Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Ellie’s POV
The moment I stepped outside the villa gates, Rae was already waiting for me with that look, wide-eyed, lips pressed tight, a tote bag swinging wildly from her shoulder as she marched across the parking lot like a woman with a vendetta.
“Oh no,” I said under my breath. “She’s in Crisis Mode p>
“You!” Rae pointed at me as soon as I approached. “Do you have any idea how close you were to becoming a headline p>
“Don’t sass me, Ellie. I’ve been running around this morning like a lunatic trying to clean up your mess.
I blinked. “What mess? I literally woke up, had coffee, and told a powerful Alpha I wanted a divorce. You know. Light morning things. I thought we were going shopping p>
Rae grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward her car. “I had to pull strings, strings, El! I used up two favors and blackmailed one intern to swap out your test results, have another report forged, and sent over to that jerk of an Alpha p>
My feet stopped moving. “Wait. What p>
“You’re welcome,” she added with a smug toss of her braid. “The new test says you’re totally, tragically, boringly healthy. No baby in sight p>
I covered my mouth. Not out of shock, I wasn’t shocked. I was laughing.
“You got a fake test made p>
“You can thank Dr. Weiss. She still owes me from that time I babysat her hellspawn triplets during her emergency surgery shift p>
My thoughts turned back to the coffee I spilled on the old tests. Hm, a new one would be a perfect cover up. “I swear, if I had one ounce of your chaotic energy, Rae, the world would collapse p>
“I know,” she said brightly. “You keep me humble p>
We reached her car and she practically shoved me into the passenger seat before sliding in behind the wheel. Rae wasn’t always like this, but when it came to me, to protecting me, she became something terrifyingly efficient. At least thats what I was learning again.
“Crisis averted,” I said. “Thanks to you p>
“You’re damn right,” Rae muttered, starting the engine. Then she turned and gave me a long, inspecting look. ” You seriously okay p>
I shrugged. “Aside from living in a house with my almost-ex and his clingy side chick? Peachy p>
I was quick to explain what happened, and the deal from hell.
1/2
Chapter 14
+25 Bonus
She winced. “So it’s true? You’re moving back into the villa for three months?” “Just until the fake Luna contract expires p>
Rae gripped the wheel. “You know that man traumatized you, right? Like, I’ve read your medical files, El. You had depression, anxiety, stress-induced psychosis at times-and that was before the car crash. It was hard, watching you unravel over time p>
I exhaled slowly. “That girl you’re talking about? She loved him. She tried to be perfect for him, no matter how little he gave her back. I don’t remember her p>
Rae stared at me like she didn’t fully believe that. Like she wanted to hug me and shake me at the same time. You’re not just pretending to be okay, are you p>
“Nope. I’m cashing in his guilt, his money, and his title for a three-month spa vacation and some retail therapy p>
“Come with me today? Let’s go shopping p>
Rae hesitated. Then, her expression softened. “Okay. But only because you’re buying me those overpriced smoothies I love p>
“Deal p>
We pulled into town an hour later, the sun warm and golden overhead, a soft breeze teasing my hair out of its clip. For the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel like a shadow of myself. I felt light. Maybe not healed, maybe not whole, but free.
We hit three boutiques, laughed until we cried at a shoe that looked like a lettuce wrap, and devoured the aforementioned overpriced smoothies while Rae mocked every boy who dared glance my way. I could feel her watching me like a hawk, waiting for cracks, waiting for the memory of Nolan to weigh me down again.
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