<b>Chapter 21 </b>
E
The room fell silent as Alexander’s words washed over us.
It wasn’t Liam who had leaked the information. But if it wasn’t him, then who could it be? No one Alexander, Gabriel, and now Liam.
else should have known about the contract, just mysel
“Did you leave a copy of the contract
(sitting
out
on
your desk?” I asked. “Maybe a servant saw
it<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Alexander’s jaw clenched. “No, I’m permission, and I hold the only key.”
y careful with my personal information. No one from the household staff is allowed in this room without <b>explicit </b>
Suddenly, Liam straightened. “I might know who was involved.”
All eyes turned to him. Liam’s gaze shifted ufortably between Alexander and me before he finally sighed.
“The night of the bonfire… I went for a walk in the forest to clear my head. Sophia followed me.”
Alexander’s shoulders stiffened at the mention of Sophia’s name.
“She approached me and suggested we work together to break up your marriage,” Liam went on. “She knew about the contract. It was Sophia who <b>gave </b>me the idea to confront you about it.”
My blood ran cold. Sophia knew? How long had she known? I thought back to all the times she had looked down on me and treated me like a servant in my own home. It was no wonder when all the while, she’d known my marriage was nothing but a business arrangement.
“You told her?” I breathed, turning toward Alexander.
But he shook his head vehemently. “No. Never.”
I folded my arms. “Then she must have broken into your office. How else would she know that information?”
Alexander’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “She would never do something like that.”
Gabriel cleared his throat. “You do frequently have tea in your office with Lady Sophia,” he said quietly. “It’s possible you left something out and she saw it.”
Alexander didn’t answer that. I shook my head and looked away. Of course it would be Sophia. Of course she would be the one to reveal everything. She had never been happy about my marriage to Alexander.
“And I think she’s behind more than just the leak,” Liam added quietly. “The rogue attack at the bonfire didn’t seem to be a coincidence. The rogue seemed to hone in on E’s scent right away.”
“She’s always hated me,” I muttered. “Always wanted me gone. Maybe she even lured that rogue-<b>” </b>
“Now hold on,” Alexander interjected, raising a hand, “We can’t just assume Sophia is behind all of this without evidence. This is a serious usation.”
I couldn’t help but scoff. Even now, after everything, he was still defending her.
“She pushed me out of a hayloft,” I reminded him. “Or have you conveniently forgotten that already?”
“We still don’t know for certain-”
“She did it!” I insisted, mming my hands onto his desk. Liam and Gabriel both flinched, but I kept my gaze fixed on <b>Alexander</b><b>, </b><b>whose </b><b>expression </b><b>was </b>unreadable. “And she probably sent that rogue after me at the bonfire! She’s trying to get rid of me, Alexander. Whether she kills <b>me </b>or breaks <b>up </b><b>our </b>marriage, it doesn’t matter. She just wants me out of the picture.”
0023 Tue
<b>Chapter </b><b>21 </b>
<b>“</b><b>E</b>, <b>we </b><b>should </b>talk to her before we assume anything bad.” Alexandel said calmly<b>, </b><b>coolly, </b>as if we were discussing <b>nothin</b><b>, </b>imen. This <b>unlikely </b>that she would <b>do </b>something like this. She’s not malicious. I’ll look into it myself<b>.</b>”
Liam and I exchanged a look. Of course Alexander was standing <b>up </b>for Sophia… again. After five years, nothing had <b>changed</b>. She <b>would </b>always to first in his eyes, <b>no </b>matter what she did.
“With all due respect,” Liam bit out, “she’s not as innocent as you think.”
Alexander’s eyes shed. “You’ve known her for all of two days.”
“And I’ve seen enough to have made an informed decision,” Liam retorted.
“Let’s not forget that you were allegedly willing to work with her up until five minutes ago.”
The air between the two Alphas seemed to crackle like the moment before lightning strikes. Clearly, neither was willing to back down.
