NovelOnline+15 BONUS
“And what's more,” | went on, “I got pregnant with your child, Alexander! Take one look atand tellthat
this-“1 gestured to my swollen belly- “was just a ploy!”
Alexander stared atfor several moments as if searching for a lie in my words. | held my ground, lifting my
chin defiantly.
No. I would not let my father’s alleged actions reflect on me.
| was tired of living in that man’s shadow.
“I didn’t know,” I finally said, my words quivering slightly as sof the anger deflated from my body and was
replaced with sorrow. Sorrow that my own father would uselike that. “Alexander, | swear to you, | had no idea
about any of this.”
“I want to believe you.”
“Then believe me.”
Alexander's lips parted. | half expected Gabriel to cout of the shadows now, just like he always did, although
with silver handcuffs this tinstead of cruel words. But he didn’t.
Finally, Alexander let out a sigh that made his shoulders sag. “I'm trying. It's not easy when you've spent five
years wondering-"
“Then you should have talked to me,” | cut him off. “Years ago, when this all started. You should have told
“Would you have believedthen if | told you what your father had done?”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt| thought about that for a moment. If Alexander had ctofive years ago and accused my father of
murder, would | have listened? Or would | have thought he was trying to manipulate me?
Honestly, | probably would have run straight to my father and told him everything. Because | had spent so long
wanting to be the perfect daughter that | had no sense of self anymore.
But | wasn’t that sperson. | may have survived my illness, but that version of Ella was dead and gone.
“Maybe not,” | admitted. “But you still should have tried.”
“You're right. | should have.”
We stood there in silence for a moment. The sounds of the reception drifted across the street-laughter and music
and clinking glasses. | looked down at my hands. At the wedding ring that had never felt real before, but had
started to lately. “I want to help.”
“Help with what?”
1/3
Chapter 204
+15 BONUS
“Whatever you're planning to do to my father. | want to help.”
Alexander stared at me. “You want to turn against your own family?”
“They're not my family. Not anymore.” | pressed my hand to my belly, where our baby was growing. “You are.
This baby is. That's my family now.”
“Ella...”
“I only have one condition.”
“What?”
“My mother’s belongings. My father keeps them locked in a trunk in his study. When you... when you deal with
him, | want that trunk. It's the only thing | have left of her.”
Alexander nodded slowly. “Done.”
“And the house. | know you're probably going to take the estate, but... | grew up there. It’s the only hI've
ever known.”
“I won't destroy it.”
The relief that washed throughwas so strong that my knees almost buckled out from beneath me.” Thank
you.”
There was another long silence. | wasn’t sure what cnext, and it seemed Alexander wasn't, either. Did he
even trustnow? Or would | have to earn his trust?
Right now... Despite the pain of finding out that he had spent five years spying on me... | wanted to earn it. For
our baby.
To my surprise, Alexander held out his hand to me. “Will you cback to the reception withnow?”
| looked at his outstretched hand. At the golden ring gleaming on his finger. At the man who'd just becAlpha
King and who'd chosen to leave his own celebration to findtwice in one day.
The future felt awfully uncertain, but right now, it felt like he was choosing to walk into the unknown with me.
Even if we didn’t fully trust each other, that had to mean something, right? | just had to take his hand and take
that leap of faith with him.
So | did.
2/3
word
word
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
word
word
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1
mmMwWLIiI0fiflO&1
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
