Chapter 126\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellie POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
The caf\u00e9 was trendy, with glass walls at the front and a beautiful mural depicting wolves along the wall behind the outdoor seating area out back. The morning rush had already passed and the lunch rush hadn\u2019t started, so it wasn\u2019t busy at the moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still, I couldn\u2019t help but feel out of place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tugged at the sleeve of my dress as the hostess led me toward the private alcove where Kieran was waiting. A simple lunch, that\u2019s what he had promised. Just conversation to get to know each other, nothing political.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wasn\u2019t na\u00efve enough to believe that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kieran rose as I approached, every movement smooth, practiced. He was dressed in a tailored suit, his smile sharp but polished, as if he\u2019d worn it a thousand times before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He pulled my chair out for me like a gentleman, but his eyes didn\u2019t leave mine once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEllie,\u201d he said warmly. \u201cI was beginning to think you wouldn\u2019t come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI almost didn\u2019t,\u201d I admitted, sliding into the chair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He chuckled, settling opposite me. \u201cI admire your honesty. Most people would\u2019ve made up some polite excuse about traffic.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPolite excuses are a waste of breath,\u201d I muttered, reaching for the water glass set at my place. My hands were steady, though my pulse wasn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was such a reckless thing for me to do. I couldn\u2019t believe I was actually on a date with Kieran. If anyone recognized us together it could cause a scandal. But his offer wouldn\u2019t leave my head and my curiosity had gotten the better of me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The waiter appeared to take our orders, and Kieran dismissed him with the ease of someone born to command attention. As soon as we were alone again, his focus sharpened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to thank you for agreeing to meet me,\u201d he said. \u201cI know the idea I mentioned at the party was\u2026 unexpected.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
>>\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s one way to put it.\u201d I took a slow sip of water, buying myself a moment. \u201cIt\u2019s hardly an ordinary thing to propose marriage to a married woman,\u201d I pointed out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUnhappily married,\u201d he replied coolly. \u201cNolan makes you miserable, you can\u2019t deny that. The look on your face when he\u2019s near says it all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked down at the table cloth while I tried to think of a diplomatic response. He was right, to a degree. I was miserable with Nolan for a long time. But it was more complicated than that now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still I had to be careful how much I revealed. I didn\u2019t know if I could trust Kieran. I couldn\u2019t be sure how much of his charm was really meant to win me over and how much was meant to hide his true intentions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then again, he had been straight with me about his motivations for this. He hadn\u2019t attempted to convince me he was in love or that we belonged together. This was political, nothing more. We each had something to offer the other that could be beneficial.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It seemed too simple.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 126\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMarriage isn\u2019t something I can even consider right now, Kieran. Especially not for politics.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His smile didn\u2019t falter, though I saw the flicker of disappointment in his eyes. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect you to accept right away. I only wanted you to think about it. To see the possibilities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have thought about it.\u201d I set the glass down with a soft clink. \u201cAnd the possibilities look a lot like chains. I\u2019ve already lived through one arranged marriage, and it nearly broke me. I won\u2019t go back to that, not for anyone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the briefest second, something hardened in his gaze. Then the charm returned, smooth as silk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mistake me,\u201d he said gently. \u201cThis wouldn\u2019t be chains, Ellie. This would be freedom. Power. Security. Together, you and I could reshape this entire kingdom. No more elders trying to corner you, no more whispers about your worth. You\u2019d have protection, respect-\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd a husband I hardly know,\u201d I cut in. \u201cForgive me if that doesn\u2019t sound like freedom.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The silence stretched between us. His jaw flexed once before he leaned back in his chair, studying me like a puzzle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFair enough,\u201d he said finally. \u201cYou\u2019re cautious. I expected nothing less. But one day, you may find caution isn\u2019t enough.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words weren\u2019t a threat, not outright, but they left a chill in my bones. He had no idea how accurate his statement was. It wasn\u2019t just myself that I had to be cautious for. I needed to think of my family.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cassian couldn\u2019t take care of the twins forever. It wasn\u2019t fair of me to put that responsibility on him as much as I was already. I needed to find a safe home for them and the sooner the better. This arrangement with Nolan wasn\u2019t going to last much longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I needed an exit plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced a smile. \u201cLet\u2019s change the subject. You said this wasn\u2019t supposed to be political.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His lips curved, though it wasn\u2019t quite amusement. \u201cAlright, no politics. Let\u2019s talk about something else.\u201d He leaned forward, lowering his voice just slightly. \u201cTell me, Ellie-who helped you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath caught. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you ran,\u201d he clarified, his tone deceptively light. \u201cYou didn\u2019t vanish on your own. Someone helped you get out of Silver Fang and disappear. I\u2019ve always wondered who it was. A friend? A stranger? Or was it someone you still keep in touch with?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My fingers curled tight around the edge of the table. \u201cWhy are you asking me that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He tilted his head, eyes gleaming. \u201cBecause I remember that night. You called me, desperate, broken. You asked for help, and I offered it. I would\u2019ve given it, too, if you\u2019d trusted me. But instead, you vanished. So forgive me if my curiosity lingers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at him, searching for the angle. Was he warning me that he could expose the truth if he wanted to? Or was he genuinely wounded that I hadn\u2019t chosen him back then?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Either way, it made my skin crawl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t owe you that answer,\u201d I said finally, keeping my voice steady.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His smile returned, polite and disarming. \u201cNo, you don\u2019t. But someday, you might want to tell me anyway. Especially if you find yourself needing help again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The waiter returned then with our meals, breaking the tension. I barely touched the food, my stomach too tight to\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chape t\u00a0<\/p>\n
*25 #out\u00a0<\/p>\n
manage more than a few bites.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kieran kept the conversation light after that harmless anecdotes, charming observations-but beneath every word, I felt the weight of his earlier questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the meal finally ended, he stood and offered his hand to help me up. I ignored it, rising on my own\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thank you for the banch,\u201d I said, my tone polite but clipped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*ty pleasure.\u201d His eyes lingered on me, sharp and knowing \u201cI look forward to our next.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t promise there would be one. I just turned and walked away, my heels clicking sharply against the\u00a0<\/p>\n
obblestone floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside, the sunlight felt too bright, the air too thin. I drew in a deep breath, but the unease didn\u2019t leave me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Kieran had only wanted to charm me, I could have brushed it off. But the way he\u2019d brought up my disappearance -the way he reminded me of that call, of his knowledge-made it clear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t just offering protection. He was reminding me of the power he still held.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And I hated how unsettled that left me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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A Cold Marriage That Turned Warm 126 Chapter 126\u00a0 Ellie POV\u00a0 The caf\u00e9 was trendy, with glass walls at the […]<\/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-23695","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\/23695","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=23695"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23695\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}