I rode slowly, lost in thought, barely noticing Rebecca Phillips until her horse bumped into mine. The sudden jolt startled my horse, and it reared, threatening to bolt. Instinctively, I let go of the reins and rolled to the ground, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. I looked up just in time to see Rebecca falling, only to be caught by Alpha Max.
My chest tightened as he glanced at me, his hands already loosening around Rebecca. But she clung to him, her hand pressing against her stomach, and whispered, "The baby..."
Alpha Max hesitated, his conflicted gaze flickering to me, then back to Rebecca. He sighed, pulling her closer. "Elyse," he said, his voice pleading, "Rebecca’s pregnant. I need to get her to the hospital first, alright?"
A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I nodded silently. With my permission, he scooped Rebecca into his arms and hurried away, leaving me alone in the dirt.
I watched them go, the sting of betrayal sharp in my chest. Kyro Rose, the stable’s trainer, approached and helped me to my feet. "Miss, are you hurt anywhere?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
I shook my head. I’d managed to avoid serious injury, though the ache in my heart far outweighed the physical pain. I thanked Kyro quietly and limped to the edge of the stables, only to find the car Alpha Max had driven already gone. The sight was familiar, yet this time, it didn’t shatter me. I’d expected it, hadn’t I?
I pulled out my phone and booked a ride home. Exhausted from the emotional turmoil of the past few days, I fell asleep early that night, not waiting for Alpha Max. I didn’t care if he returned or not.
The next morning, I woke to find him sitting by the bed, watching me intently. He smiled at my drowsy confusion, but as my eyes dimmed, his expression faltered. An uneasy fear seemed to settle over him. He reached for a small box on the bedside table, pulling out a delicate bracelet.
Gently, he clasped it around my wrist, his touch lingering as if it were something precious. Then he pressed a soft kiss to my hand, his eyes filled with a tenderness that felt hollow now.
"I’m sorry, darling," he murmured, his voice heavy with guilt. "For not taking you to the hospital first yesterday. Rebecca’s expecting, and I felt I had to take care of her. You understand, right?"
A friend? I almost laughed. My lips curved into a mocking smile as I glanced at the bracelet. I recognized it—the extravagant piece I’d casually complimented weeks ago. Remembering the whispers I’d overheard in the suite, I whispered, "Not worth it..."
Alpha Max’s eyes widened, and he leaned closer, panic flickering in his gaze. "What are you saying? It’s not worth what? Darling, you’re worth everything. The whole world’s wonders are yours."
I chuckled softly, meeting his eyes with a calmness that belied the storm inside. "I watched a show yesterday," I said, my voice steady. "The lead couple were dating, but the woman secretly got engaged to someone else. Everyone was discussing whether the man should forgive her. What do you think?"
He absentmindedly played with my hand, his reply careless. "Of course, he shouldn’t forgive her."
I nodded, gently withdrawing my hand. "I agree. He shouldn’t forgive her."
Before he could reach for me again, I mentioned I was hungry. Alpha Max brightened immediately. "I’ll make breakfast today," he offered, standing. "You go freshen up, and I’ll call you when it’s ready." He left the room with a cheerfulness that felt misplaced, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I took off the bracelet, setting it aside. I didn’t deserve such opulence, just as I didn’t deserve for him to sacrifice his family’s interests.
Two days later was my birthday. Alpha Max, who usually made a point of spending the day with me, suddenly announced he had plans. Instead, he celebrated with me a day early. I didn’t ask what the plans were—I wouldn’t have celebrated at all if I could. But when I mentioned it, he insisted, "I promised to celebrate your birthday with you every year. We can’t skip it."
I chuckled to myself. *This is the last time,* I thought. *After this, my birthdays will no longer involve you.*
He brought out the cake, lit the candles, and sang the birthday song, just like every other year. I closed my eyes and made a silent wish: *May I start a new life after leaving Alpha Max Harrison.*
As I blew out the candles, Alpha Max smiled, asking what I’d wished for. I cut the cake, silently answering in my heart, "To leave you."
