Ella POV The castle was even more incredible than I had imagined. Alexander and I arrived early Saturday morning, just as planned. Though it was only a twenty-minute drive from his office in the capital, it felt like we had been transported to another world. Surrounded by dense forest and perfec
“The dress will be a surprise,” I said, keeping my smile intact. “That’s the tradition, after all.” “Are you always so traditional?” he asked, his voice turning suggestive as he looked at me in a way that made my skin prickle. Alexander immediately stepped closer, sliding his arm around me prote
Ella POV The memory of Alexander's lips against mine lingered even the next morning as I stepped into the bridal boutique. I tried to push the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand as my mother and I entered the boutique where Diana was already waiting for us. This was a place I’d only eve
"Well, I want to try something a bit different this time," I said thoughtfully. "What can you show me in a princess cut?" The man’s eyes lit up. "Princess gowns? Excellent choice!" He turned to my mother and Diana, gesturing for them to follow him. "Ladies," he said with a flourish, "if you’ll com
Ella POV When I reached the end of the hallway, Diana came into view. She noticed me immediately, and a guilty look flickered across her face. “What are you gossiping about?” I asked, my tone sharp as I fixed her with a steady gaze. Diana straightened her posture and gave a tight smile. “Oh, n
I knew it wasn’t going to happen again. The kidnapping had most likely been Amanda’s doing, even though I’d never been able to prove it. This time, there was no betrayal lurking among us. My mother had arranged everything, and we were perfectly safe. But logic couldn’t stop the fear that gripped
Ella POV By the time we arrived at the restaurant, I felt almost sick with anxiety over the conversation I’d have to have with Alexander. I couldn’t even imagine one of my parents speaking about me with the level of suspicion that Diana showed toward Alexander. The thought alone was enough to le
It had been a situation I couldn’t easily escape, nothing more. My mother knew that, and so did Alexander, so Diana’s remark didn’t sting as she probably intended. Still, Alexander’s jaw tightened slightly as he turned back to me, and I gave him a reassuring smile. This was one battle I wasn’t abo
“Does that mean he’s announced David’s arrest, too?” I asked.“Yes,” Alexander said, irritation flashing across his face. It was obvious—once again, the king had made a major decision without giving us a heads-up.I turned to Diana, suspicion creeping into my expression. She had been advising the ki
Ella POVSomething about Diana was off.Every time I had interacted with her before, she had maintained a pretense of politeness, a faint affection, as if she at least wanted me to believe she liked me—that she had my best interests at heart.But now, as she looked at me, that facade was gone. She w
“Alexander,” Ella interrupted, her voice suddenly sharp, “You know him.”I froze, her grip on my arm anchoring me in place. The room seemed to close in as my mind raced.“Yes,” I said quietly, meeting her gaze. “I know him.”Ella POVMy mind was spinning, almost dizzy with the overwhelming thoughts.
Alexander POVThe office door burst open, and Ella rushed in, barreling straight into me and collapsing into my arms. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, still seated in my chair.“What the hell is going on?” I asked, my voice a mix of concern and confusion.August, who had been sitting across fro
Ella POVElizabeth and I sat across from each other at a small table in our favorite restaurant at the shopping center. An untouched appetizer sat between us, the ice in our drinks melting slowly.I didn’t want to push her. Whatever she had to tell me, she was clearly struggling with. But I also nee
She lowered her gaze. "I just don’t want my friend to get hurt," she admitted. "I'm trying to figure out who's targeting Ella so I can stop them."Dr. McIntyre scoffed. "By killing them?"Elizabeth met her eyes without flinching."If that's what it takes."There was a long silence as the two women s
Third Person POVElizabeth descended into the basement of her house, a heavy weight pressing against her chest. She had no idea what was going on with her father or why he was acting as he was, but she knew it was dangerous.He didn’t seem to understand how serious the situation was. Someone was sch
Eventually, out of desperation, she had called Diana. Her aunt had agreed to pay for housing on one condition: that she return to the South.Now, here she was, in the capital, feeling like a ghost in a place that no longer belonged to her. Every day, she lived in fear of running into Alexander.And
Ella POV“We could ask Sabrina.”"I can't," Alexander said, his voice barely audible."Okay," I replied easily.He was silent for a long moment before loosening his grip just enough to look at my face. "Okay?""Of course," I said. "I'm not going to pressure you to do something that's painful for you