Though\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0met\u00a0her\u00a0before,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0obvious\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0who\u00a0I\u00a0was.\u00a0Being\u00a0in\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0pack,\u00a0most\u00a0knew who\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0by\u00a0now,\u00a0and\u00a0plus,\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0probably\u00a0smell\u00a0her\u00a0Alpha\u00a0all\u00a0over\u00a0me.\u00a0Someone\u00a0who\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0pack\u00a0wouldn\u2019t know\u00a0that\u00a0familiar\u00a0scent\u2026\u00a0such<\/p>\n
as\u00a0Kerris.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0great-\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0say,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0cut\u00a0her\u00a0off.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually,\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0just\u00a0leaving.\u00a0It\u00a0seems\u00a0we\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0wanted\u00a0here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sasha\u2019s face\u00a0fell,\u00a0and\u00a0Irene\u00a0looked\u00a0utterly\u00a0confused\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cW\u2026what?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0seriously\u00a0still\u00a0here?\u201d\u00a0Kerris\u00a0asked,\u00a0finally\u00a0remembering\u00a0that\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0standing<\/p>\n
right\u00a0there.\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0hear\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0shocked\u00a0breath.\u00a0\u201cDidn\u2019t\u00a0I\u00a0tell\u00a0you that\u00a0you\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0wanted<\/p>\n
>><\/p>\n
\u201cKerris?\u201d\u00a0Sasha\u00a0snapped.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0is\u00a0the meaning\u00a0of\u00a0this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy\u00a0discount\u00a0jeans\u00a0turned\u00a0her\u00a0off,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said,\u00a0rolling\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0apparently\u00a0Judy\u2019s\u00a0pregnant belly\u00a0will\u00a0require\u00a0extra\u00a0fabric\u00a0that\u00a0we\u00a0supposedly\u00a0cannot\u00a0afford.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kerris\u2019s\u00a0face\u00a0paled\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0then Nan,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0at\u00a0Irene\u2019s shocked\u00a0and\u00a0angered\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid\u00a0you seriously\u00a0tell\u00a0my\u00a0friends\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0shop\u00a0here?\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0asked,\u00a0her\u00a0blue\u00a0eyes\u00a0turning\u00a0into\u00a0icy\u00a0slits.\u00a0\u201cTo\u00a0their faces??\u00a0In\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0misunderstanding,\u201d\u00a0Sasha\u00a0said,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0dismiss\u00a0the\u00a0situation.\u00a0\u201cKerris\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0right\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0head\u00a0right\u00a0now.\u00a0Clearly,\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0understand.\u00a0You\u00a0know\u00a0them,\u00a0Miss\u00a0Irene?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0glancing\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0then<\/p>\n
back\u00a0at\u00a0Irene.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0just\u00a0raised\u00a0my\u00a0brows,\u00a0not\u00a0wanting\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0into\u00a0it\u00a0with\u00a0someone\u00a0who\u00a0thinks\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0better<\/p>\n
1\/5<\/p>\n
1:35\u00a0PM\u00a0Wed\u00a01\u00a0Oct<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0758<\/p>\n
than\u00a0us.<\/p>\n
4336<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
\u201cKnow\u00a0them?\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cJudy\u00a0is\u00a0marrying\u00a0my\u00a0father\u00a0and\u00a0carrying his\u00a0baby.\u00a0Of\u00a0course,\u00a0I<\/p>\n
know\u00a0them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kerris\u00a0gasped\u00a0and\u00a0covered\u00a0her mouth\u00a0with\u00a0her hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait,\u00a0what?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0quickly\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0wide\u00a0with alarm.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0Gavin\u00a0Landry\u2019s\u00a0rumored\u00a0mate??\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0shrugged\u00a0and\u00a0turned\u00a0away.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes\u00a0it\u00a0matter?\u00a0You\u2019ve\u00a0made\u00a0your\u00a0stance\u00a0quite\u00a0clear.\u00a0We\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0mistake!\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0nearly\u00a0screeched.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0am\u00a0so\u00a0sorry.\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0mean\u00a0for\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0this\u00a0how you\u00a0treat\u00a0all\u00a0your\u00a0customers?\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0cut\u00a0her\u00a0off,\u00a0holding\u00a0her\u00a0hand\u00a0up\u00a0to\u00a0stop\u00a0her\u00a0rambling\u00a0even\u00a0further.\u00a0\u201cBecause\u00a0as\u00a0we\u00a0said\u00a0earlier,\u00a0this\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0let\u00a0her\u00a0incompetence\u00a0turn\u00a0you\u00a0off\u00a0from my\u00a0boutique,\u201d\u00a0Sasha\u00a0said\u00a0nervously.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0this\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Landry\u00a0in\u00a0any\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0way.\u00a0He\u00a0could\u00a0have\u00a0my\u00a0entire<\/p>\n
business\u00a0shut\u00a0down\u00a0in\u00a0seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0that\u00a0to\u00a0you,\u00a0Sasha,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said,\u00a0folding\u00a0her\u00a0arms\u00a0across her\u00a0chest.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0believe\u00a0you\u2019d hire\u00a0someone\u00a0so stupid\u00a0as\u00a0your\u00a0assistant\u2026\u00a0and not\u00a0educate\u00a0her\u00a0on\u00a0matters\u00a0like\u00a0this.\u00a0She\u00a0should\u00a0have\u00a0known\u00a0who\u00a0Judy\u00a0was\u00a0as soon\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0walked\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0door.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u00a0of\u00a0course.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0so\u00a0sorry.\u00a0It\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0happen\u00a0again\u2026\u201d\u00a0Sasha\u00a0said\u00a0before\u00a0turning\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0teary-\u00a0eyed\u00a0Kerris.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0fired.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cW\u2026what?!\u201d\u00a0Kerris\u00a0gasped.\u00a0\u201cIt\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0mistake!\u00a0You\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0fire\u00a0me\u00a0over\u00a0a\u00a0mistake!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0just\u00a0did.\u00a0Pack\u00a0your\u00a0things\u00a0and\u00a0leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kerris\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0cry\u00a0uncontrollably\u00a0and\u00a0begged\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0job\u00a0as\u00a0Sasha\u00a0walked\u00a0towards\u00a0her\u00a0office.\u00a0Sasha\u00a0was\u00a0furious\u00a0and\u00a0needed\u00a0a moment to\u00a0gather\u00a0her\u00a0thoughts,\u00a0but\u00a0Kerris\u00a0was\u00a0determined\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0her job.<\/p>\n
