Chapter 0316 Chapter 0316 Ella POV I could hardly speak for the rest of the drive. My mind was reeling from so many things, but mostly from the fact that Alexander was finally going to talk to me. He was finally going to tell me what the hell had been going on.
As much as I had wanted thisâas much as I had begged him for answersânow that I knew they were coming, I was terrified.
Whatever he was about to tell me could change everything. It could ruin everything.
I didnât know if I could handle that.
If I were honest with myself, I didnât want things between Alexander and me to change. He had been the only steady presence in my life for a long time now, which was such an absurd thought that it almost made me laugh.
It wasnât real though. If he couldnât trust me after I confessed everything about the original timeline, then he never would. And I couldnât allow myself to live in fear again, waiting for the day that he would decide I was in the way...
He wasnât the same as David, and yet the fear lingered. I knew that it would never vanish until Alexander was honest with me.
We made it back to the apartment, and Alexander locked the door behind us, pressing something into the keypad that I assumed wouldnât allow any override from someone like August. He was ensuring that our conversation wouldnât be interrupted.
Then he walked into the kitchen and began fixing himself a drink. That alone told me how serious this was.
I followed him and sat at the counter, waiting patiently as he moved with deliberate, almost robotic movements. He set a cocktail in front of me and then took a long swig straight from the bottle of whiskey.
Dread coiled tightly in my chest. Whatever this was, it was bad.
âIf this is too much...â I started, my voice weak.
Alexander held up his hand, cutting me off. âNo. Youâre right. Itâs time for you to know. I thought I was protecting you by keeping this all inside, but clearly, thatâs not enough.â He smiled tensely and sank down onto the stool across from me. âBesides, youâve shared your secrets with me. Itâs only fair I do the same.â
He looked me straight in the eye, his gaze unwavering. âYouâre involved now, whether I like it or not.â
âInvolved in what?â I whispered, my heart thudding painfully.
He exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumping. âLetâs start from the beginning.â He paused, his eyes darkening. âI know youâve noticed the tension between me and my family.â
I nodded slowly, completely unprepared for the direction this conversation was taking.
Alexander looked at me as he spoke, though his gaze didnât quite meet mine. I could tell he was uncomfortable, his voice strangely quiet as he began.
âWhen I was young, I always believed I had the perfect family. My parents were deeply in love. Michael was a great brother.
Everything was... perfect.â His expression tightened. âAnd then, when I was fifteen, my dad died.â
My heart ached at his words, but I held back from speaking. He didnât want my comfort right now, and I didnât want to interrupt his story.
He smiled sadly. âThatâs when I found out the truth. Dianaâs not my mom. She treats me the way she does because... Iâm not hers. I think sheâs always resented that, even though she does a pretty good job of hiding it.â
1/2 Chapter 0316 +25 BONUS My eyes widened as I stared at him in disbelief. That would certainly explain why Diana treated Alexander the way she did. Did she want Michael to become the heir instead?
He was so young when their father died. It wouldâve been too much pressure to put on a child. Still, I kept my thoughts to myself, letting Alexander tell his story his way