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

the name of this artist?” Ethan probed, seeking

attempting to downplay the severity of the issue. Ethan, however, continued to stare at her, a lingering doubt apparent

in his gaze.

knowing she had to sound. convincing to dissuade Ethan

of this myself,” she insisted, her words laced with determination as she tried to redirect Ethan’s attention away

heavy with unspoken tension, as

that, he turned and headed

walked across the room, shutting the door he had left

a lingering thread connecting her to the shadows of her clandestine dealings. “Oh, was that Mr.

bad.” he added, his words dripping with sarcasm. “Stop it, Bella said, her patience

you were done?”

he continued, breaking into laughter that echoed

in her voice as she

taunts.

seemingly finding amusement in

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

his demand cutting through the remnants of

accounts; I’ll use the company’s own, so it doesn’t arouse suspicion. But it

to deal with the thoughts of how to have the amount wired to his account. She flung her phone away in frustration, releasing

moment he picked up, her irritation evident in

of course, twenty thousand,” he stated gleefully, his tone indicating a twisted satisfaction at the complications

she asked, struggling to

works. I need the money you owe me, so what else do I do? I borrow. So now you’ve got

a frustrated sigh, she hung up the phone, tossing