“Wow! You look absolutely stunning! Welcome! I've been eagerly anticipating your arrival!”
Kathryn exclaimed with enthusiasm, pulling Cassie's three hefty suitcases into the house.
“Oh Cassie, I’ve missed you dearly! If only you hadn’t gone abroad for your studies, you and my brother would have tied the knot by now, and we could all be together!” She said, wrapping Cassie in a warm embrace.
I struggled to find the right words, feeling a lump in my throat.
Kathryn had never shown me this level of affection during all the years I had been with her brother.
Her kindness always seemed to surface only when she needed money for her extravagant shopping sprees and lavish lifestyle.
Meanwhile, my mother-in-law gently cupped Cassie's face.
“You’ve become even more beautiful since our last meeting. I’ve always believed you and Thane were meant to be. In my heart, I’ve wished for you to be my daughter-in-law. No one else can hold a candle to you.”
I was taken aback by her words. Did she just subtly insult me?
I had noticed the signs before—their desire for material wealth and how they seemed to use me for their own interests—but I always brushed those thoughts aside, blinded by love and convinced that I was reciprocating the same affection for my mate towards his family.
It’s clear now that they were simply biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to cast me aside after using me for their own gain, only to welcome Cassie back into the fold, the one they’ve always cherished.
Cassie and Thane were childhood sweethearts long before I entered the scene.
In fact, I had just returned home after living abroad when Cassie left for her studies on a scholarship.
Thane and his sister were among the omegas assigned to help clean my room, and that’s when I met him.
It was then I realized he was my mate, and that’s how our love story began.
I truly believed he cared for me. Looking back, I see how naive I was.
I never anticipated the level of disrespect they would show me after all I had done for them.
I elevated their status within the pack, cleared their debts, and even provided them with a monthly allowance of ten thousand dollars.
I chose to do all the household chores myself, wanting to demonstrate my humility and ensure they felt valued.
Instead, I only succeeded in making them think I was a fool.
I didn’t seek anything in return; all I wanted was genuine love. But what did I receive?
Cassie approached me with a self-satisfied grin that made me want to wipe it off her face.
“It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you, Alpha Aurora. I apologize for joining the family trip to the harvest moon festival on such short notice. I had planned to skip it due to the flight ticket shortage, but Thane was concerned about me taking the train. So, I suppose I owe you my gratitude for switching places with me. You’re incredibly generous.”
Kathryn wrapped her arm around Cassie with warmth.
“Guess what? My brother is going to be announced as the Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack at the event! Aurora is passing her title to him since he’s her mate. I can hardly contain my excitement!” They both erupted into giggles, sharing the joy of the moment.
Noticing the frustration etched on my face, Thane's voice softened.
“I understand this arrangement isn’t ideal for you, but it’s for the greater good. Remember those shoes you were admiring at that high-end boutique? You could treat yourself to them.”
“Right, ten thousand dollars.”
“That’s outrageous! What on earth do you need a ten-thousand-dollar pair of shoes for? I already said you could buy them, so why are you asking me for cash?”
“You're utterly shameless and foolish,” I retorted, causing gasps to ripple through the room, but I was just getting warmed up.
“Since when do I need your approval to spend my own money? You can’t even pull out your wallet to buy your wife a gift? You want to use my money for that? It’s pathetic that you couldn’t even secure a position in my company and have to rely on me. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
His face turned crimson with humiliation as he shot me a fierce glare.
He had no retort because he knew I was speaking the truth.
I crossed my arms, ready for a response, as I had plenty more to say. I was done pretending to be a naive fool.
If they cherished Cassie so much, they could welcome her as their daughter-in-law instead.