Before things could escte, Gabriel stepped between them, “Alphas, if I may,” he said, “this spection isn’t helping us right now. The media is only going to get worse the longer we wait, and there’s no time to investigate. We need to address this immediately.”
Alexander took a deep breath,posing himself. “You’re right,” he agreed, running a hand through his hair and causing a few red locks to stand <b>up </b><b>on </b>end. “We need to get ahead of this story.”
47
“I suggest holding a press conference,” Gabriel said. “You should make a statement before the rumors get out of hand. Be forthright about the arrangement–but frame it properly so it doesn’t continue to backfire.”
Alexander nodded. “A press conference. Yes, that could work.” He nced at me. “Of course, you’ll need to be there, too.”
I nched, feeling the warmth suddenly drain from my face. “Me? At <b>a </b>press conference?”
“Yes, you,” he replied curtly, already picking up his phone. “This involves both of us. The public will want to see us together.”
“But I’ve never done anything like that before,” I protested weakly. “I wouldn’t know what to say or how to act. I’d just make things worse<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“You’ll be fine. Just follow my lead and smile.”
Alexander and Gabriel left to make the arrangements before I could protest.
“Smile and follow his lead,” I whispered, sinking down into a nearby chair. “As if it’s that simple.”
A few hourster, I found myself standing in the foyer of the house<b>, </b>the pack PR stylist carefully primping my curled hair. They had chosen a no–nonsense look for me that was also attractive and feminine enough to feel approachable: a crisp white button–down tucked into a pencil skirt, low pumps, <b>a </b>sleek yet bouncy updo with curls framing my face, and a pearl ne around my throat.
It felt more like a costume than anything. And the pearls felt like they were choking me.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered to Liam as the stylist hurried away to tend to Alexander, who was standing on the other side of the room surrounded by a small entourage of PR staff and, of course, Gabriel. He looked prepared for this. He looked unfazed.
I thought I was going to throw up.
Liam reached out to ce a hand on my arm, but seemed to think better of it and quickly pulled away.
“You’ll be fine. You spoke to the Board so well before–you’re a good public speaker.”
My throat bobbed. “In front of small groups, yes. But I’ve never done a press conference before.” Even now, I could hear the sound of reporters <b>and </b>journalists gathering outside. The conference hadn’t even begun yet and I could see the cameras shing <b>through </b><b>the </b>curtains.
Liam tilted his head. “Never? But you’re a Luna. Surely you and Alexander have done <b>one </b>or two.”
Chapter <b>21 </b>
<b>“</b><b>I’ve </b><b>stood </b>beside him during <b>press </b>conferences.” Back when I was the perfect<b>, </b>obedient little Luna<b>, </b><b>I </b><b>wanted </b><b>to </b><b>add</b>, but I aldark–hacap kal <b>anything</b>. And there was never this much scrutiny.
<b>Liam </b>paused for a moment, considering. I shot another nce at Alexander, who was now whispering to Gabriel in the dining mom doonaan
I hated how stupidly handsome he looked in his sleek navy blue suit with his hair perfectly swept to one side, like some kind of male fashion <i>magazine </i>
model.
But what hurt even more was that he hadn’t even looked in my direction since our discussion earlier, and I knew I would get no help from him now
Suddenly, Liam suggested, “I can help you prepare.”
I turned back to him. “How? The conference is starting in ten minutes and I have no idea what to do.”
He smiled faintly, but it was more of a grimace than anything. “You said you wanted to know what went on at the camp I attended–so let me <b>show </b><b>you </b>some of the tricks I learned there.”
AD
Comment
Send gift
No <b><i>Ads </i></b>
00:23 10-15 A00 – 0
<b>Chapter </b><b>22 </b>
<b>Chapter </b>21
<b>Chapter </b><b>21 </b>
<b>E </b>
The room fell silent as Alexander’s words washed over us.
