Ella POV “What happened? Why did I hear a scream?” Diana asked as she knocked on the door. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. My heart pounded harder, and for a moment, I was completely frozen. Alexander, however, didn’t seem fazed. Straightening up, he turned toward the door, h
“I don’t know what you mean,” I replied, but the knowing look he gave me made it clear he saw through my denial. “Go ahead and ask your questions,” he said, his tone calm. “There’s no reason to be hesitant with me. You want to know about my relationship with my mother.” I hesitated, unsure if I
Alexander POV Ella lay quiet and still beside me, her breathing steady but her body tense. Despite her insistence that this arrangement was fine, I knew she was uncomfortable. I couldn’t blame her—this situation was awkward, to say the least. As I lay there, the memory of that night crept into m
Listening for the sound of his footsteps returning. Hoping to feel the mattress shift under his weight again. But the room remained quiet, and he never came back. I drifted in and out of the awkward space between sleep and wakefulness, only opening my eyes when I heard birds chirping outside t
Third Person POV Diana stared at Ella in disbelief. Diana had never expected such confidence from such a young girl. Most of what she had heard about Ella Rowan was from a few months ago. It all led her to believe she was timid, innocent, and too nervous to stand her ground. But seeing her now
“Let me know about that dress shopping trip,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to meeting your mother.” “I’ll speak to her when I get home and let you know the details,” I replied, though the idea of spending the afternoon with Diana and my mother seemed far less appealing now. Still, I was d
Ella POV Even before I fully processed what I was seeing, an uneasy feeling settled in my chest. Beside me, Alexander stood silent, either gauging my reaction or caught in disbelief himself. The ground was ruined. Deep furrows crisscrossed the earth in jagged, uneven lines of soil and stone. Mix
“That’s a good idea,” I said, switching my phone to record mode. We walked silently across the uneven ground, the crunch of our footsteps breaking the stillness. The damage stretched as far as I could see—deep furrows scarring the earth, the soil peppered with white grains of salt. There wasn’t a
"I suppose that’s true," I admitted. "But it’s exactly because of our contract that I felt the need to find some way to show my appreciation. You’ve done far more for me than I’ve done for you." "I’m not so sure about that," Alexander said, pouring the wine and handing me a glass. His eyes met min
Ella POV “Ready?” I asked. “Always,” Alexander replied with a confident smile. We stepped out of the car, and before we’d even closed the door, the flash of cameras erupted like a lightning storm. I hadn’t expected such a large crowd of reporters at this event, though I’d prepared for the poss
“So, are you going to tell me now what this big plan of yours is?” he asked. “Not yet,” I replied, smiling at the flicker of frustration on his face. “It’s a surprise. You’ll find out when we get there.” Alexander sighed dramatically, feigning defeat, and offered me his hand. “Well, we should ge
Ella POV My first week as Alexander's wife was... interesting. The media buzzed endlessly about our wedding, and speculation about what Alexander would do next was constant. Pregnancy rumors had already begun to circulate, which I couldn’t help but laugh at. Living with Alexander turned out to b
“Of course,” Alexander said smoothly. “I believe there were some forms that required Ella’s signature?” “Yes, of course,” Dr. Bowman replied. He walked over to the nurse’s desk, opened a drawer, and retrieved a stack of papers. Grabbing a clipboard and pen, he brought them over to me. “You just
Ella POV “What do you think the announcement is going to be?” I asked after we were safely in the car, heading back toward the capital. “I suspect it had something to do with Elizabeth. She and Damien Rose seemed quite close, and the way they danced together all night certainly had people talkin
It only took a few minutes for both of us to get ready. As we stood by the door, Alexander glanced at me, his expression curious. “Are you okay?” he asked, studying me. “I’m fine,” I replied, a little too quickly. His brow arched slightly. “Are you sure? You seem… disturbed.” “I…” I hesitate
Ella POV "Wake up, lovebirds! It's nearly noon!" The sound of Christopher Slater's voice shattered the comfortable silence. I jolted awake, but I didn’t get far—wrapped securely in a warm, firm embrace. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I found Alexander’s face less than an inch from my own, his
Ella POV Alexander carried me up the stairs and into our room, only setting me back on my feet after crossing the threshold. By then, I was breathless with laughter, my heart pounding in my chest from both exhilaration and the effects of the champagne. He closed the door behind us, turning back