Chapter 67: Chapter 67

Chapter 0067 +25 BONUS Chapter 0067 Ella POV “David cannot be allowed to continue making these slanderous statements,” my father said angrily.

“I agree,” my mother added, “but we have to handle this carefully.”

“I’m beginning to think we’ve handled it too carefully,” my father replied, his anger evident.

I felt a pang of guilt. By opening up to him about my plan to expose David and Amanda’s affair, I had placed him in a difficult position. He knew now that all of the fallout with David was caused by my decision to expose him publicly.

In a way, this was all my fault, and my father knew it.

I didn’t know if he had told my mother about it or not, and was afraid to ask. Her opinion of me might change if she knew I had been keeping such important secrets from them.

“I don’t see that there’s anything we can do,” I said softly.

I was sitting in the living room chair, watching as my parents paced in front of the TV, where a report on David’s latest social media attack was being discussed.

It bothered me that the news kept picking up on his temper tantrums, but speaking out against the media would make it seem like I was trying to hide something.

“He continues to insult our family,” my father said. “There has to be a price for that. It makes us look weak to allow him to get away with it, and it might embolden others to come out against us. That can bring unexpected consequences.”

“But what do we do?” I asked. “I don’t want any violence. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“I know you don’t, Princess,” my father said gently. “And I’m not saying it’s come to that point yet, but I am going to have to meet with Alpha Derrick. He needs to rein his son in or face the consequences.”

“What consequences do you mean?” I asked.

“I don’t know yet,” my father replied honestly. “It will depend on his reaction.”

“I think we can reliably guess what his reaction will be,” my mother pointed out. “He’ll say we’re liars, or claim that David’s accounts have been hacked, or that he was driven to this by Ella’s rejection. I don’t see the point in asking Derrick or Lily Lake to be reasonable when we know they are not reasonable people.”

“Then what do we do?” my father asked, throwing his hands up in frustration. “The longer we allow this to continue, the weaker it makes us look!”

My mother stared at him with a critical look, and after a moment, my father lowered his arms. In a softer tone, he said, “I’m sorry.

I don’t mean to take my frustration out on either of you.”

“That’s all right,” my mother said. “We must remember that we’re in this together, and we can figure this out as a family.”

My father gave me a meaningful look, and I averted my gaze. My mother was right. I should have been honest with them from the start. Maybe things wouldn’t have escalated like this.

“It’s only gossip,” I said, trying to remain calm. “It’s just online gossip. I don’t know if it’s even worth a reaction. David looks pathetic with the way he’s behaving. Everyone can see that. I think stooping to his level and responding would be a mistake.”

1/2 +25 BONUS Chapter 0067 “I cannot allow him to continue talking the way he has bee,” my father insisted.

“I’m not upset,” I said, doing my best to sound calm. “His words don’t offend me because I see the desperation behind them. If you’re doing this for my sake, it isn’t necessary.”

“That’s sweet of you, darling,” my mother said, standing in front of me and smiling in her usual reassuring way, though it only made me feel more guilty. “But this is more complicated than just your feelings. Your father is right. This makes the pack look bad.”

“I never should have gone forward with the wedding,” I muttered. “It was such a mistake.”

“We all make mistakes,” my mother said softly. “There’s no use dwelling on it now. We need to think about what we’re going to do moving forward. That’s what matters most.”