My heart sank. Since Emily’s return, his expenses had soared—a fifth higher than usual. A penthouse purchase leapt out at me, and I knew exactly who it was for.
On impulse, I grabbed a sticky note and scribbled: “Make sure you sign it!”
I began packing at dawn, sorting through years of memories and belongings with a newfound clarity.
Though Lorenz and I had separate dens, we shared a closet—one I had once meticulously stocked with his tunics, his belts, his every possession. It had been my daily ritual, preparing his things, a small way to maintain peace in a marriage that had always been distant. But now, it was time to release it all.
As I folded my own clothes, my gaze fell on the gifts I had given him over the years—birthdays, anniversaries, full moons, celebrations of every kind. Each lay untouched, still wrapped or tucked away as though meaningless.
My chest tightened. I had poured thought and care into each present, hoping they might remind him that I had once tried to be a devoted mate. But instead, they would go to someone who might truly value them. I bundled them for donation, a small act of reclaiming my power.