I looked at the furious Madam Salvatore and said coldly, "You’re overthinking this. I would never use something like this to marry into the Eclipse Pack. I, Raelynn, have more dignity than that." "Aiden, you tell me. I want to hear your explanation," Madam Salvatore turned to her eldest son. Aiden didn’t explain. He just said calmly, "I initiated it." Madam Salvatore’s eyes widened. She shrieked, "Aiden, are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten what I told you last night? Raelynn can’t possibly be your destined mate. Only Taylor is truly right for you!" "I don’t like Taylor. I thought you knew that." Madam Salvatore wasn’t giving up. She continued, trying to persuade him, "Aiden, just because you don’t like her now doesn’t mean you should dismiss her. The Moon Goddess will prove I was right. I’ve known Taylor for so many years—how could I be wrong about her? Yes, she made some mistakes before, but that was because she loved you too much. If you just give her a chance, you’ll see how good she really is..." Aiden frowned and cut her off with a wave of his hand. "That’s enough. I only like Raelynn." A glass shattered at the doorway. "Aiden..." I turned and saw Taylor standing at the door, eyes brimming with tears, looking absolutely devastated. At her feet was a broken glass, water spilled all over the floor. Clearly, she had heard Aiden’s confession just now. "Aiden, even if you don’t love me, I still want you to understand how I feel about you! But you can’t keep using Raelynn to hurt me! It’s not fair!" Taylor cried and beat her chest in frustration. "You should know I’ve only ever seen you as a sister. Please stop clinging to me," Aiden replied without a trace of emotion. That single sentence hit her like a dagger. Taylor couldn’t take it anymore. She turned away, wiping her tears as she ran off. Madam Salvatore watched her go, then turned to glare at me with venom in her eyes. "Raelynn, this is all your fault! You’ve turned our whole family upside down! You’re a cold, manipulative woman hell-bent on becoming the Eclipse Pack’s next Luna. Well, I won’t let that happen!" "You’re thinking too highly of me," I said flatly. "I have no interest in being the Eclipse Pack’s Luna." But Aiden cut in, "Even if you’re not interested, you’re still going to be." "You two are going to be the death of me!" Madam Salvatore’s chest rose and fell with fury. She raised her hand, pointed right at me, and spat out, "Just like your mother! She ruined someone else’s relationship, and her daughter turned out just as shameless! You’re just like her in every way!" I froze. "You knew my mother?" "Of course I knew her! Your mother was worshiped by every man who laid eyes on her! Even Mr. Robin was completely bewitched by her—how could I not know who she was?" I was stunned. Was Madam Salvatore seriously saying my mother was some kind of homewrecker? That she seduced married men? My expression went cold. I glared at her. "Madam Salvatore, you better watch your mouth. Insult me all you want, but leave my mother out of it." I remembered my father once told me that my mother was as beautiful and gentle as the Moon Goddess herself. That she had the kindest heart, and that’s why he waited for her to return all these years. Someone like that couldn’t possibly do the things Madam Salvatore was accusing her of. "If you don’t believe me, ask your uncle. See if the two of them were really as innocent as they seemed!" Madam Salvatore sneered. "For all you know, you could be Mr. Robin’s bastard!" With that, she stormed off in a huff. I stood there, struggling to process everything. I turned to Aiden. "Do you think any of what she just said is true?" Aiden’s eyes flickered with hesitation. "I don’t think so." I caught the shift in his gaze—and my heart skipped a beat. He didn’t sound completely sure. That wasn’t good. I had to prove this wasn’t true. I took a deep breath. "Aiden, I can’t let what Madam Salvatore said go unchallenged. She insulted my mother, and I can’t forgive that. I have to prove she’s wrong."Aiden looked at me, puzzled. "How are you going to do that?" "It’s simple," I said, meeting his gaze. "A paternity test." Aiden was stunned. I continued, "Mr. Robin’s out of town on a business trip. He won’t be back for another ten days or so. I think using your DNA would be enough for the test." Aiden raised a brow. "So you’re thinking, if we can prove there’s no biological link between us, then my mom’s theory is dead in the water?" "Exactly. I don’t believe we’re related at all." I held out my hand. "Give me a hair sample." Aiden frowned. "Where’s the scissors?" He was stalling, and it was getting on my nerves. So I reached right over and yanked a strand from the top of his head. "You don’t need scissors. A quick pull does the trick." Then I reached over and plucked another strand from his head. Aiden gave me a cold stare and stayed silent for a long moment.