Chapter 5: The Truth Revealed

Noah's face changed completely.

"What did you say?"

"Ruby, what happened to the baby? Explain yourself."

I didn't answer.

The giant screen behind us suddenly went black.

A second later, the recording began to play.

My mother's voice echoed through the banquet hall.

"Noah hasn't had it easy, either. The person he's always wanted is Scarlett. They have held back for five years because they didn't want to hurt you."

A wave of whispers swept through the crowd.

Noah turned toward the screen, his expression becoming colder with every word.

The recording continued.

"Ruby, listen to me. Just pretend you and Noah were never meant to be. The person he truly wants to claim is your sister."

My mother went pale.

Someone in the crowd gasped.

"Is that her voice?"

"Did she really say that?"

"So Scarlett and Noah have been together for five years?"

Scarlett's lips trembled.

"Ruby, please turn it off."

I looked at her calmly.

"Why? Aren't you proud of the truth?"

Noah stepped toward me.

"Where did you get this recording?"

"From you."

His expression froze.

"Your own dashcam recorded the conversation between you and Scarlett."

I raised my phone and held up the encrypted drive.

"And I have copies of everything."

The elders began murmuring among themselves.

One of them stood and demanded silence.

"Noah Calder, explain yourself."

Noah clenched his jaw.

"This is a private family matter."

"Not anymore," I replied.

"You brought the entire Ashvale pack here to witness a ceremony that was never meant to be mine."

I pointed toward Scarlett.

"She was supposed to be your real chosen mate."

Scarlett started crying.

"Ruby, I never wanted to hurt you."

"But you did."

My voice was surprisingly steady.

"Both of you did."

My father suddenly stepped forward.

"Enough. Ruby, this is becoming embarrassing."

I stared at him.

"Embarrassing for whom?"

"For our family," he snapped.

"You should have handled this privately."

I laughed softly.

"You knew."

He went silent.

"You all knew."

I looked at my mother, then my father, then Scarlett.

"For five years, every one of you watched me love a man who had already chosen my sister."

Noah suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"We're leaving."

I pulled my hand free.

"No."

"Ruby."

"You wanted a public ceremony. You wanted everyone to believe your lie. So let everyone hear the ending too."

The elder raised his hand.

"Let her speak."

The hall fell silent.

I took a slow breath.

"Noah told me that I trapped him. He said he wanted to be free."

"So today, I am setting him free."

I removed the claiming ring from my finger and placed it on the table.

"The ceremony is canceled."

For the first time that day, Noah looked genuinely afraid.

"Ruby, don't do this."

"You already made your choice."

I looked directly into his eyes.

"Now I am making mine."

The elder examined the evidence on the screen, then turned toward Noah and Scarlett.

"If the registry contract exists, it will be investigated immediately."

Scarlett covered her mouth.

Noah's face had lost all its arrogance.

But I wasn't finished.

I reached into my purse and pulled out a sealed document from Grayhaven Mate Registry Hall.

"There is one more thing."

The elder took the document and opened it.

His eyes widened.

"This contract was signed before today's ceremony."

The hall erupted in whispers.

I looked at Noah one last time.

"You wanted Scarlett to be your real wife."

"Then stop hiding behind me."

I turned away from them.

For ten years, I had believed losing Noah would destroy me.

But standing there without him, I realized something far more important.

I had not lost my future.

I had finally taken it back.