Chapter 0150
Chapter 0150
Ella POV
“The f
food was incredible, as always,” Elizabeth remarked as we stepped out the front door.
“I’ll pass that along to the kitchen staff–they’ll be thrilled” I replied with a smile.
It was one of those rare, warm days that clung on past summer’s end, so we decided to take a walk before Elizabeth had to return to the capital. There was still so much left unsaid, but as we strolled down the path, I noticed an unmistakable shift in her mood.
any more days like this,” I commented, glancing at the sky. “The weather’s going to change
“We won’t have many
soon.”
“Yes,” she agreed, a slight furrow in her brow. “I think it’ll be a harsh winter.”
Her tone was tight, her gaze distant as she kept glancing at me, then quickly looking away. After the easy, lighthearted mood we’d shared all afternoon, the sudden tension felt like a cold wind. I told myself not to press if she had something to say, she’d say it in her own time. But as we turned the corner at the end of the block, her silence became impossible to ignore.
“Does it feel strange being away from the constant noise of the capital?” I asked, hoping to draw her out.
“A little,” she said, with a weak smile. “But it’s… nice. I wish things could be more like this back home. You can’t even step outside without people shouting at you or snapping photos.”
“I’ve noticed,” I muttered, thinking of how relentless the scrutiny on her must be.
She looked down at her feet, exhaling a sigh that felt too heavy for such a simple walk.
“Something’s on your mind,” I said quietly. “What’s wrong?”
Elizabeth’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise. She quickly forced a smile and shook her head. ” Nothing, really. I’m fine.”
But the look in her eyes told me otherwise. There was something she wasn’t saying–something weighing her down that she didn’t feel she could share with me. And that hurt more than I cared to admit.
Elizabeth had become my closest friend, the one I could trust with almost anything. It unsettled me to think that she couldn’t or wouldn’t trust me in return.
Then again, I hadn’t exactly been open with Elizabeth about everything. I’d done my best to shield her from the turmoil surrounding David. The last thing I wanted was to draw any unwanted attention her way.
1 hadn’t even told her about the attack at the hotel. I’d simply ignored the rumors swirling around it. Alexander, ever protective, had used his influence to keep the story out of the headlines, offering the press exclusive wedding access in return for their silence.
My father had agreed–it was better to let the matter fade if we couldn’t directly expose David’s involvement. Still, whispers persisted. The rumors might have lost momentum in the media, but online, they remained like a shadow that wouldn’t quite disappear. I could only hope they’d eventually fade away.
But then, a thought struck me: I knew that Elizabeth spent time on social media, where rumors circulated endlessly. If she’d heard any of it, she might feel hurt that d kept such a significant event from her.
I couldn’t bear the idea of something like this driving a wedge between us.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0150
I clasped my hands together, twisting them nervously. “Elizabeth, if there’s something you want to say to me, I hope you know you can say it. I won’t be offended.”
Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder, her expression shifting to something guarded. Because of the time of day, we didn’t have a guard tailing us. The patrols and house guards were out of earshot, leaving us as alone as we could
- be.
