Chapter 119

Ella POV

Antonio Kingsman, a tall, slim man with a head of striking white hair and pronounced smile lines, entered the reception area with an air of quiet confidence. His sharp suit and polished demeanor made it clear why he was so sought after.

He extended a hand toward me, his warm smile putting me instantly at ease.

“Miss Rowan, I presume,” he greeted. “Antonio Kingsman. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

I shook his hand firmly and returned his smile. “Ella Rowan. The pleasure is mine, Mr. Kingsman.”

“I understand you’re Alexander Black’s fiancée,” he said, his tone carrying both curiosity and warmth. “I’ve had the honor of working with Alexander for quite some time, and I’ve often wondered what kind of woman could finally steal his heart.”

I chuckled softly. “I like to think he gave it freely.”

Mr. Kingsman laughed, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “Touché. I’m sure he has.” He gestured toward the seating area. “So, Miss Rowan, what brings you to my shop today? Were you hoping to have a dress made?”

“Actually,” I began, hesitating slightly, “I was hoping you could help me with a surprise for Alexander.”

“A surprise for Alexander Black?” His brows lifted in mock disbelief. “Now that’s a tall order. But if anyone can make it happen, it’s me. Tell me, what did you have in mind? Accessories, perhaps? Cufflinks? A new tie?”

I shook my head, smiling. “A custom outfit,” I said. “Something designed and made just for him. And, preferably, without him knowing.”

He tilted his head, considering. “I see. And is there a particular occasion for this surprise?”

“I want to take him out for a nice date,” I explained, smiling softly. “Something laid back and relaxing. He needs a break from things. I haven’t decided on the details yet, but I know an outfit like this will take time to make, so I thought it was best to speak with you first.”

Mr. Kingsman looked thoughtful, then smiled warmly. “Well, I look forward to hearing what you plan. I must admit, I’m curious about what you’ll decide on. As for the outfit, I can make time to create something for Alexander in secret. If you leave your phone number, I’ll text you sketches for approval before I start cutting the fabric. I’ll also send the pricing details that way.”

“That sounds perfect,” I said, my smile widening. It felt like things were falling into place. I was genuinely excited about the prospect of showing Alexander even a small token of gratitude for everything he’d done for me.

The arrangement between us was supposed to be equal, yet it felt like he was always coming to my rescue. This was my chance to start evening the scales.

“Well, with that settled, may I ask you something?” Mr. Kingsman’s expression shifted slightly, a hint of concern appearing.

“Of course,” I replied.

“Do you know if Alexander is getting his wedding suit made elsewhere?” he asked, his brows knitting together. “Your wedding isn’t far off—at least, according to the news—and he hasn’t come in to speak with me about his suit.”

“He hasn’t said anything to you at all?” I asked, surprised.

“Not a word,” he confirmed, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t be offended if he’s chosen a different tailor for the occasion, but if he hasn’t given it any thought yet, it concerns me.”

“I’ll speak to him about it,” I said, reassured by his candor. “I’m heading to see him right after this, so I’ll make sure to bring it up.”

“Just a gentle reminder,” he said with a slight smile. “I’m sure he’s busy with all the other details of wedding planning, but I’d hate for him to forget.”

“Of course,” I replied, returning his smile. “Thank you for letting me know.”

“It was my pleasure, Miss Rowan,” he said with a polite bow. “And thank you for gracing us with your presence today.”

“Thank you for making the time to see us,” I said to Mr. Kingsman before leaving my phone number with the receptionist.

Elizabeth, James, and I exited the tailor shop shortly after.

Once we were out of earshot, Elizabeth leaned toward me. “Should we be concerned that Alexander doesn’t have a suit yet?”

“We don’t know for sure that he doesn’t,” I replied, trying to sound unconcerned. “He might have gotten one from somewhere else, or maybe he’s planning to wear something with sentimental value. I don’t know.”

“That’s not out of the question, I guess,” Elizabeth said, though she sounded doubtful. “Still, it doesn’t seem like him.”

“I don’t think it’s anything to worry about,” I said with a shrug. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.”

Though I believed my own words, a nagging doubt lingered in the back of my mind. What if Alexander was having second thoughts about all of this? A fake wedding, even one as meticulously planned as ours, required immense effort and expense. Perhaps it was too much, even for him.

He had always been adamant about not settling down. Maybe the thought of even pretending to do so was harder for him to stomach than I realized.

But then again, if he were truly having doubts, he wouldn’t have let it get this far. Alexander was too careful about maintaining his image to allow for a failed engagement.

“This was a lot of fun,” Elizabeth said, breaking through my thoughts and bringing me back to the present.

“It was,” I agreed, smiling. “I’m so glad you were free to hang out.”

“Me too,” she said, though she glanced at her watch with a sigh. “But I’m just about out of free time. I’ve got to head home now.”

“Of course, I know how busy you are.”

She suddenly turned and hugged me tightly, wrapping her arms around me with unexpected force. I returned the gesture, her warmth comforting.

“If anything else happens, you let me know immediately,” she said, her voice firm. “I want to help you. I’ll do whatever I can.”

“I know,” I said softly, squeezing her back. “I really appreciate it. I promise I’ll keep you informed.”

“Good,” she said, pulling back and giving me a stern look. “You can’t take on the whole world by yourself. Just remember that you’ve got friends who want to help.”

Her words made me smile, though they stirred a bittersweet emotion deep inside. In this timeline, I truly had people who cared about me, who had my back. It was a sharp contrast to the original timeline, where my so-called “friends” had been nothing but users.

Elizabeth waved to James and then walked away, heading in the opposite direction of the entrance we’d used earlier.

As we continued walking, James moved closer to me. After a few moments of silence, he asked, “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” I replied, though the day’s events had left me feeling drained. “It’s just been a long day. And I can’t help but wonder what Alexander has lined up. I can’t believe he’s already found a new wedding venue. Especially one that can handle such a long guest list. There aren’t many options that could accommodate us.”

“I don’t know much about wedding venues,” James admitted. “But I do know one thing: Alpha Black has a lot of determination. If he set his mind to solving this problem today, you can bet it’s already handled.”

James and I didn’t speak much as we walked down the street to the office building. It was a nice day, the sun warm but not overwhelming, and the sidewalks weren’t too crowded, making it a pleasant walk.

As we stepped into the lobby, I spotted Alexander immediately. He had just returned, it seemed, and was standing near the entrance, deep in conversation with another man.

The man beside him was tall and thin, with jet-black hair neatly combed back and wire-rimmed glasses perched on his sharp nose. He wore a perfectly tailored suit accented with subtle gold flourishes, exuding an air of authority and sophistication.

My steps faltered as my eyes swept over his profile. Recognition hit me like a lightning bolt.

I knew exactly who he was.

He was one of the most renowned architects in the entire kingdom—a self-made billionaire and the mastermind behind some of the most iconic structures in the world.

What on Earth was he doing here?

And more importantly, what was he doing with Alexander?