Chapter 3: Shattered Bonds
Chapter 3: Shattered Bonds
(Olivia’s POV)
Ethan seemed to finally realize his girlfriend was still present. As if waking from a trance, he withdrew the arm that had been wrapped around Cassandra’s waist and <i>took </i>two steps back.
His friends, sensing the tension in the air, hurried to smooth things over.
“Let’s switch to Truth or Dare!” Jason Mitchell suggested loudly, pping his hands to draw attention away from the awkward scene.
Ethan regained hisposure and returned to his seat beside me. From the corner of my eye, I could see him watching me carefully, clearly expecting a jealous outburst or tears.
I remained silent, sipping my drink with calm indifference.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” he finally whispered, his voice tense.
I turned to him, my amber eyes reflecting nothing but cool detachment. “About what?”
For the first time since I’d known him, Ethan looked genuinely unsettled. His brow furrowed as he studied my face, searching for the emotional, amodating girlfriend he was used to manipting.
“You’re acting strange tonight,” he muttered, shifting ufortably in his seat.
I simply smiled and turned my attention back to the game. My wolf, Cora, purred with satisfaction inside me, pleased that we were finally standing our ground.
The group’s attention quickly shifted to Cassandra, who had be the center of the circle. Herughter rang out as she tossed back another drink, ignoring Ethan’s earlier warning.
“Your turn again, Cass!” Sophie called out, her voice overly bright. “You lost this round!”
Cassandra’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “I choose dare,” she announced, her gaze provocatively sweeping over Ethan.
Sophie reached into a bowl and drew out a slip of paper. Her eyes widened slightly as she read it. “Randomly kiss a man here.”
Shocked murmurs rippled through the room. The temperature seemed to plummet as Ethan’s expression grew frigid.
< Chapter 3 Shattered Bonds
<b>+25 </b>Puntos
Yet Cassandra smiled, clearly enjoying the attention. She stood up slowly, making a show of
considering her options.
“Who shall it be?” she teased, her eyes lingering on Ethan before deliberately moving away.
To everyone’s surprise, she sauntered toward Lucas Bet, a handsome but timid young
man from Ethan’s inner circle. Poor Lucas froze like a deer in headlights as Cassandra
approached.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. “I don’t bite… much.”
Before Lucas could react, Cassandra looped her arms around his neck. His face paled dramatically as he shot a panicked nce toward Ethan.
ENOUGH!”
Ethan’s roar filled the room with such dominance that everyone instinctively lowered their
gaze. Even I felt Cora shrink back slightly at the raw power in his voice.
He stormed across the room in three long strides, grabbing Cassandra’s arm and pulling her
away from Lucas, who looked ready to faint with relief.
“This game is over,” Ethan growled, his ice–blue eyes zing with fury.
Without another word, he dragged Cassandra out of the private room, mming the door
behind them.
The silence that followed was deafening. Then, slowly, all eyes turned to me.
I quietly sipped my wine, forcing my face to remain neutral despite the ice forming in my
chest. Three years <i>of </i>love, shattered in a single evening.
“Why are you all looking at me?” I asked softly, my voice steady despite the storm raging
inside.
Sophie approached cautiously. “Liv, are you okay?”
I smiled gently, though my heart was freezing bit by bit. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
I finished my drink in one smooth motion and stood up. “Excuse me, I need to use the
restroom.”
As I walked away, I could hear their whispers following me like shadows.
In the elegant bathroom, I locked myself in a stall and leaned against the door, finally allowing my smile to drop. I took several deep breaths, refusing to cry.
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< Chapter 3: Shattered Bonds
“Did you see Ethan’s face?” A voice suddenly echoed in the bathroom. I froze, recognizing
Victoria Reed’s distinctive tone.
“I know! He looked ready to tear Lucas apart,” another girl replied with a giggle.
+25 Puntos <b>> </b>
“Ethan’s gonepletely crazy, abandoning his girlfriend to chase after Cassandra,” Victoria
continued, her voice dripping with malicious delight.
“Obviously, he only cares about Cassandra,” someone else chimed in. “The way he watches
her every move… it’s like no one else exists.”
“Poor Olivia, just standing there watching her boyfriend go mad over another woman.”
Victoria’s voice lowered conspiratorially. “She’s just a stand–in. Anyone can tell Ethan’s heart
only responds to Cassandra.”
Their words cut through me like silver des, but I straightened my shoulders. I’d heard
enough.
I flushed the toilet and stepped out of the stall. The girls by the sink caught sight of me in the
mirror and fell abruptly silent, their faces draining of color.
