Chapter 59\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellie POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThree months,\u201d Kieran said, his voice soft. \u201cI know that seems like forever, but I think it\u2019s the best chance we have of getting you out of there without causing further issues. Do you think you can hang on that long?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had agreed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course I did. What else could I do? 1\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was going to take resources to get away from Nolan-resources that I didn\u2019t have, and that I wasn\u2019t willing to ask for from the people I knew who might be able to offer them. I couldn\u2019t put Rae in danger so directly by asking her to help me run away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And who else was I going to ask? Lance? Any resources he had access to would come from Nolan. It would be too risky. And honestly, I didn\u2019t really want to put him in that position either.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Kieran was from a different pack. He had plenty of influence and power, enough to protect himself from the fallout if Nolan ever did find out that he was involved.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then there was Cassian\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
It had crossed my mind to ask the Moonstone Pack for help. They seemed so kind, so concerned about my well- being. But there was something about the way they looked at me that made me hesitate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d been in my room for most of the morning, and finally ventured out because I was getting hungry. That\u2019s when I bumped into a man in a blue suit walking down the hallway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019m so sorry, Miss-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at him, and he stared back at me for what felt like an eternity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had fine lines around his eyes, mostly hidden by his glasses, but that was the only thing that gave away his age. Other than that, he hadn\u2019t changed much since I was a kid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Eastman,\u201d I said in shock. \u201cWhat the hell are you doing here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEllie, it is you. You look so grown up,\u201d he said, sounding Happy but shocked. \u201cIt\u2019s been, what, fifteen years since I\u2019ve seen you? I heard you\u2019d become the Luna of this pack. We were so excited when we found out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Eastman, what are you doing here?\u201d I asked again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I was summoned by Alpha Alaric,\u201d he explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy on earth would the Moonstone Alpha want to talk to the head of an orphanage?\u201d I asked with obvious confusion. His answer only gave me more questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell\u2026 actually, he was looking for information about you Mr. Eastman answered. He looked a little sheepish, as if I\u2019d just caught him doing something he shouldn\u2019t be doing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyes widened, and a small, surprised sound escaped me\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would he-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere you are,\u201d Lance\u2019s voice suddenly came from the staircase. \u201cI thought you were going to sleep all day.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d Mr. Eastman answered quietly. \u201cI have to go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
>>\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded in understanding. The look on his face told me everything. Whatever drama was going on here, he didn\u2019t want to be involved. And I couldn\u2019t blame him for that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 59\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTake care of yourself,\u201d I said. He took it as a dismissal and quickly walked down the hall to the stairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lance gave him a curious look as they passed each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho was that?\u201d he asked me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone who was visiting the Moonstone Pack,\u201d I answered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re getting visitors here?\u201d he asked, amused. \u201cI\u2019ll have to ask Cassian about it later.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shrugged dismissively, but my heart was racing. Why would the Moonstone Pack be looking into my past?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I remembered talking to them about the orphanage briefly, after the dinner incident a while ago, but why would they take it so seriously? Those two really seemed interested in my lost childhood memories, far more so than they should be.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I ask you a question?\u201d I asked Lance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, what\u2019s up?\u201d he asked, looking down at me curiously\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been hanging out with Cassian a lot lately. What\u2019s his deal?\u201d I asked, glancing at the end of the hall where the Moonstone pack\u2019s guest suite was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a loaded question,\u201d Lance laughed. \u201cShort answer is, I\u2019m not sure.\u201d He followed my gaze to the door, crossing his arms over his chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not helpful at all,\u201d I muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you asking?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI just\u2026 he seems very interested in me. I want to know why,\u201d I said honestly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Cassian had first approached me on the street, I thought he was trying to hit on me. But I didn\u2019t get that vibe from him anymore. We didn\u2019t interact much, though I could tell he wanted to. It almost felt like Nolan was trying to keep us apart. That just made me more curious about him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, that makes sense. I can ask him for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, don\u2019t make it weird. I\u2019m sure it\u2019s fine,\u201d I replied quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou seem more stressed than usual,\u201d Lance noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks for that,\u201d I said sarcastically.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m serious. You haven\u2019t left the house since that stupid party. I know Nolan was a prick, but isolating yourself isn\u2019t going to help.\u201d There was a look of genuine concern on Lance\u2019s face that kept me from responding with more dismissive sarcasm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not doing it by choice. Nolan\u2019s little spies aren\u2019t exactly subtle. Every time I leave my room, I can feel them watching me,\u201d I explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A dark look flashed over Lance\u2019s face before he covered it with a derisive scoff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s being a jealous ass. It\u2019s completely ridiculous considring-\u00a0<\/p>\n
}}\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat his mistress is flaunting their relationship to anyone that pays attention?\u201d I finished for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly. Look, let me take you out tonight. You need a break,\u201d Lance offered, his tone softening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going out with anyone just so Nolan\u2019s little hired stalkers can report to him about who I choose to spend my time with,\u201d I replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 59\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNolan won\u2019t have to know. Look, I grew up in the pack house. I know how to sneak out of here undetected,\u201d Lance said. A playful grin spread over his face as he saw my surprised reaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely. And I can make sure you get a night of freedom without Nolan ever finding out. I just need you to trust me a little bit,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust you? That\u2019s a big ask.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. But I think at this point you know that I\u2019m more reliable than you thought,\u201d he said seriously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated for a moment before answering. \u201cFine. I\u2019ll trust you, just this once. Don\u2019t make me regret it, Lance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t. I\u2019ll come back after dinner tonight. Keep your bedroom window open and listen for me,\u201d he instructed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The smile that spread over Lance\u2019s face was almost sweet before he turned to head back to the stairs. \u201cCome eat something for now. You can\u2019t hide in your room all the time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t tell me what to do,\u201d I replied. There was no heat to my words and we both knew it. I followed Lance down the stairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you had told me a month ago that I would voluntarily spend time with Nolan\u2019s annoying, playboy little brother I would have called you a fool. But a lot has changed wince my accident. Why should my relationship with Lance be any different.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We had just bonded over our shared dislike of Nolan. That was all. Right?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A Cold Marriage That Turned Warm 59 Chapter 59\u00a0 Ellie POV\u00a0 \u201cThree months,\u201d Kieran said, his voice soft. \u201cI know […]<\/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-23628","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\/23628","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=23628"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23628\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}