Chapter 4

Sometime after midnight, Dorian finally pushed the door open.

He still carried the smell of wind, snow, and moonbell flowers. When he saw me sitting by the bed, he paused for a second, then quickly walked over.

"Why are you still awake?"

I stared at the wall in silence.

He probably thought I was upset because he had left earlier, so he reached out to touch my face.

"I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

"Haven't you always wanted to go to the amusement park?"

I looked at him blankly.

Three years ago, I had indeed said that I wanted to go to the amusement park.

Back then, Calista had spent three days at the amusement park and posted a full nine-photo grid.

In one of the photos, only half of a man’s arm was visible as he held Mickey and Minnie balloons for her.

Her caption read, "Someone treats me like a little girl."

I could not help asking Dorian:

"When you're done with work, can we go to the amusement park too?"

Dorian stroked my hair, his tone gentle.

"Of course."

"When you're feeling better, I'll book the entire park for us."

After that, I waited year after year.

I waited until my health really did get better. I waited through spring, then summer.

I waited until that amusement park had been renovated three times.

Dorian never took me there.

Every time I mentioned it, he would kiss my forehead.

"Next time."

"When I'm done with work."

"Be good, Liora. There are too many people there. I'm afraid you'll get tired."

It turned out he wasn't afraid of the crowds, or that I would get tired. He had already watched the castle light up and seen the fireworks with another woman.

So my wish became something he could put off forever with another "next time."

And now, after sleeping with Calista, he finally remembered it.

At that thought, I suddenly became calm.

All at once, the bitterness and pain seemed to settle deep inside me.

I looked at Dorian, the Alpha I had once trusted with my entire life, and slowly closed my eyes.

"Sleep. I'm tired."

Dorian was silent for a long time. He probably had not expected me to be so calm.

In the past, whenever he mentioned the amusement park, I could never stop myself from asking more.

But this time, I asked nothing.

The longer I stayed quiet, the more unsettled he seemed.

His gaze kept searching my face, looking for the woman who would still argue, still ask questions, still care.

But all he found was calm, and that calm finally made panic flicker in his eyes.

He stood by the bed and watched me for a while before finally bending down to tuck the blanket around me.

"Then sleep."

"When you wake up tomorrow, I'll take you there."

I kept my eyes closed and did not answer.

When his breathing beside me gradually evened out, I slowly opened my eyes and got out of bed as quietly as I could.

At the very back of the walk-in closet was an old wooden chest. Inside were all the things Dorian had given me over the years.

The first item was the moonstone amulet he had fastened around my neck after returning from Moon Mountain.

"Liora, I begged the Moon Goddess to give you back to me."

"From now on, I won't let you suffer again."

At the time, I had truly believed him.

Over the years, I had carefully preserved every cloak, moonbell flower, and small silver token he gave me.

Now, I returned them to the chest one by one.

Finally, I slipped the pregnancy medication into my travel bag.

When my fingers brushed over my lower abdomen, I paused.

This pup knew nothing yet. They did not know their mother was preparing to leave.

By the time the sky was almost light, I sat at the desk and wrote the last letter. There were things I had originally wanted to tell Dorian face to face.

For example, I knew that Calista had been part of that so-called prayer on Moon Mountain all along.

For example, I was pregnant.

But in the end, I tore all of it up.

The next morning, Dorian stopped short when he saw that half the closet was empty.

"Liora, where are your things?"

I looked at him and was just about to speak.

His phone rang. Calista's name flashed across the screen.

Dorian instinctively declined the call and placed his phone facedown, then seemed to notice something wrong with my expression. He reached out to touch my forehead.

"Are you feeling unwell again?"

But before his hand could reach me, the phone vibrated again.

This time, it was a video call.

Dorian hesitated for two seconds before turning away from me and answering it anyway.

He left the door slightly ajar, and I could see through the gap.

Calista stood in front of a mirror in the white gown for the Moon Goddess ceremony, her eyes red.

"Dorian, do I look bad?"

"It feels a little tight at the waist."

Dorian's gaze softened instantly.

"You look beautiful. Don't change it."

"Anything looks good on you."

"Wear that white gown for me tonight..."

After the video call ended, I finally spoke.

"Dorian, I have something..."

Dorian gave me a distracted kiss on the cheek and hurried out.

"Liora, something came up. I'll be back later."