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God, I kissed him. In my drugged state, I’d forgotten he didn’t know me anymore.
“How do you know my name?” he demanded, eyes narrowed with suspicion.
I froze. What could I say? That I was his mate? That we had a daughter together? That five years ago, we’d planned our future before it was ripped away?
No. I couldn’t. Not when I’d learned he had a fiancée waiting for him. Not when I could see no recognition in those eyes that once looked at me with such love.
“Everyone knows who Alpha Blackwood is,” I lied, forcing a smile that felt brittle on my face. “The most powerful Alpha in North America p>
His jaw tightened. He didn’t believe me.
I quickly changed the subject. “By the way, are we on a ship p>
Though I’d been disoriented earlier, I had enough awareness to piece together what had happened. I’d been drugged and brought to this ship for the auction. If Alexander hadn’t arrived when he did, tonight would have ended very differently for me.
Twice in one day he’d saved me, even without remembering who I was. Our bond might be forgotten, but the
connection between us remained. I held onto that thought like a lifeline.
“Yes,” he answered simply.
“When can we disembark p>
Alexander’s thin lips curved slightly, his response casual. “Three days p>
Three days? My heart sank. Aria must be worried sick. She wasn’t used to being away from me for so long.
“Could I borrow your phone? I need to contact someone p>
The look he gave me was distinctly unfriendly. I realized with a sinking feeling that after my behavior earlier— throwing myself at him, kissing him—he probably thought I was just another desperate she–wolf trying to
seduce him.
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“It’s not what you think,” I explained hastily. “I need to call Elena. Elena asked me to be her bridesmaid, and now I’ve disappeared without explanation. She must be worried sick p>
At this, his expression shifted subtly. “Elena chose you as her bridesmaid? Poor judgment on her part p>
Ah, my Alex hadn’t changed a bit. Still brutally honest about people he disliked, unmoved by persistence or flattery. I’d been so lucky to love such a man–one who could resist temptation and remain faithful when so few
could.
But he wasn’t mine anymore.
“There’s no signal out at sea,” he said, interrupting my thoughts. “And regarding your debt–I expect you to repay the hundred million p>
His cold voice pierced my eardrums. I doubted I’d heard correctly. “W–what p>
Alexander’s gaze didn’t waver–cold as ice, lips curling into a faint, mocking smile.“Miss Winters, you don’t
think I spent one hundred million for nothing, do you p>
Alexander, are you seriously asking me for money?
“I’m sorry to inform you, Miss Winters, but I’m a businessman. I’ve been in business all my life, and I never
make losing deals, Understand p>
I couldn’t believe he was actually saying this. Had I asked him to bid that amount?
If he planned to charge me, why bid so aggressively? Couldn’t he have gone up gradually instead of jumping straight to one hundred million?
I remembered how calmly he’d called out that bid, not even blinking, as if buying a head of cabbage. Now I
understood why–he intended to bill me for it.
I laughed bitterly. “I don’t have money right now. If you want me to offer myself as payment, that might work,
but if you want one hundred million, you could skin me alive and it wouldn’t be enough p>
“I wonder, would you even find me worth your while?” I added, unable to keep the edge from my voice.
His eyes narrowed, gaze traveling over my body while his fingers tapped rhythmically against his knee.
The scrutiny was obvious–he was appraising merchandise, determining its value.
Finally, a low laugh rumbled in his throat. “As I said, I don’t make losing deals p>
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The implication was clear: I wasn’t worth the price.
“So what do you want to do?” I asked.
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He casually reached over, opened the bedside drawer, and pulled out paper and pen, tossing them in front of