If this had happened before—
If I had seen Tobias on his knees, begging for me to return—
I would have been overjoyed.
For years, I had dreamed of this moment.
I had written my love for him in journals, filled pages with my silent devotion.
But before I left, I burned those diaries to ash.
And when I watched the flames consume my past, I had felt nothing.
I felt the same now.
I lifted my chin, voice calm.
"Tobias," I said. "I already left the divorce papers."
"I deactivated my identity in the pack. We're no longer mates."
His eyes widened, panic flickering in their depths.
"You and Valeria still have unfinished business. **Go back to her.**"
His body tensed.
"No," he whispered. "This is a misunderstanding."
"I never loved Valeria," he swore. "I was only looking after her and Sable because I felt obligated."
His hands clenched into fists.
"I was blind, Mia. I let Valeria manipulate me, let her feed me lies."
His voice cracked.
"But I know what I want now."
"I want you."
He crawled toward me, but I stepped back, my face unmoved.
I knelt beside Rhea and gently stroked her hair.
"Sweetheart," I murmured, "do you want to forgive Daddy?"
Rhea blinked up at me.
Then, slowly, she shook her head.
"No."
Her small voice was steady.
"Rhea doesn't have a daddy. The other kids were right."
She smiled at me and hugged my waist.
"It's okay. I have Mommy, and that's enough."
But Rhea and I never saw him again.
Until one day—
My father, standing by the pier with his fishing rod, sighed.
"Tobias," he said, "stop chasing her."
"You had your chance. And you **threw it away."
---
Two years later.
I heard rumors.
Tobias had been in an accident.
Some said he had become a vegetable.
Others claimed he had attacked Valeria and was in prison.
I never investigated the truth.
Because, just like before—
It didn't matter anymore.
I am about to head to a new town and start my new life…
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