Chapter 6 I Want A Divorce

• Ann’s eyes reddened as she said softly, “William, don’t blame her… Maybe Julie just hasn’t come out of the shadow of the past yet. I don’t blame her.”
• That one sentence I don’t blame her cut deeper than any accusation.
• Rocco trembled as he cried.
• “Mommy, I’m so disappointed in you… Do you want me to die?”
• It felt as if claws had closed around my throat.
• The pain was so sharp I couldn’t speak.
• Just as the atmosphere was about to collapse completely, Tina’s stern voice rang out.
• “William! The truth hasn’t been found yet. You are not allowed to throw dirt on Julie’s name. I believe she would never do something like this.”
• Her authority silenced the entire place.
• I turned my head and met the gaze of William’s cousin, Adrian.
• He stood off to the side with his arms crossed, his posture lazy, as if he were watching a play that had nothing to do with him.
• Yet when his eyes fell on me, there was something strangely familiar in them.
• Something that made my chest tremble.
• “Tina, are you saying…”
• Ann’s eyes were red, her fragile figure looking as if she might collapse at any second.
• “Are you saying… I did this?”
• Her voice was weak, but like an invisible hand, it skillfully pushed every accusation back onto me.
• In an instant, the place fell into dead silence again.
• Tina, the old Luna, had always hated women from the entertainment industry.
• She hated even more that William had gotten involved with Ann.
• And this time, William had actually brought Ann into the pack’s forest territory.
• That was a serious taboo.
• Naturally, Tina had no reason to show her any kindness.
• Rocco refused to let me soothe him, so Tina could only order someone to send him to the chief elder to take a stabilizing potion.
• But William still stood there, shielding Ann behind him.
• His tone was firm.
• “Tina, she would never do something like this. It must be Julie’s doing. Three years ago, this was exactly how she framed Ann.”
• My heart felt empty.
• In this entire family, perhaps Tina was the only one still willing to believe me.
• Ann stepped forward gently.
• “Julie, even if you resent me, you can’t take it out on a child…”
• Slap.
• I barely thought before raising my hand and striking her across the face.
• The sound was crisp.
• Loud.
• Enough to shock everyone present.
• “I didn’t do it, and I will never admit to it.”
• I looked at her with a smile, rubbing my palm as my voice lowered.
• “The first time you slandered me, I endured it. The second time, I endured it too. But a third time?” I smiled faintly. “Congratulations. You’re asking to die.”
• Ann froze from the slap.
• A red mark quickly rose across the side of her face.
• Adrian narrowed his eyes, his expression half amused, half unreadable.
• The slight curve of his lips in that moment seemed to say
• This woman is interesting.
• William quickly reacted. He rushed between Ann and me, shielding her behind him as his fury surged. “Julie, what the hell are you doing? Three years in prison, and your wolf nature hasn’t been worn down at all. You’ve only become more vicious!”
• Rocco had been sent to the small room from earlier, and the chief elder had hurried over as well. The other pack members’ examinations could only be delayed. After all, a wolf spirit losing control was not something anyone could afford to take lightly.
• I intended to go check on Rocco. Once I confirmed he was safe, I would leave. For now, the pain in my own wolf spirit was still within what I could endure.
• But unexpectedly, William suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked me back.
• “Julie, you’re not going anywhere until you explain yourself today.”
• I shook off his hand, my fingertips trembling slightly from anger.
• “You want an explanation?”
• I lifted my eyes.
• “I want a divorce.”
• “Since we’re already in the forest, why don’t we sever the mate bond?”
• The entire place went so silent I could hear every wolf’s breath catch.
• Everyone stared at me in disbelief, including William.
• This annual wolf-spirit examination was also Adrian’s first time returning to this forest in years.
• And I had given William a silent slap across the face right in front of every wolf there.
• For the first time, Adrian rested his gaze on me.
• William continued to humiliate me.
• “Even if you want to make a scene, you should know the occasion! Whatever problems we have, we can discuss them at home. Why do you have to drag our private matters in front of the entire pack?”
• I looked at the way he stood protectively in front of Ann.
• My heart sank completely.
• “Then tell me.”
• I walked toward him step by step.
• “What should I do so I don’t embarrass you?”
• “The real disgrace is doing something and not having the courage to admit it.”
• The moment those words fell, the atmosphere changed completely.
• “Julie, that’s enough—”
• Before William could finish speaking, a deep voice laced with coldness came from the side.
• “William, since you have no evidence, you shouldn’t be so quick to decide it was her.”