From childhood to now, only Old Master Magnus had ever been genuinely good to me.

I nodded, my voice tight. "Grandfather, I will. If only for your sake, I'll start over."

Since everyone had chosen Hazel Ashford, since no one stood on my side, then from this day forward I would learn to love myself, and cut ties with all of them completely.

Early the next morning, I went to an agency that specialized in selling private island territories.

"I want to buy an island, completely isolated. Do you have anything like that?"

I didn't waste words and stated my purpose directly. The agent immediately brought out a thick portfolio and began walking me through it page by page. Islands of every kind blurred before my eyes. I didn't deliberate long. I picked one that looked right and paid for it in full on the spot.

"Miss Ashvale, the paperwork will take about one moon cycle. Once everything is finalized, you can officially move in." The agent walked me to the door, voice brimming with excitement and deference.

I nodded. "Good. I understand."

After returning to the Nightfang estate, I began packing.

When I had first come here for the mating, I hadn't brought much, because the Ashvale household had never truly cared about me. The bedroom was large, but most of the things in it had been given to me by Sylvia Nightfang over the years.

The paired photographs on the wall. The matching keepsakes in the cabinet. Every one of them had once made me feel sweetness, had made me believe they were proof of his love.

Now, looking at them again, all that remained was mockery.

I took them down one by one and packed everything into boxes. Before long, every trace of him had been sealed away. The boxes were stuffed full. I carried them out the door and, without hesitation, threw them all into the refuse bin.

The moment I finished, I looked up and saw Sylvia Nightfang walking toward me from not far off.

He hadn't seemed to intend to acknowledge me, but when his gaze swept casually over the photographs and gifts piled in the bin, his expression darkened sharply and his brows drew tight together.

I acted as if I hadn't seen him and turned to leave.

"Hazel Ashvale."

He called out, stopping me.

"Why did you throw all of this away? If I remember correctly, these were your memories with my brother."

I stopped mid-step, a cold laugh rising inside me. When I turned around, my face was still calm.