Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Chapter 0074 +25 BONUS Chapter 0074 “You don’t need to worry about that,” I replied, forcing the words out with a firmness I didn’t fully feel. “It’s never going to happen because there’s no such thing as love.”

A tense silence fell between us. I knew August was speaking from a place of concern, reminding me to keep my guard up and not lose myself in the charade Ella and I were playing. But it stung. He understood my history with love and should have known better than to bring it up.

Still, the reminder was likely needed if he felt compelled to broach a subject that unsettled me. Ella and I were playing a game–

nothing about it was real.

Ella POV “I should have guessed that you were interested in Alexander,” Elizabeth said in an amused tone.

I had arrived in the capital early before my “date” with Alexander, and it felt good to catch up with her before meeting Alexander for our date.

“What are you talking about?” I asked with genuine surprise. I thought I had hidden my reaction to Alexander quite well.

“When he gave you those diamonds at your wedding, it looked like you were ready to pass out,” she teased.

“Was my reaction really that strong?” I asked.

“Well, most people may not have noticed,” she admitted. “After all, the outrage on David’s face was impossible to miss. But I was paying attention to you, and I could tell that you were truly touched by his gift.”

“Of course I was,” I replied. “It was so generous.

“As was his offer to buy your wedding dress and his engagement gift to you,” Elizabeth pointed out. “He’s been quite generous to you all along, hasn’t he? I suppose it was his way of making his interest known.”

“I don’t think it was anything like that,” I said dismissively “Then perhaps you don’t know that much about men,” Elizabeth joked.

“I don’t, really,” I admitted. “David is the only person I’ve ever seriously dated. Do you really think I missed some signs from Alexander?”

“Yes,” Elizabeth answered seriously. “I think he was doing what he could to make his interest in you known without overtly insulting David.”

“You might be right,” I said. “Now I feel silly for not knowing.”

I found myself smiling fondly as we chatted. None of this was real, but it was fun to pretend it was. Elizabeth was genuinely excited for me, and I relished the chance to gossip with her a bit.

It made me feel like a normal person—an exhilarating sensation I hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

“So where are the two of you going?” Elizabeth asked as we exited the cozy café.

“I don’t know,” I replied, glancing down. “He wanted it to be a surprise.”

“What a romantic!” Elizabeth teased, a playful smile lighting up her face. “You’re a lucky girl.”

“I am?” I raised an eyebrow, unsure. “Is that what you think, or have you been reading online gossip again?”

“People have reacted with quite a bit of surprise at the news that the two of you are seeing each other,” she said, 1.2 Chapter 0074 taking a sip of her coffee. “It’s all over social media.”

+25 BONUS “People aren’t still talking about me like that, are they?” I asked. “They talk as though I’m some kind of movie star.”

“In a way, you are,” Elizabeth pointed out. “You’re the daughter of a very prominent Alpha.”

“I suppose you’re right,” I admitted. “Oh, I don’t like the attention.”

“It comes with the territory,” she said. “You’ll get used to it.”

“I don’t know if I will,” I replied. “It makes me uncomfortable, feeling like people are constantly watching and judging me.”

That was my honest feeling about the matter. Even in the original timeline, when I had become the Luna Queen, I was miserable with the constant attention.

That was all in the past now. This time around, I knew that could use the attention to my advantage.

“So tell me,” Elizabeth asked, “what’s Alexander really like?”

“He’s very funny,” I said thoughtfully. “I don’t think you would guess that from the way he acts in public, but he likes to make jokes and tease.”

“It seems the two of you are falling for each other quite fast,” Elizabeth commented.

I felt my face heat and I laughed nervously to distract from it. “Lets talk about something else,” I said. “I’ve heard rumors about you.”

“Me?” she said in surprise. “What have you heard?”

“I’ve heard that Damian Rose has been sending you flowers,” I said.

Elizabeth smiled brightly and shrugged one shoulder. “That might be true,” she said. “But I guess you’ll have to find out later.

Here comes Alexander.” She pointed down the sidewalk.

I turned to see Alexander walking toward us, my heart fluttering at the sight of the vibrant red roses in his arms.