Chapter 183: Chapter 184

Chapter 0184 Chapter 0184 “Not exactly.” I grimaced at the thought of Amanda and shook my head. “I don’t want to vent to you about something like this.”

“Does it have something to do with David, though?” she asked in a hushed tone, her voice dropping as if she didn’t want anyone to overhear. “Because since our last conversation about him, I’ve done some digging, and it’s surprisingly difficult to trace his movements. He’s definitely up to some shady stuff. I’m starting to think he’s not behind everything on his own. He’s got people helping him no doubt about it.”

“That’s not surprising,” I said with a weary sigh. “Earlier this morning, I got a text message from Amanda. It didn’t actually say anything–it was just a picture. Somehow, she and David found out what venue we’d booked for the wedding, and they stole it.

They bribed the venue to cancel our reservation and put them in our place. Same day and everything.” (1 “That’s just low,” Elizabeth said, her tone seething with anger. “What an underhanded thing to do.”

“Alexander seems very calm about it,” I admitted. “He’s assured me that we’ll find an even better venue, no problem. But I don’t know... We picked the best venue in the kingdom! Where else can we go? It’s really bothering me.”

“Of course it is,” Elizabeth said, her expression softening with understanding. “It’s not just about the venue. It’s about the stalking.

I mean, how did they even find out about it?”

“I have no idea.”

“I wonder...” Elizabeth trailed off, her voice thoughtful.

“Wonder what?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. I watched as her brow furrowed, her lips pressing together in deep thought. She was silent for a moment longer before she turned to me, her expression unusually serious.

“Could Amanda be the brains behind the operation?” she asked finally. “Do you think it’s possible that she’s the one pulling the strings?”

My mind flashed back to the original timeline–Amanda’s mocking voice, the cold, cruel way she’d forced the poison down my throat. Her merciless demeanor had left scars that time could never fully erase.

She was as cold–hearted as they came, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she was orchestrating everything alongside David, or even taking the lead.

“It’s possible,” I said, my lip curling in disgust as I tried to shake off the haunting memories. The thought of Amanda’s icy smile made my stomach churn. “I wouldn’t put anything past her.”

“I’ll start looking into her as well,” Elizabeth said with determination, her voice steady and resolute. “I promise you, Ella–they’re not going to get away with all of this. There has to be a way to prove what they’ve done, and I’d bet there’s even more going on than we know about right now.”

“You’re probably right,” I agreed, my tone heavy with unease. “We’ve been lucky so far that no one’s gotten seriously hurt. But if we don’t stop them, it’s only a matter of time before something worse happens.”

“I agree,” she said, her jaw tightening in shared concern.

A heavy silence fell between us as we continued weaving through the bustling shopping center. I could hear James following closely behind, his footsteps light but always present. I wondered how much of our conversation he’d overheard.

He always tried to give Elizabeth and me space when we were together, doing his best not to eavesdrop. But given the situation, staying close was part of his job.

1/2 Chapter 0184 +25 BONUS Not that I minded. James was discreet, loyal, and trustworthy. If he’d overheard everything, it wouldn’t change anything–

Alexander was already aware of the situation, and I trusted James implicitly.

Still, it was a relief to have Elizabeth on my side. I could see how angry she was on my behalf, and her resolve gave me a sense of hope. Between her and Alexander, I was confident we’d eventually uncover the truth.

But the sinking feeling in my gut refused to go away. Something told me Amanda and David were up to far more than we realized. The uncertainty gnawed at me, leaving me sick with worry.

“Now, about a gift for Alexander,” Elizabeth said suddenly, her cheerful tone breaking through the tension.

I blinked and looked up, startled by the sudden shift. She had turned around to face James, a bright smile lighting her features.

“We’re going to need your help figuring out exactly what to get him,” she declared.

James glanced between Elizabeth and me, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the concerned furrow in his brow. I could see the wheels turning in his mind–he was always calculating, always looking out for me, and it only reinforced how much I valued having him here.

Even with the nagging unease this morning’s events had caused, I knew I’d made the right decision to come today. Being surrounded by people I trusted, people who genuinely cared about my safety and well–being, was a balm to my frayed nerves.

Elizabeth linked her arm with mine, giving me a reassuring squeeze as we continued toward the next store. Don’t worry, Ella,”

she said with a mischievous grin. “By the time we’re done, Alexander’s going to have the perfect gift. He won’t know what hit him.”

Her lighthearted tone made me laugh, if only for a moment, and I let myself focus on the simple joy of spending time with friends.

For now, that would have to be enough.