Broken Ring, Broken Bond Chapter 08

Broken Ring, Broken Bond Chapter 08

The hotel security footage went public quick.

The tape clearly showed Tessa falling backward on her own, her hand still clamped tight around my wristband.

The internet blew up completely.

Her “sincere apology” video became the new laughing stock.

Julian’s company dropped three straight days of market value.

Before I flew back to Paris, I got a lawsuit summons from Crestmoon Pack Group.

They claimed I maliciously leaked confidential business data and damaged their brand reputation.

I read it, then forwarded it to my lawyer.

My lawyer asked me, “Should we countersue?”

I said, “Yes.”

Half an hour later, we filed our official lawsuit.

Copyright infringement, defamation, emotional distress.

At the same time, Professor Blake’s studio announced they were terminating their partnership with Crestmoon Pack Group and would be collaborating exclusively with my personal studio.

The day the announcement went out, Julian came to see me in person.

—

He stopped me outside the airport VIP lounge.

“The lawsuit wasn’t my idea. I didn’t send it.”

I looked at him.

“Then who did?”

His voice was low.

“My mother.”

I nodded.

“Same thing.”

“No, it’s not.”

He stepped closer.

“I already told legal to withdraw it.”

“It’s too late.”

There was exhaustion in Julian’s eyes, and a panic I’d never seen from him before.

“Aurora, do we really have to drag this all the way to court?”

I asked back.

“You guys started it, didn’t you?”

He opened his mouth to speak.

I kept going.

—

“You stole my design to boost Tessa, forced me to apologize, and smeared me for leaking private information. Now that all the evidence is out, you tell me don’t drag this to court.”

Julian’s hand, hanging at his side, clenched tight.

“I’ll compensate you for everything.”

“No need.”

“Anything you want, I’ll give it to you.”

I looked at him.

“I want you to stay the hell away from me.”

His face went white.

The boarding announcement blared over the speakers.

I dragged my luggage forward.

Julian suddenly pulled the ring out of his pocket.

“Aurora.”

I paused.

He opened his palm.

The ring had been cleaned again, the engraving inside was still clear.

[Only You.]

His voice was so rough it barely came out.

His Alpha scent was all over the place, but my wolf was as still as a

—

pool of water that would never ripple again.

“Does this promise still count?”

I stared at the four words.

When I had it engraved, I’d imagined all the years ahead of us.

We’d probably fight, get tired, lose that burning spark to the grind of life.

But as long as the ring was still there, I’d remember how fiercely I’d chosen him, once.

Now I only felt pity.

“No, it doesn’t.”

Julian’s hand trembled slightly.

“I can court you all over again.”

“Don’t.”

“Aurora, I’ll cut Tessa off completely. I swear.”

I smiled softly.

“You only want to cut her off now because she made you a laughingstock, or because I’m actually leaving?”

He went silent.

Silence again.

I’d had enough of silence.

—

“Julian, you don’t love me. you just can’t stand that I’m not waiting around for you anymore.”

The boarding announcement blared a second time.

I walked past him.

He suddenly said, low and quiet.

“When Tessa got pregnant with the second baby, I was the one who told her to get an abortion.”

I stopped.

It was like he’d finally ripped open the ugliest part of himself to show me.

“I hadn’t solidified my position as Alpha back then. I couldn’t let the Pack Council find out. I thought if I paid her enough, it would all just go away.

“Then I met you, and I wanted a fresh start. So I couldn’t tell you.”

I looked back at him.

“You couldn’t tell me not because you were scared I’d be hurt.”

Tears welled in his eyes.

I said, “You were scared I’d see who you really are.”

He froze, nailed to the spot.

I didn’t look at him again.

At the gate, the attendant took my passport.

—

Behind me, there was a soft clink.

The ring dropped to the floor.

I didn’t turn back to pick it up.