After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 93

Chapter 93

Elle’s POV

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“You know, Sophia,” I said quietly, my fingers unconsciously tracing small circles over my stomach, “I think you’ve probably sensed it already—I’ve always maintained a certain distance from everything here. From this house, from the Rayne family, from all of it. I’ve done it deliberately, so that when the time comes to leave, I won’t feel any reluctance or attachment.”

She nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. “Yes, I have sensed that. Even I can feel it, and I’m an outsider. Brad… he must feel it too, right?”

I looked away, unable to answer that question. Whatever Brad felt or didn’t feel was no longer my concern. I’d given up trying to understand his emotions or change them.

“Susan had completely cut ties with the West family,” I continued, thinking of my foster mother. “We’re going to disappear together, start fresh somewhere far from here.”

I turned to face Sophia directly, my expression growing serious. “Sophia, I need to ask you for a favor.”

“Of course,” she replied without hesitation. “Whatever you need, I won’t refuse.”

I pulled out my phone, holding it up. “I want to transfer all my money to you. I’m under house arrest here and can’t leave. This money-I need you to help me get it deposited under Susan’s name. It’s insurance for

her future.”

Sophia frowned with concern. “Elle, you should keep this money for yourself. You still have half a year until

the baby’s born!”

I managed a weak smile. “It’s fine. The Rayne family won’t let me lack for anything material while I’m here. I don’t actually need to spend money.”

My voice grew more urgent. “Since I’ve decided to leave I need to plan ahead. Brad’s temperament is… unpredictable. I’m worried he might take his anger out on you when he discovers what I’ve done. So it’s better to prepare for this now.”

I could see something flicker in Sophia’s eyes-probably thinking this small amount was insignificant compared to her wealth-but she respected my request.

“It’s done,” she said simply, and I felt a small weight lift from my shoulders.

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Chapter 93

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We talked for a while longer before Sophia left, and I found myself standing in the foyer, preparing to return to my room. That’s when I heard it-the aggressive rumble of an engine outside.

My heart jumped involuntarily. A black Hummer came roaring up the drive, stopping directly in front of

the entrance where I stood.

Brad was back. But that wasn’t what made my blood turn to ice.

Marissa stepped out of the passenger side, her arm linked through Brad’s with easy, intimate familiarity. Her tall, model-perfect figure moved with practiced grace that made me feel small and plain in comparison.

The sight of them together sent a sharp, stabbing pain through my chest.

I quickly averted my eyes, unable to bear looking at them.

Alex approached me, his expression uncomfortable and apologetic. “Miss Elle… Alpha Rayne said he heard you’ve been bored during your restricted activities, he specially invited Miss Hopkins to come keep you

company…”

The words hit me like physical blows. Keep me company? My mind reeled in shock. He’s moving Marissa into the house? Is this his way of officially establishing her position as the future lady of this house?

I looked up at Brad, my heterochromatic eyes wide with disbelief and pain. The realization crashed over me

like a cold wave.

My expression must have shown my devastation because I saw something flicker across Brad’s face-a moment of pain, maybe even regret. But then his features hardened again, his jaw clenching with what looked like barely controlled anger. Whatever had caused that shift in his expression, it was clear he’d

made up his mind about something.

The pain in my chest intensified as I watched his amber eyes turn cold and distant.

“The house has plenty of rooms anyway,” he said, his voice low and icy. ‘You won’t mind, will you, Elle?”

Without waiting for my answer, he strode past me into the mansion, not sparing me another glance.

I stood frozen in place, my mind completely blank except for one question echoing endlessly: Why? Why

are you doing this to me?

That’s when Marissa approached me, and I could see the triumph practically radiating from her.

She handed her suitcase to Martha with the casual authority of someone who already considered herself

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Chapter 93

the lady of the house, then turned to me with that fake sympathetic smile I’d grown to hate.

“Elle,” she said, deliberately using her height to look down at me, “I’m so sorry about this. I really didn’t mean for it to happen this way. Please don’t be angry with me, okay?”

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She reached out to pat my shoulder in a gesture of condescending comfort, but I instinctively slapped her

hand away. The contact felt poisonous.

Instead of being offended, she looked pleased by my reaction. “Really, I tried to refuse, but Brad absolutely insisted I shouldn’t keep living outside the family home. He said it wasn’t proper, and I simply had to move

1. It’s actually quite troublesome for me!”

Her voice dropped to an intimate whisper, meant only for my ears. “We are former lovers, after all, and our renewed relationship is so much stronger than it ever was before. I never knew Brad could be so gentle and

considerate… so attentive to every little detail of my comfort.”

I felt my heart sinking deeper with every word, but she wasn’t finished.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she continued with false sweetness, “I didn’t mean to rub it in your face. After all, you’ll be leaving eventually anyway! I might as well start getting used to my role as the Luna. This child will need a proper mother, after all-someone who understands this world, someone who belongs here.”

I felt my heart continue its descent into what felt like an endless, lightless abyss. The cold seemed to seep into my very bones, spreading through my entire body until I felt numb.

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11:18 Tue, Dec 30 GDA

After One Night with the Alpha