Chapter 0299
Ella POV
I clasped my hands between my knees as I sat on the couch looking at A
probably very stupid, but I had made up my mind to do it.
What I was about to do was
Alexander looked at me expectantly. I had his full attention so there was no reason to hesitate any further.
“I don’t know why I was given a second chance,” I said, keeping my eyes fixed on Alexander’s despite the urge to look away. I feared how he would react–1 latew how insand I sounded–but he wasn’t looking at me like I was crazy. He was curious, more than anything.
“I lived this life once before,” I continued, “and things went exactly as I described. I married David. His schemes worked. He became king and took over, and I stood naively at his side, completely unaware of what was really happening. I had no idea that he was just a pawn being used by someone else. I should have known. It seems so obvious now, but I was blinded by my love for him. I wanted more than anything to make him happy, to prove myself a worthy queen–especially since I didn’t have my wolf. He had stayed by my side anyway, and I thought that meant something.”
Admitting that was embarrassing for me, especially since was saying it to Alexander. His jaw tensed, but that was the only reaction that he showed. It seemed he was doing his best to hear me out to the end, just as I had asked.
I swallowed hard, my throat tightening at the memories. “After my father died of a sudden respiratory illness, my mother was never the same. She became quiet, withdrawn a shadow of herself. And so, the only people I had left in the world were David and Amanda.”
A bitter laugh escaped me. “I had no idea about their affair Another example of how naïve and stupid I was. Now, looking back, it’s so obvious. Maybe I didn’t see it because I didn’t want to. I had nothing besides them. If I had tried to leave, there would have been nowhere for me to go Besides, I was constantly working. The kingdom was on my shoulders because David was always busy with other work–secret work.” I exhaled sharply. “I guess now I know that, without realizing it, I was actually thwarting his plans, even then. Maybe that’s why he wanted to get rid of me in the end. I don’t know.”
I forced myself to meet Alexander’s gaze, my heart pounding. “All I know is that that life was real. It wasn’t an elaborate dream. I remember the feeling of it all–the days, the years. It was real. I know that it was.”
Alexander stood suddenly and walked to the kitchen. My heart fell. He really thought I was crazy, I thought.
He went into the kitchen and pulled a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from the cupboard.
“I’m still listening,” he said over his shoulder. “I just think we might both need something for our nerves.”
I stared at him for a long moment. He wasn’t dismissing me then? He wanted me to continue….
Do you want mixer?” he asked as a few i
“Cola,” I answered weakly.
cubes clinked into the glass.
After a few moments, Alexander returned to the couch, carrying a cocktail for each of us along with some tissues. He offered me one, and that’s when I realized there were tears on my face–I hadn’t even known I was crying.
I had to smile, recognizing that he had only interrupted to give me a chance to calm myself.
“I’m listening,” Alexander said as I wiped my face.
I took a sip of the cocktail, wincing as it burned on the way down, then continued speaking
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0299
“When my second chance began, I was completely disoriend. It’s not as though anyone told me what was happening. I just closed my eyes in the original timeline, and when I opened them again, It was the day David proposed. It was like none of it had ever happened… yet it lid. I knew it had. I could still feel the pain.”
I took a deep breath. “I knew I couldn’t just back out of the engagement. That would be too suspicious, and it would put my family in a difficult position. Besides, it would leave David in a position of influence. I had to make sure he never became king. At first, I didn’t know what to do. I was too scared to tell my parents what was happening they would think I was insane. So I had to come up with a plan. That’s when I thought of you.” I looked into Alexander’s eyes.
“In the original timeline, you were the only real competition David had when he ran for king. And it was close. You were well–liked, influential, powerful. I thought if I could be of use to you, then maybe you would help me. I could use what I knew from the original timeline to change things–to save people. I knew I had to try.”
“So that’s why you came to me that day,” Alexander said thoughtfully. “I could tell there was some urgency to you. At the time, I thought you were just angry after discovering the affair.”
I smiled wryly. “If it were as simple as that, I would have broken up with him and eaten a pint of ice cream,” I joked. “No, this was much more dire.”
“I see that now,”
exander said. “So you came to me in the hopes that we could stop David together. But why tell me what was actually going on before now?
didn’t you
“How could I?” I asked. “There’s no way you would have believed me. I’m not even sure you believe me now. This is a huge risk I’m taking by telling you these things. You know that, sight? I have no way of knowing how you’ll react or what you’ll do as a consequence of me saying all of this. I’m putting my trust in you.”
Alexander took a slow s uncomfortable.
of his whiskey, silent for a long moment. I could tell my words were making him
“I had the idea to propose a fake relationship,” I explained. “One of the things that held you back in the election in the original timeline was the fact that you were single. Eventually, you and Fiona got married, but by that point, it was too late.”
“Is that why you were so jealous of her?” Alexander asked, sounding surprised.
“I wasn’t jealous.”
“You were,” he said, smirking slightly. “You were very obviously jealous. I suppose, given the context, it makes sense, though. If I did marry Fiona, it would have been a political arrangement, nothing more.”
“I know that now,” I admitted. “You were trying to overcome your political weaknesses, and Fiona was a good friend who agreed to help you.”
“So I lost the election the first time around,” Alexander said, his expression darkening. “That’s frustrating–to know there’s any universe where I could lose to David Lake How did it happen?”
It was a question I should have expected, but I hadn’t. I hesitated, unsure how to tell him. He was taking this all surprisingly well, and I didn’t want to push him too far.
I looked down into the dark liquid in my glass and sighed.
There was no point in holding back now, I had come this far
I would have to tell him everything.
