Chapter 0228

Ella POV

Alexander’s kiss was unlike any we had shared before. There was a heat, a sense of urgency in the way he held me, pulling me impossibly close against him as if letting go wasn’t an option.

Somewhere near the door, I vaguely registered Michael’s startled voice, an exclamation of surprise followed by a hurried, muttered apology. A moment later, the door clicked shut again as he fled, clearly embarrassed by what he had walked in on.

It was the soft pressure of my own hands against Alexander’s chest that finally brought the kiss to an end. Despite the part of me that didn’t want to stop, I gently pushed him back, my breath hitching as I tried to steady myself.

“That was a convincing distraction,” I said, my voice breathless but tinged with a touch of disbelief. There was no way that kiss could be acting.

The look in his eyes seemed to confirm it. His bright gaze, usually so sharp and controlled, was stormy, conflicted.

It sent a shiver down my spine, not with fear, but with the realization that something deeper was at play. Was that kiss an attempt to distract me as well as Michael?

I couldn’t forget the conversation we had been having. It felt like we were finally going to discuss the secrets between us, but then the door opened…

I wanted to press him, to get to the bottom of whatever he was hiding, but that flicker of vulnerability in his expression made me hesitate.

nodded at my words, his lips still slightly parted, but he didn’t

right?” I asked, keeping my voice low so it wouldn’t carry beyond the

seemed to jolt Alexander from his stupor. His usual charming smile spread across his face, though it didn’t quite reach his

the facade, but his

to the party,” he added. “We’ve

my clothes to buy

easy, as if nothing had happened. “No one will

up my cheeks, and I turned to look at

replied with a casual shrug, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Are we only sticking to the contract? Is there nothing more

placed his arm around me and guided me

he opened the door, he leaned in close, his voice so soft it was almost a breath. “We may need

would turn to us

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Chapter 0228

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