Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
DYLAN\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt overwhelmed as the people who just arrived gathered all around things I don\u2019t exactly understand. Somehow, I feel like everything was and found myself bursting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStop!\u201d I shouted, and in an instant, the whole room became quig.\u00a0<\/p>\n
10 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everybody was talking simultaneously about moving too fast. Suddenly, I got too overwhelmed\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were all stunned and turned towards me at once. Even Huer, who was busy on his laptop, raised his head and looked at me with a dark face. He then looked at all the people as if he was checking if anybody did something wrong that warranted my reaction. My eyes widened in shock when he suddenly raised his hand holding a gun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me who pissed you off, little dove. And I\u2019m going to end their life right now,\u201d he announced coldly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Panic spiked through me so fast I almost couldn\u2019t breathe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWill you please stop that?\u201d I blurted, stepping forward before I could think. My feet felt rooted, but I made myself move. I put my hands out between him and the nearest planner like a thin shield. \u201cNobody. Please\u2013lower your gun.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a long beat he didn\u2019t move. His eyes were hard, pupils pinpoint, like a man standing on a cliff. Around us, the wedding team went quiet\u2013papers rustled, a glass clinked, and someone swallowed audibly. I could hear my own pulse in my ears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really have a habit of using your body as a shield, do you?\u201d His voice was low and dangerous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust like you have a habit of pointing your gun when you feel like it,\u201d I snapped, louder than I meant to. My voice shook. \u201cLower the gun.\u201d I repeated. I stepped closer, closing the small space between us. My heart was still racing, but I had to steady my voice. \u201cYou can\u2019t do that,\u201d I said quietly. \u201cYou can\u2019t make threats like that in front of people. It scares them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He smirked, \u201cAnd you\u2019re not?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Somehow, his question struck a chord deep inside me. He might be the most dangerous man I\u2019ve ever known, capable of things I couldn\u2019t even imagine, yet\u2026 Not once have I truly feared him. Despite everything I\u2019ve seen him do, I just know\u2014 somewhere deep in my gut\u2013that he would never hurt me. Not physically, at least.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can still feel the tension engulfing the entire room. No one dared to make afraid to make a mistake that may cost their lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
a\u00a0<\/p>\n
move. Everyone\u00a0<\/p>\n
And after what seems like an eternity, he finally lowered his gun\u00a0<\/p>\n
was\u00a0<\/p>\n
holding their breath,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, what seems to be the problem, little dove?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMake them leave,\u201d I answered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He frowned as his face darkened. He was glaring at me for a moment before he retreated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou heard her. Leave,\u201d he ordered, and everyone moved in a swift. It didn\u2019t even take more than five minutes before the whole room was empty. The only people left standing in the middle of the room were us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stood there, his hands in his pockets, looking at me with that dark expression that made my stomach twist. The silence between us was heavy\u2013too heavy. I could almost hear the ticking of his jaw as he clenched it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. \u201cI don\u2019t think we have to overdo this. We both know we\u2019re only pretending. There\u2019s no need to make it look so real. It\u2019s not like we are really going to ge married.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His\u00a0<\/p>\n
eyes narrowed dangerously, the kind of look that could make grown men beg for mercy. \u201cSays who?\u201d His voice was low but sharp as a blade.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
10 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d I said, standing my ground even though my voice wavered slightly. \u201cWe agreed that this is just for show. We\u2019re not really-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are getting married, Dylan,\u201d he cut me off, his tone cold, fina).\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. His gaze was burning into me now, intense and unreadable. \u201cYou can\u2019t be serious\u2026\u201d I whispered, unsure what to say.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He took a step forward, and instinctively, I stepped back\u2013untily back hit the wall. He didn\u2019t touch me, but the weight of his stare was enough to make me tremble.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019m very much serious, little dove,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked, stunned. \u201cWhat are you saying?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He tilted his head, his expression unreadable now, but his eyes\u2013hose cold, beautiful eyes\u2013were full of something I couldn\u2019t name. \u201cYou heard it right, baby,\u201d he murmured. \u201cYou\u2019ll be my wife. In name, and in papers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My lips parted. \u201cAre you out of your mind?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe, I am. And I\u2019ll be even more insane if you keep on rejecting me. You don\u2019t want that, do you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI just got out of my miserable marriage. You can\u2019t expect me to jump into another one just like that,\u201d I insisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His jaw tightened, the muscle flexing as he stared at me like he was barely keeping his temper in check. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just another marriage, Dylan,\u201d he said, his voice low and dangerous. \u201cYou think I\u2019m doing this for a show? For business? No. I\u2019m doing this because I want you\u2013because I can\u2019t stand the thought of any man touching you, even in your memories.