(Olivia’s POV)

    “Livvy, why can’t I reach you?” The phone crackled with Seraphina’s unhappy voice. “My brother and Aurora are both here, why aren’t you here yet? It’s my birthday, after all.”

    Hearing this, I finally remembered that tonight was Seraphina’s birthday.

    “I’ll be right there,” I said, hanging up and immediately heading for the Kane Estate.

    I needed to see Matthew.

    When I walked into the Sovereign’s Garden, Victoria Kane stopped me. “Olivia, why are you so disheveled?”

    At Victoria’s words, Matthew, who was the center of attention, immediately looked over at me.

    My white dress was dirty, as was my face. I met his gaze but, not wanting him to worry, looked away and told Victoria, “I just fell.”

    Concerned, Victoria pulled me toward the back to change.

    As I was led away, I felt Matthew’s gaze on me and sensed something was wrong.

    I emerged in a stunning champagne–colored strapless gown, my eyes searching only for him.

    However, his attention was elsewhere. I overheard him talking to Tristan about a fire in the vi district.

    Seraphina anxiously asked if it was Theodore’s vi.

    Just then, Theodore walked in with Audrey Vale on his arm.

    Audrey’s voice cut through the air, “It was Alpha Theodore’s vi that caught fire. Luna should know, right? After all, she was at Alpha Theodore’s vi just now.”

    The atmosphere instantly chilled.

    Audrey continued her malicious attack, “With your ex–mate one moment and your current one the next. Luna is truly a master of time management.”

    Seraphina furiously shut her down, defending me. “Audrey, watch your mouth!”

    Before I could exin, Tristan approached Matthew with a document.

    He gently removed my hand from his sleeve, his voice neutral. “We’ll talkter?”

    I could only nod.

    With no heart for the party and wanting to avoid Theodore, I followed Matthew to the study.

    He sat at his desk, surrounded by his staff including Tristan, looking intensely busy and not sparing me a single nce.

    A feeling of distance settled over me; he seemed different.

    I wandered out to the Sovereign’s Garden, where a sudden “ssh” and a scream from Evelyn Croft drew me to theke.

    Seeing Seraphina on the ground, I didn’t hesitate and jumped into the water.

    I reached the struggling person, only to find it was Audrey.

    As I tried to pull her to shore, Audrey suddenly turned and shoved me away.

    Caught off guard, I choked on water and began to sink.

    Evelyn, who had been watching from the bank, screamed in terror.

    In an instant, a ck shadow leaped into the water, rescuing me.

    I discovered it was actually Theodore. The scene of him holding me, with Evelyn rushing to my side, seemed to rey our past moments, leaving me momentarily stunned.

    A furious Audrey used Seraphina of pushing her.

    Seraphina admitted to pping her for being shameless but insisted she fell on her own.

    Matthew calmly instructed Tristan to take Audrey to the Royal Infirmary, promising the Kane family would provide a proper exnation.

    After Audrey was led away, I struggled out of Theodore’s arms and stood unsteadily.

    Matthew’s voice was t and devoid of emotion. “Come here.”

    There was no concern, no tension.

    At his coldness, my eyes instantly reddened as I realized he had been angry with me from the moment I arrived.

    As I walked towards him, Theodore grabbed my wrist.

    The moment he touched me, Matthew turned and walked away without a backward nce.

    I wrenched my hand free from Theodore and hurried after him.

    Back in the master bedroom at the Kane Estate, Matthew sat at his desk, engrossed in a file,pletely ignoring me.

    I was overwhelmed with guilt, knowing I had lied about where I had been.

    (Matthew’s POV)

    She retreated into the bathroom.

    My gaze lingered on her retreating figure, the wet dress clinging to her curves.

    My mind reyed the image of Theodore holding her, of her willingly leaving with her ex–mate that morning, of hering back disheveled and lying to my face.

    I mmed a file onto the desk, though I stifled the sound.

    While she was in the bathroom, I spoke with Tristan, who confirmed the fire at Theodore’s vi was from an explosion, likely Olivia’s doing.

    I then instructed Tristan to tell Seraphina the truth about Theodore’s suspected involvement in assassination case to cure her of her obsession.

    When Olivia emerged from the bathroom, the bedroom was dark.

    I was waiting on the sofa. j.o.b.n.i.b.c.o.m has theplete version of this novel. She hesitated, then walked out, her white nightgown silhouetted by the bathroom light.

    I rose, walked to her, and gently lifted her onto the bed, tucking her in.

    Sitting beside her, I ced a hand on her forehead. “Why did you go to his house?” I asked softly.

    “He knows I’m Cipher,” she confessed. “I had to find out how he knew.”

    “What else did he do to you?” I pressed.

    “Nothing,” she murmured.

    My gaze fell to her hands, noting the moonstone ring from me on her left ring finger and the diamond mating ring from Theodore on her right.

    The silence was heavy.

    Annoyed by my cold demeanor, Olivia turned her back to me.

    When I came out of the bathroom, she was already sound asleep.

    I pulled the covers off her.

    Olivia awoke with a start, “Alpha King…?” she began, but I cut her off, myrge hand wrapping around her waist and pulling her into my embrace.

    I stood by the bed, holding her, my voice a raw mixture of anger and desire. “Don’t call me you call me?” that. I’m your mate, not your King. What should

    My frustration was palpable–she had gone to her ex–mate, returned wearing his ring, lied to me, and acted recklessly without a word.

    I had been terrified she had run off with Theodore.

    But as I saw her reddening eyes, my anger subsided, reced by a deep sigh.

    I bent down, kissing her, whispering helplessly against her lips, “What am I to do with you?” Suddenly, her lips softened against mine.

    I looked up in surprise to see her kneeling on the bed, her arms wrapped around my neck.

    She kissed me again, her voice soft and a little coquettish. “Matt?”