chapter 10

Dorian barely stayed on his feet, bracing against a nearby backdrop stand, cold sweat streaming down his forehead and jawline, his knuckles trembling.

Ron screamed wildly in his mind, "That's the pain of a severed bond! This can't be wrong—she really severed it?"

"Impossible!" Dorian clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms, his voice trembling but filled with unshakable certainty.

"Back then, she went through three packs with a healer just to confirm our fated bond. She wouldn't really sever it—she must have used the Heartbreaker Herb!"

He suddenly recalled the herbal catalog he had seen in the pack's apothecary not long ago—the Heartbreak Herb, crushed and mixed into incense, could temporarily disrupt the soul link between fated mates, creating the illusion of a severed bond.

The pain felt identical, and it was often used to test a mate's feelings.

Hearing this, Ron's panic subsided a little. "Exactly! It has to be the Heartbreak Herb! Not long ago, one of Simona's juniors used the same trick to force her mate to come back and appease her.

"Simona must have seen you taking the commemorative photos with Rowena and panicked. She's deliberately using this trick to make you come back!

"She helped Rowena pick out her gown before, and now she's pulling this stunt—it's clear she knows how much you care about your fated bond and wants to make you abandon Rowena and admit your mistake!"

Ron's voice carried a confident, persuasive edge. "If you leave now, you'll be playing right into her hands. Rowena's still here, and she just said her chest feels tight—if you go, who's going to take care of her?"

Dorian's gaze fell on Rowena.

She had already rushed over to hold his arm, tears streaming down her face, her voice choked with worry. "Dorian, you look awful—are you in pain somewhere? It's all my fault for insisting on taking those commemorative photos. I'll call the healer right now…"

She reached for her communicator as she spoke.

Dorian grasped her hand, his fingertips cold but firm.

The memory of Rowena clutching her stomach last night, crying from an Aconite flare-up, flashed vividly before his eyes.

Guilt instantly overwhelmed his unease. He drew a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"I'm fine. I just didn't get any rest last night, but I'll recover in a little while."

He ruffled Rowena's hair, softening his voice. "Don't worry. We'll finish the rest of the photos, and then I'll take you back to rest."

Rowena bit her lip, a faint glimmer of satisfaction crossing her eyes, though she still spoke with a pouty, almost pitiful tone. "Are you sure you're not pushing yourself too hard? What if Simona isn't happy…"

"It's got nothing to do with her." Dorian cut her off, picking up the pack emblem from the floor and gripping it tightly, knuckles whitening.

"Let's take the photos. It'll be quick."

But as the camera focused on him, he couldn't stop his mind from drifting. The pain from the Heartbreak Herb should have faded by now, yet the hollow emptiness in his chest only seemed to grow stronger.

It wasn't until Rowena walked over, lifting the hem of her gown, saying she wanted to change into another pink gown, that Dorian frowned. "Weren't we just taking a few simple shots? Why are you changing your outfit?"

Tears immediately welled in Rowena's eyes, her shoulders trembling. "Dorian, did Simona send you a message to hurry? Am I being too greedy…?

"That pink gown is the one I've wanted to wear for the bonding ceremony since I was a child. If you don't want to take the photos, it's fine…"

Seeing her reddened eyes, Dorian swallowed the refusal that had risen to his lips.

He let out a soft sigh. "It's fine. A few more minutes won't hurt. Go change."

Meanwhile, Simona was already in line at the airport security checkpoint.

Her communicator suddenly buzzed, and Dorian's name flashed across the screen.

She paused for a moment, then answered.

"Simona, I still have a few more shots to take. Wait at home, and I'll come back as soon as I finish."

Dorian's voice held a faint edge of caution. "You… nothing happened just now, did it?"