Chapter 246: Chapter 247

Chapter 0247 Chapter 0247 Ella POV Alexander’s mood was noticeably brighter than it had been all week. His team had won the race, and as we made our way toward the car, there was a lightness in his step and an Irrepressible grin on his face.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy,” I teased.

“I can’t remember the last time I had a true night off,” Alexander admitted. “Not a single work call, text, or even an email. Can I assume you had something to do with that?

“I may have insisted that August put a pause on all communications,” I confessed. “Unless, of course, there was an absolute emergency.”

“I’m sure he was more than agreeable,” Alexander said with a chuckle. “He’s always telling me I need to take more time off, do something besides work. It must have driven him crazy that you were the one to finally get me to do it.”

“I think it might have annoyed him,” I agreed, laughing. “But I’m not sure why. Have I done something to offend August?”

Alexander opened the car door, gesturing for me to step in first. He followed, and as the door closed behind him, he leaned back and considered my question.

“It’s not that he dislikes you,” he said thoughtfully. “It’s more that he’s suspicious of the arrangement we have. And I can’t say I blame him–it’s an unusual situation, and there’s a degree of risk involved for both of us.”

“And for our packs,” I added. “I can see his position. It’s his job as your beta to protect you, so it’s only natural. Still, I hope he’ll eventually see that I’m true to my word.”

“Maybe,” Alexander replied with a slight smile. “But August is a stubborn man, very set in his ways. He might remain distrustful simply out of habit.”

I laughed. “Some habits are hard to break.”

The car began pulling away from the racetrack, and Alexander glanced curiously at the driver.

“Where are we heading now?” he asked.

“To dinner,” I said, smirking. “You didn’t think that was all I had planned, did you?”

“I had a feeling you’d want to top off the night,” he admitted, leaning toward me. “Where are we going?”

“The usual place,” I replied with a knowing smile.

Alexander chuckled, giving me a look of recognition. We both understood there was still an element of showmanship to our outings. The destination was no mystery–the same restaurant where he had proposed, and the same place where we’d exposed David and Amanda’s affair.

“You’ve really thought of everything,” he commented, his tone warm.

A few minutes later, the car pulled up outside the restaurant. Alexander stepped out first, offering me his arm as I followed.

Together, we walked in, the air between us effortless and confident.

The hostess greeted us with a bright smile. “Mr. and Mrs. Black,” she said warmly. “Your table is ready. Right this way.”

When we reached our table, Alexander pulled my chair out for me with a graceful ease before seating himself. The NOMEN 1/2 Chapter 0247 +25 BONUS bottle of wine I had requested was already waiting, and the hostess poured two glasses before stepping away Alexander lifted his glass toward me. “A toast,” he said, his voice warm, “to our first week as a married couple.”

I smiled, lifting my glass to meet his. “To us,” I said, the soft clink of crystal punctuating the sentiment.

With my back to the entrance, I didn’t immediately notice why Alexander’s smile faltered. But the sudden flicker of tension in his expression made me glance discreetly over my shoulder. My heart sank when I spotted Lily and Derrick Lake entering the restaurant.

We weren’t the only ones to notice their arrival a ripple of whispers swept through the dining room.

It had only been a week since David and Amanda’s disastrous wedding, and unfortunately for them, the gossip in magazines and online forums was still going strong.

Speculation abounded about why they had chosen the same late as us and what might have led to the alienation of→→ so many of their guests.

For a brief moment, I almost felt bad for them. But then I reminded myself they had created their own problems. None of this had been a competition in my mind. They could have had their happy day–if Amanda hadn’t made it her mission to ruin mine first.

I turned back to Alexander, silently agreeing to ignore the Lakes.

પાપને પડી ચતર મ સરકાર We chatted happily throughout our meal, the evening nearly perfect. But as we waited for dessert, the sound of approaching footsteps broke through our conversation.

وم اللوي