Chapter 208: Chapter 209

Chapter 0209 Ella POV Our goodbyes with Diana were polite, but the relief on my mother’s face was palpable the moment the car pulled away from the curb. Her smile faded, replaced by a serious expression that made my stomach twist uneasily.

Just yesterday, she had seemed so fond of Alexander, and now it felt as though all our progress had been undone.

I couldn’t let it end like this–I needed her support.

“Well, that was... interesting,” I said, hoping to spark a conversation and gauge her thoughts.

“It certainly was,” she agreed, her tone neutral but measured. “I have to say, Diana is not quite what I imagined.”

“In what way?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“She’s the daughter of an alpha and a Luna herself. We’re of similar status and age, so I assumed she’d follow the social rules more carefully. I found it surprising how forthcoming she was with her strong opinions. I would have expected her to be more political and cautious.”

I nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, she doesn’t seem too concerned about her opinions or comments being taken the wrong way.”

“She doesn’t,” my mother agreed. “But... I get the feeling she’s trying a little too hard to be friendly. Díana doesn’t leave her pack lands often. Perhaps she’s just a little lonely.”

I blinked, caught off guard by the insight. It was a perspective I hadn’t considered, but it made sense. Beneath Diana’s confident exterior, there might be a longing for connection–a need to assert herself in unfamiliar company.

“I hadn’t thought about it that way,” I admitted.

My mother gave me a small, knowing smile. “People aren’t always what they seem, Ella. Sometimes, we just need to look a little deeper.”

Her words lingered as we drove on, and I found myself wondering whether Diana’s behavior was more nuanced than I’d initially assumed. Could it be that her sharp comments came from insecurity rather than malice?

“Still,” my mother said after a lengthy silence, “her motivation and intentions don’t really matter if what she’s saying is potentially damaging. She needs to be more careful, especially when it comes to her own child’s reputation.”

“That’s exactly what I was concerned about,” I admitted. “Alexander has worked so hard to calm your concerns about him, and I was afraid that Diana’s words might have..”

“Made me suspicious of him?” she asked, her voice gentler now.

“Yes,” I said softly.

“If anything, it’s only made me more certain of Alexander,” she replied. Her expression was somber as she continued, “He’s worked so hard for his family, even despite their less–than–gracious treatment of him.” She sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment. “I had hoped the rumors about the Black family were unfounded, but it seems there’s some truth to them after all.”

“What rumors?” I asked, confused.

Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “How can you possibly be engaged to Alexander and not know?”

1/2 +25 BONUS Chapter 0209 I shook my head helplessly, unsure how to respond. I’d heard whispers about Alexander over the years, but nothing specific about his family. They had always seemed intent on avoiding the public spotlight.

“It’s an open secret that Alexander is an unfavored child of Diana’s,” she explained quietly. “It’s been that way for as long as anyone can remember.”

“I had no idea about the rumors,” I admitted, “but I had noticed the difference in the way Diana treated Michael compared to Alexander. Even in the short time I’ve spent with them, it’s clear she favors her youngest.”

“And Alexander accepts that surprisingly well,” my mother said thoughtfully. “He takes care of his family regardless. He’s a good man, even if he doesn’t seem to realize it himself. He treats you well, and that’s what matters most to me.” She sighed softly, “I can’t help but feel a little sorry for him now that I’ve seen it all firsthand. But I hope I hid it well–he’d hate to be pitied.”