hapter 0225
Chapter 0225
She sighed, her expression gentle yet firm. “I could tell you it’s not that serious, but I understand how you feel. It does seem like it’s just one thing after another.” She held out a steaming mug. “Here, have some tea. It’ll help settle your nerves.”
“Thank you,” I said, accepting the mug. The warmth seeped into my hands as I took a small sip. The tea burned my lips slightly, but its familiar taste was comforting.
“Ella,” my mother said, her voice steady and reassuring, “everything is going to be okay.”
“I want to believe that,” I admitted with a heavy sigh, staring into the mug. “But things feel so complicated right now.”
She straightened, her tone turning stern yet encouraging.’m your mother. I know you better than anyone, and I know you’re perfectly capable of handling whatever hardship comes your way. You’ve proven that, especially these past few months.”
Her words hung in the air as she reached over to rest a hand on mine. “You mustn’t lose hope. As long as you can hold on to your optimism, I know you’ll find your way through this.”
I smiled at her words, but my heart remained heavy with doubt. I knew so much more about what these people were capable of–things my mother couldn’t begin to imagine. If she only knew the truth, perhaps she wouldn’t be so optimistic.
“I see that look on your face,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “I wish I understood what it meant. It seems to me that you’ve become a completely different girl in just a few short months. Ever since the day you got engaged to David, you’ve been… different. I don’t know why, and I know you won’t tell me.”
“Mom…” I started, guilt tightening in my chest.
“It’s okay,” she said, cutting me off with a tight, understanding smile. “If you were going to tell me, you would’ve done so by now. I won’t press or ask questions that put you in a difficult position. I just want you to know that I’m aware–something is going on with you. And whatever it is, you have the full support of your father and me. Whatever you need, we’ll be here.”
“I know,” I said softly, forcing a small smile in return. “I’m very lucky to have parents like you.”
“Just as we’re lucky to have you as a daughter,” she replied her voice thick with emotion. She wrapped an arm around me in a tight, reassuring hug, careful not to jostle me or spill the tea.
Then, clearing her throat to mask the weight of her feelings, she added, “Now, you must try to get at least a few hours of sleep. You’ll need your energy–and your wits about you–for tonight.”
“Of course,” I said, taking another sip of the tea and hoping its warmth might somehow soothe my racing mind.
She stood and walked to the door, but as she reached the frame, she paused. Turning back to me with a questioning look, she said, “Ella, darling, one day, I hope you’ll tell me what’s happened to you–what it is that’s changed my daughter so much in such a short time.”
“Maybe one day,” I replied softly, knowing full well that day might never come. How could I explain what had truly happened to me without sounding like I’d lost my mind?
My mother gave me one last, lingering look, then turned and left, the door clicking shut softly behind her.
I stared into the steaming mug of tea, my thoughts spiraling as I tried to make sense of everything. Threats seemed to lurk in every corner–threats whose origins and motivations I couldn’t fully grasp. There had to be a purpose behind the traitor’s actions, something more than just bribery or money.
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Chapter 0225
David. Somehow, he had managed to convince her to betray the pack. That wasn’t something done lightly–not for a mere payday.
If only I could find the link connecting it all. If I could uncover the thread tying these pieces together, perhaps I could bring this chaos to an end in one swift move. It had to be possible.
But I just didn’t know where to start.
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Chapter 0226
