Chloe was left alone in the cold silence of the master suite.
She brewed a cup of black coffee, the steam curling into the dim morning air, and stared at the tablet screen. Her eyes were locked on the profile for @VesperOfYouth.
"If that's what you choose to believe, then fine." Silas's parting words echoed in her head, mocking her.
This account—this mysterious digital ghost that had defended her from the very beginning of the scandal—had to be connected to the Sterling Estate. Was it Silas? Was he playing a double game, tearing her down in person while shielding her behind a screen?
She pulled up her contacts and dialed the only number she had besides her father's: the Sterling Estate Manager. She had only saved it to coordinate the logistics of the "wedding," never thinking she'd actually need to use it.
"Harrison," she said firmly when the call connected. "I need an IP trace on an account called @VesperOfYouth. Their profile picture is a shot of the ancient cedar tree in the Sterling gardens."
Outside the half-closed door, Silas froze. He held his breath, his wolf ears twitching as the call went on speakerphone.
"Mrs. Sterling," the manager's voice came through, dripping with polite condescension. "An IP trace is hardly within the duties of a household manager."
"Then put me in touch with the Sterling Corp's Crisis Management team," Chloe interrupted. "The angle of that photo is specific. Only someone with access to this estate could have taken it."
The line went quiet for a beat before Harrison let out a soft, mocking chuckle. "With all due respect, ma'am... on what authority are you demanding the resources of the Sterling Corporation?"
The insult was plain. Every servant in this house knew Silas's true feelings. To them, she wasn't a queen; she was a sacrificial lamb who happened to be wearing a ring.
"The Sterling affairs are quite busy at the moment," Harrison continued dismissively. "Unless there is something else—"
"Wait." Chloe took a steadying breath, her voice hardening into steel. "I am the Lady of this House. Is that authority enough for you?"
Behind the door, Silas felt the corner of his mouth twitch into a smirk.
Interesting. Humans were usually far more concerned with social niceties than Lycans, yet here she was, throwing her weight around to hunt down a digital ghost.
"The owner of this account is important to me," Chloe's voice drifted through the gap.
Important?
Silas's tail flicked against his leg. He suppressed the strange surge of emotion in his chest and walked away toward his meeting, not looking back.
Inside the room, Chloe hung up the phone. She knew Silas had been listening—she had seen the shadow of his tail through the door—but he hadn't stepped in to help.
The realization stung like a physical blade. She had saved his life. She had risked being torn apart by the Hyena Shifters in the Vance ruins just to get his antidote, nearly dragging Julian Thorne down with her. She hadn't mentioned the danger she'd faced. She hadn't even asked him about the "Lost Mate" he whispered about in his fever.
She had assumed that being in the same boat meant they were partners. But there was no gratitude. No care. Just a cold promise to "discuss helping her sister"—the very woman who had tried to kill her.
Chloe finished her cold coffee, the bitterness coating her tongue. "What am I to you, Silas?" she whispered to the empty room.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a crisp, elegant business card. Julian Thorne's personal number was embossed on the front. He had told her she could call him anytime.
Chloe slipped out of the Sterling Estate unnoticed.
The morning streets of Holloway City were quiet, the sunlight dappling through the trees. She had initially dialed Julian's number, but she'd hung up before it even rang. The "Mrs. Sterling" title felt like a moral shackle. Even if the marriage was a lie, she couldn't bring herself to run to another man to complain about her husband.
She was wandering aimlessly when a familiar voice broke through her thoughts.
"A bit early for a stroll, isn't it, Chloe?"
She spun around. Julian Thorne was standing outside a small, corner coffee shop, holding two cups. He looked effortless in the morning light, his smile gentle.
"Julian," she said, forcing a smile. "What are you doing here?"
"Just passing through," he lied smoothly, handing her a cup. "Cappuccino. I've been told it's the universal favorite."
Chloe took it, their fingers brushing. His skin was unusually cool.
"Thank you," she murmured. "For the coffee... and for everything you did online."
Julian shook his head. "I should be the one apologizing. If I had been faster, you wouldn't have had to endure a single insult. A responsible Alpha shouldn't let his—" He caught himself, smiling. "A responsible man shouldn't let those he cares about get hurt."
"You didn't sleep either, did you?" Chloe asked, noticing the slight tension in his eyes.
"I have something to show you," Julian said, his eyes crinkling. "Somewhere that might make you feel better."
"Where?"
"My secret sanctuary."
Julian took her hand, his grip warm and firm. Chloe hesitated for a heartbeat before letting him lead her away.
He led her through a series of narrow alleys, stopping in front of an unassuming little bakery. The sign featured a simple hand-drawn apple, and the linen curtains behind the glass suggested a warm, hidden world.
"It's not open yet," Chloe noted.
Julian smiled, pulling a key from his pocket. "It opens for you."
The interior was a world away from the cold marble of the Sterling or Vance estates. The walls were covered in clumsy, charming children's drawings, and the counter was filled with delicate pastries shaped like forest animals.
Julian pulled a small cake from the refrigerator, a few mismatched candles stuck into the frosting.
"A victory party," he said, lighting a candle. "To celebrate... you almost calling me this morning." He gave her a playful look. "If you'd waited half a second longer, I would have answered on the first ring."
Chloe looked at the cake. The ingredients were clearly high-end, but the frosting was uneven, the edges slightly jagged.
"It's not the skill," Julian whispered, his voice dropping as he tried to hide his right arm behind his back. "It's... the mobility."
Chloe's heart twisted. His right arm was still injured from his fight with the Hyena Shifter. Despite the pain, he had spent the morning trying to bake this for her. Every raspberry had been carefully de-stemmed and arranged like a flower to hide the places where his steady hand had failed him.
"Try it?" Julian asked, his eyes full of hope.
"Yes," Chloe whispered.