Chapter\u00a0752\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0nodded,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0thoughtful.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0happened\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0if\u00a0you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0mind\u00a0me\u00a0asking?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly,\u00a0we\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0sure,\u201d\u00a0Selene\u00a0said\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0started\u00a0towards\u00a0the corridor.\u00a0I\u00a0followed\u00a0after\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cIt\u00a0happened\u00a0shortly\u00a0after\u00a0Lila\u2019s\u00a0birth.\u00a0She\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0so\u00a0vocal\u2026\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0soothing\u00a0thing\u00a0I had\u00a0ever\u00a0heard.\u00a0But\u00a0then\u00a0she just\u00a0stopped\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd\u00a0you\u00a0never\u00a0figured\u00a0out\u00a0why?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0mean\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0tone\u00a0to sound\u00a0accusatory,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0wished\u00a0I could\u00a0swallow\u00a0it\u00a0back\u00a0down.\u00a0Selene\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0seem\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0any\u00a0offence over\u00a0it,\u00a0though.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0just\u00a0shook\u00a0her\u00a0head,\u00a0a\u00a0sad\u00a0expression\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0tried\u00a0all\u00a0we\u00a0could\u2026\u00a0eventually,\u00a0it\u00a0learned\u00a0to\u00a0live with\u00a0the\u00a0new\u00a0normal,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0explained.\u00a0\u201cCome on\u2026\u00a0let\u00a0me\u00a0show\u00a0you around\u00a0further\u00a0so we\u00a0can\u00a0give\u00a0the\u00a0men\u00a0some\u00a0time\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0further.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0glanced\u00a0over\u00a0my\u00a0shoulder\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0closed\u00a0dining\u00a0hall\u00a0door.\u00a0Biting\u00a0my\u00a0lip,\u00a0I\u00a0nodded\u00a0and\u00a0followed\u00a0Selene<\/p>\n
further\u00a0away.<\/p>\n
Gavin\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
The\u00a0dining\u00a0hall\u00a0was empty\u00a0without\u00a0the\u00a0others,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0feel\u00a0any\u00a0lighter.\u00a0If\u00a0anything,\u00a0the\u00a0silence\u00a0pressed\u00a0harder now\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0alone\u00a0with\u00a0Zachary\u00a0Backwell.\u00a0The\u00a0man\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0moved\u00a0from\u00a0his seat\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0head\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0table,\u00a0posture\u00a0straight,\u00a0hands\u00a0folded\u00a0neatly\u00a0before him\u00a0as\u00a0though\u00a0the\u00a0entire\u00a0evening\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0nothing\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0a\u00a0prelude.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0suppose\u00a0it\u00a0was.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour\u00a0father\u00a0would\u00a0have\u00a0stormed\u00a0out by\u00a0now,\u201d\u00a0Zachary\u00a0said\u00a0at\u00a0last,\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0calm,\u00a0almost\u00a0conversational.\u00a0\u201cHe\u00a0never\u00a0had\u00a0much\u00a0patience\u00a0for\u00a0theatre.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0right;\u00a0my\u00a0father\u00a0was\u00a0too\u00a0serious\u00a0at\u00a0times,\u00a0and\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0found\u00a0his\u00a0time\u00a0was\u00a0being\u00a0wasted,\u00a0he\u00a0would\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0gone.\u00a0I\u00a0tend\u00a0to\u00a0give\u00a0people\u00a0the\u00a0benefit\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0doubt\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0make\u00a0my\u00a0judgments.\u00a0He\u00a0always\u00a0said\u00a0that\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0one\u00a0downfall one\u00a0day,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0made\u00a0me\u00a0wonder\u00a0at\u00a0this\u00a0moment\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0right.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0thing\u00a0you\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0invite\u00a0him\u00a0to\u00a0dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
This\u00a0earned\u00a0a\u00a0slight\u00a0chuckle\u00a0from\u00a0Zachary.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelieve\u00a0me,\u00a0if\u00a0ghosts\u00a0could\u00a0dine,\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0be\u00a0here,\u201d\u00a0Zachary\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0seriously,\u00a0Gavin.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0impressed\u00a0with\u00a0you.\u00a0I\u00a0might\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0radar\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0time,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0living\u00a0under\u00a0a\u00a0rock.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0keeping\u00a0updates\u00a0on\u00a0you,\u00a0and\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0built\u00a0quite\u00a0a\u00a0reputation.\u00a0You\u2019ve\u00a0taken\u00a0the\u00a0Landry Foundation\u00a0further\u00a0than\u00a0I<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0752<\/p>\n
had\u00a0ever\u00a0seen\u00a0it\u00a0and\u00a0all\u00a0without\u00a0the\u00a0help\u00a0of\u00a0your\u00a0father.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0proud\u00a0of.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0like\u00a0speaking\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0father\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0man\u00a0who\u00a0turned\u00a0his\u00a0back\u00a0on\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0point,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0my\u00a0voice\u00a0coming\u00a0out\u00a0gruffer\u00a0than\u00a0I\u00a0meant\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
