Chapter 81

Chapter 81

For two days after we returned with the last of the wedding dresses, I did not hear from Andrew. I messaged him through text and on social media, but he did not respond. I called him, but he did not pick up the phone.

I started to worry. Had something happened to Andrew? Was he mad at me?

me,

I couldn’t help thinking about how he acted on the drive to Eliza’s house. He had been so quiet, and even though he had said that it wasn’t about I had a feeling that I was partly responsible for it. I was probably just being paranoid, but I had to know that he was all right–that we were all right.

After work, I drove straight to Andrew’s mansion. A part of me told me that I should leave him alone, let him have some space, but the more dominant part. of me said that I needed to talk to him. Of course, Susan decided to not weigh in on this matter, preferring to let me fight it out with myself.

When I arrived at the mansion, security buzzed me through the gate without any problems. I took that as a positive sign; at least Andrew was not shutting me out. That only made it all the more confusing as to why he wasn’t responding to any of my communications.

Parker answered the door, as always, though something looked different about it. Bags under his eyes indicated a severe lack of sleep, and the butler’s usually pristine posture slacked slightly–not much, just enough for a keen eye to notice. It alarmed me to see Andrew’s head of staff so clearly overwhelmed and burdened by something.

“Greetings, Ms. Blanchard,” he said, his voice trying to hide the strain that he felt.

“Hello, Parker,” I said uncertainly. “Is Andrew home?”

Parker nodded.

“His Highness is…in his home office right now, if you wish to see him.”

Something about the way Parker spoke made me hesitate to continue, but It had a mission, and I was determined to figure out what was going on at the Alpha King’s mansion.

“I would like to see him, if that’s all right.”

Chapter 81

Parker cringed but nodded.

“Very well. Come with me, then.”

I followed Parker closely down the halls, careful not to step on his heels. Ant eerie silence filled the mansion, until we approached the study. The closer we got, the more clearly I could hear the voices of a man and woman–Andrew and Lisa–yelling back and forth about something.

My stomach sank as I got the nagging feeling that the arguing was probably about me.

Parker stopped abruptly before the guards and turned to face me.

“Good luck, Ms. Blanchard. And know that none of us-” he gestured to himself and the guards behind him- “agree with what she says about you.”

Parker turned back to the guards before I could respond.

“Ms. Blanchard, here to see His Highness, Andrew Dubois,” he declared.

The guards exchanged glances, as though they thought that it might be a horrid idea for me to enter, then stepped aside and opened the doors for us.

The yelling blared at me as Parker and I entered through the threshold. Andrew stood in front of his desk, trying to remain composed, while Lisa stood on the opposite side of the room, red–faced and on the verge of tears. I was starting to second–guess my decision to intrude on this very private

moment.

Parker cleared his throat loudly, and both Andrew and Lisa snapped their heads towards him. I wasn’t sure how he could remain so calm under such intense glares.

“Your Highness, Ms. Crystal Blanchard is here to speak with you,” he announced.

I waved shyly at Andrew. I tried to smile, but the atmosphere was so tense that I could barely manage to lift the corners of my l*ps without them trembling.

Andrew’s expression was hard. His jaw and n*eck clenched, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes were dark. His features softened slightly at the sight of me, but I still did not feel any more comfortable in his presence at that

moment.

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Chapter 81

“Hello, Crystal.” His voice was gruff, almost a growl, but I could tell he was attempting to temper it. “Now is probably not the best time-”

“No, now is the perfect time for her to join this conversation,” Lisa snapped. “Considering that she weaseled her way into our lives-”

“She did not ‘weasel‘ her way into anything.” Andrew snapped back.

“No, you’re right,” Lisa replied, glaring right at me. “She sleazed her way in.”

“You apologize right now, young lady!”

“Think about it, Father. She’s barely older than I am. Why else would she want be with you except to become the next Luna?”

Looking at Andrew, I could think of quite a few reasons why someone like me would want to be with him. If you added to that the way he treated me, then the possibility of becoming the next Luna–and revenge on Bob by becoming his future mother–in–law–just seemed like a big bonus. Of course, I wasn’t about to say any of that out loud.

Parker cleared his throat again, as though to remind us of his presence.

Andrew glanced at Parker and waved his hand dismissively.

“You’re excused, Parker,” he said.

Parker bowed and, with one last look at me, made a quick exit.

I took this break in the fighting to approach the quarrelers, my hands held up pacifyingly. I stood in the middle of the room, hoping to be out of reach of either of them, though especially Lisa. No use repeating our encounter at the self–defense class.

“I really don’t think this is necessary,” I said in the calmest, most neutral voice. that I could manage. “Andrew, Lisa is just concerned for you, as your daughter. And Lisa, I love Andrew-”

“Bullshit!” Lisa yelled. She charged a few feet closer to me, and I recoiled. “You don’t love him; you want to use him.”

Andrew stepped in front of me, taking a protective stance. His shoulders straightened, and his hands curled into fists. I doubted that he would attack his daughter, but I could tell that he was ready to stop her if she tried to attack

Chapter 81

“Lisa, you do not disrespect guests in my house this way,” he said in a firm, authoritative growl. “Apologize.”

I peeked at Lisa from behind Andrew. She stood tall, her feet spread apart in a fighting stance. She lifted her chin defiantly and stared her father in the eyes.

“No,” she said as firmly as her father.

Chills ran down my spine. I had never seen anyone stand up to someone of the Alpha King’s position like this before. I knew that Andrew had a soft spot. for Lisa, but I did not think that he would stand for insubordination.

“Get…out… of my….sight,” he said through clenched teeth.

Lisa stared at her father a few seconds longer, then she ducked her head and stormed out of the room, never again looking up. I released a breath that I hadn’t realized that I had been holding.

Andrew watched her retreating form and continued to stare at the empty. space where she had been for a few minutes longer without speaking.

Suddenly, he whipped around and k*ssed me hard on the l*ps. When he pulled away, I was gasping for air.

“I need to stay at your apartment for the night,” he said.

I nodded.

“Okay.”

We didn’t talk as he packed an overnight bag and the stuff that he needed for work the next day. We didn’t talk as we drove to my apartment. We didn’t talk as we brought his things into my apartment and ate warmed–up leftovers for dinner.

By the time we were getting ready for dinner, though, I knew we needed to talk. He had just had what I assumed was the biggest fight with his daughter that he’s ever had; he could not be okay. I needed to check on him.

“Andrew-”

Chapter 81

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said as he put on his silk pajamas.

“You need to talk about it,” I countered as I sl*pped on my nightgown.

“What’s there to talk about? The two women I care about most can’t stand each other. That’s all there is to it.”

“That, and the fact that it’s tearing you apart.”

I walked up to him and put one hand on his chest, the other on his cheek. Stroking his cheek gently, I reached up and gave him a gentle k*ss.

“I don’t want you to choose between us,” I said. “I know that will kill you.”

Andrew sighed and put his hands over mine.

“Lisa wants me to choose.”

My eyes welled up with tears.

“If you choose her, I’ll understand.”

He smiled sadly and k*ssed me on the forehead.

“Do you think I would be here right now if that were the case? I think if I give Lisa some time to cool down, she’ll come around.”

I flinched.

I’m not so sure about that, I thought.

“What if she doesn’t?”

“Then I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. Know, though, that I will not cut you out of my life.”

He tilted my head up and k*ssed my l*ps.

“I love you too much.”

I blushed. This was the first night that either of us had said, aloud, that we loved each other.

“I love you, too.”

Hopefully, that will be enough.