Marrying Shen Ayi and the mess with my family’s finances hitting rock bottom—both were things that blindsided me.

Honestly, at first, I didn’t even recognize him.

Had no clue why an Alpha like him would want to tie the knot with me.

I looked into his eyes and asked him flat-out why he was doing this.

He laid out the pros and cons with crystal-clear logic.

Then added,

“Consider it a favor from one alum to another.”

That’s when it clicked—he was that high school bookworm, always trailing just behind me in rank, all about studying, but strikingly pretty.

Sure, there were better partnership options, but when I met that sincere look in his eyes as he said it, I nodded like I was possessed.

Later, I kicked myself—how could I have lost my mind and agreed to marry another Alpha?

But once we were married, I had no intention of shirking my duties.

And that wedding night, seeing him in that crisp suit, ears turning red despite his primness, I felt a flutter for the first time in over twenty years.

But that night, just as I tried to take things further, he suddenly spiked a fever, his lips going pale.

I rushed him to the hospital and stayed by his side until dawn.

Then, at the crack of dawn, my assistant called with an emergency.

Seeing he’d stabilized and knowing his doctor was his close friend, I left him in their care and bolted to the company.

When I drank from that kid’s hand and tilted my head to dodge his next move, I figured he just needed time to adjust to married life and went along with it.

But after that, his attitude toward me grew colder and colder.

At first, it bugged me, but I told myself it was for the best—better not to let feelings grow and complicate a divorce later.

Yet that little seed of a heartbeat I planted back then quietly took root and sprouted in me.

Every time I saw him, it grew stronger.

For someone who doesn’t fall easily, once is enough to etch it deep.

But I had no idea how to approach it, so I threw myself into work, striving to level the playing field between us, just hoping he’d really see me.

I kept my face neutral, but the longing inside me grew day by day—though he seemed totally oblivious.

My emotional obsession in this relationship got worse and worse.

It was manageable at first, but when I caught him drinking from some random Omega’s hand, it spiraled out of control.

He started this with me.

Whatever the fallout, he’s got to deal with it.