StartNovelChapter 0226 Ella POV At spoint, I managed to fall asleep, though far too late. When my mother knocked on the door to wakefor the rehearsal dinner, I was beyond exhausted. It took several attempts forto stir, let alone keep my eyes open long enough to respond.
Somehow, I forced myself out of bed and spent a little tgetting dressed and doing my makeup. The result was passable-not glamorous, but at least I didn't look like a zombie.
By the tI 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.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtMy 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 fordeeply.
"Did you sleep well?" Alexander asked suddenly, his voice drawingout 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 greetwith a kiss on the cheek. “The guests have already begun to arrive and are enjoying hors d'oeuvres. It's high twe 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 andalone.
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.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"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 sthought," Alexander admitted, frowning slightly. "Though I can't imagine what the connection could be." 1/2 +25 BONUS Chapter 1226
"No matter what resources we put toward finding answers, we keep coming up empty," said, frustration leaking tomy 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."J 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. Today's Bonus Offer mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1
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