Without acknowledging them, I calmly washed my hands, my reflectionposed despite the turmoil inside. The girls hurried away with bowed heads, not daring to meet my eyes.
Alone atst, I stared at my reflection. Yes, our breakup was inevitable–not because Ethan no longer wanted me, but because I no longer wanted him.
“Not that I don’t <i>love </i>him anymore,” I whispered to myself, “but that I refuse to love a man who never truly saw me as his true partner.”
Cora growled in agreement, her presence warm and supportive within me.
I returned to the party only <i>long </i>enough to say my goodbyes, ignoring the pitying nces that followed me out the door.
Late that night, I returned alone to Moonlight Manor, exhausted from maintaining myposure for hours. Martha greeted me with concern in her eyes, but I reassured her with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.
“Is everything alright, Miss Winters?” she asked gently.
“Just tired, Martha. Good night.”
After a hot shower, I copsed into bed, my heart numb and heavy. Sleep came quickly, a
merciful escape from reality.
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< Chapter 3 Shattered Bonds
It wasn’t until the following afternoon that Ethan returned. I was already up, methodically
packing my belongings when I heard the front door open.
+25 Puntos >
The moment he entered the bedroom, I detected Cassandra’s perfume clinging to his clothes.
There were also faint marks on his neck that he hadn’t bothered to hide.
“What are you doing?” he asked with surprise, staring at the open suitcase on the floor.
I poked my head out from behind the wardrobe and answered casually, “You’re back. I’m
nning to visit my father in Riverdale in a few days.”
I continued sorting through my belongings, determined not to leave a single trace behind when I left. My eyes briefly caught the ambiguous marks on his neck, but I <i>looked </i>away
withoutment.
My heart had already died; his affairs no longer concerned me.
Ethan frowned, moving closer. “Why suddenly go back home? Still mad aboutst night? Hiding from me?”
“No,” I replied gently, keeping my amber eyes carefully nk, “I just miss my father.”
(Ethan’s POV)
Hearing her calm response, I visibly rxed. So she wasn’t upset about Cassandra after all. This was why I appreciated Olivia–she never made scenes or demanded exnations.
“That’s good then,” I said, watching her fold her clothes with meticulous care.
In the past three years, Olivia had never once returned to Riverdale, even spending holidays alone in Harbor City. I had never brought her home to meet my mother, knowing Margaret Grey
would never ept a woman from a low–ranking family.
To my relief, Olivia never insisted on meeting my family or formalizing our rtionship. How obedient and sensible she was, I thought to myself.
“How long will you be gone?” I asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
She continued folding her favorite blue sweater, cing it neatly in her suitcase. “I’m not sure
yet. It depends on how things go with my father.”
“No need to trouble you, I’ll arrange my own ride,” she added, not looking up from her task. “Someone will pick me up.”
I secretly breathed easier, d not to have to deal with crossing into Winters territory. As the only Alpha heir of the Grey pack, I knew a future with her was impossible.
< Chapter 3: Shattered Bonds
+25 Puntos >
I had never heard Olivia talk about her family background. She was usually short of money
and must be from a low–ranking family. Such a family would be of no help to the Grey pack.
Even if my wolf had decided that Olivia was my mate, I would not let such a low–ranking
female wolf be the future Luna of the Grey pack. Our social divide was an unbridgeable
chasm.
I watched her carefully handling each item, her movements precise and emotionless.
Something about her demeanor bothered me, but,I couldn’t quite ce it.
Inwardly, I recalled Jason’s advice fromst night: “Just keep seeing both women. If you feel
guilty, buy Olivia some gifts. Women are easy to please.”
Maybe, I thought, I could marry Cassandra and keep Olivia as my girlfriend. Surely, she loved
me too much to leave. When she returned from Riverdale, I would talk to her about it.
I softened my voice: “Be safe on the road. Let me know when you arrive. When youe back
to Harbor City, I’ll pick you up.”
(Olivia’s POV)
I lowered my eyes and replied quietly, “Okay.”
But in my heart, I whispered, I won’t being back.
Ethan’s <i>phone </i>rang, interrupting the silence. He checked the screen and immediately stood up.
“I have to go <i>out </i>for a bit,” he said after a brief call. “Last night was my fault. I shouldn’t have
left you there <i>alone</i>.”
He hesitated, then added, “I bought you a healing broth mix; Martha will bring it overter.”
“Thank you,” I answered coolly, my tone indifferent.
Without another word, Ethan turned and left the manor, too preupied to notice the finality
in my expression.
I continued packing, carefully removing every trace of my existence from his life. Three years
reduced to a few suitcases.
Not long after he departed, my phone chimed with a message. I picked it up to see Connor
Rivers‘ name on the screen.
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