Alpha’s Regret Pregnant Rejected Luna

Chapter 78

Bella could feel her irritation rise as she continued listening to the man..

“Listen…” he was about to continue when, at that very moment, the door swung open and Ethan stood there. Bella ripped the phone from her ear immediately, her head snapping to the open door where Ethan stood, a questioning look etched on his face.

He stepped into the room, and Bella stood, attempting to appear composed, the phone clutched tightly in her hands.

“You’re home early,” she stated almost breathlessly, her words carrying a hint of surprise attempting to deflect any suspicion that might arise from the abrupt end to her secretive conversation.

“Yes,” he replied, his eyes searching her features with a discerning intensity.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, his brows furrowing suspiciously, as if sensing a disturbance in the atmosphere.

“Huh?” she asked, looking up with wide, innocent eyes, a practiced guise of normalcy.

“No nothing,” she denied immediately, attempting to deflect any scrutiny.

You sure? You sounded like you were having an issue.” he queried, his gaze briefly flickering towards her phone, catching the subtle unease in her demeanor as her grip around it tightened even more.

“It’s nothing, just one of the artists. He’s demanding to be paid more for the exhibition where we’re displaying his paintings,” she explained,her attempt at casualness at odds with the tight grip on the phone, casting shadows of secrecy in the room.

Ethan’s features relaxed as he processed her explanation.

“You should arrive at a decision before starting; that’s not legal. Do you need my help? Need me to step in?” he offered, displaying a genuine concern for her predicament.

“It sounds serious,” he observed, his attention fully on her.

replied immediately, her denial

name of this artist?” Ethan probed, seeking more information to assess the

it myself. It’s nothing,” she laughed anxiously, attempting to downplay the severity of the issue. Ethan, however, continued to stare at her, a lingering

in his gaze.

serious, really,” she assured, maintaining her stance, knowing she had to sound. convincing to dissuade Ethan from delving further into the

nothing I can’t handle. I’ll take care of this myself,” she insisted, her words laced with determination as

heavy with unspoken tension, as he studied her for what felt like

unanswered questions. With that, he turned and

shutting the door he had left ajar. The click of

shadows of her clandestine dealings. “Oh, was that Mr. Wild?” Gabriel sneered through the phone, his malicious

sound like a dutiful husband, too bad.” he added, his words dripping with sarcasm. “Stop it, Bella said, her patience waning as she struggled to endure his

you lie? I thought you said you were done?” he sneered, reveling in the apparent contradiction

just told him, he continued, breaking into laughter that

she yelled angrily, the frustration evident in her voice as she

taunts.

finding amusement in her

done with all the lies and tired of our little transactions and wanted to come clean,” he chuckled more then broke into full laughter. Suddenly, he stopped laughing, his

cutting through the remnants

now. I can’t use my regular accounts; I’ll use the company’s own, so it doesn’t arouse suspicion. But it has to be tomorrow,” she

that,” he ordered, his words carrying an uncompromising weight. With that, he abruptly hung up, leaving Bella to deal with the thoughts of how to have the amount wired to his account. She

seventy? You said fifty before!” she thundered the moment

it to you today, with an interest, of course, twenty

are you spouting?” she asked, struggling to comprehend

works. I need the money you owe me, so what else do I do? I borrow. So now you’ve got to pay me with interest,” he

to argue. With a frustrated sigh, she hung up the phone, tossing it away as if trying to distance herself from the infuriating