The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Alexander & Ella

Alexander

This was Ella’s doing. Liam had said so himself.

She had told Liam everything, just to spite me, and now he was going to inform the press of our contract, potentially ruining my election before it had even begun.

I needed to speak with her.

I found Ella lounging in the solarium at the back of the house, a cup of tea balanced between her fingers and a book sitting open in her lap. She was smiling-smiling-as if she hadn’t just betrayed me in the worst way possible.

“Why did you tell him?” I barked. “He’s going to the press now. Are you happy?”

Ella jumped, tea sloshing out of her cup and onto her book. “What?” she breathed, carefully setting aside the soaked book and standing to dust off her dress.

“Don’t play stupid with me, Ella,” I growled, jabbing my finger toward her. “You told Liam about the contract, and for what? To hasten the end of our marriage? Do you really want a divorce so badly that you’d betray me like that, less than three days. after you just willingly signed a contract?”

Ella stared mutely, her gaze shifting between me and Gabriel, who was standing beside me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she finally said.

“Enough.” I turned, too angry to even look her in the face when she was lying right in front of me. “I can’t believe you, Ella. Until you have an apology prepared, I don’t want to hear it.”

And with that, I stormed out, Gabriel on my heels. The door slamming shut behind us sounded like a gunshot going off in the quiet house.

Ella

Alexander and Gabriel stormed off, the door slamming shut behind them. I just stared for a long moment, completely confused.

told Liam about the

hurried out of the solarium and upstairs, toward Liam’s room. The door was cracked open when I

packing his

greeting. “Alexander said I told you about

face me. When he saw me standing there, he dropped the shirt he

hands in his.

digging,” he said. “I heard Alexander forced you to sign

pulled my hands away. “That was private, Liam.

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Chapter 20

he said to

you heard, you should have come to me first. And now Alexander is saying you’re going to the press with the information when you didn’t

right mind,” he insisted. “If he has been playing mind games with you, making

that what you think of me?

mouth opened, then closed again. That was all

to sign that

me, but I took a

“Something has come over you, Liam, and I don’t like it. I don’t like this new side of you. What happened to the sweet boy who used to

“Controlling? Ella, I—”

have gone behind my back like that. He never would have been so dismissive of my wishes. This isn’t you, Liam. I don’t know what happened

long moment. His eyes flashed between hurt, guilt, and finally…

hung his head. “This isn’t me. I’m sorry, Ella. I just… I worry about you, that’s all. I look at you, and I see the pain in your eyes, and all I want to do is protect you. I blame myself for not being there to protect you

fade away. “I missed you, Liam. I really did. But I don’t need a protector-I just

When he looked up, his eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. The sight

won’t go to the press. Here. Take this.” He pulled out the all-too-familiar folder containing the contract and handed it to me, then extended his left pinky. “Tell Alexander he doesn’t need to worry. Your secret

with me.”

shaking hand, then wrapped my other pinky around his. “Thank you,” I

knock-just burst in, the same way he had

fucking meant it. If you think so little of me that you’d believe I would

Alexander looked back up at me. Remorse