The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 9

Ella POV

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Sophia looked atlike I'd just pissed all over her expensive shoes, even though it wasn’t my fault that

Alexander had cut their night short. After the day I'd just had, | didn’t want to look at him anymore.

“But-" Sophia began in a whining voice, only to be cut off by Alexander.

“There will be other nights, Sophia.” Alexander pushed away from the wall where he was leaning and guided her

to the door. “Go to bed. Or don’t. You're an adult. Just leaveso | can speak to my wife.”

Sophia made a little sound of displeasure, but left anyway. She gaveone last malicious glance before she

slipped out of the banquet hall and disappeared with a whiff of floral perfume.

Once Sophia was gone, Alexander tookby the arm and ledaway from the prying ears of the staff who

were currently cleaning up the banquet. We received a few sidelong glances, and | knew there would be a bit of

gossip tonight about our odd behavior at the banquet, but right now | didn’t care.

We made our way down the hall and to a small sitting room with a few chairs and a chess table. It had to have

been used by sguests for smoking cigars during the banquet, because the air smelled like smoke. Alexander

gestured forto enter and | stepped inside, but | didn’t sit down.

Finally, once the door was shut and we were truly alone, he turned to look at me. “Do you really want to go

through with the divorce?”

| bristled a little, trying not to show my excitement. Had Alexander decided to helpafter all? | had hardly

dared to hope that my efforts might pay off in the span of a single day, but | couldnt help but feel relieved.

“Yes,” | said, folding my hands in front of me. “I want a divorce.”

Alexander looked atfor a moment, and my hope began to gutter out. | tried to keep my expression calm, but

it wasn’t easy when he was staring atlike that.

“And did your father say he would pay up what is owed when you spoke to him?”

There was no hiding my reaction to that; my conversation with my father had been nothing short of devastating,

and | should have known that Alexander wasn’t a charitable man. If there was no money, then there was no

divorce.

| dropped my gaze, and that seemed to be all the answer Alexander needed. He huffed.

“I see. Well, it’s no wonder you started deliberately trying to makedislike you. Your old lover is back, and

since daddy dearest doesn’t want to pay your way out of our marriage, you think you can manipulateinto

ending our contract without repercussions.”

| jerked my gaze up, incredulous. “You think Liam and 1—"

“Ah, but | didn’t even mention his name. Now | know the truth: you and Liam are having an affair, aren't you?”

For a long moment, | just stared at him in shock. | couldn't believe what Alexander was saying; he actually

thought that | was in love with Liam, the boy | hadn’t seen since grade school?

“Just say it, Ella.” Alexander's voice carried a strangely bitter edge as he leaned against the back of a nearby

loveseat, folding his arms across his chest. “Tellyou're sleeping with him. | won't be mad-just disappointed.”

| couldn't help but laugh. Not a chuckle, not a snort, but a full-bellied laugh with my head thrown back. But there

was no humor in the sound.

Was he jealous, or just being sarcastic? Either way, it didn’t matter; his words stung deep, like tiny needles

piercing my heart.

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After five years of marriage, five years of trying to be everything he wanted, all he could do was just look at me

like | was skind of scheming witch set out to hurt him.

All | wanted was to not fucking die, and yet he was making up imaginary betrayals-accusingof having sex

with a childhood friend who | hadn’t seen in over a decade. He would rather do that than just listen toand

helpcure my dormant wolf.

But no. It was somehow easier for him to ass| was a lying, conniving, philandering piece of shit rather than

a woman who didn’t want to die at twenty-fucking-two.

My heart blackened and curled in on itself at that moment. Suddenly, what little emotion I had left for Alexander

was nothing but ash.

When | had first noticed Alexander's possessiveness over Liam, a small part ofhad wanted to explain myself

to him, to make him feel better and not jealous. As if | were still the good wife | had spent five years trying to be:

the type of wife who would never intentionally make her husband feel insecure.

But now...

Now, | didn’t care if he thought | was having an affair. If it would sooner lead to our divorce, then all the better.

So | just shrugged and crossed my arms. | didn’t confirm it, but | also didn’t deny it. Let him think what he

wanted to think. The fantasies he made up in his own head were on him, not me.

Alexander's green eyes flashed, and for a moment, | thought he might blow his lid. But surprisingly, his voice

was steady and calm when he spoke again.

“Well, we're stuck together now, whether we like it or not. We can’t go having a divorce scandal during my

election campaign. So I'll make you an offer.”

| tilted my head, intrigued. “What are you offering?”

“Remain by my side for the six months of my election campaign, then three more after that—to create an image

of stability. Then I'll divorce you and reject you, just like you wantto.”

| stared at him, almost wondering if he was the one who was bluffing now, but I saw no lie in his eyes. Just

frustration and maybe even a hint of resignation.

Nine months... | had enough time. | would still have three months to spare before my death. I'd just have to

spend another nine months with Alexander, and then | would be free-and | would live.

“Very well,” | said, drawing myself up to my full height. “Draw up the contract and I'll sign it.”

Alexander's face blackened for a moment as if he hadn't been expectingto accept so easily, but | didn’t care.

| was exhausted and emotionally drained and just wanted to go to my room. It had been a long day, and | had

another long nine months ahead of me, and | just needed to rest.

But as | turned to leave, once again, Alexander stoppedwith a hand around my wrist.

“Where are you going?”

“To my room.”

He snorted. “Down the hall from your old lover? Eager to get back to him, I see.”

| sighed and turned to him, exasperated. Alexander pulledcloser, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.

“But maybe, since you seemed to like my room so much earlier today, then you should stay there tonight.”

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