Sorry, Fox. You’re Not My Only Mate.

Chapter 2

The next morning, Felix sat at the dining table looking resentful.

"Why did you get up so late? Hurry up and make me breakfast."

I ignored him and put on my heels.

Annoyed, he grabbed my wrist and pinned me against the wall.

"How long are you going to stay mad? It's been all night. Fine, I'll make it up to you. I'll even let you hold me while you sleep tonight."

The overpowering smell of perfume hit me.

I pushed him away and covered my nose.

"Stay away from me."

After being rejected repeatedly, Felix lost his temper.

"Ava, do you really think you're that special? So what if you're female? Looking like that, you should feel lucky I was willing to choose you."

I let out a dry laugh.

"Really? Because I think you're pathetic. Go back where you came from. And take that disgusting perfume smell with you."

Felix pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, then pinched my face.

"So that's why you're this angry. You're jealous. Don't worry. You may not be as striking as Bianca, but you did help me through several heat cycles. For old times' sake, I won't abandon you."

I scoffed.

"Abandon me? Good. Since you brought it up, let's make this clear. In 1 month, when our 1-year term ends, we're going to the Beastfolk Registry Office to dissolve the bond."

Felix faltered for a split second.

Then he gritted his teeth.

"Keep dreaming. You don't get to dissolve the bond just because you want to. I'm the one who decides when it ends."

He slammed the door and left.

I calmly drove to work.

But the moment I entered the office, employees who usually lowered their heads around me all looked up.

One bold employee even stopped me.

"Ava, how can you still show your face here? Because of the mistake in your proposal yesterday, the company lost 100 million dollars. The chairman suspended you as vice president and gave your position to Bianca."

My eyes widened.

I hurried toward my office.

My father, Gregory Quinn, and Bianca were coming out.

1 second earlier, he had been smiling at her.

The instant he saw me, his face became stern.

"What are you doing here? Haven't you embarrassed us enough? If Martin Pierce hadn't been generous, you could be facing criminal charges right now."

Bianca pretended to intervene while looking pleased.

"Dad, don't be so hard on Ava. Everyone makes mistakes."

I forced down my anger.

"Dad, I checked the proposal we signed with Martin more than 100 times. I'm certain there wasn't a mistake. Someone altered it afterward. I want a full investigation, especially into Bianca."

My father slapped me the instant I finished speaking.

"You ungrateful brat. Bianca is your own family. You make a mistake and refuse to admit it, then try to frame her?"

Bianca immediately began crying.

"Ava, how can you think that about me?"

Employees around us started whispering.

"I never knew Ava was this jealous."

"They have the same father. How can Ava and Bianca be so different?"

"What do you expect? Ava's mother came out of poverty. What kind of daughter could a woman like that raise?"

People around us burst out laughing.

I clenched my fists and glared at them.

Gregory had cheated before marriage and fathered Bianca, who was older than I was, yet no one condemned him.

My mother had worked beside him loyally for years, and somehow she was the one people insulted.

'How is that fair?'

I looked at my calm father.

"Dad, they're insulting Mom. You have nothing to say?"

He lifted his chin arrogantly.

"Your mother has been dead for years. A few words can't hurt her."

I suddenly laughed.

In that moment, I let go of the last bit of hope I still had in him.

If he refused to investigate the proposal and refused to defend my mother, then I had no reason to protect any of them either.