Chapter <b>101 </b>The Final Cut


    Kirby’s POV


    The hospital smelled like antiseptic and nerves. When I stepped inside, I found Leiss and Slyvana already waiting outside the emergency room. Slyvana was curled upust the wall, trembling all over.


    “What happened?”


    My voice was sharp, cold enough to draw blood.


    “Ask her,” Leiss said, jerking his chin


    toward Slyvana.


    “It’s not my fault!” she cried the moment my eyesnded on her. “It’s that woman Leslie! She pushed her into this!”


    I didn’t say anything. Just stared.


    “It’s true!” Slyvana shouted. “Liana is why Leslie hates us! If Liana died, Leslie would stoping after us! That’s why she ran into traffic–it’s all Leslie fault!”


    I let out a breath and covered my face with one hand. The Liana I remembered–theposed, quiet one -when had she turned into this? When did everything be such bad theater?


    Mch rushed over, slightly out of breath.


    “Sir. Liana’s stable. She’s recovering quickly. She’s not in any danger.”


    Leslie’s voice echoed in my head.


    “Maybe by the time you get to the hospital, she’ll already be healed.”


    I pushed open the door and stepped inside.


    Liana was lying on the bed, pale but awake. The second she saw me, her face lit up.


    “Kirby… If I had just died, I wouldn’t be dragging you into this. You must be so overwhelmed because of Leslie. She’s gone too far…”


    “Gone too far?” I stood there and stared at her. “She almost had her heart cut out because of you. And


    think she went too far?”


    Her skin turned ghost white.


    you


    “No… that’s not what I meant… It was just a joke… And she hid her identity–who knows what she was trying to do…”


    “And what does that have to do with you?”


    I kept my voice t. “Her identity never had anything to do with you.”


    Aside from being asked to leave the royal ceremony, had Leslie everid a single finger on her?


    The pressure in my chest grew heavier, like a weight I couldn’t get off.


    “You’re going back to the recovery center in a few days. When you’re better, I’ll find you a job. You need to


    06:30 Wed 18


    Chapter 191 The final bul


    <b>learn </b>how to live independently.”


    <b>Liana’s </b>POV


    Back to the recovery center? Live independently?


    Hooked up at hin, stunned. Panic wed at my chest.


    What did that mean? That he didn’t want to take care of me anymore?


    <b>“</b>Kirby… Liana’s just a kid. Don’t be so quick to-”


    Leiss coughed from the doorway, trying to soften the blow for me.


    “If she’s just a kid,” Kirby said without even looking back, “then you take care of her.”


    Leiss froze. “I can’t… My wife would murder me…”


    Just like that, Kirby tossed me aside like I didn’t matter.


    Shame and fear exploded inside me, swallowing me whole.


    No. No, I can’t lose him. I won’t lose him.


    Kirby’s POV


    The moment I walked out of the hospital, I saw it.


    Photos. Headlines. Comments. The whole damn inte had already run with the story.


    “Crimson Moon Pack Heir’s New me Hospitalized Mistress Finally Takes the Throne?!”


    The main photo showed me standing outside her hospital room, frozen mid–step. The caption called it a <i>moment </i><i>of </i><i>longing</i>.


    “True love, huh? Does the mistress even know what shame is?<b>” </b>


    “Rich people don’t care anymore. All the side chicks win now.”


    “Poor Queen Leslie. Just focus on your empire, girl. Men ain’t worth it.”


    Before I could even respond, I called her.


    “Leslie,” I said the second she picked up, “please, just hear me out. It’s not what the media says—”


    I pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose, exhausted. I hadn’t even begun to exin when her voice cut through the line.


    Cold. Lazy. Sharp enough to slice.


    “Boring.”


    Then the call ended.


    She didn’t even care to hear the rest.