Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 124

Chapter 124

“Here’s the deal,” I went on, sighing. “I won’t release this recording if you stop conspiring against me. I’ll keep it to myself, and you can keep your darling Andrei. All you have to do is leave me alone.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll play this for Andrei. Tonight.” I offered her a thin, bitter smile. “I wonder how he’d react, knowing his beloved betrothed drugged his ex–wife and tried to frame her for adultery?”

She was quiet for a long moment, her eyes searching the ground as if for answers. Finally, she nodded. “Fine. You win, Natalia. I’ll stop.”

“Do we have a deal?”

“We have a deal,” she said coldly.

With that, I turned and walked away, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. For the first time in months, I felt like I had the upper hand. The recording was my ace in the hole, my insurance policy against whatever schemes Lilith might cook up in the future.

I didn’t trust that she would actually keep up her end of the bargain. But when she inevitably did pull another stunt, maybe at least she would face some fucking consequences for once. Assuming Andrei actually sided with me on the matter.

I was halfway back to the main festival area, searching for Damon, when my phone buzzed in my hand. Looking down, I saw Grace’s name on the screen. A FaceTime request.

My heart skipped a beat. I quickly ducked behind a tree and answered the call. “Grace? Is everything okay?”

Grace’s face appeared on the screen. She was smiling. “Everything’s fine, Natalia. Actually, I have a surprise for you.”

The camera panned down, and suddenly I was looking at two small faces–Max and Jane, snuggled up on either side of Grace in their pajamas.

“Mommy!” Jane squealed, pressing her face closer to the camera. “We wanted to say goodnight!”

Tears sprang to my eyes. After days of them refusing to talk to me, this was the last thing I’d expected—but it was exactly what I needed right now. “Hey, loves,” I managed, holding back tears. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“We miss you too,” Jane said.

Max beamed and opened his mouth, pushing his tongue into a loose tooth and making it wiggle. “Look, Mommy! I’m gonna lose my first tooth!”

I laughed, although tears blurred my vision. My little boy was losing his first tooth. I tried not to think about the fact that I’d probably miss that milestone because of this whole mess. “Well, I guess the Tooth Fairy will have to leave you a quarter,” I winked. “But she only visits little boys and girls who go to sleep on time, and it’s past your bedtime, isn’t it?”

Jane giggled. “Grace said we could stay up to say goodnight.”

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Chapter 124

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“Well, I’m glad she did.” I touched the screen, wishing I could reach through it and hug them. “Goodnight, my loves. Sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, Mommy,” Jane said. Max still didn’t speak, but he raised his hand and waved.

“I love you both,” I added. “So, so much.”

“Love you too,” Jane said. Then, to my surprise, Max whispered, “Love you, Mommy…”

…

Andrei

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