Chapter 9
“What are you even talking about?” I shot back at Ralph, my heart pounding in my chest. I tried to keep my voice steady, masking the anxiety coursing through me.
Did he already know about my identity?
“Nobody knew about those documents! I kept them safe!” Ralph shouted, his voice raw with frustration.
“And you’re blaming ME?!” I snapped, refusing to back down. “You just said no one knew about them, so why are you pointing the finger at me? Why don’t you ask your employees, or anyone else, instead of pinning this on me?”
His eyes turned wolfish yellow as it flared with anger.
“Or have you forgotten? You‘ re the one who dropped everything whenever Tina called with her little emergencies!” I retaliated.
“Don t you dare bring her into this!” he warned, his voice low and dangerous.
“You bet I will!” I shot back, bitter anger rising in my throat. “This is always how it is with you, Ralph. You blame everyone else–everyone–except Nickle and especially Tina!”
My voice cracked as tears started to blur my vision, but I pressed on, years of pent–up frustration spilling out. “I was your fiancée, Ralph. It was ME! But look where your attention always went.” The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of my words hanging between us like a drawn knife. “You want us to go back to how we were?” I seethed, my voice rising again. “Bullshit. Do you think I didn’t notice how you still ran off to see Tina while I was stuck here, waiting for you? Do you think I’m an idiot?”
I took a shaky breath, my anger boiling over. “You reeked of her scent, Ralph. Even yesterday! And listen to yourself- “Tina this, “Tina that. Just go back to her already! Why did you even bother with me if you were never really interested in me?!”
My voice cracked on the last word as I jabbed my fingers into his chest, shoving him back. He barely moved. Ralph was stronger than me, always had been even when my wolf were still dominant in my
system.
Yet, I knew, my words hit harder than any physical blow could.
“I’m done with this pretense. I’m out of here,” I said, my voice cold and final. I turned on my heel and headed toward the guest room, but before I could take more than a few steps, Ralph grabbed my arm and pulled me into his embrace.
I struggled, every fiber of my being wanting to tear free, but even with my wolf stirring beneath my skin, I couldn’t break his hold.
“Don‘ t leave,” he murmured, his voice raw with desperation. The sincerity in his words cut deep. “I… I’ll be the one to go. Just… give me some time to really think this through, Lyka.”
His grip loosened, and I yanked my arm away, shaking him off. “You‘ ve had PLETNY of time, Ralph,” I spat, my voice laced with bitter finality.
Without looking back, I stormed into the guest room, grabbed my suitcase, and left the
house–determined to get as far away from him as I could.
Tears streamed down my face, unstoppable, as I walked away. I didn’t even check if Ralph was chasing after me. At that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to care.
My mind was spinning, but it wasn‘ t on Ralph–it was on me.
Everything I’d said to him echoed in my head, twisted with guilt. I had been lying to Ralph the whole time. I was the one who stole his data, and yet, I turned the blame on Tina. I made her the scapegoat. But the anger I felt toward him? That was real. I hated how he had always put her first, even now, when his life was unraveling around him.
‘Done with this pretense?‘ The words tasted bitter on my tongue.
I was the one pretending–agreeing to live with Ralph, playing the role of the fiancée when, deep down, I knew I was deceiving him.
What’s wrong with me?
Since when had I become like them? A manipulator, twisting truths and wielding lies?
I didn’t know anymore.
