Every word was a shard of ice, stabbing Emily with a sharp, cold pain.
A cage...
So, their mating had become that suffocating for him.

Jessica, sitting beside her, squeezed her hand, her eyes filled with concern.
Emily shook her head, her gaze falling on Daniel's hand as he carefully adjusted Sophia's dress. A self-deprecating smile touched her lips.
In truth, wasn't it a cage for her, too?
She knew the love they once shared, born of destiny, had rotted away, but she had lied to herself, pretending not to see it.
Well, in one month, they would both be free from this cage.
The award ceremony soon began.

When the time came to announce the award for Best Actress, Emily's palms grew slick with a thin layer of sweat.
When she filmed The Unending, she thought it would be her last movie ever, and she had poured her heart and soul into the role.
Winning Best Actress tonight would be the perfect end to her acting career in America.
The host held the envelope, deliberately letting his gaze sweep over all the nominees before slowly announcing.

"And the Golden Film Award for Best Actress goes to..."
"Sophia Summers!"
The audience erupted in thunderous applause.
Sophia smiled, planted a kiss on Daniel's cheek, and gracefully made her way to the stage.
A wave of disappointment washed over Emily, but she quickly composed herself.
Jessica leaned in, whispering furiously in her ear.
"Emily, I already asked around. The judging panel loved your film. Best Actress should have been yours."
"Do you think... Daniel used his influence?"
Before Jessica could finish, Emily instinctively shut down the idea.
"He wouldn't."
Daniel wasn't the type to mix business with pleasure or resort to underhanded tactics.
Even when they were madly in love, he had never used his Alpha power to pull strings for her career.
"Maybe her performance just moved the judges more."
Jessica was still fuming.
"How could her commercial popcorn flick beat your arthouse film?"
Emily patted her hand reassuringly.
"It doesn't matter anymore."
"In a month, I'm leaving for the UK to start a new film."
Jessica's eyes widened, her voice trembling with excitement.
"The UK?! You mean with that director, Michael Jenkins, the one who's contacted you several times before?"
Emily nodded with a smile.
"That's fantastic! Michael Jenkins is an internationally renowned director."
"When you become an international superstar, don't you dare forget me!"
Emily laughingly promised she wouldn't, and Jessica finally let her go to attend to other work.
With the Best Actress award announced, there was nothing left for Emily at the ceremony. She decided to leave early.
As she passed by the backstage area, she saw Daniel standing by the side of the stage, holding a bouquet of red roses.
Emily's fingers curled into a fist.
She pretended not to see him and turned to leave.
But a sycophantic voice drifted from behind her.
"Alpha Blackwood, we've done as you asked and switched the Best Actress award to Ms. Summers. Is there anything else you need?"
Emily froze in her tracks.
Daniel's casual voice followed.
"Just keep your mouths shut. Don't let Sophia know the award was originally Emily's."