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach dropped. The intensity in his tone wasn\u2019t something I could brush off. It wasn\u2019t empty jealousy\u2013it was obsession, raw and unfiltered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHunter\u2026\u201d I whispered, my throat suddenly dry. \u201cYou don\u2019t mean that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I mean every word,\u201d he countered. He leaned closer until I could feel his fresh minty breath brushing against my face, and our lips were only inches away from each other. \u201cYou think I don\u2019t know what that bastard did to you? You think I didn\u2019t watch you pretend to smile when you were dying inside?\u201d His voice cracked slightly, and for a fleeting moment, I saw the pain behind his fury. \u201cI should\u2019ve taken you away from him sooner.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2013I don\u2019t understand,\u201d I uttered, my voice trembling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were a lot of things that you weren\u2019t aware of, little dove,\u201d he replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart was beating wildly now, torn between anger, confusion, and something far more dangerous. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d I said, shaking my head. \u201cBut if there\u2019s one thing that I was clearly aware of, it\u2019s that I can\u2019t do this again. I can\u2019t live being in another loveless mar-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His hand moved faster than my words. He slammed his palm against the wall beside my head, caging me in, his breath warm against my skin. \u201cWe have all the time in the world for that, little dove,\u201d he growled. \u201cI\u2019ll make sure you\u2019ll fall in love with me even before our wedding ends.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gasped softly, trying to steady my voice. \u201cYou can\u2019t force me into this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned in closer, his lips almost brushing my ear as he whispered, \u201cThen don\u2019t make me. Say yes, Dylan.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI said no, Hunter.\u201d My voice came out firm this time, even though my heart was pounding so loud I could barely hear myself. \u201cI\u2019m not marrying you. I can\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t?\u201d he repeated, his tone low, mocking. \u201cOr won\u2019t?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
9\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:22 Fri, Dec 26\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter which one. The answer\u2019s the same.\u00a0<\/p>\n
71%0\u00a0<\/p>\n
10 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, neither of us moved. Then, his jaw tightened, his expression turning darker by the second. \u201cYou\u2019re still thinking about him, aren\u2019t you?\u201d he asked, voice like ice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach dropped. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBeckett.\u201d His name rolled off Hunter\u2019s tongue like poison. \u201cYou still want your bastard\u00a0<\/p>\n
husband back?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not true!\u201d I shot back. I don\u2019t know where he was getting all of these. I haven\u2019t even thought about Beckett since he showed up. I\u2019ve been starting to question myself why, after three years of devoting myself to Beckett, Hunter managed to erase all those feelings I had for Beckett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter\u2019s eyes were burning with something wild. \u201cYou\u2019re such a good liar. You\u2019re still in love with him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not,\u201d I insisted. \u201cI just don\u2019t want to be in another cage again That\u2019s why I didn\u2019t want to get into this marriage. But most likely, I don\u2019t want to marry him for a show. Part of me wanted this marriage to be as genuine as possible because the truth is, I think I\u2019m falling for him. So, pardon me if I was trying to guard my heart this time. I don\u2019t want this to be like what happened between me and Beckett. I don\u2019t think I can handle it when Hunter realizes that I\u2019ve only trapped him into this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. \u201cA cage? Is that what you think I\u2019m offering you?\u201d His voice rose slightly, anger leaking through. \u201cYou\u2019re willing to be trapped in a loveless marriage with Beckett, but not with me. Is that it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWill you please stop bringing his name into this conversation? He has nothing to do with this!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the contrary, he has everything to do with this,\u201d he replied coldly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, the room fell silent. He was glaring at me, and so did I. No one dared\u00a0<\/p>\n
to\u00a0<\/p>\n
back down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a frustrated sigh, the kind that carried every ounce of exhaustion I felt. \u201cYou\u2019re impossible, Hunter. Let\u2019s talk again when you\u2019ve cooled your head,\u201d I muttered, my voice trembling somewhere between anger and pleading.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Placing both hands on his chest, I pushed\u2013hard. I could feel the solid wall of muscle beneath my palms, the warmth of his body seeping into my skin even as I tried to shove him away. He was much bigger than me, and I wasn\u2019t expecting it to make any difference. It never did before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But this time, it did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He actually stepped back. Just one step\u2013but enough to free me. His arms dropped to his sides, his expression unreadable as he looked down at me, eyes shadowed, jaw tight. He let me go without a fight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And that\u2026 somehow hurt more than I expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I should\u2019ve felt relief. I should\u2019ve felt safe, even triumphant, that he listened and backed off. But instead, a hollow ache bloomed in my chest. It felt like a quiet surrender\u2013like he was putting distance not just between our bodies, but between our hearts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was strange, and maybe even foolish, but I couldn\u2019t help feeling that I\u2019d just pushed away something that, for one fleeting second, felt like it was mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was about to step into our room when I heard his cold voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGet ready. We\u2019re leaving in ten minutes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Alchemist of Broken Dreams by Sienna Rose Blackwell 39 Chapter 39\u00a0 DYLAN\u00a0 I felt overwhelmed as the people who […]<\/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":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-alphas-golden-cage-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24390","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=24390"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24390\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}