Chapter 104: Chapter 105

Chapter 0105 Chapter 0105 +25 BONUS That’s true,” my father said. “But there’s very little known publicly about his pack. They’ve always had a friendly but distant relationship with us. Your mother’s right–this is uncharted territory.”

“We just have to proceed carefully, that’s all,” my mother added. “I know he makes you happy, and that’s what matters most to us.”

“He does make me very happy,” I said, feeling a slight blush rise to my cheeks. I couldn’t deny the truth of my words. Spending time with Alexander had quickly become my favorite thing. I never intended it to be that way, but I couldn’t deny that I was happy about it.

Pretending to be deeply in love with him was easy.

“I want to do what’s best for the pack,” I said sincerely. “Alexander does make me happy, but if it ever seems that being with him will hurt the pack, I’ll break off the engagement.”

“I don’t think it will come to that,” my father said.

“But it’s very mature of you to see that the good of the pack is what matters most,” my mother said, smiling proudly at me.

“You’ve learned so much from the hardship you’ve been through,” my father said. “Many people would have. allowed their heartbreak to get the better of them.”

“I can’t afford to give up,” I replied. “I have too much that I need to protect.”

My father gave me a strange look at that, and I wondered if had said too much. But it was true–everything I had been doing was to protect my family. I would endure much more if I had to.

“We’re proud of you and happy for you,” my mother said softly. “But it’s very late, and I have a feeling we’ll be making announcements in the morning–and likely have many visitors.”

“That’s very true,” my father agreed. “We’ll all need our rest.”

I nodded.

Each of my parents hugged me again before we parted ways to our rooms. It was late, and after such an eventful day, I felt drained. As I changed into my pajamas and lay down, I realized that I was still smiling. In fact, my cheeks ached from how much smiling I’d done.

That realization frightened me. This was certainly too much, especially considering that none of it was real. I was setting myself up for failure–and heartbreak–if I let my feelings get the better of me.

When Alexander and I spoke again, I’d have to re–establish the boundaries between us. It was the only way to ensure we both got what we wanted without getting hurt.

Third person POV Amanda stared at her phone, the only source of light in her darkened room. News of Ella’s engagement was spreading fast.

People were flooding her social media with congratulations, praising her for moving on and finding something real after such a devastating betrayal.

Amanda scrolled through the comments, barely registering the names or the empty compliments–just the sheer number of them.

Each one added fuel to the anger simmering within her, anger that was now almost too much to contain. Spoiled princess Ella, always getting everything she wanted. The praise, the attention, and now. Alexander Black +25 BONUS Chapter 0105 Amanda had lost everything she cared about. And Ella? Her life only seemed to get better. How was that fair? What was it going to take for her to finally lose?

The thought crossed her mind–was the only way to bring Ella down to kill her?

No. That would be too easy. Amanda didn’t just want Ella gone. She wanted her to suffer, to pay for every moment of happiness she had stolen. To feel the same deep, festerin; pain Amanda had endured.

There had to be a way to make it happen. She wasn’t done with Ella Rowan yet.