2\/5<\/p>\n
1:35\u00a0PM\u00a0Wed\u00a01\u00a0Oct<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0758<\/p>\n
48%\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
I\u00a0would\u00a0have\u00a0laughed\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0so\u00a0worried\u00a0about\u00a0Irene.\u00a0The\u00a0second\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0alone\u00a0again,\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0shoulders\u00a0slumped,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry\u00a0you girls\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0deal\u00a0with\u00a0that,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0sighed.\u00a0\u201cIt\u00a0should\u00a0have\u00a0never\u00a0happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0fine,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cJust\u00a0glad\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0dealt\u00a0with.\u00a0Now,\u00a0let\u2019s\u00a0go\u00a0through\u00a0these\u00a0amazing<\/p>\n
outfits.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0began\u00a0to\u00a0browse\u00a0the\u00a0racks\u00a0of\u00a0gorgeous\u00a0dresses,\u00a0hoping to\u00a0find\u00a0the\u00a0perfect\u00a0maid\u2013of-<\/p>\n
honor\u00a0dresses\u00a0and\u00a0bridesmaids\u2018\u00a0dresses.<\/p>\n
Irene\u00a0looked\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0lost\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0ground.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0stepped\u00a0closer\u00a0to\u00a0her,\u00a0concern\u00a0evident\u00a0on my\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0softly,\u00a0drawing\u00a0her\u00a0attention\u00a0to\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cEverything\u00a0okay?\u00a0You\u00a0seem\u00a0off?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0nibbled\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0lower\u00a0lip,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0she\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0okay,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0ruin\u00a0your\u00a0day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0really\u00a0concerned;\u00a0my\u00a0chest\u00a0tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0it\u00a0Chuck?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0thought\u00a0about\u00a0it\u00a0for a\u00a0moment,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0she\u00a0finally\u00a0nodded,\u00a0tears\u00a0filling\u00a0her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0is\u00a0it?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her,\u00a0trying\u00a0to get her\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0to\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0got\u00a0into an\u00a0argument,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0softly,\u00a0giving\u00a0me\u00a0a small\u00a0shrug.\u00a0\u201cHe\u00a0said\u00a0he\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0be\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0next\u00a0few\u00a0days\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0work\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0calling\u00a0to\u00a0tell\u00a0me\u00a0that<\/p>\n
he\u00a0loves\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0upset\u00a0and\u00a0we\u00a0got\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0small fight\u00a0over\u00a0it,\u00a0resulting\u00a0in\u00a0him\u00a0hanging\u00a0up\u00a0on<\/p>\n
me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u00a0Nan\u2026\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0so\u00a0sorry.\u00a0I\u00a0know\u00a0what\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0like\u00a0to\u00a0argue\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0mate.\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0wish\u00a0it\u00a0on<\/p>\n
anyone,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0wrapping\u00a0an\u00a0arm\u00a0around\u00a0her\u00a0shoulders.\u00a01<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0not it\u2026\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0whispered\u00a0weakly.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0called\u00a0him\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0apologize\u2026 and\u00a0a\u00a0woman<\/p>\n
3\/5<\/p>\n
1:35\u00a0PM\u00a0Wed\u00a01\u00a0Oct<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0758<\/p>\n
answered.\u00a0Said\u00a0Chuck\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0shower\u00a0now\u00a0and\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
My\u00a0heart\u00a0slammed\u00a0into\u00a0my\u00a0stomach.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0gasped,\u00a0not\u00a0believing\u00a0what\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0saying.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0think\u00a0Chuck\u00a0is\u00a0cheating\u00a0on\u00a0me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
48%<\/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 758 Though\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0met\u00a0her\u00a0before,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0obvious\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0who\u00a0I\u00a0was.\u00a0Being\u00a0in\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0pack,\u00a0most\u00a0knew who\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0by\u00a0now,\u00a0and\u00a0plus,\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0probably\u00a0smell\u00a0her\u00a0Alpha\u00a0all\u00a0over\u00a0me.\u00a0Someone\u00a0who\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0pack\u00a0wouldn\u2019t know\u00a0that\u00a0familiar\u00a0scent\u2026\u00a0such as\u00a0Kerris. \u201cThat\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0great-\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0say,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0cut\u00a0her\u00a0off. \u201cActually,\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0just\u00a0leaving.\u00a0It\u00a0seems\u00a0we\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0wanted\u00a0here.\u201d […]<\/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 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