Chapter 129

Ella POV

Our goodbyes with Diana were polite, but the relief on my mother’s face was palpable the moment the car pulled away from the curb. Her smile faded, replaced by a serious expression that made my stomach twist uneasily.

Just yesterday, she had seemed so fond of Alexander, and now it felt as though all our progress had been undone.

I couldn’t let it end like this—I needed her support.

“Well, that was... interesting,” I said, hoping to spark a conversation and gauge her thoughts.

“It certainly was,” she agreed, her tone neutral but measured. “I have to say, Diana is not quite what I imagined.”

“In what way?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“She’s the daughter of an alpha and a Luna herself. We’re of similar status and age, so I assumed she’d follow the social rules more carefully. I found it surprising how forthcoming she was with her strong opinions. I would have expected her to be more political and cautious.”

I nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, she doesn’t seem too concerned about her opinions or comments being taken the wrong way.”

“She doesn’t,” my mother agreed. “But... I get the feeling she’s trying a little too hard to be friendly. Diana doesn’t leave her pack lands often. Perhaps she’s just a little lonely.”

I blinked, caught off guard by the insight. It was a perspective I hadn’t considered, but it made sense. Beneath Diana’s confident exterior, there might be a longing for connection—a need to assert herself in unfamiliar company.

“I hadn’t thought about it that way,” I admitted.

My mother gave me a small, knowing smile. “People aren’t always what they seem, Ella. Sometimes, we just need to look a little deeper.”

Her words lingered as we drove on, and I found myself wondering whether Diana’s behavior was more nuanced than I’d initially assumed. Could it be that her sharp comments came from insecurity rather than malice?

“Still,” my mother said after a lengthy silence, “her motivation and intentions don’t really matter if what she’s saying is potentially damaging. She needs to be more careful, especially when it comes to her own child’s reputation.”

“That’s exactly what I was concerned about,” I admitted. “Alexander has worked so hard to calm your concerns about him, and I was afraid that Diana’s words might have…”

“Made me suspicious of him?” she asked, her voice gentler now.

“Yes,” I said softly.

“If anything, it’s only made me more certain of Alexander,” she replied. Her expression was somber as she continued, “He’s worked so hard for his family, even despite their less-than-gracious treatment of him.” She sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment. “I had hoped the rumors about the Black family were unfounded, but it seems there’s some truth to them after all.”

“What rumors?” I asked, confused.

Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “How can you possibly be engaged to Alexander and not know?”

I shook my head helplessly, unsure how to respond. I’d heard whispers about Alexander over the years, but nothing specific about his family. They had always seemed intent on avoiding the public spotlight.

“It’s an open secret that Alexander is an unfavored child of Diana’s,” she explained quietly. “It’s been that way for as long as anyone can remember.”

“I had no idea about the rumors,” I admitted, “but I had noticed the difference in the way Diana treated Michael compared to Alexander. Even in the short time I’ve spent with them, it’s clear she favors her youngest.”

“And Alexander accepts that surprisingly well,” my mother said thoughtfully. “He takes care of his family regardless. He’s a good man, even if he doesn’t seem to realize it himself. He treats you well, and that’s what matters most to me.” She sighed softly. “I can’t help but feel a little sorry for him now that I’ve seen it all firsthand. But I hope I hid it well—he’d hate to be pitied.”

“He certainly would,” I agreed.

A text notification chimed on my phone, and Alexander’s name lit up the screen. I opened the message immediately.

Alexander: She had fun. Thank you.

Me: You’re welcome.

Alexander: Do you really love the dress you chose today?

Me: It’s very nice.

Alexander: I’m a little concerned. After what happened with the venue, I worry Amanda might try to copy your dress again.

The thought made my stomach twist, though it had crossed my mind before.

Me: But what can we do?

Alexander: Use the dress as a reference and have a custom gown made.

Me: We don’t have time.

Alexander: Leave that to me. I’ll arrange everything if you agree to it.

“What is it?” my mother asked, noticing the frown on my face. “You look worried.”

“Everything’s fine,” I said quickly, though my voice betrayed a hint of hesitation. “Alexander is just worried that Amanda might try to copy the dress. He thinks I should get it customized.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” she replied.

“But there isn’t time,” I argued.

“If Alexander is suggesting it, he probably has a way to pull it off,” she pointed out.

Her confidence in him made me pause. Maybe she was right. If anyone could make the impossible happen, it was Alexander.

Me: What made you think of this suddenly?

Alexander: Look at the news.

My heart dropped. I stared at his words, a sense of dread building in my chest. “What have they done now?” I muttered, exiting the text thread and opening the news app.

Right there on the front page was an article about Amanda and David’s wedding. I clicked on it, the headline glaring at me like a taunt.

“Oh dear,” my mother said, leaning over my shoulder to read along.

"We’re so excited to have booked the most exclusive venue in the capital," she read aloud. Her voice tightened with disbelief. “The venue that you chose?”

“Yes,” I admitted with a sigh. “But we’ve already found a solution. I wanted to surprise you with it.”

My mother’s expression darkened as she focused back on the article. “She’s publicly bragging about stealing your wedding venue.”

A sharp, angry look crossed her face as she continued reading.

"When asked about sharing a wedding date with rival Ella Rowan," she read aloud, "the bride-to-be responded, ‘Oh, I hadn’t even noticed.’"

I clenched my fists, the audacity of Amanda’s words striking me like a slap.

“She stole your venue and your date?” my mother scoffed, her voice dripping with disbelief. “Of course, Alexander is concerned she’ll copy your dress as well. The woman really has no shame. Has she always copied you like this?”

“Not that I ever noticed,” I said, shaking my head. “But that’s because she was too busy bullying me and making me seem like an immature brat. I never should have taken her advice.”

My mother’s silence drew my attention. She stared at me mutely, her gaze heavy enough that I looked away from the phone. There was anger in her expression, yes, but beneath it lay a flicker of sadness that made my chest ache.

“Is that what changed?” she asked softly after a pause. “Is that why you’ve started dressing differently? Acting the way you have? Because you felt like people were bullying you?”

An unexpected wave of emotion hit me and tears jumped to my eyes. Amanda had manipulated me so well in the original timeline that I hadn’t even realized it until the moment she murdered me. Now, seeing my mother’s anger at the truth, I felt the betrayal all over again.

My mother pulled me into her arms and I leaned against her heavily as I cried.