bChapter /bb136/bb: /bbConfrontations and /bbRevtions /b

bChapter /bb136/bb: /bbConfrontations /bband /bRevtions

b(/bbMarcus /bckwood’s POV)

Elena stared bat /bme in bewilderment when I announced I would stay overnight bat /bher apartment. Her bgreen /beyes widened with disbelief.

“I don’t have any toiletries for you,” she said, clearly trying to find an bexcuse /bto make me leave.

I shrugged casually. b“/bI’ll use yours.”

The words left her speechless. She opened and closed her mouth like she couldn’t believe what she’d just

heard.

Hugo Ashworth, who had been observing our exchange with growing irritation, stepped forward. “I can provide you with a guest room at my ce,plete with unused toiletries.”

I turned to face him, my golden eyes narrowing. “You think it’s appropriate for me to stay at another Alpha’s

residence?”

Hugo’s expression hardened. His usual calm demeanor cracked as he delivered a pointed rebuke.

“You, as her mate, haven’t done what you should do, but force what you shouldn’t do, just because she’s your Luna,” he said, his voice cutting through the tension. “But have you considered her thoughts? Have you asked her if she needs you to stay and take care of her?”

The words struck me like thorns piercing my heart. Each syble felt like an usation I couldn’t deny.

I realized with painful rity that I had never tru

asked for Elena’s opinion about anything. I had simply imposed my will, assuming my authority as her Alpha gave me that right.

When I looked at Elena for an answer, she avoided my gazepletely. Her voice was quiet but firm when

she spoke.

“I can take care of myself.”

For the first time in years, I didn’t press the issue. The defeat tasted bitter in my mouth.

b“/bbI’ll /bvisit tomorrow,” I said simply.

As I turned to leave, Hugo called after me. “Have you reconsidered staying at my ce?”

I paused at the doorway. “We can discuss it tomorrow.”

(Elena ckwood’s POV)

After Marcus’s departure, Hugo lingered in the hallway. His amber eyes studied my face with concern.

“Why didn’t you ask him to stay if you were reluctant to see him go?” he asked gently.

1 shook my head firmly. “I don’t have any such feelings.”

bThe /blie felt hollow even to my own ears. But I couldn’t admit the truth – that part of me had wanted Marcus to stayb, /bdespite everything.

The next day, while I was carefully changing my bandages with my left hand, the doorbell rang. I opened it bto /b

Chapter 136 Confrontation

bfind /bbtwo /bbproperty /bbmanagement /bbrepresentatives /bbholding /bbofficial /bbdocuments/b.

b“/bbMrs. /bbckwood/bb,/bb” /bbthe /bbolder /bman said bwith /bba /bbrespectful /bbbow/b. b“/bbWe’re /bbhere /bbto inform /bbyou /bbthat /bbthe /bbShadowmere /bbHeights /bbResidential /bComplex has been acquired bby /bbthe /bckwood bConsortium/bb./bb” /b

bMy /bbheart /bsank. Of course Marcus had done this.

“Additionally,” bthe /byounger woman added, “your mortgage has been paid bin /bfull. As Mrs. ckwoodb, /bbyou’ll /breceive preferential treatment in all building services.”

After they left, bI /bbsat /bon my couch feeling overwhelmed. The gesture reminded me of when Sophia Rivers bhad /b

returned to the territory years ago.

Marcus had arranged a spectacr drone fireworks disy that made headlines for its romance. The entire city had watched as thousands of drones formed hearts and messages iof /ilove in the night sky.

It was a gesture he had never made for me. No bCe /bin our six years together.

When Marcus arrived with Amber Stone an hourter, he red Hugo in the hallway. Hugo looked disturbed, clearly having witnessed the property management visit.

“The ckwood family certainly has a habit of throwing imon /i

around,” Hugomented dryly.

Marcus’s jaw tightened. “And you have a habit of conducting personal hygiene in public hallways.”

up, their I could see the tension crackling between them like electricity. Both Alphas were sizing each other rivalry barely contained.

Their confrontation was interrupted when my food delivery arrived. The delivery person looked confused by the two imposing men blocking the hallway.

Marcus immediately criticized me. “You can’t even properly care for yourself.”

When I struggled with the packaging due to my injured hand, Marcus moved to help me. His fingers brushed

mine as he took the containers.

“Why didn’t you ask for assistance?” he scolded, his voice filled with frustration.

