Liam’s car was gone when Katie pulled back into the mansion’s driveway.
Great.
It meant she had time to sneak around.
She had always respected his boundaries, but not anymore.
Very cautiously, she made her way to the private study Liam had always kept her out of.
She pushed the creaking door open to find a room crammed with papers and books.
Her eyes found a safe in the corner, partially hidden behind a bookshelf.
When she reached the safe, she tried to think of the password number.
She used Dakota’s birth date and the safe clicked open.
Inside was a written contract between Liam and the Ember Moon Pack. As she read Ruby’s sale terms, her eyes grew wide. It was true!
Next to the contract, she found a medical record, detailing the acquisition of a rare potion linkec o Dakota’s treatment.
She swiftly used her phone to take pictures.
Just as she was ready to go, she heard the front door open and knew Liam was back.
Katie hastily placed the documents back in the safe but bumped into Liam at the door whc ooked surprised as hell to see her there.
What are you doing in here?” he asked, eyeing her all over.
She tried to think fast. “I was looking for you. The door was slightly ajar, and I thought you were n here. We planned on going to the park, right? You’ve been pushing for it for weeks, and it’s Ruby’s favorite place. It helps me feel closer to her.”
Let me take a shower first,” he said in a soft voice as he caressed a flyaway hair from her face How come your eyes are bloodshot, though? Have you been crying again?”
Anger swept through Katie, but she controlled herself. “I had a dream that Ruby died.”
.iam froze for a moment before he brought his strong arms around her. “The Moon Goddess wil ake pity on us and Ruby will be found eventually. Don’t worry.”
Katie gripped her dress with her fists, refusing to hug him back. The audacity of him, pretending o be concerned about their daughter’s disappearance when he was, in fact, her killer.
He guided her out of the study, and they walked to their room together. Katie sat on the bed while he jumped into the shower.
Her eyes fell on his beeping phone on the nightstand.
She had always assumed that the password was her name, just like he had told her. However, when she tried typing it in, the phone remained locked.
‘Deekay‘ was the nickname Liam used to call her cousin Dakota. She wondered if he might have used it as a password.
Of course it worked.
The first thing Katie saw was a discussion about the cozy vacation house that her parents had given to her as a wedding gift.
She had spent countless special events and holidays there with her family as a child.
But then Liam had just gifted Dakota for being pregnant with his heir!
Dakota carrying Liam’s child? Her stomach churned at the thought.
There were also pictures of the house being refurbished to Dakota’s taste.
Liam had deceived Katie by adding his name to the deed of the house.
He said he would be able to protect it better if anything went wrong. And, foolishly, she had trusted him, because she loved him.
There were older messages from Liam, declaring his love for Dakota, and Dakota’s responses saying she couldn’t bear the secret relationship anymore.
Liam consoled her by saying, “When the time is right, my love, I’ll dump my good–for–nothing wife. You know you’re my true mate.”
Katie felt like she was reading a nightmare. She also saw transaction receipts for expensive things Liam had bought for Dakota.
Things he had rebuked her for asking for.
It got worse. There were nasty messages between them talking about their sex escapades.
Liam also said she couldn’t satisfy him like Dakota did. And it seemed like the moon goddes: locked her womb after giving birth to that frail daughter.
She couldn’t take it anymore and locked the phone, her eyes stinging with tears.
She remembered how she was never Liam’s fated mate but only chosen by both their families.
Dakota was his first love, and they had been forced to break up when Dakota went overseas fo her schooling.
Katie had married Liam at twenty years old, two years after Dakota left, and had given birth to Ruby.
Now, six years had passed, and Katie realized that her entire marriage was a total waste of he
time.
Dakota had returned a year ago terribly sick, and Liam found the potion to save her.
Now she knew it was at the expense of her child.
The phone vibrated again, and a message from Dakota popped up in the notification bar.
“Honey, where are you? You have to come with me for a prenatal visit. I miss you, by the way And please bring my favorite creamy mushroom soup you always bring.”
Katie’s anger and hurt turned to disgust. Liam had always made her cook the soup regularly even though he didn’t like it.
He claimed that he brought the soup for his beta’s elderly mother.
Such a liar.
The sound of the shower stopped, so she quickly placed the phone back.
Liam came in with a bathrobe and grabbed his phone, glancing through.
Chapter 2
“I’m sorry, but the pack needs me. Can we reschedule our outing?”
With a tight–lipped smile, Katie answered, “It’s okay.”
He placed a hand on her shoulder, saying, “I would make it up to you, okay? Oh, and another thing, can you help me make that creamy mushroom soup you always do?”
