Chapter 196
Ellie's POV
I spent the entire day at the academy.
Just like the day before.
It was easier that way.
Being surrounded by books, lessons, and the quiet atmosphere of the library was far better than sitting in that house pretending everything was normal. At the academy, no one expected me to smile. No one expected me to act like a newlywed Luna who was happily settling into her role.
No one looked at me like they were waiting for me to fail.
By the time the sun disappeared beneath the horizon, I finally decided I couldn't stay away forever.
Unfortunately.
I drove home with one hope in mind: that Dominic had already eaten dinner, gone to his room, and that I could quietly do the same.
Maybe I could avoid another conversation.
Maybe I could avoid another reminder that I was trapped.
Apparently, fate had other plans.
The moment I stepped inside the house, Dominic appeared.
"Ellie."
I barely had time to react before he stepped forward and took my coat from my shoulders.
"You’re right on time."
His tone was almost casual.
"We were just about to sit down for dinner."
I stared at him.
"Oh. I'm not hungry."
"Please eat with us."
The softness in his voice caught me off guard.
I looked up at him, surprised.
His eyes weren't demanding.
They weren't cold.
They weren't the eyes of the man I had convinced myself he was.
They were asking.
Almost pleading.
And for one horrible second, my resolve weakened.
Because no matter how angry I was...
No matter how betrayed I felt...
There was still a part of me that reacted to him.
A part of me still noticed the warmth in his voice, the way he looked at me, the way his hand rested gently against my arm.
I blamed the bond.
I blamed the mark.
I blamed everything except the obvious.
That some part of me still cared.
And that was exactly why I couldn't give in.
Because if I did, I knew what would happen.
I would soften.
I would start believing again.
I would let myself hope.
And then I would end up right back where I had been before.
Broken.
Used.
Dead.
"I’m not hungry," I repeated, forcing my voice to remain steady.
"Thanks for the offer."
Something in Dominic's expression shifted.
Not anger.
Not exactly.
Just disappointment.
His hand tightened slightly around my arm.
Before I could step away, he took my hand and placed it against his stomach.
My breath caught.
Even through his shirt, I could feel the strength beneath my palm.
But I could also feel the scar.
The wound I had caused.
It had healed quickly because of his wolf, but the mark beneath my fingers was real.
A reminder.
"Need I remind you," he murmured, spreading my fingers slightly over the scar, "that you stabbed me two days ago?"
His voice lowered.
"On our wedding day, no less."
He stepped closer.
Close enough that I felt his breath brush against my cheek.
"You owe me one dinner, Ellie."
I froze.
I wanted to argue.
I wanted to tell him that he had betrayed me too.
That he had hidden things from me.
That he had trapped me with that contract.
But the words wouldn't come.
Because despite everything...
I did feel guilty.
Of course I did.
I had stabbed him.
I wasn't heartless.
"Fine," I muttered, pulling my hand away.
"But I'm not going to be pleasant."
A faint, almost amused curve touched his lips.
"I wouldn't expect you to be."
I rolled my eyes and walked past him.
As I approached the dining room, I heard voices.
Soft conversation.
The clinking of silverware.
Perfect.
An audience.
Exactly what I needed.
Because I already had another plan.
If Dominic wanted to keep me trapped, then I would make him regret it.
I would push every button I knew he had until he finally decided he couldn't stand being married to me anymore.
That was the only way out.
But the moment I stepped into the doorway, I stopped.
"Ellie."
Vivian looked up from her seat.
She was sitting across from Marcus as she belonged there.
Like this was normal.
Like she had always been part of this household.
My stomach twisted.
"Studying late tonight?"
Her voice was sweet.
Too sweet.
I stared at her, unable to speak for a moment.
Of all the people I wanted to see...
She was the last.
We hadn't spoken since the wedding.
I had hoped to keep it that way.
Then Dominic stepped into the room beside me.
"Vivian filled in for you today," he explained.
His tone was warm.
Approving.
"She did an excellent job."
Vivian smiled.
A perfect, innocent smile.
But I knew her.
I knew exactly what this was.
Because I had seen this before.
In my past life.
Vivian is slipping into my place.
Taking advantage of every weakness.
Making herself useful.
Making everyone believe she was the better choice.
And eventually...
When she was close enough to everything she wanted...
She destroyed me.
My eyes met hers.
For just a moment, I saw it.
The calculation behind the sweetness.
The same ambition.
The same hunger.
She was going to repeat history.
But this time, so was I.
Just not in the way she expected.
I was done fighting for a place that had nearly killed me.
Done proving I deserved something that was never truly mine.
If Vivian wanted the title...
The responsibilities...
The attention...
She could have it.
Let history repeat itself for her.
I wasn't going to be the person who lost everything trying to hold onto a life that was already killing me.
I was done playing her game.
All that mattered now was one thing.
Leaving.