Chapter 5

“And then he walked out on me. Who does that to their mate?” I grumbled to Aunt Amelia.

“Are you sure he’s your mate?” she questioned. I nodded.

“Yes, but he’s a total jerk, Aunt Amelia. The moon goddess couldn’t just cut me some slack this once,” I muttered, then pouted. She giggled.

“He can’t be that bad. Maybe he was having a bad day,” she said, and I scoffed.

“That’s his business. If I see him again, I’ll reject his sorry ass,” I murmured. She sighed.

“But you did puke on him, though. Maybe that’s why he reacted that way,” she offered, trying to find excuses. But I had seen the way he’d looked—like I was a nuisance.

“I don’t care; I don’t want him,” I muttered. Before Aunt Amelia could respond, we heard a knock.

“Come in,” I said, a frown appearing on my face when Liam walked in with Veronica, who looked like she’d been crying.

“Clara, Veronica is here to apologize,” he murmured. Apparently, last night, while I ran away, Aunt Amelia and her friends had testified that I didn’t push Veronica, and Veronica had admitted the truth.

“I don’t need her apology,” I murmured, rising from the bed. “Let’s go to lunch, Aunt Amelia.”

I was about to leave when Liam grabbed my arm. “Why are you being stubborn? She just wants to apologize.” I stared at him, then yanked my hand away.

“Her apology means nothing to me because she means nothing to me. I need an apology from you, Liam. We were together for four years, yet you chose to believe her over me? I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that,” I murmured, walking away before he could stop me.

As we walked downstairs, Aunt Amelia turned to me. “Even if everyone is against you, I’ll be on your side, okay?” she murmured. I smiled; I was grateful for her.

We were the first to reach the dining table. I didn’t sit next to Liam; I sat next to Aunt Amelia. I planned on leaving today, so this would be my last meal with them.

Liam’s mother, uncles, and cousins arrived before Liam and Veronica. Veronica still looked like she’d been crying, and Liam seemed to be comforting her, which made me scoff. I had been humiliated, and there she was, shedding what seemed like fake tears.

“Why are you crying, honey? Did something happen?” Liam’s mother asked. Veronica’s eyes flicked to me, then quickly away, but everyone saw it.

Liam’s mother turned to me with a stern look. “Did you do something to my daughter-in-law?” she demanded. When I didn’t answer, she banged her fist on the table and stood up.

“Mother, calm down. Clara didn’t—” Liam began.

“No, I’m tired of you making excuses for her. Who do you think you are? You have no right to hurt or make my daughter-in-law cry. If my husband hadn’t been so kind-hearted, you wouldn’t even be here. Know your place!” she screamed. Everyone was silent, staring at us, but I remained calm, though inwardly reeling with anger and sadness.

I turned to Liam; he didn’t say anything in my defense. They all felt the same way, then?

“Are you done?” I asked, standing.

“You—!” she began.

“As a matter of fact, I know my place, and I deeply regret spending any time with this family, especially with you, Liam. May you all have a good life, and I hope your wickedness and vileness don’t catch up to you. Before you waste your breath, let me say this: I, Clara, reject Alpha Liam Knight as my chosen mate,” I said, my voice heavy with tears. A sharp pain sliced through me, but the pain in my heart was heavier.

“Clara…” Liam started, but I ran out before he could finish, not looking back.

I didn’t know if anyone was chasing me, and frankly, I didn’t care. I just needed to escape.

I ran to the garden. When I was sure no one was following, I collapsed on a bench and cried. Was it wrong that I wanted him to run after me, apologize, and tell me the last four years weren’t a joke—that he loved me?

“You are such a fool, Clara. How dare you think you can find a place in a family that isn’t yours? How dare you think you can be with a man who isn’t yours? How dare you think you can be happy? You’re such a fool,” I murmured, crying bitterly. He wasn’t even worthy of my tears.

Suddenly, an embroidered handkerchief was placed before me. I looked up, my eyes widening.

“Ma… Mate?” I asked, confused. What was he doing here?

“I know what can make you feel better. Let’s get married.”

Note: Several instances of repeated words ("murmured," for example) were replaced with more varied vocabulary. The narrative was also tightened for better flow. The final sentence is abrupt and grammatically questionable; it likely needs further revision based on the intended context.