and small act of rejection.

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual and went straight to the kitchen to help Chef Willow. Since Judy had left, I didn’t have anyone else to talk to, so I went there mostly for company.

Chef Willow’s expression shifted the moment he saw me walk in. His eyes looked strange, almost uneasy.

I noticed but brushed it off. “Good morning, old man,” I said, forcing a smile and trying to sound cheerful.

He didn’t smile back. Instead, he gave me a worried look and asked softly, “Are you alright?”

The question caught me off guard.

“Of course I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” I replied, trying to sound normal, though my voice came out uncertain.

Or… wait. Did he hear what Santiago said yesterday? The humiliation from his words replayed in my mind, and my stomach twisted.

My face drained of color, and I clenched my hands so tightly that my nails dug into my palms.

I didn’t want Chef Willow, one of the few people who still treated me kindly, to misunderstand. I wanted to explain, to defend myself somehow.

“I…” I began, but he cut me off before I could say another word.

“Child, don’t be sad over what was written in the newspaper,” he said softly, his tone full of sympathy.

My mind went blank. “What newspaper?” I asked, eyes widening in confusion.

Was there something else, something worse, than what Santiago had said? My heart pounded as panic set in. Why did everything bad have to happen to me all at once?

Chef Willow’s expression tightened. Seeing how worried I was, he shook his head quickly. “It’s nothing important. Don’t worry yourself about it.”

But I wasn’t convinced.

“No, please tell me,” I insisted, stepping closer.

He sighed deeply. “Since you don’t know, maybe it’s best that way. Reading it might only ruin your mood,” he said gently.

I knew that meant he wasn’t going to tell me. My eyes scanned the kitchen instead, and that’s when I saw it.

“There it is.” I rushed to the corner where a newspaper hung by the shelf. Chef Willow always read the news early every morning, so I knew he kept it nearby.

My hands trembled as I snatched it down and unfolded it. The moment my eyes landed on the headline, my whole world stopped.

“Ex-fiancee of Silverpine Pack exposed as a notorious slut and bed-sharer. She allegedly slept with dozens of men, forcing poor Alpha Aphia to end their engagement.”

The words blurred before my eyes as tears welled up. My fingers tightened around the paper until it crumpled.

Then rage exploded inside me. I crushed the newspaper completely, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it over and over again.

“What kind of nonsense is this?!” I screamed, my voice cracking.

The news outlet that published it was one of the most popular ones. That meant thousands, no, probably millions, had already read it by now.

APHIA!

Of course. Now it all made sense. That was why the maids had dared to insult me earlier. That was why Santiago’s words yesterday had cut so deep, he must have seen this article too.

“Old man, why is my life so miserable?” I cried, my voice breaking as tears streamed down my face.

I just wanted to know what I had done to deserve this. What sin had I committed, in this life or another, that made fate punish me like this?

Being wolfless was already enough pain to last a lifetime. But now this? This humiliation? It was too much to bear.

I raised my head and screamed, my voice echoing through the kitchen. “Aphia, you’re nothing but a bastard! Your mother should have flushed you out before you were born!”

He wasn’t there to hear me, but I shouted anyway, every word tearing out of me like broken glass.

If he were standing here right now, I would have stabbed him, and then stabbed myself too. Because at this point, dying seemed like the only way to end the agony eating me alive.

“Child, don’t say that. Your life isn’t miserable,” Chef Willow said, frowning deeply.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “My life isn’t miserable? Then tell me, Chef, what would you call it? I was betrayed by the very person I thought I’d spend forever with! I was sold off like some worthless thing, without a shred of remorse or care! And the person I loved most spread filthy lies about me to the entire world! Tell me, if this isn’t misery, then what is it?”

My voice cracked as I hit my chest, the pain inside me clawing for release.

Chef Willow sighed heavily. “Fine, your life is truly miserable,” he admitted. “But do you think reminding yourself of that misery will make anything better? You need to look at the brighter side of life, let go of what’s behind you. If you can do that, I’m sure happiness will find you again.”

I let out a dry, humorless snort.

“Leave every misery behind?” I repeated, shaking my head. “How am I supposed to do that when he keeps appearing in my life like a curse? He won’t stop haunting me. It’s as if he’s determined to destroy me completely, and I don’t even know why. Even when I try to stay away, he always finds a way to pull me back.”

Being sold here was something I could never forget. That memory alone was a chain that kept me bound.

How could I free my heart when my soul was still shackled in that same torment?

I fell silent after that, not wanting to continue. I knew Chef Willow was only trying to console me, but his words couldn’t reach the depth of my pain.

No one could truly understand what I was going through.

“Alright, dear, go back downstairs and get some rest,” Chef Willow finally said, realizing I didn’t wish to talk anymore.

“Okay, old man.” I forced a weak smile before turning to leave.

If I stayed another second, I knew the tears I’d been holding back would come pouring out again. What a pitiful life I live.

With my head bowed, I didn’t notice the pair of eyes that watched me quietly from the shadows. He had been there all along, listening to every word.

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Santiago’s POV

I stood there, watching the girl silently, my expression unreadable.

So this was the truth behind everything.

I had come here to confirm how shameless she really was, to see for myself if the rumors about her affair were true, but instead, I overheard something completely different.

Even though she had explained herself to that old chef, I still couldn’t bring myself to believe her just yet.

I needed facts, proof.

I’d have my men investigate every word she said, and if her story turned out to be true, that bastard Aphia would pay dearly for it.

When I returned to the main building, I found Maximus and Alex pacing restlessly in the living room, their faces filled with worry.

I ignored their tension and walked straight to the couch, sitting down calmly.

Looking at one of the maids nearby, I said in a low voice, “Bring me a cup of tea.”

Alex rushed toward me immediately. “Dude, seriously? You still have time to drink tea when the entire place is in chaos?”

I lifted my gaze lazily. “What chaos are you talking about?”

“The news about Amira has gone viral,” Alex said urgently. “The elders are furious and have called for a meeting.”

“Then let them call it,” I replied coolly.

Just then, the maid returned with a steaming cup of tea. I took it from her and sipped slowly, unbothered.

“You said what?” Maximus barked, his voice rising. “You don’t even know what they’re planning to discuss, and you’re just sitting there like it’s nothing?”

“I do know,” I said evenly, setting my cup on the table. “They want to go back on their word, to stop that little girl from becoming Luna.”

Alex frowned, disbelief flickering in his eyes. “You know that, and you still want the meeting to happen?”

“Well, what did you expect?” Maximus snapped bitterly. “You’ve always been against her becoming Luna, so it’s no surprise you don’t care what happens now!” His words dripped with anger before he turned sharply and stormed out of the room.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” Alex muttered, shaking his head in disappointment before following Maximus out.

I leaned back in my seat, my eyes cold and unreadable, the steam from my tea curling in the air like smoke hiding every little thought of mine.