Chapter 48\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 48\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
I held my dress up carefully, trying not to trip over the ridiculous amount of fabric around my feet. The gown hugged my waist tightly, outlining every curve like it was trying to suffocate me into elegance. It was a beautiful dress but it was also way too much for what was supposed to be a simple meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed, tugging at the hem that refused to cooperate. \u201cMust I really wear this, Sienna?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside me, Sienna nodded eagerly, smiling like she was attending her own wedding. \u201cOf course you have to wear the most beautiful dress you own. You\u2019re meeting your mate, after all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my head toward her, watching her expression. It was so genuine. She truly believed every word she was saying. I shook my head slowly. \u201cWe\u2019re not even sure if he\u2019s my mate. He might be yours.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna blinked, then gave me a look like I\u2019d just said the dumbest thing she\u2019d ever heard. \u201cDon\u2019t be silly, Selene. Everyone knows Prince Adrian is your mate. Besides,\u201d she said with a teasing grin, \u201che\u2019s completely obsessed with you. Even if someone else was your mate, I\u2019m sure Adrian would just reject her and choose you instead. And I don\u2019t see him that way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned. \u201cThat\u2019s not possible. Prince Adrian isn\u2019t obsessed with me. I think he hates me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna scoffed so loudly I almost rolled my eyes. \u201cYou really must have hit your head, sister. You\u2019ve been saying the strangest things lately. Adrian hates you? That\u2019s absurd! He\u2019s been head over heels for you since the day he saw you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her, brows drawing together. \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She tilted her head, confused. \u201cYou seriously don\u2019t remember? He\u2019s always giving you gifts, taking you on private walks. sending letters. He even beat up those boys who tried to court you! If that isn\u2019t obsession, then I don\u2019t know what is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I listened quietly, my heart beating fast with every word she said. Adrian really did those things?\u00a0<\/p>\n
None of it made sense. Not just because it sounded impossible, but because I couldn\u2019t remember any of it. Not a single thing she said sparked any image or memory. My mind was just blank.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna\u2019s face was glowing with excitement, so I didn\u2019t say anything. There was no point in ruining her good mood by admitting I didn\u2019t remember my so-called mate or his grand gestures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I first heard Adrian was looking for me, Sienna had practically dragged me into her room. Before I could blink, she was applying powder, fixing my hair, picking jewelry, and forcing me into this suffocating dress.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had asked her if she wasn\u2019t in love with Adrian herself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She paused, then looked at me like I was insane. \u201cWhy would I be in love with a man my sister is in love with?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For some reason I didn\u2019t expect that answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, walking beside her, I kept silent. The sound of my heels clicking against the ground was the only thing keeping me grounded. My fingers twisted against the fabric as my heartbeat quickened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just a few feet away, leaning casually against a tree with his arms crossed, was Prince Adrian.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes were closed, head tilted slightly back, the breeze brushing through his messy black hair. Even like that, he looked breathtaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath hitched before I could stop it. There was something magnetic about him, something sharp and calm all at once. The kind of presence that made you forget how to breathe properly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:50 Tue, Dec 23 MG.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 48\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a long moment, I just stood there, watching him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna\u2019s grin was so bright it was almost blinding. She looked between me and Adrian and said in a sing-song tone, \u201cAlright, Selene. Go get your man.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could even process what she\u2019d said, she pushed me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cW-wait. Sienna!\u201d I barely managed to get the word out before I stumbled forward, the ground slipping beneath my shoes. But I didn\u2019t fall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A firm hand caught me by the waist. The scent that surrounded me was familiar. My breath caught as I looked up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Those green eyes were deep, vivid, piercing straight through me. Adrian looked down at me, his gaze sweeping over my face. There was something soft there, a tenderness I didn\u2019t remember ever seeing in his eyes before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heartbeat pounded in my ears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, I forgot how to move, breathe, or even think. His lips curved slightly, and he said, his voice low and smooth, \u201cIs your dress making things hard for you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked rapidly, trying to catch up with his words. \u201cY-yes, but I\u2019m fine-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could even finish, he bent slightly and lifted me off the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPrince Adrian-!\u201d I gasped, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck. My face burned as he held me easily, one arm supporting my back, the other under my legs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBe quiet, Selene,\u201d he murmured, his breath brushing against my ear. \u201cLet me do my duties.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cD-duties?\u201d I echoed, utterly dazed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t answer. Instead, he carried me effortlessly to a nearby chair. His hold was firm, his fingers pressing lightly at my waist as if he couldn\u2019t quite bring himself to let go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When he finally set me down, I barely had time to collect myself before his hand tilted my chin upward. His touch was gentle but commanding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d he said, eyes glinting with quiet certainty. \u201cMy duty. You are my duty.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My cheeks flamed. What was he saying? Especially here, in the temple of all places! If anyone saw us right now, they\u2019d\u2014\u00a0<\/p>\n
He chuckled softly, clearly enjoying my flustered expression. \u201cI love seeing you like this, Selene.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze, my body trembling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian finally released my chin and stepped back, though his smile lingered. \u201cI have urgent matters to attend to today,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I still came because I wanted to see you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My voice came out quieter than I intended. \u201cThank you, Your Highness.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes darkened slightly, his tone turning low and serious. \u201cMate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cHuh?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCall me mate,\u201d he said, his gaze holding mine. \u201cYou\u2019ll be mine tomorrow, when you turn eighteen.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My lips parted, but no sound came out. Then he moved closer again, wrapping his arms around me in a firm embrace. My body stiffened at first, but the steady beat of his heart against mine made me falter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:50 Tue, Dec 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 48\u00a0<\/p>\n
His next words sent a shiver down my spine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if you don\u2019t turn out to be my mate,\u201d he whispered against my ear. \u201cI\u2019ll still mark you, Selene. I will never leave you. I\u2019ll treat you right for the rest of our lives.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, everything stopped. As his words sank in, I couldn\u2019t tell if my heart was fluttering because of his promise or because something deep inside me whispered that none of this was real. Something felt off, but I couldn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
bring myself to care. I was happy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And if this was a dream, then I hoped I\u2019d never wake from it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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12:50 Tue, Dec 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 48 Chapter 48\u00a0 Chapter 48\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 I held my dress up carefully, trying […]<\/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":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27842","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=27842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27842\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}