After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Elle’s POV

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The pain in my chest expanded until I could barely breathe, a smothering weight that made each inhale a

struggle.

I turned away from the door, walking silently back the way I’d come. I didn’t want to face him, couldn’t bear to see him right now. Not when the wound was so fresh, so raw.

I made it halfway down the hall before I heard footsteps behind me. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Brad – I recognized the sound of his stride, the subtle scent of his cologne.

“I won’t be back tonight. You should rest,” he said, his voice detached and cool, as if speaking to a stranger.

He didn’t wait for a response, didn’t offer an explanation. I heard his footsteps receding, moving away from me with the same decisive finality with which he’d walked out of my bedroom earlier.

I stood there, staring at the empty hallway, the ache in my chest spreading until it consumed me entirely.

What is this? I thought bitterly. He forces himself on me, then acts like nothing happened, and now he’s off to spend the night with someone else?

A harsh laugh escaped me. Maybe he’s worried I’ll get clingy. Afraid I’ll start making demands.

I straightened my shoulders, my pride surging to protect what remained of my dignity. Not a chance. I’m

not that desperate.

I retreated to my room, my steps heavy with the weight of realization. Once this baby is born, I’m leaving. I’m getting away from him, from all of this.

I didn’t respond to his announcement. I doubted he expected or wanted me to.

Back in my room, I lay on the bed, exhausted but wide wake, my mind racing in endless circles. I couldn’t stop wondering where he’d gone, who he was with. Was it the woman from his study? Was it Marissa?

Stop it, I scolded myself. It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter.

But it did. Despite all my efforts to convince myself otherwise, it mattered terribly,

After hours of tossing and turning, I gave up on sleep entirely. I sat up, propping myself against the

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Chapter 57

headboard, and reached for my phone, hoping to distract myself with mindless scrolling.

The screen lit up with a notification. A new message, sender unknown. I opened it, expecting spam.

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Instead, my screen filled with a photograph. It was slightly blurry, as if taken hastily from across a room, the image was unmistakable: Brad and a woman sitting close together at a dimly lit bar, drinks between

them.

I stared at it for a long moment, feeling something final break inside me.

“Of course,” I whispered to the empty room, a bitter smile twisting my lips. “Of fucking course.”

This was the reality check I needed. The perfect reminder of where I stood.

Elle, you can stop deluding yourself now, I thought, my inner voice harsh with self-reproach. Didn’t he make it perfectly clear from the beginning that this was just a deal?

I set the phone down, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath that did nothing to ease the tightness in my

chest.

He treats you well only because you’re carrying his child. It’s temporary. All of it.

I lay back down, staring up at the ceiling, trying to prepare myself for the moment this child was born and my usefulness ended.

Once this baby arrives, we go our separate ways. That’s the deal.

I took another deep breath, but it caught in my throat, transforming into something dangerously close to a

sob.

So why were you being so nice to me? I silently asked the absent Brad. Why pretend to care? Why make me feel special if I’m just a temporary arrangement?

Each memory of his kindness, his attention, his protection now felt like a cruel joke. Each moment I’d allowed myself to feel something for him now burned like acid in my chest.

Time after time, you made me grateful. Time after time, you made me feel something. Time after time, you lowered my guard.

And now, when I’d finally begun to trust him completely, he’d shown me exactly where I stood.

You could have just told me, I thought, a tear finally escaping despite my best efforts. I wouldn’t have clung

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Chapter 57

to you. I’m not that desperate.

The realization settled over me like a heavy blanket: I’ve been fooling myself this whole time.

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From now on, I won’t bother you anymore, I promised silently. And thank you, at least, for helping me with my

family’s problems.

I shut off my phone, closed my eyes, and forced myself to lie still, willing sleep to come. But as the hours

ticked by, I remained painfully, relentlessly awake, alone with thoughts I couldn’t escape and feelings I

couldn’t deny.

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11:03 Tue, Dec 30 G DA

After One Night with the Alpha