Chapter 2

The next morning, I woke to the sound of Lyra laughing downstairs.

She was sitting on Selene's lap, flipping through a storybook.

"Mommy Selene, look! Her silver hair is so pretty!"

"When you grow up, you'll be a beautiful little princess, too."

I stood at the top of the stairs, watching them.

The moment Lyra noticed me, her smile faded.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

She barely answered before hugging Selene again.

"Let's go see the little deer in the backyard," she said.

Selene glanced at me. "Shouldn't you spend a little time with your mother first?"

"No. I want to stay with you."

I didn't stop them as they walked away. I simply held the railing, waiting for the ache in my chest to pass.

Over the years, I really had spent too much time managing the art gallery and the family business. Whenever I tried to make up for the time I'd missed with my daughter, Darius and Selene always found a way to make me look like the person ruining everyone's mood.

"Go ahead." I forced a smile. "Just don't wander too deep into the woods."

As I watched them leave, I reached for the stair railing to steady myself.

Medication could suppress the physical pain, but nothing could cure the fact that my daughter was slowly drifting away from me.

In the dining room, Darius was reviewing the morning briefing on the pack's business operations.

I sat across from him and placed a folder on the table.

"I want to settle the transfer of my personal assets."

He opened it. His eyes moved over the documents, and his expression gradually changed.

"You're giving up your inheritance rights, your personal trust, and the assets under your name?"

"Yes."

"Elara, why?"

I took a slow sip of water.

"The hotel security logs. The footage of you and Selene entering and leaving private residences together. And the way she lets Lyra call her Mommy Selene."

His expression stiffened.

"Do you really think I know nothing?"

"Elara, things aren't what you think."

"Then tell me what they are."

He fell silent.

"I used to believe that if I explained how much you were hurting me, you'd stand by me. But you knew exactly what was happening. You just didn't want to upset Selene for my sake."

"Don't start this now."

"I'm not starting anything. I'm simply done pretending."

I took another document from the folder and placed it in front of him.

"I'm transferring my shares in Mooncrest Holdings to Selene, too. That includes the ownership rights, voting rights, and control over the company's operations."

Darius abruptly pushed back his chair and stood.

"Those shares are worth more than 1.6 billion dollars!"

"I know."

"You're handing her the entire business?"

I looked out the window. In the garden, Selene was gently fixing Lyra's hair.

"If giving her everything is what it takes to make you all happy, then so be it."