Chapter 3 Chapter 3. Break the Bond

Zoria lifted her head to look straight at Zephyr, the male she had loved for so many years, the one she had once stubbornly insisted on having. And now he was forcing her to use her father’s life in exchange for her marrow.

"Why did I have to become your mate, do you really not understand?"

That day, she had been drunk. When she woke, she found herself lying in Zephyr’s bed. Before she could even react, a swarm of reporters had rushed in, forcing Zephyr to bind himself to her.

But the truth was… she had known nothing about it. No matter how much she loved Zephyr, she had never thought of using such despicable means to have him.

"Zephyr, even if you don’t love me… after three years, do you truly have no feelings for me at all?" Tears finally spilled over, her heart pierced as if by a sharp blade, tightening in unbearable pain.

"Feelings? Do you think you are worthy of love?"

Zephyr’s eyes brimmed with mockery, not concealed in the slightest.

Zoria hurried over, clutching tightly at his arm, her voice trembling, “But… I carry your child.”

“You want to use the pregnancy to threaten me?” Zephyr narrowed his eyes, his voice icy. “Zoria, haven’t I already made myself clear to you? Even if what you carry truly comes into this world, I will find a way to end its life. Do you really think I would ever need something born from a body as frail and tainted as yours?”

“Bang!”

Zephyr then swung his hand violently, sending Zoria crashing headfirst into the table. Pain twisted her brows together as a groan escaped her lips. Bright red blood trickled down from the wound on her forehead into her eyes, and before her vision there remained only a blazing crimson blur.

“Sign it!” Zephyr’s face was cold as ice. At the sight of blood on Zoria’s forehead, he merely paused for a brief moment before turning back, his tone unyielding.

Zoria suddenly let out a broken, twisted smile. A jagged laugh rose from her throat as she lowered her head, tears mingling with blood and dripping onto the floor. Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably, a chill wrapping around her body. Why was she so cold, when clearly it was not winter?

She gripped the pen in her hand tightly, lifted her head with a sorrowful smile. “Zephyr, let’s sever the bond.”

Zoria had never thought there would come a day when she herself would say those words. She had loved Zephyr beyond all redemption. For him, she had abandoned her family; for him, she had risked everything to carry his child. She had never begged for his love, only for a shred of mercy, and yet in the end, it had all been a delusion. Now, this dream had to end.

Hearing her words, Zephyr’s body trembled faintly. From deep within his chest welled up a pain he could not explain. He frowned, his tone frigid. “Once you finish donating your marrow, I will sever the bond with you.”

To cut a bond without causing harm to either side, both had to accept it willingly. If even one refused, the bond would last for eternity, until death claimed them.

“Alright.” Zoria’s hands shook as she picked up the agreement from the floor and placed it back on the table. Her right hand grasped the pen but could hardly hold it, trembling as if her heart itself were shaking. She turned to the final page, at the section marked “Donor,” and signed the name Zoria in wavering strokes. As soon as the last line was drawn, the pen slipped from her grasp and fell with a clatter to the floor.

Zephyr bent down to look at her. The female before him was so thin that her collar exposed the sharp outline of her bones. In his memory, Zoria had always been slender, but never to this point of frailty.

Zephyr stooped to pick up the agreement, the paper still stained with blood. "Go tend to your wounds. Tomorrow I will take you to court."

Zoria’s hollow eyes stared at the ground. It was only when the door slammed shut behind her with a loud bang that she came back to herself. Her whole body curled up on the floor, shivering from the cold. A sharp pain twisted through her stomach. She held it tightly, her hand gently caressing as though to comfort the baby inside.

"It’s all right, baby… I’m fine."

Zephyr tightened his grip on the agreement with its crooked signature, a restless unease gnawing at him. He pushed open the bedroom door, his face calm again when his eyes fell upon the female lying on the bed.

"Zephyr… did she agree?" Faye sat up abruptly, her face pale.

Zephyr stepped closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "She agreed. Don’t worry, before long you will be saved."

Faye smiled, but then something struck her. Her trembling hand clutched at Zephyr’s shirt as she spoke in a sorrowful voice. "Zephyr… am I being too selfish?"

He stroked her head, his tone gentle. "Why would you think that? She willingly offered her marrow to save you."

"After I recover, will you truly sever the bond with her? I heard her father has been imprisoned… which means she will have nothing left. If you abandon her at this moment, wouldn’t that be too cruel?"

Faced with Faye’s questions, Zephyr said nothing. Perhaps he simply did not know how to answer. The suppressed irritation from earlier welled up again within him.

Having known Zephyr for years, Faye needed only a glance to sense what he was thinking. Her eyes lowered, hiding her disappointment. "I want to sleep."

Zephyr knew she was sulking again, but tonight he had no energy left to soothe her. He only pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his voice tender. "Don’t think too much. I will never let you become a mistress."

Just those few simple words from Zephyr made Faye breathe a sigh of relief. A smile once again spread across her face. Deep in her heart, she had always worried. After all, Zephyr and Zoria had lived together for three years. She feared that one day, Zephyr might truly fall for Zoria.