Zachary\u00a0leaned\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0chair,\u00a0studying\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0point\u00a0is\u00a0simple,\u00a0Gavin.\u00a0The\u00a0past\u00a0is\u00a0over.\u00a0The\u00a0Moon\u00a0Gem\u00a0is\u00a0back\u00a0where\u00a0it\u00a0belongs.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0entirely\u00a0sure\u00a0the\u00a0details\u00a0of\u00a0how\u00a0my\u00a0daughter\u00a0received\u00a0it,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0going ot\u00a0complain\u00a0now\u00a0that\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0our\u00a0family.\u00a0I\u00a0know\u00a0it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0your\u00a0fault\u00a0as\u00a0to\u00a0how\u00a0it\u00a0ended\u00a0up\u00a0in\u00a0your family.\u00a0You\u00a0were\u00a0a\u00a0teenager\u00a0when\u00a0it\u00a0happened.\u00a0The\u00a0feud\u00a0that\u00a0formed\u00a0between\u00a0our\u00a0families\u00a0died\u00a0with\u00a0your\u00a0father,\u00a0and\u00a0now\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0gem\u00a0has\u00a0returned,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0ready\u00a0to\u00a0put\u00a0the\u00a0past\u00a0where\u00a0it\u00a0belongs\u2026\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0past.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0if\u00a0I could\u00a0trust\u00a0him,\u00a0but\u00a0his\u00a0words\u00a0were\u00a0sincere,\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0relaxed\u00a0a\u00a0little.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0this\u00a0why\u00a0you\u00a0came\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0hiding?\u00a0To\u00a0reconcile\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Landry\u00a0family?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u00a0and\u00a0because\u00a0my\u00a0family\u00a0deserves\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0being\u00a0stuck\u00a0in\u00a0the\u2026\u00a0shadow\u00a0region\u2026\u00a0as\u00a0you\u00a0call\u00a0it.\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0make a\u00a0business\u00a0plan,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0involved\u00a0in\u00a0that\u00a0plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0involve\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0business?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cAfter\u00a0years\u00a0of\u00a0silence?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve\u00a0proven\u00a0yourself\u00a0more\u00a0capable,\u00a0Gavin.\u00a0The\u00a0Landry\u00a0name\u00a0holds\u00a0weight,\u00a0even\u00a0beyond\u00a0these\u00a0walls.\u00a0With\u00a0my\u00a0family\u00a0stepping\u00a0back\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0light,\u00a0I\u00a0want\u00a0an\u00a0ally\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0world\u00a0already\u00a0trusts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAn\u00a0ally,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0repeated,\u00a0my\u00a0voice\u00a0flat.\u00a0\u201cOr\u00a0a\u00a0pawn.\u201d<\/p>\n
His\u00a0gaze\u00a0sharpened,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0rise\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0bait.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u00a0depends\u00a0entirely\u00a0on\u00a0you.\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0leaned\u00a0forward,\u00a0folding\u00a0his\u00a0hands\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0table.\u00a0\u201cThink\u00a0on\u00a0it.\u00a0The\u00a0Blackwells\u00a0are\u00a0back,\u00a0and\u00a0this\u00a0time,\u00a0we\u00a0will\u00a0not\u00a0be\u00a0content\u00a0with\u00a0shadows.\u00a0The\u00a0question,\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0is\u00a0whether\u00a0you\u00a0intend\u00a0to\u00a0and\u00a0beside\u00a0us\u2026\u00a0or\u00a0in\u00a0our\u00a0way.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0held\u00a0his\u00a0stare,\u00a0refusing\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0away.\u00a0My wolf\u00a0pressed\u00a0against\u00a0my\u00a0skin,\u00a0restless,\u00a0already deciding\u00a0for\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0nothing.\u00a0Because\u00a0the\u00a0weight\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0words\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0just\u00a0about\u00a0me,\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0body,\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0feel\u00a0Judy,\u00a0unsettled,\u00a0shaken\u2013somewhere\u00a0deeper\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0manor,\u00a0her\u00a0presence\u00a0tugging\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0like a\u00a0thread\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0afford\u00a0to\u00a0lose.<\/p>\n
And\u00a0I\u00a0knew,\u00a0whatever\u00a0Zachary\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0was\u00a0planning,\u00a0it\u00a0would\u00a0rage\u00a0us\u00a0both\u00a0straight\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0fire.<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 752 Chapter\u00a0752\u00a0 Selene\u00a0nodded,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0thoughtful. \u201cShe\u00a0is.\u201d \u201cWhat\u00a0happened\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0if\u00a0you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0mind\u00a0me\u00a0asking?\u201d \u00a0 \u201cHonestly,\u00a0we\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0sure,\u201d\u00a0Selene\u00a0said\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0started\u00a0towards\u00a0the […]<\/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-21821","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\/21821","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=21821"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21821\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}