The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 21

Ella

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?” | asked. “Maybe a servant saw

it?”

Alexander's jaw clenched. “No, I'm permission, and | hold the only key.”

y careful with my personal information. No one from the household staff is allowed in this room without explicit

Suddenly, Liam straightened. “I might know who was involved.”

All eyes turned to him. Liam's gaze shifted uncomfortably between Alexander andbefore he finally sighed.

“The night of the bonfire... | 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 approachedand suggested we work together to break up your marriage,” Liam went on. “She knew

about the contract. It was Sophia who gavethe idea to confront you about it.”

My blood ran cold. Sophia knew? How long had she known? | thought back to all the times she had looked down

onand treatedlike 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?” | breathed, turning toward Alexander.

But he shook his head vehemently. “No. Never.”

| 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. | 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 | 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 Ella’s scent right away.”

“She’s always hated me,” | muttered. “Always wantedgone. Maybe she even lured that rogue-"

“Now hold on,” Alexander interjected, raising a hand, “We can’t just assSophia is behind all of this without

evidence. This is a serious accusation.”

| couldn't help but scoff. Even now, after everything, he was still defending her.

“She pushedout of a hayloft,” | reminded him. “Or have you conveniently forgotten that already?”

“We still don’t know for certain-"

“She did it!” | insisted, slamming my hands onto his desk. Liam and Gabriel both flinched, but | kept my gaze

fixed on Alexander, whose expression was unreadable. “And she probably sent that rogue afterat the

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

bonfire! She's trying to get rid of me, Alexander. Whether she killsor breaks up our marriage, it doesn’t

matter. She just wantsout of the picture.”

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0023 Tue

Chapter 21

“Ella, we should talk to her before we assanything bad.” Alexandel said calmly, coolly, as if we were

discussing nothin, imen. This unlikely that she would do something like this. She's not malicious. I'll look into it

myself.”

Liam and | exchanged a look. Of course Alexander was standing up for Sophia... again. After five years, nothing

had changed. She would always to first in his eyes, no matter what she did.

“With all due respect,” Liam bit out, “she’s not as innocent as you think.”

Alexander's eyes flashed. “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 escalate, Gabriel stepped between them, “Alphas, if | may,” he said, “this speculation isn’t

helping us right now. The media is only going to get worse the longer we wait, and there’s no tto investigate.

We need to address this immediately.”

Alexander took a deep breath, composing himself. “You're right,” he agreed, running a hand through his hair and

causing a few red locks to stand up on end. “We need to get ahead of this story.”

a7

“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 frit properly so it doesn’t continue to backfire.”

Alexander nodded. “A press conference. Yes, that could work.” He glanced at me. “Of course, you'll need to be

there, too.”

| blanched, feeling the warmth suddenly drain from my face. “Me? At a 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,” | protested weakly. “I wouldn't know what to say or how to act.

I’d just make things worse.”

“You'll be fine. Just follow my lead and smile.”

Alexander and Gabriel left to make the arrangements before | could protest.

“Smile and follow his lead,” | whispered, sinking down into a nearby chair. “As if it's that simple.”

A few hours later, | found myself standing in the foyer of the house, the pack PR stylist carefully primping my

curled hair. They had chosen a no-nonsense look forthat was also attractive and feminine enough to feel

approachable: a crisp white button-down tucked into a pencil skirt, low pumps, a sleek yet bouncy updo with

curls framing my face, and a pearl necklace around my throat.

It felt more like a costthan anything. And the pearls felt like they were choking me.

“I can’t do this,” | 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.

| thought | was going to throw up.

Liam reached out to place 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, |

could hear the sound of reporters and journalists gathering outside. The conference hadn’t even begun yet and |

could see the cameras flashing through the curtains.

Liam tilted his head. “Never? But you're a Luna. Surely you and Alexander have done one or two.”

Chapter 21

“I've stood beside him during press conferences.” Back when | was the perfect, obedient little Luna, | wanted to

add, but | aldark-hacap kal anything. And there was never this much scrutiny.

Liam paused for a moment, considering. | shot another glance at Alexander, who was now whispering to Gabriel

in the dining mom doonaan

| hated how stupidly handshe looked in his sleek navy blue suit with his hair perfectly swept to one side, like

skind of male fashion magazine

model.

But what hurt even more was that he hadn’t even looked in my direction since our discussion earlier, and | knew

| would get no help from him now

Suddenly, Liam suggested, “I can help you prepare.”

| turned back to him. “How? The conference is starting in ten minutes and | 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 | attended-so letshow you sof the tricks | learned there.”

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Chapter 22

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Ella

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?” | 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 | hold the only key.”

Suddenly, Liam straightened. “I might know who was involved.”

All eyes turned to him. Liam's gaze shifted uncomfortably between Alexander andbefore he finally sighed.

“The night of the bonfire... | 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 approachedand suggested we work together to break up your marriage,” Liam went on. “She knew

about the contract. It was Sophia who gavethe idea to confront you about it.”

My blood ran cold. Sophia knew? How long had she known? | thought back to all the times she had looked down

onand treatedlike 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?” | breathed, turning toward Alexander.

But he shook his head vehemently. “No. Never.”

| 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

ie.”

Alexander didn’t answer that. | 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 | 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 Ella’s scent right away.”

“She’s always hated me,” | muttered. “Always wantedgone. Maybe she even lured that rogue-"

“Now hold on,” Alexander interjected, raising a hand, “We can’t just assSophia is behind all of this without

evidence. This is a serious accusation.”

| couldn't help but scoff. Even now, after everything, he was still defending her.

“She pushedout of a hayloft,” | reminded him. “Or have you conveniently forgotten that already?”

“We still don’t know for certain-"

“She did it!” | insisted, slamming my hands onto his desk. Liam and Gabriel both flinched, but | kept my gaze

fixed on Alexander, whose expression was unreadable. “And she probably sent that rogue afterat the

bonfire! She's trying to get rid of me, Alexander. Whether she killsor breaks up our marriage, it doesn’t

matter. She just wantsout of the picture.”

1/3

Chapter 20

Suddenly, the door burst open again. Liam, breathless, ran into the room with his phone in his hand. I couldn't

quite make out the new headline in was plastered across the screen, but | was certain it was about us.

Alexander's face blackened, “Liam, you fucking-

“It wasn’t me,” Liam insisted, holding his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t leak it. | swear to you that it wasn’t

me.”

Alexander growled low in his chest and took a step toward Liam, but | put myself in his path. “He didn't do it,” |

said firmly, lifting my chin,

There was a long, tense silence as Alexander stareddown, but | held my ground. | knew Liam didn’t do this;

he had made a pinky promise. And despite what had happened to my friend over the years, | knew one thing for

certain.

“Best friends keep pinky promises,” a nine-year-old Liam had said all those years ago, wrapping his little finger

around mine. “No matter what.”

Sthings simply couldn't change.

Finally, Alexander relaxed somewhat.

“If it wasn’t you,” he said, looking at Liam now, “then who leaked the information?”

A

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