But\u00a0because\u00a0Irene\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0mate\u00a0before,\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0right\u00a0away\u00a0that\u00a0Chuck was\u00a0hers.\u00a0However,\u00a0Chuck,\u00a0though\u00a0he\u00a0feels\u00a0a<\/p>\n
connection\u00a0towards\u00a0Irene,\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0that\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0his\u00a0second\u00a0chance.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0heart\u00a0broke\u00a0for\u00a0Irene\u00a0because\u00a0that\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0so\u00a0difficult.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0so\u00a0sorry,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0tell\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
She just\u00a0shrugged\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0sad\u00a0smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0okay,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0told me,\u00a0even\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0it\u00a0wasn\u2019t.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0anyway,\u00a0it\u00a0would\u00a0mean\u00a0everything\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0if\u00a0you\u00a0could\u00a0come\u00a0to\u00a0the<\/p>\n
charity\u00a0banquet\u00a0with\u00a0me.\u00a0Please,\u00a0Judy,\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0anyone\u00a0I\u00a0can\u00a0ask.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0only\u00a0friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0sure\u00a0you\u00a0even\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0go\u00a0to\u00a0this\u00a0event\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0place?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cEspecially\u00a0with\u00a0Ethan\u2019s\u00a0family\u00a0being\u00a0there.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0groaned.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0remind\u00a0me,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0muttered.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0here.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0expected\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0Landry\u00a0Heir.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0raised\u00a0my\u00a0brows.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill\u00a0Matt\u00a0be\u00a0there\u00a0too,\u00a0then?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0shook\u00a0her\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s\u00a0too\u00a0young,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0explained.\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019ll\u00a0stay\u00a0home\u00a0with\u00a0Alex.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded,\u00a0still\u00a0pondering\u00a0this.\u00a0I\u00a0really\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0let\u00a0her\u00a0down,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0face\u00a0Gavin\u00a0and\u00a0Rachel\u00a0again.\u00a0My\u00a0stomach\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0knot\u00a0from\u00a0my\u00a0last\u00a0interaction\u00a0with\u00a0them.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0read\u00a0my\u00a0mind,\u00a0Irene\u00a0leaned\u00a0forward with\u00a0a\u00a0sly\u00a0smile\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0have\u00a0my\u00a0designer\u00a0make\u00a0a\u00a0gorgeous\u00a0dress\u00a0for\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0assured\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cSomething\u00a0that\u2019ll\u00a0knock\u00a0the\u00a0socks off\u00a0my\u00a0father.\u00a0He\u2019ll\u00a0regret\u00a0trading\u00a0you\u00a0in\u00a0for\u00a0little\u00a0Miss\u00a0Perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0really\u00a0gotten\u00a0the\u00a0chance\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0to\u00a0Irene\u00a0about\u00a0Rachel.\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0Rachel\u00a0had\u00a0come\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0mansion\u00a0once\u00a0or\u00a0twice\u00a0with\u00a0Gavin\/<\/p>\n
She\u00a0had\u00a0known\u00a0Irene\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0girl\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0assumed\u00a0it\u2019d\u00a0be\u00a0a happy\u00a0reunion.\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0hear\u00a0it\u00a0from\u00a0Irene\u00a0that<\/p>\n
Rachel\u00a0was\u00a0perfect\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0father,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0happy\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0returned,\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0kept\u00a0my\u00a0distance\u00a0from\u00a0Irene\u00a0these\u00a0last\u00a0few\u00a0weeks.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0seeing\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0face\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0mentioned\u00a0Rachel,\u00a0it\u00a0made\u00a0my\u00a0brows\u00a0raise\u00a0so\u00a0high\u00a0they\u00a0disappeared\u00a0through\u00a0my\u00a0hairline.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot\u00a0a\u00a0fan\u00a0of\u00a0her?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked her,\u00a0my\u00a0curiosity\u00a0getting\u00a0the\u00a0best\u00a0of\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0trust\u00a0her,\u201d\u00a0Rachel\u00a0muttered.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0honestly\u00a0surprised\u00a0my\u00a0father\u00a0does.\u00a0She\u00a0gives\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0nasty\u00a0feeling\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0pit\u00a0of\u00a0my<\/p>\n
