Chapter 0156
Chapter 0156
Alexander POV
Ella always managed to surprise me in ways I didn’t expect When we met at the gym, it wasn’t necessarily her strength or speed that caught me off guard–I’d expected her to have some athleticism. What surprised me was her enthusiasm.
For someone who claimed she didn’t exercise regularly, she threw herself into each part of the workout with an energy that was rare to see.
After she left, I met with each of the trainers to discuss her results, and though none of them openly praised her, I could see they were as impressed as I was. It made me feel an odd surge of pride.
Of course, any public praise of Ella reflected positively on me due to our “relationship,” but that wasn’t why I felt this way.
Ella had endured more in the brief time I’d known her than most people face in a lifetime, and all of it at the hands of someone who claimed to love her. Yet, despite the pain she’d suffered, she continued to push forward, to improve herself, and to find ways to reclaim her life. There was a quiet strength in her, a resilience that was rare.
In a way, I admired her. She somehow balanced that strength with a gentleness that most people would have lost long ago. It was a balance that very few people could maintain–and one I struggled with myself.
“Sir,” August’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Is there a reason you keep checking your phone?”
I shook my head, looking up at him as I set my phone down on the desk. “I apologize,” I said. “I‘ distracted this morning.”
“I see that,” he replied. “Is anything wrong?”
little
“No, it’s nothing like that,” I said dismissively. “I’m simply waiting for a response from Ella. I’m trying to decide on my plan for the day, and her input is needed.”
August raised one eyebrow at me but didn’t say another word. He didn’t have to–his disapproval was clear enough. He’d already voiced his concerns about me becoming too attached to Ella numerous times.
His concerns were unfounded. I was simply being thorough. After all, I had to be careful to maintain the illusion. of a close relationship with Ella if I wanted people to believe we were a couple.
I knew Ella had her first therapy appointment this morning Her hard work to reconnect with her wolf was only just beginning, and while she hadn’t said it outright, I could sense her nervousness. Hoping to encourage her and, admittedly, to open the door for a more substantial conversation–I sent her a message early this morning.
The wedding needed proper planning, and Ella’s input was crucial. There was too much to sort out for me to handle it alone, and this arrangement wouldn’t work without her full involvement.
It didn’t surprise me that she hadn’t responded right away. Ella wasn’t the type to be glued to her phone. But as the minutes ticked by, I found myself growing more concerned by her silence.
Maybe “concerned” wasn’t the right word. It wasn’t that I thought something was wrong, exactly, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was weighing on her or distracting her to the point where my message
was the least of her worries.
Ella had the bad habit of taking everything on herself, even when she had allies ready and willing to support her. She wouldn’t even go to her father for assistance in situations where, to me, it seemed like the most logical solution.
Chapter 0156
+25 BONUS
It was clear she was hiding something–a secret she was afraid to let others get involved in. Considering what David had tried to do to her at the hotel, I couldn’t help but wonder if he had more blackmail material. Perhaps it was something she was too embarrassed to share.
Then again, it could easily be something else entirely. Ella didn’t exactly confide in me, nor did I expect her to, but it would make things infinitely easier for both of us if I knew the full extent of what was going on.
Still, it would be hypocritical of me to press her for answers. There were plenty of things I wasn’t transparent with her about, things she hadn’t asked, about–yet.
Even so, her silence after my message bothered me far more than it should have.
“As I was saying,” August continued, pulling me from my thoughts once again, “David Lake is getting a lot of attention in the public eye lately. He’s being very showy about his wedding planning–parading his mate around the capital in expensive dresses and buying her jewelry from the finest boutiques.”
“That’s not surprising in the least,” I said. “He’s trying to maintain his reputation after losing all that land to Ella. He doesn’t want people to think it’s hurting him financially, although it obviously is. He won’t be able to sustain this kind of spending for long. If he keeps it up, he won’t be able to afford the actual wedding.”
“So, do you think the best approach is to wait and allow him to continue?”
“He’ll damn himself if he does, but I think waiting might be a mistake. We need to be strategic about this. My contacts are already looking into his actual financial situation–I’ll have the figures soon.”
“And what exactly do you plan to do with that information? August asked, his tone curious.
“I haven’t decided yet,” I admitted. “I want Ella’s input on that as well. But what’s more curious discovered about David’s recent travel.”
“What do you mean?” August asked, leaning forward.
at I’ve
I pulled a paper from the stack on my desk and slid it over to him. It was a timeline compiled using border crossing information.
August’s eyes widened slightly as he scanned it. “It seems Mr. Lake has been spending a lot of time in the northernmost regions of the kingdom,” he said softly. “But what does it mean?”
“Maybe nothing,” I replied: “But maybe everything. I’m going to keep looking into it.”
The sound of my phone buzzing drew my attention, and I couldn’t help the small smile that spread across my face when I saw Ella’s name in the notification bar. I opened her message and quickly tapped out a response.
When I glanced up from the screen, August was giving me that concerned look again. I ignored it. I knew Ella’s appointment hadn’t started just yet, so it would be a little while before she called, but the mere prospect of hearing her voice warmed my heart.
I knew it shouldn’t. But I wasn’t going to deny myself the small pleasure of speaking to her.
I’d already allowed myself to get too attached to Ella, but as long as I could control my urges when she was near, it couldn’t do any real harm. I’d never been a man who struggled with self–control, so this shouldn’t be any different.
Even as I thought that, a small part of me knew it wasn’t entirely true.
As I smiled down at the screen, the weight of the truth pressed against the wall of denial I had built. I was in danger of losing the battle against my feelings for Ella. Maybe I was wrong to believe that I could manage it–that I was stronger than these emotions.
Chapter 0156.
But deep down, I knew better.
I was in too deep now to even consider cutting things off.
