Another Chance for the Luna Queen by Aurora Starling

Chapter 0268 Ella POV The test rest of the week was a whirlwind. News outlets hounded Alexander for comments about the king's rumored retirement, speculating wildly about his next move. Meanwhile, the hunt for Dr. McIntyre weighed heavily on my mind, especially since there seemed to be no progress.

Alexander's late nights persisted-perhaps not every night but close enough-and he refused to tellmuch. It seemed that nothing had progressed.

The only thing Alexander toldabout was the fact that he'd arranged a dinner with his mother and Michael. It was necessary, but I wasn't looking forward to it.

By the tSaturday night arrived, I was already worn thin from the week's stress. Our opera date loomed, and while I wasn't quite in the mood, Alexander had seemed genuinely excited. I didn't want to disappoint him, so I dutifully slipped into a floor-length red gown, carefully styled my hair, and applied my makeup.

I wanted to look my best, even if my heart wasn't entirely in it.

As I was fastening a necklace and deliberating over which earrings to wear, Alexander entered the bedroom. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, exuding effortless charm as usual.

"You look gorgeous," he said, approachingwith a warm smile.

I managed a weak smile in return. "Thank you." "You don't seem excited," he observed, his brow furrowing slightly.

I shrugged, unable to muster a convincing denial. Alexander glanced over my shoulder at the open jewelry box on the vanity. "Still deciding on earrings?" "I am," I admitted, staring down at the glittering options. Perhaps it was just my sour mood making it impossible to choose.

"Try these," he said.

I turned to him, confused, and noticed he was holding a small jewelry box tied with a delicate bow.

"A gift?" I asked, taking the box from him. "What's the occasion?" "No occasion," he replied smoothly. "I just thought they'd suit you." I opened the box, revealing a stunning pair of ruby rose earrings. They sparkled brilliantly, complementing my dress perfectly. Without hesitation, I fastened them in place and admired the effect in the mirror.

"Thank you," I said warmly, my tone sincere this time. "They're lovely." "So are you," Alexander replied, his voice soft and unwavering.

For the first tall week, I felt the tension in my chest ease just a little.

"The car is waiting for us, if you're ready," Alexander said as he picked my shawl up from the back of my chair. He wrapped it gently around my shoulders, his fingers brushing my skin. I fastened it with a simple gold pin, letting its warmth envelope me.

"I'm ready," I confirmed.

Alexander slipped his arm around me, and together we left the apartment, descending to the car waiting downstairs.

Chapter 0268 As the car pulled away, Alexander began talking animatedly about the opera. He explained that it was performed in a foreign language, so I wouldn't understand the lyrics, but assuredthe plot was straightforward. "If you have any questions, just ask me. I know this opera well. I can't translate every word, but I'll give you the broad strokes of what's happening." I was surprised-again-that this was something Alexander was genuinely passionate about. It didn't seem to fit the personality he projected.

When he first suggested the opera, I assumed it was one of those polished activities he'd grown accustomed to for business purposes. But his enthusiasm told a different story.

When we arrived at the opera house, my mood soured as I spotted reporters and photographers gathered near the entrance. Their cameras clicked away as glamorous couples walked inside. I rolled my eyes.

So this was it another publicity date.

It made sense, of course. With so much attention on Alexander lately, a night like this would work wonders for our public image as a couple. It was good for the election. Still, wished he had been upfront about the reason, rather than presenting this as an apology.

I swallowed my frustration and stepped out of the car with a practiced smile, holding my head high.

Alexander's arm remained securely aroundas we made our way toward the entrance. We paused every few steps to pose for photos, ignoring the barrage of shouted questions. Most of them were directed at Alexander, and nearly all of them revolved around the stopic: "Are you running for king?" I kept the smile on my face and my bright attitude as we entered the building, greeting a few other Alphas, Lunas, and high-profile individuals on our way upstairs. But with every familiar face we encountered, a bitter edge crept into my thoughts.

This was good publicity and a necessary part of the campaign that was just beginning-but it wasn't an apology. And it certainly wasn't a date. It wasn't for me, as he'd claimed it was.

When we finally entered our private box, the carefully practiced smile slipped from my face. I sank heavily into the plush seat, staring down at the empty stage with a mix of expectation and discontent.

Alexander settled into the seat beside me, silent for a few moments. Finally, he asked, "Is everything okay?" "Fine," I responded automatically.

"Did I do something wrong?" "No," I said curtly, refusing to look at him. "I just wish you had toldthat this was a PR date instead of making it seem like it was about making things up to me."

Alexander was quiet for several long seconds. Then he sighed. "I should have warned you about how much about houde media there would be outside," he admitted. "But this is not a publicity stunt. I really think you'll enjoy this-If you give it a chance." "That's a little hard to believe," I said, turning to him. with a skeptical glance. "I enjoy opera," he replied evenly. "And I think I've cto know your taste well enough to believe you'll enjoy it too. I genuinely meant this to be a nice evening for you." I tilted my head, curiosity outweighing my irritation. "What do you enjoy about it? I understand the singers are technically very talented and it's a difficult art form, but what makes you like it beyond that?" Chapter 0268

"Opera seems uptight to people who don't know much about it," Alexander explained. "Because of that, a lot of ΟΠ people never care to look into it or understand it. But the storylines are complex, the characters flawed and fascinating, and the ..... there's nothing else like it. I find it compelling. A good escape from real- life troubles."

"What's this one about?" I asked, glancing toward the empty stage. The crowd below was filing into their seats, signaling the performance would begin soon. "It's a fairy tale," he said. "About a prince trying to rescue the beautiful princess from her evil mother, the Queen of the Night." "A fairy tale?" I echoed in surprise. "You're interested in things like that?" "I like them when they have meaningful messages and good plots," he replied. "In this case, the harmony between man and woman is something worth fighting for. Don't you agree?" Alexander's gaze fixed onwith an unexpected intensity making my heart race. Was there a reason he'd chosen this opera tonight? Was he trying to tellsomething? I turned back to the stage just as the lights began to dim. The performance was starting Today's Bonus Offer GET IT NOW Chapter 0260