Chapter 0226
Ella POV
At some point, I managed to fall asleep, though far too late. When my mother knocked on the door to wake me for the rehearsal dinner, I was beyond exhausted. It took several attempts for me to stir, let alone keep my eyes open long enough to respond.
Somehow, I forced myself out of bed and spent a little time getting dressed and doing my makeup. The result was passable–not glamorous, but at least I didn’t look like a zombie.
By the time I made my way downstairs, Alexander had alreally arrived. I paused at the end of the hallway, unnoticed for the moment, and took the opportunity to observe the way my parents interacted with him in my absence.
My mother, whose initial reservations about Alexander had been so evident, now smiled warmly and genuinely as they spoke. It wasn’t the polite smile she gave out of obligation; it was sincere, the kind that made the corners of her eyes crinkle.
Alexander, to my relief, returned her expression with equal sincerity, his charm understated but natural.
Seeing them like this lifted a weight from my chest. My parents‘ concerns about my relationship with Alexander seemed to have melted away.
After everything that had happened with David, I’d feared that their trust in my judgment had been irreparably damaged. But now, it seemed, they were beginning to see Alexander as I did–someone who was not only trustworthy but who cared for me deeply.
“Did you sleep well?” Alexander asked suddenly, his voice drawing me out of my thoughts.
I laughed, realizing I’d been caught spying. “I don’t know about well,” I said, smiling sheepishly, “but I did sleep, so that’s something.”
“Well, you’re just in time,” Alexander said as he walked over to greet me with a kiss on the cheek. “The guests have already begun to arrive and are enjoying hors d’oeuvres. It’s high time we start making our introductions.”
I winced. “I didn’t realize I’d overslept so much. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Alexander said with an easy smile. It was no trouble to delay a little while.”
“I appreciate it,” I murmured, glancing at my parents. They exchanged a quick, knowing look before slipping out of the room without a word, leaving Alexander and me alone.
The moment they were gone, Alexander’s smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. His eyes searched mine, his voice quieter now. “How are you really doing?”
“Fine…” I hesitated, but he pressed gently.
“I know you’re worried–it’s completely understandable but on the phone this morning, there was something in your voice… I’ll admit, I’ve been concerned about you all day.”
His words made my chest flutter unexpectedly, though I tried to push the feeling aside.
“I’m sorry to have worried you,” I said softly. “I just can’t stop thinking about all of this. There’s a connection I can’t figure out something that goes beyond David and his bizarre quest for revenge.”
“I’ve had the same thought,” Alexander admitted, frowning slightly. “Though I can’t imagine what the
connection could be.”
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Chapter 1226
“No matter what resources we put toward finding answers, we keep coming up empty,” I said, frustration leaking into my voice. “From the very first kidnapping–1 know the answer is there. It’s right in front of us, and yet I can’t make sense of it.”
At the mention of the kidnapping, Alexander’s expression shifted, and his jaw tightened slightly.
“You never did get to the bottom of who arranged that kidnapping, did you?” Alexander asked softly, his tone gentle but steady.
“No,” I admitted, the familiar weight of uncertainty pressing on me. “It’s still a complete mystery–just like the person who saved us that day.” I hesitated, the memory prickling at the edges of my mind. “I do wish I knew…” My voice faltered as I was swept back into the past. The memory was sharp and vivid, a wound that hadn’t faded. The room had been stifling, the air thick with tension. The blade’s sharp press was still etched in my mind, but it was the voice that lingered most.
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