It wasn’t Liam who had leaked the information. But if it wasn’t him, then who could it be? No one Alexander, Gabriel, and now Liam.
else should have known about the contract; just myself,
“Did you leave a copy of the contract sitting out on your desk?” I asked. “Maybe a servant saw it?”
Alexander’s jaw clenched. “No. I’m very careful with my personal information. No one from the household staff is allowed in this room without explicit permission, and I hold the only key.”
Suddenly, Liam straightened. “I might know who was involved.”
All eyes turned to him. Liam’s gaze shifted ufortably between Alexander and me before he finally sighed.
“The night of the bonfire… I went for a walk in the forest to clear my head. Sophia followed me.”
Alexander’s shoulders stiffened at the mention of Sophia’s name.
“She approached me and suggested we work together to break up your marriage,” Liam went on. “She knew about the contract. It was Sophia who gave me the idea to confront you about it.”
My blood ran cold. Sophia knew? How long had she known? I thought back to all the times she had looked down on me and treated me like a servant in my own home. It was no wonder when all the while, she’d known my marriage was nothing but a business arrangement.
“You told her?” I breathed, turning toward Alexander.
But he shook his head vehemently. “No. Never.”
I folded my arms. “Then she must have broken into your office. How else would she know that information?”
Alexander’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “She would never do something like that.”
Gabriel cleared his throat. “You do frequently have tea in your office with Lady Sophia,” he said quietly. “It’s possible you left something out and she saw
it.”
Alexander didn’t answer that. I shook my head and looked away. Of course it would be Sophia. Of course she would be the one to reveal everything. She had never been happy about my marriage to Alexander.
“And I think she’s behind more than just the leak,” Liam added quietly. “The rogue attack at the bonfire didn’t seem to be a coincidence. The rogue
seemed to hone in on E’s scent right away.”
“She’s always hated me,” I muttered. “Always wanted me gone. Maybe she even lured that rogue-”
“Now hold on,” Alexander interjected, raising a hand, “We can’t just assume Sophia is behind all of this without evidence. This is a serious usation.”
I couldn’t help but scoff. Even now, after everything, he was still defending her.
“She pushed me out of a hayloft,” I reminded him. “Or have you conveniently forgotten that already?”
“We still don’t know for certain-”
“She did it!” I insisted, mming my hands onto his desk. Liam and Gabriel both flinched, but I kept my gaze fixed on Alexander, whose expression <b>was </b>unreadable. “And she probably sent that rogue after me at the bonfire! She’s trying to get rid of me, Alexander. Whether she kills me or <b>breaks </b><b>up </b><b>our </b>marriage, it doesn’t matter. She just wants me out of the picture.”
Chapter <b>20 </b>
<b>Suddenly</b><b>, </b>the <b>door burst </b>open <b>again</b><b>. </b><b>Liam</b>, breathless, ran into the room with his phone in his hand. I <b>couldn’t </b><b>quite </b>make out the <b>new </b>headline in <b>was </b><b>stered </b>across the screen<b>, </b>but I was certain it was about us.
Alexander’s face ckened, “Liam, you fucking-
<b>“</b><b>It </b>wasn’t me,” Liam insisted, holding his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t leak it. I swear to <i>you </i>that it wasn’t me.”
Alexander growled low in his chest and took a step toward Liam, but I put myself in his path. “He didn’t do it,” I said firmly, lifting my <b>chin</b>,
There was <b>a </b>long, tense silence as Alexander stared me down, but I held my ground. I knew Liam didn’t do this; he had made a pinky promise. And despite what had happened to my friend over the years, I knew one thing for certain.
“Best friends keep pinky promises<b>,</b>” a nine–year–old Liam had said all those years ago, wrapping his little finger around mine. “No matter what<b>.</b>”
Some things simply couldn’t change.
Finally, Alexander rxed somewhat.
“If it wasn’t you,” he said, looking at Liam now, “then who leaked the information?”
<b>A</b>