Chapter 214

Alexander POV

"There’s one more thing I should tell you… but please, don’t get mad at me."

Michael’s voice was tight with unease. He was truly afraid, which only made the fact that he had come to me even more impressive.

I understood why he had hesitated. I must have been more obvious than I realized about my sensitivity where Sabrina was concerned.

She had come by the house to visit—about a week before Diana started acting strangely.

Michael seemed surprised when I didn’t react with more than a resigned sigh. Sabrina had been on my mind far too much lately for me to muster anything beyond frustration.

Diana clearly intended to use her against me, but how? What role could Sabrina possibly play in her schemes?

That was the only mystery left to solve.

Even after I sent Michael to sleep in one of the guest suites, I remained awake, piecing together the information he had unknowingly provided.

Diana had been away from the house far more than usual these past few weeks. Her driver confirmed multiple trips to the capital, though when Michael asked her about them, she had been elusive.

That wasn’t like her. She had never hidden things from Michael before.

I still didn’t know why she had been in the capital, but I had a feeling it was connected to Sabrina’s sudden reappearance.

They had something on me. Something they planned to leak to the media to smear my name.

But what?

My relationship with Sabrina had been the most normal of my life. No explosive fights, no dark secrets—just a young love affair that ended abruptly.

So why did Diana and Archer think they could use her against me?

And it wasn’t just them. Ella had mentioned something about Sabrina causing a scandal in the original timeline.

I exhaled sharply, rubbing my tired eyes. My thoughts were going in circles. I wasn’t going to solve anything like this.

I stood, stretching my stiff limbs before stepping out of my office. The sky outside the window at the end of the hall was already lightening. The sun would be up soon.

Diana’s betrayal cut deeper than I wanted to admit. I knew it was pointless to sit up brooding over it, but I didn’t know what else to do.

As the elevator carried me to the top floor, I leaned heavily against the wall, exhaustion pressing down on me.

I had texted Ella earlier to let her know I’d be working late, but I hadn’t explained why. I wasn’t even sure how to begin. She was probably still asleep by now, so I should be able to slip into bed without waking her.

But when I stepped inside the apartment, I hesitated. The bedroom light was still on.

I moved quietly, listening. No sound. Had she fallen asleep with the lights on?

Guilt prickled at me as I approached. Had she stayed up waiting for me?

I pushed the door open and found her sitting in the middle of the bed, legs crossed, her laptop open in front of her.

She was so focused on whatever was on the screen that she didn’t even look up as I entered the room.

"You’re still awake?" I asked softly.

Ella jumped, her hand flying to her chest as a startled cry escaped her lips.

She glared at me before grabbing a pillow and launching it straight at my head.

I dodged easily, but the force of it hitting the wall behind me was enough to make me raise an eyebrow.

"Jerk," Ella said, irritation clear in her voice.

"Excuse me?" I asked, eyes widening. She had never directly insulted me before. I had no idea what to make of it.

"You heard me," she said flatly.

As I approached the bed, I took in the dark circles under her eyes. She definitely hadn’t slept yet. Was that why she was so irritated with me?

"Why are you still awake?" I asked.

"I’m going over a report," she replied, barely glancing up from her laptop.

"On what?"

She turned the screen toward me.

"Diana’s actions over the past two months," she said.

I stared at her, stunned. How the hell did she know something was going on with Diana?

"Who told you?" I demanded.

Ella frowned. "Told me what?"

"That Diana is working with Amanda."

Her face went pale. "She’s what?"

My confusion deepened. If she didn’t already know… "Then why are you getting reports on Diana?"

"I asked my father to send me any information he could access about her recent actions," she explained. "Elizabeth called me earlier, just before you left for work. She told me Diana is the one who’s been meeting with the king."

"Why didn’t you tell me?" I asked.

Ella sighed. "I wanted to make sure I had real data to back it up. I didn’t want it to seem like I was accusing your mother for no reason."

She turned to me then, her gaze sharp. "Now, what do you mean Diana is working with Amanda?"

Ella POV

"Exactly what I said," Alexander replied with a tired sigh. "Michael came to see me today. He overheard a conversation… Diana is the one who’s been targeting you."

"Are you positive?" I asked forcefully. "Is there any reason Michael would lie about that?"

"No," Alexander answered confidently. "It’s true. I rewatched the security footage from the border, and now that I know what to look for, it’s obvious."

"If she’s working with Amanda, that means she’s tried to kill me," I said, a sick feeling twisting in my stomach.

I didn’t like Diana, but I never would have guessed she hated me that much.

I racked my brain, trying to think of anything I’d done to offend her. Why?

Before I could spiral further, Alexander suddenly wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his lap. I went stiff at first, instinctively resisting the embrace, but after a few seconds, I melted into him.

I wasn’t really mad at him—I was just exhausted and overwhelmed. I shouldn’t take it out on him.

"This is too much," I murmured, leaning heavily against his chest.

He pulled me closer, his breath warm against my skin before he pressed his lips to the nape of my neck.

"I’m not going to let anyone hurt you," he said in a sleepy voice. "No one."

I smiled slightly. It was a sweet sentiment, even if it felt a little misplaced in the moment.

"The reports from my father back up what Elizabeth told me," I said. "There are records of Diana renting cars and hotel rooms for nearly every meeting the king has on his books."

"Elizabeth sent you those records?" he asked.

"Right," I said. "But she came at other times too. I’m not sure why. There’s nothing in the records to explain the extra visits."

"Sabrina," Alexander said bitterly. "She must have been meeting with her."

"You think so?" I asked, unconvinced.

"What else would she be doing?" he muttered, kissing my neck again. "She thinks Sabrina can ruin my reputation somehow. I wish I knew why."

I hesitated. “Well… there is one way to find out.”

Alexander was drained and I knew I shouldn’t push him too much, but I also knew we were running out of options.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

I sighed, guilt creeping in at the suggestion I was about to make—especially when he was so obviously exhausted. But what better time would there be?

"I mean," I began carefully, "we could ask Sabrina."