Chapter 65
Trista’s POV
Finished
I shook my head. “I can lose the job. I don’t want your money. I just need the mating bond terminated p>
My rejection was clean. Final.
Cassian’s hand, resting near mine, slowly dropped. His face went cold, matching his hand.
When he finally spoke, his voice was different, hollow.” this conversation isn’t going anywhere, there’s no point continuing it p>
I stood by the stream, watching Cassian walk away without looking back.
His silhouette stretched long in the sun. His suit didn’t wrinkle, and the Ironthorn Alpha’s composure was perfectly maintained.
I was the only one falling apart.
Overwhelmed by anger and humiliation, my throat tightened. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.
They fell onto the stone path, quickly evaporating in the breeze.
I was fighting through the pain just to end this clean.
I’d prepared the math, the cash, the dignity to sacrifice all for a respectable termination before the Stone Circle, hoping for some grace.
He didn’t care.
Even now, he still wanted to keep me, using me as Luna, his shield, his
ornament.
As long as I stood by him, he got to look like the devoted Alpha. He never cared to look at how low I’d been pushed or how much self–respect I’d lost.
My wolf retreated deep into my mind, silent.
It had run toward that retreating figure countless times, chasing its Alpha likę a pup.
Now, it simply bowed its head, letting the mating bond tighten and slowly go
cold in my chest.
For the next few days, the Royal Healing Institute’s Executive Director assigned me no work.
His reason was perfectly bland, “Rest for Luna Trista.” He claimed concern for my “personal condition,” suggesting I needed to “adjust p>
But everyone knew he was trying to force my hand.
If I quit, Ironthorn’s interference was deniable; it would just be “voluntary resignation p>
I handed over everything I could and returned to my parents‘ apartment.
Days later, I was sitting with my parents when my comm–stone vibrated.
It was the investment bank.
15:30 Fri, Dec 26
Chapter 65
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༥ ཏཱི 63% °
Finished
The representative politely gave the standard preamble then delivered the news: My mother’s obsidian cane hadn’t sold at the auction.
“No way!” My parents
and I blurted out simultaneously
That staff was Ulva’s family sacred artifact, blessed by the Moon Goddess. Even the auctioneers had confirmed its high valuation.
I hung up, heart pounding.
“My reserve price wasn’t even high,” I tried to rationalize “How could it not sell p>
Ulva was quiet, then looked at my father p>
Randolph tapped the armrest, then decided. “Could someone be pulling strings? Secretly stopping potential buyers from bidding p>
I instantly knew who it was.
Cassian.
He wouldn’t terminate the mating, so he blocked the only way I had to raise fast cash.
He didn’t say no; he just built a silent fence around every exit.
I immediately sent him a link request.
The rune glowed, then dimmed, over and over. He didn’t answer.
The frustration in my chest was so intense I couldn’t sit still.
I grabbed my bag, ready to storm out, but my parents stopped me.
Randolph pressed his hand onto my shoulder, his voice filled with resignation. “Even if it is him, what good
is charging over there? If he doesn’t want that cane to sell, he has endless ways p>
I felt completely hollowed out, all strength dropping into an empty pit.
I collapsed onto the sofa, my fingers digging into the upholstery, turning my knuckles white.
My mother sat beside me, taking my hand. “Don’t give up. We’ll try another bank p>
That afternoon, I met with Xander.
We chose a quiet cafe near the Institute.
He was clearly shocked when he heard the cane hadn’t sold.
He knew its value was no exaggeration.
“That’s not right,” he frowned, adjusting his glasses. “I’m lying to France tomorrow for a seminar, so I can’t
do much from here p>
He thought for a moment, pulling a small booklet from his briefcase and scribbling an address on a card.
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Chapter 65
“Go see Lance Clayton p>
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Finished
Xander slid the card to me. “He’s a top–tier consultant for jewelry and artifacts. He has high–end clients, including those who collect these blessed pack heirlooms. Maybe he can find you the right buyer p>
I thanked him again and again.
During those years in Ironthorn, I got used to shouldering every problem myself. Few people ever truly stood by me.
His help, without any strings attached, after years of relying on Cassian’s controlling support, was overwhelming.
He glanced at me, gathering his courage.
“I heard you’re quitting,” he probed.
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