Chapter 45\u00a0<\/p>\n
Third Person POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is your boat?\u201d Ellie said in disbelief as they approached the gangplank of the enormous yacht.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you think I was talking about a fishing boat?\u201d Lance laughed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is like\u2026 a floating house. Or a city block. I don\u2019t even know what to compare it to-it\u2019s huge.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it\u2019s\u2026 it\u2019s very big,\u201d Lance said, still laughing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rae stared up at the boat, her excitement steadily growing. Oh my God, this is going to be so perfect.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure this guy is even going to show up?\u201d Lance asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure,\u201d Rae answered confidently. \u201cI made sure to invite the girl he\u2019s been sneaking around with. And Steph is away on a work trip this weekend.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds like the perfect setup,\u201d Lance commented, looking almost impressed. \u201cWell, let\u2019s get aboard before the guests start to arrive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He motioned for them to walk ahead of him. Ellie and Rae looked around in awe as they boarded the luxurious yacht. Everything was perfectly clean and maintained; there was a pool on the main deck along with a full bar, and music was already playing through the sound system.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The only thing Ellie had ever seen that compared to this was in movies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to prepare for the guests,\u201d Lance said, \u201cbut please, make yourselves at home. The bartender\u2019s already here, so if you want a drink, all you have to do is ask.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He walked away, leaving Rae and Ellie to prepare to put their plan into action.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t long before guests began to arrive. The music was blaring through the speakers as people danced, drank, and swam. Ellie could see why these parties were so popular-everyone seemed to be having an amazing time. Even she couldn\u2019t deny that she was enjoying herself as they waited for their target to arrive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rae was two cocktails deep and kept insisting they were the best drinks she\u2019d ever had, to the point that Ellie finally broke down and ordered a non-alcoholic version.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had to admit, it was really good.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellie was in the middle of describing the drink to Rae when heir target finally arrived. He was a tall man with dark hair and stubble, light eyes, and a charming smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellie looked at him suspiciously, but there was no moment of recognition, just like there hadn\u2019t been for anyone else. It was frustrating, but she trusted Rae\u2019s judgment. If he was convinced this creep was cheating on their friend, Ellie was going to do everything she could to expose him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was nothing she hated more than a cheater.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe it was just because of the hell Nolan had put her through, but either way, she wasn\u2019t about to let this guy get away with it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the guy?\u201d Ellie asked, pointing him out in the crowl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, that\u2019s him,\u201d Rae confirmed. \u201cCreep actually showed up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that was the plan. What about his mistress? Is she here yet?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, she\u2019s over by the pool. I\u2019ve been watching her for the last few minutes,\u201d Rae replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 45\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I guess it\u2019s showtime,\u201d Ellie said, walking back toward the bar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She ordered two drinks and handed one to Rae, who took it as she approached the woman. Ellie could hear her greeting the mistress excitedly and offering the drink as the two of them stood chatting together. Then Ellie made her way over to the man.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething about you looks familiar,\u201d she said with a polite smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Ellie. I haven\u2019t seen you since your accident. How have you been?\u201d he replied, looking her over curiously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting better, but unfortunately my memories are still pretty mixed up. But I swear I know your face,\u201d Ellie said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m Jack, Stephanie\u2019s fianc\u00e9,\u201d he explained, holding his hand out to shake hers before realizing she was holding two drinks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellie smiled and put the alcoholic drink in his hand instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a hell of a handshake,\u201d he joked, taking a sip of the cocktail.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to make a good impression,\u201d Ellie replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They both laughed, and Ellie spent a few minutes making small talk with him before she heard footsteps approaching from behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Right on cue, Rae and the mistress were approaching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my gosh, Jack! Ellie! It\u2019s so good to see you,\u201d Rae said, sounding genuinely excited. \u201cI didn\u2019t know you were going to be at this party.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rae and Ellie exchanged amused looks as Jack and his mistress immediately greeted each other and fell into a comfortable conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The four of them talked for a little while, but it didn\u2019t take long for Jack and his mistress to slip away into the crowd. They were gone for only a few minutes before Lance seemed to materialize from the dancing crowd and approach Ellie and Rae.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u2019s your plan going?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOff without a hitch. You can show us that surveillance footage on your phone, right?\u201d Ellie replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lance pulled his phone out, opening his security app and swiping through the camera feeds for a moment before pausing. He shook his head with a wry smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey didn\u2019t even make it out of the hallway,\u201d he said, turning the phone to show Rae and Ellie.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The footage clearly showed Jack and his mistress standing in the hallway outside the bathrooms, making out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at that,\u201d Rae said, shaking her head in disbelief and disgust.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd his face is clear as day. Those must have been some expensive cameras,\u201d Ellie added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were,\u201d Lance said. \u201cI\u2019ll text you the footage so you can show it to your friend. Congratulations, you\u2019ve just broken up a wedding.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat wasn\u2019t the point-\u201d Ellie started.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it was,\u201d Lance cut her off before she could say more. But for a good reason. You\u2019re keeping your friend from marrying a creep.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0719\u0719\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, I wish it didn\u2019t have to come to this. I don\u2019t get why people do this. Why tell someone you love them if\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 45\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
there\u2019s someone else you want more?\u201d Rae asked, seeming genuinely confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody\u2019s reason is different,\u201d Ellie replied. \u201cBut it\u2019s probably a good thing you don\u2019t understand it. It means. you don\u2019t have the mind of a cheater.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lance nodded in agreement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess I should probably thank you,\u201d Ellie said, looking up at Lance. \u201cYou helped organize this whole thing, and without that security footage we wouldn\u2019t have the proof we need. So\u2026 thank you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, you could always thank me with a dance,\u201d Lange said hopefully.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellie shook her head. \u201cNot happening. You\u2019re just going to have to settle for me telling you that you\u2019re not as bad as I thought.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s still a pretty good thank you,\u201d Lance said with a smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door to Nolan\u2019s office in the pack house opened, and a nervous-looking beta stepped inside. He was wringing his hands as Nolan\u2019s icy eyes lifted from the paperwork and fixed on him, expression unreadable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you need?\u201d Nolan asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, I\u2026 I need to share some concerning news,\u201d the beta said reluctantly. \u201cWe\u2019ve had people keeping an eye on Ellie, just as you requested, making sure she\u2019s not getting up to anything too questionable and, well-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSpit it out,\u201d Nolan said impatiently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Alpha\u2026 Ellie was seen boarding Lance\u2019s boat tonight. It appears she\u2019s attending one of his parties as we speak.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you\u00a0<\/p>\n
P\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A Cold Marriage That Turned Warm 45 Chapter 45\u00a0 Third Person POV\u00a0 \u201cThis is your boat?\u201d Ellie said in disbelief […]<\/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":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-unremembered-mate-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23614","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=23614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23614\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}