Chapter 101
THIRD PERSON’SPOV
Damien arrived at Stone Villa that night. The moment he walked through the front door, he stopped.
The house smelled different. Not in a bad way. Actually, it smelled wonderful, like garlic and fresh bread. It smelled like home cooking, like… like it used to smell when he and Sophia were first married and she would cook dinner every night.
He heard laughter coming from the dining table. He heard Ashley’s giggles and Sophia’s laugh.
When was the last time he’d heard Sophia laugh?
He walked quietly toward the hall and stopped in the doorway, unnoticed.
Sophia and Ashley sat at the dining table with pasta bowls in front of them. Ashley was telling some animated story and Sophia was listening with a smile.
The scene hit Damien’s wolf hard. This was what family was supposed to look like – His mate and his pup together.
Franca noticed him first. She was cleaning the counter, and when she saw him, she smiled. She looked between him and the two at the table.
Even the staff had noticed how broken things had become. And even they seemed relieved to see this moment.
Damien’s chest tightened. He backed away quietly, not wanting to intrude, and went upstairs to change out of his suit.
SOPHIA’S POV
After we finished eating, Ashley started talking about school. “Mommy, I forgot to tell you! Miss Hilda says we’re going on a field trip next month p>
I grinned “Really? Where to p>
“To the mountains for a nature hike! We get to learn about plants and animals and everything!” Ashley bounced in her seat with excitement. “And parents can come too! Both parents, if they want p>
My heart sank a little. Both parents. Of course.
“That sounds wonderful, baby p>
“Will you come? Please?” Ashley pouted.
Before I could answer, Damien’s voice came from the doorway. “I’ll make sure I’m there p>
We both turned. I didn’t even notice him come in. He was wearing casual clothes – jeans and a t-shirt. He looked more relaxed than he had this morning.
“Really, Daddy?” Ashley jumped up and ran to him. “You’ll come p>
“Of course.” He picked her up “I wouldn’t miss it p>
“What about Mommy?” Ashley looked at me over Damien’s shoulder. “You’ll come too, right p>
All eyes were on me. Damien’s expression was neutral, but I could feel his wolf’s attention through the mate bond.
“I don’t know if I can, sweetheart,” I said gently. “I have work, and the hospital is really busy right now p>
“But other mommies work too and they’re coming!” Ashley’s face sad “You never want to do things with me and Daddy together p>
The accusation stung. “That’s not true p>
“Sophia can’t control her work schedule,” Damien said, surprising me by defending my excuse. “But I’ll be there, and that’s what matters, right p>
Ashley nodded reluctantly, but I could see the disappointment on her face.
“I’ll try my best,” I heard myself say, even though I knew it was a bad idea. “No promises, but I’ll see if I can get the day off p>
Ashley’s face lit up again. “Really p>
“Really. But if I can’t make it, you and Daddy will have a great time together. Okay p>
“Okay!” Ashley seemed satisfied with that answer.
After dinner, I took Ashley upstairs for her bath. She was still talking about the field trip. She was already planning what snacks I should pack and what shoes she should wear.
I ran the bath water, testing the temperature while Ashley picked out her pajamas. Suddenly, her eyes lit up with excitement.
“Oh! I need to tell Tiffany about the field trip!” she squealed.
Before I could stop her, she ran out of the bathroom in just her underwear, heading for Damien’s room.
I followed quickly. I found her climbing onto Damien’s bed and grabbing his tablet from the nightstand. She video-called Tiffany quickly.
“Tiffany!” Ashley’s face appeared on the screen, and I heard Tiffany’s voice respond.
“Ashley! Hi sweetheart! How are you p>
“I’m good!” Ashley said “Guess what? I have a field trip coming up p>
“That’s so exciting p>
I stood in the doorway, watching my daughter talk excitedly to another woman. Ashley’s whole face was bright and her voice was so full of joy.
I turned away from the doorway. I couldn’t watch anymore. My wolf whimpered. She was hurt by our pup’s clear preference for Tiffany over us.
I needed my face wash and night cream. They were in the master bathroom or they should have been. I’d left them there months ago, back when I still stayed over.
I walked into the bathroom, trying not to look at the bed where Damien and Tiffany had probably… No. I wouldn’t think about that.
I went straight to the bathroom and opened the cabinet where I used to keep my things.
Everything was gone.
My expensive Korean skincare set, the one I’d saved up for, my special face wash, my night cream. All of it gone.
In their place was a complete set of luxury products I didn’t recognize. I picked up one of the bottles. Tiffany’s name was written on it.
My hands started shaking. I set the bottle down and opened the other cabinets. Nothing of mine remained. Not my toothbrush, not my hair products, not the special lotion I used for my eczema.
Everything – every trace that I had ever existed in this space – had been erased.
I walked back into the bedroom and looked around. The photos on the dresser that used to be of me and Damien on our wedding day was gone, replaced by pictures of Ashley and Tiffany. The throw blanket on the chair that I’d bought because I was always cold was gone.
Even the smell was different. Tiffany’s vanilla perfume had replaced mine.
This wasn’t my room anymore. It hadn’t been for a long time, probably.
I couldn’t bear it anymore. My eyes were already burning with tears. I turned back and walked out of the room.
I made it to the hallway before I heard Ashley’s voice still on the video call with Tiffany.
“I miss you so much,” Ashley was saying. “When are you coming back p>
“Soon, sweetie. Just a few more days p>
“Daddy misses you too. He said so this morning p>
My feet stopped moving. I stood frozen in the hallway, listening to my daughter tell Tiffany how much her father missed her.
“And what about your mom?” Tiffany asked. “How’s she doing p>
There was a pause. Then Ashley said, “She’s here tonight. She made dinner p>
“That’s nice of her p>
“Yeah, but Ashley’s voice dropped lower, like she was sharing a secret. “She never makes it as good as you do. And she always asks so many questions about my day. It’s annoying sometimes p>
I gripped the wall to steady myself. My daughter found my interest in her life annoying?
Those words cut deeper than any knife could. My wolf howled in pain, and I had to press my hand over my mouth to keep from making a sound.
“You’re very special to me.” Tiffany said.
“You’re special to me too. I wish you could be my real mom p>
I couldn’t listen anymore. I walked quickly to the guest bathroom, closing the door behind me and leaning against it.
Tears rolled down my face, but I kept my hand clamped over my mouth to muffle any sounds.
Ashley wished Tiffany was her real mother, even after everything I’d done, everything I’d sacrificed, everything I’d tried to be – my daughter wanted someone else.
My wolf curled up inside me. She was hurt and defeated.
I was replaceable, forgettable. In fact, I was already forgotten in the very house where I was supposed to be Luna.