My sarcastic response slipped out before I could stop it. “I wouldn’t dare trouble the great Alpha Marcus.”

His golden eyes shed with anger. Before I could react, he silenced me with a forceful kiss.

His lips crashed against mine with desperate intensity. I could taste his frustration and longing in that kiss.

Amber Stone’s voice cut through the moment. “Alpha, there’s an important phone call.”

Marcus reluctantly pulled away, his breathing heavy. He ensured I had everything I needed for breakfast before leaving with obvious reluctance.

After they departed, I overheard Amber speaking to Marcus in the hallway. “The investigators found the girl Sophia imed saved you during the childhood kidnapping.”

Marcus’s response was skeptical. “I don’t trust anything thates from Sophia’s mouth anymore.”

After two weeks of recovery, I met with Adrian Whitmore at a quiet café in Riverside City. He had traveled here

specifically to see me.

a

P

“Mother sent this for you,” he said, cing a delicate ceramic doll on the table between us.

3

+

4

Chapter 136. Confrontatio

bI /bbpicked /bbup /bbthe /bdoll bcarefully/bb, /bbnoting /bits bintricate /bbcraftsmanship/bb. /bbDespite /bbDorothea’s /bbmental /bbcondition/bb, /bbI /bbcould /bbsense /bbthis /bbgift /bbhad been /bbchosen with genuine /bbcare/b.

b“/bbHow is /bbshe /bbdoing?/bb” /bbI /bbasked /bbsoftly/b.

bAdrian’s /bbexpression /bbgrew /bpained. b“/bbSome /bdays are better than others. But bshe /bspecifically asked me bto /bbbring /b

bthis /bbto /bbyou/b.b” /b

He leaned forward, his voice dropping to ba /bwhisper. “Elena, I came to Riverside bCity /bto bsearch /bfor my biological sister.b” /b

My eyebrows irose /iin surprise. “I thought she died at birth.”

“That’s what we believed,” Adrian said, his amber eyes intense. “But

she might still be alive.”

ather found new evidence suggesting

Our conversation shifted to lighter topics, including his recent fake engagement scandal.

With

“I proposed ito /iIsabe ckwood just to embarrass the ckwood family,” he admitted with a mischievous smile. “Then I backed out publicly, iming she wasn’t worthy of the Whitmore name.”

I couldn’t help butugh. “Margaret ckwood must have been furious.”

“Absolutely livid,” Adrian confirmed. “It was quite satisfying, actually.”

Upon returning home, I found Marcus and Hugo in another heated confrontation in the hallway. Marcus had grabbed Hugo’s cor, his knuckles white with tension.

“Enough!” I shouted, pushing between them.

Both Alphas immediately released each other, but their hostile stares continued..

“I want to cook dinner for Elena,” Marcus dered.

Hugo stepped forward. “I was here first. I should be the one cooking.”

They both tried to enter my apartment simultaneously, each iming the right to take care of me.

Frustrated beyond measure, I pushed both men out into the hallway. “Neither of you is cooking anything!”

I mmed the door and turned the lock with a decisive click.

Through the door, I could hear Hugo’s taunting voice. “You still haven’t won her heart, have you?”

Marcus’s response was cold. “We’re still mated. That’s what matters.”

Hugo’s parting shot cut deep. “I prefer mutual affection over forced mate bonds.”

The words left Marcus questioning whether he and Elena could ever achieve such harmony.

Back at the hospital the next day, Dr. Edmond Fisher approached me with an apologetic expression.

“Elena, I owe you an exnation,” he said, wringing his hands nervously.

I looked up from my patient charts. “About what?”

17

14

“My loose tongue led to the misunderstanding with Hugo’s mother,” he admitted shamefully. “I jokingly mentioned that Hugo might have a crush on someone.”

My blood ran cold. “And Sophia heard this?”

Chapter 136 Confrontatio

Dr. Fisher bnodded /bbmiserably/b. b“/bbShe /bbmanipted /bbthe situation /bbby iming /bbto /bbbe /bbthat /bwomanb. /bbI /bnever bimagined /bshe bwould /buse bmy casual /bbment /bbto /bbdeceive /bbMrs. /bbAshworth/bb./bb” /b

bThe /brevtion bfinally exined /bbhow /bbSophia /bbhad /bbbeen /bbable /bbto /bbuse /bbEvelyn /bAshworth bin /bbher /bbschemes /bbagainst /bollime. /li/ol

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