stomach.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWeird,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0murmured.\u00a0\u201cMatt\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0said\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0535<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0ears\u00a0perked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0mention\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0brother.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u00a0did?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cSo,\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0in\u00a0agreement.\u00a0Neither\u00a0of\u00a0us\u00a0wants\u00a0our\u00a0father\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0with\u00a0that\u00a0woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0muttered\u00a0in\u00a0return.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0a\u00a0beat\u00a0of\u00a0silence,\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0face\u00a0sobered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u00a0is\u00a0Matt\u00a0doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0met\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0and decided\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0honest\u00a0with\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
+30\u00a0Bonus<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u00a0misses\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0better\u00a0if\u00a0you\u00a0both\u00a0keep\u00a0your\u00a0space\u00a0from\u00a0each\u00a0other.\u00a0His\u00a0wolf\u00a0calmed\u00a0down\u00a0a\u00a0lot,\u00a0and<\/p>\n
between\u00a0Gavin\u00a0and\u00a0me\u00a0giving\u00a0him\u00a0shifting\u00a0and\u00a0control\u00a0lessons,\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0more\u00a0in\u00a0control\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0wolf\u00a0than\u00a0he\u00a0initially\u00a0was.\u00a0No\u00a0more<\/p>\n
accidental\u00a0shifting\u00a0or\u00a0letting\u00a0his\u00a0rage\u00a0get\u00a0the\u00a0best\u00a0of\u00a0him.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0very\u00a0strong\u00a0through;\u00a0when\u00a0he\u00a0ages,\u00a0he\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0powerful\u00a0wolf\u00a0for<\/p>\n
sure.\u00a0Just\u00a0like\u00a0Gavin.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGuess\u00a0it\u00a0runs\u00a0in\u00a0the family,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cDo\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0he\u2019ll\u00a0ever\u00a0forgive\u00a0me?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0thought\u00a0about\u00a0it\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0think\u00a0he\u00a0already\u00a0has,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cJust\u00a0give\u00a0it\u00a0some\u00a0time.\u00a0Once\u00a0things\u00a0start\u00a0slowing\u00a0down,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0him\u00a0again.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0nodded.\u00a0We\u00a0fell\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0comfortable\u00a0silence\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0while\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0cleared\u00a0her\u00a0throat\u00a0and\u00a0looked<\/p>\n
at\u00a0me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u00a0should\u00a0I\u00a0call\u00a0my\u00a0stylist\u00a0and\u00a0have\u00a0her\u00a0design\u00a0you\u00a0the\u00a0perfect\u00a0dress\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0event?\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0asked,\u00a0a\u00a0smile\u00a0lighting\u00a0up\u00a0her\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0another\u00a0beat\u00a0of\u00a0silence,\u00a0I\u00a0finally\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u00a0yeah,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0go.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0squealed happily\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0grabbed\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0to\u00a0text\u00a0her\u00a0stylist.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0regret\u00a0this,\u2018\u00a0she\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0happily.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0are\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0my\u00a0father\u00a0regret\u00a0ever\u00a0giving\u00a0you\u00a0up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 535 But\u00a0because\u00a0Irene\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0mate\u00a0before,\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0right\u00a0away\u00a0that\u00a0Chuck was\u00a0hers.\u00a0However,\u00a0Chuck,\u00a0though\u00a0he\u00a0feels\u00a0a connection\u00a0towards\u00a0Irene,\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0that\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0his\u00a0second\u00a0chance. My\u00a0heart\u00a0broke\u00a0for\u00a0Irene\u00a0because\u00a0that\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0so\u00a0difficult. \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0so\u00a0sorry,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0tell\u00a0her. She […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21603"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21603\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}