Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 280

Chapter 280

Natalia’s POV

Two more days passed after that fateful night in Karl and Celeste’s room. By the second day, Max was well enough to sit up again without dissolving into a coughing fit, which meant that the healers allotted him two hours of being in the wheelchair.

Jane and I spent those entire two hours with him in the plaza, pushing him around so he could see everything and listen to the sounds of the birds flitting through the holes in the ceilings. The sun was shining through the skylights, casting everything in a warm golden glow.

I was sitting on the fountain, gently rubbing my thumb across the back of Max’s small, pale hand while Jane was currently spinning in circles until she got dizzy. She’d been at this for a while now, trying to prove that she could do as many pirouettes as possible before she fell over.

“Look, Mommy! I did five pirouettes at once,” Jane grinned, coming to a stop and giving me a wobbly curtsy while trying not to collapse. Unfortunately, she lost the fight and dropped to the ground with a giggle, splaying her arms out wide as her dizzy eyes stared up at the ceiling.

“Very graceful,” I laughed. “But you’re going to make yourself sick spinning like that. In fact, looks like you already have.”

“I’m not sick. Max is the sick one.” Jane scrambled to her feet and rushed over, gripping the wheel on his chair. ” But he’s getting better now, right Max?”

Max nodded enthusiastically. “The healers said I might be able to walk a little bit tomorrow. Just for a few minutes.”

My chest warmed at seeing him so hopeful. The past few weeks had been hell, watching him waste away and not knowing if he’d ever get better. Now he was laughing and chattering with his sister like nothing had happened.

Jane was so excited she nearly began to bounce off the walls. “Ooh! Let’s make flower crowns,” she said, already grabbing Max’s wheelchair and beginning to push him over toward a planter filled with wildflowers nearby.

Max groaned, muttering, “Flower crowns again? Those are for girls!”

“They’re not just for girls! Boys wear them all the time, too! They’re pretty!”

“Boys aren’t supposed to be pretty, Jane,” Max sighed. “They’re supposed to be cool and handsome.”

Jane waved one hand dismissively at him as she peered into the planter to see which flowers were best for her art project. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. This is why boys don’t know anything.”

I snorted, shaking my head good–naturedly at them.

While the twins continued their search for flowers, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle like I was being watched. I turned to find that, indeed, I was. Helena was standing not far off, and when she saw me looking, she took a step forward.

“Natalia,” she said smoothly. “Might I have a word?”

I glanced over at the twins, who were still absorbed in their game, then shrugged and stood. “Sure.”

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Helena led me a few paces away and lowered her voice so the twins couldn’t overhear. “I understand there has been some… drama between my daughter and Karl.”

“Drama is one word for it,” I replied, folding my arms.

“Celeste just came to me, crying, and told me that Karl said he’s considering ending their engagement.” Helena’s fingers tightened around the fabric of her skirt. “I’m sure you can understand how concerning this is for our family,”

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