Alpha's Private Plaything (Elsa and Drake Stone) novel Chapter 147

Chapter 147

The upscale shopping center buzzed. I clutched my coffee cup like a

lifeline, caffeine being the only thing keeping me vertical after

another night of restless sleep. I’d come to pick up some herbal

supplements for my mother before visiting her at hospital. As I browsed through the display of imported remedies, a familiar voice

made my shoulders tense.

“Elsa! What a lovely surprise.”

I plastered on a smile and turned to see Miranda Stone, Drake’s stepmother, approaching with shopping bags hanging from her arms. Her warm smile was such a contrast to the cold Stone family

dynamics.

“Mrs. Stone,” I greeted her, unconsciously straightening my posture.

“How are you?”

“Oh, please, it’s Miranda,” she insisted, as she always did. “The house has been absolutely dreadful lately.” She lowered her voice, leaning in conspiratorially. “Marcus and Drake are barely speaking to each other over this Vera situation.” Her perfectly manicured nails tapped against her shopping bag.

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Chapter 147

I nodded sympathetically, even as my stomach twisted at Vera’s name.

My fingers tightened around the supplement bottle I was holding,

knuckles whitening.

“If those two keep butting heads like this…” Miranda sighed, adjusting her designer scarf. “Well, if he truly insists on choosing Vera as his mate, I suppose we’ll all just have to accept her eventually.”

I caught the flash of disappointment in her eyes. Miranda had never hidden her preference for me, despite my Omega status. She’d once told me, after too much wine at a company function, that I brought out a better side of Drake than anyone else could. What bullshit. If I brought out his better side, I’d hate to see his worst.

“Actually,” I said, seizing the opportunity, deliberately softening my voice, “I won’t be at Stone Industries anymore.”

Miranda’s eyes widened. “What? You’ve left? But you’ve been with

Drake for-”

“Ten years,” I finished, chewing my lower lip. “It was time for a

change.”

“Was it because of that girl?” Miranda asked, her voice dropping to a

whisper. “Did she make things difficult for you?”

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Chapter 147

I looked down, deliberately letting my expression fall, my shoulders

slumping slightly. “I’d rather not discuss the details. It was…” I let my

voice catch, “It just seemed like the right time to move on.”

“Oh, Elsa.” Miranda touched my arm gently. “I’m so sorry. I’ll speak to

Drake about this. And Marcus should know what’s happening.”

Perfect. I’d planted the seed exactly as I’d intended. I blinked rapidly, as if fighting back tears, while inwardly I felt a surge of satisfaction. If Miranda thought I’d been pushed out because of Vera, she might pressure Drake. The old Mrs. Stone–Drake’s grandmother–adored me too. Between them, they might make Drake’s life uncomfortable enough that he’d back off from sabotaging my career.

In the taxi heading to the hospital, I pressed my forehead against the cool glass window, watching the cityscape blur by. My reflection stared back at me, hollow–eyed and exhausted. The buildings gradually changed from the sleek glass towers of the business district

to the more subdued architecture of the medical quarter.

Would I have signed another contract with Drake if Vera hadn’t

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