Chapter 115
Author’s POV
“Why not?!” Clara’s voice rose, trembling with a mixture of fury and desperation. “Think about it, Ethan! Doesn’t her behavior seem strange to you? Ever since I moved into your place, she’s stopped managing the company. Then your mother found out about us. And now Marcus p>
The more Clara spoke, the more convinced she became. Every instinct she possessed as a she-wolf was screaming at her.
“It’s her. I know it’s her. Aria is behind all of this p>
“You’re being paranoid.” Ethan’s tone was dismissive, almost condescending.
Clara’s words had been forceful, logical even—but Ethan brushed them aside as if they were nothing more than hysterical ramblings.
If Aria knew about their affair, about Marcus, she would have confronted him. She would have screamed, cried, demanded answers. That was how rejected mates behaved—everyone knew that. The bond between True Mates was supposed to be unbreakable. When one was betrayed, the pain was visceral, impossible to hide.
But Aria? She’d been… quiet. Distant, maybe. But not vengeful.
Besides, their marriage was fake. A piece of paper with no real bond backing it. If Aria walked away now, she’d leave with nothing. She had no reason to stay silent and play games. She’d just… leave.
That made sense to him. It had to.
“Ethan, it IS Aria!” Clara’s voice cracked as she grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his sleeve. “She’s taking revenge on us! Can’t you see that p>
The baseless accusation grated on Ethan’s nerves. His wolf stirred restlessly, irritated by the rising tension, by Clara’s panic, by the chaos swirling around them.
He cut her off before she could spiral further. “You wanted to study abroad, didn’t you?” His voice was flat, final. “Spend the next few days looking at schools. I’ll cover all the expenses p>
“Ethan p>
Clara tried to continue, but Ethan was already on his feet. He didn’t give her room to argue, didn’t wait for her response. He simply turned and walked out, the door closing behind him with a soft, definitive click.
The sound echoed in the silence.
For a moment, Clara stood frozen. Then, with a guttural scream, she grabbed the glass of water from the table and hurled it at the door.
It shattered against the wood, water and shards spraying across the floor.
“Why won’t you believe me?!” she shrieked, her voice raw and broken. “Why does it always have to be me who suffers p>
The Holt family could rot in hell. Margaret, Sophie, all of them.
But Aria? Aria deserved something worse.
Clara was still trembling with rage when her phone buzzed on the table. She snatched it up, ready to hurl it across the room too—until she saw the notification.
It was from an old university alumni group chat. Someone was celebrating something.
She opened it, her breathing still ragged, and saw the name: Ryan Cole.
Ryan had been in the Finance department originally, but he’d switched to Journalism halfway through.
Clara remembered him vaguely—she’d been the one who helped him process the transfer paperwork, back when she’d been playing the role of the sweet, helpful senior.
She’d done it for a reason, of course. Ryan had been useful.
Now, according to the group chat, Ryan had just landed a position as a reporter for their City’s official news station. He’d be appearing on television regularly. Everyone was congratulating him.
Clara’s eyes narrowed as old memories surfaced.
Back then, while Ethan had been pursuing Aria relentlessly, Ryan had been doing the same.
Ryan hadn’t had Ethan’s wealth or status, but he’d known Aria longer—he’d been the one to pick her up on her first day at university, had positioned himself as her helpful friend.
Aria, ever the diligent student, had spent most of her time in the library. Ryan had made it his mission to “study” with her, constantly hovering, making it difficult for Ethan to get close.
When Clara found out Ryan wanted to transfer departments, she’d seen an opportunity. She’d offered to help him—anything to get him out of Aria’s orbit.
But before Ryan left the Finance department, he’d staged a grand romantic gesture. In front of the entire student body, he’d confessed his feelings to Aria in a spectacle that had everyone cheering him on.
Clara still remembered the look on Ethan’s face that day—tense, barely controlled fury.
But Aria had rejected Ryan. Publicly. Bluntly. She hadn’t softened the blow, hadn’t tried to spare his feelings.
Ryan had cried. Right there, in front of everyone.
It had been humiliating enough that he’d avoided his old classmates for years. Only after graduation had he started appearing in the group chats again.
A reporter. With history with Aria. And clearly still carrying a grudge.
Clara’s lips curved into a slow, calculating smile.