Chapter 70

Third-person POV

David was back in the capital for the first time since the latest round of media criticism had hit him. He kept a hat pulled low to cover his hair and wore dark sunglasses, hoping to avoid recognition.

But even if someone did notice him, he had legitimate enough reasons to be there. He wasn’t worried about anyone being suspicious of his presence.

He had met with his allies, made a plan, and knew exactly what he was going to do. It was clear to him now that Ella wasn’t capable of making the right choice in this situation, so David would simply make the choice for her.

He’d been doing it their entire relationship, and Ella hadn’t even realized it. His mistake, he understood now, had been putting things in her hands. He wouldn't make that mistake again.

Eventually, she would see that he was right. She would accept the situation—she’d have no other choice. And even if she didn’t, by the time she tried to act against him, David would have already secured what he wanted.

He walked through the streets of the capital, observing the crowds around him. Young people laughing, chatting on their phones; older generations with serious expressions; children clinging to their parents’ hands.

They all went about their day, completely unaware of the dire circumstances unfolding around them. In their minds, the race for the next Alpha King was a distant thought, something far off in the future. It hardly crossed their minds that their current King wouldn’t be around forever.

But David knew the race had already begun. He, Alexander, and every other hopeful Alpha had started campaigning long ago. And the stakes were higher than most could comprehend.

David wasn’t going to let Ella—or anyone else—stand in his way. His allies understood how serious the situation was, which is why they had helped him procure everything he needed to pull this off.

Now that news of Ella's engagement had broken, David knew he couldn't afford to waste any more time. He had to act swiftly, before he lost his chance.

Every moment counted, and this was his final window to secure what he’d worked so long for.

Ella POV

I was at my favorite tea shop in the capital, killing time while waiting for Alexander to finish his workday. We had plans for dinner and a visit to a floral shop afterward.

We weren’t officially wedding planning just yet, but we wanted to be seen in the right places to keep people talking. Plus, I hoped to find something unique yet classy to build our wedding theme around, and flowers seemed like a good starting point.

I was supposed to meet Elizabeth for lunch at a nearby hotel, but I wanted to get my favorite drink before James dropped me off there.

James kept a few feet behind me, scanning our surroundings like always.

I felt a little guilty for dragging him around the capital constantly, but he didn’t seem to mind. He was incredibly professional, and while we didn’t chat often, whenever we did, he was always kind and friendly.

Still, I wished I didn’t need a bodyguard at all. Alexander and I had talked about it, and he was insistent that just because things seemed calm didn’t mean they were. We couldn’t take any chances.

If he wasn’t with me, then James would be. That’s just the way it was. I didn’t have a persuasive argument against it, and honestly, I knew it made my father feel better too.

The barista must have recognized me because she kept staring, her expression oddly tense. I considered asking her about it but decided against it—I didn’t want to embarrass her. Instead, I pretended not to notice as she nervously glanced up while handing me my tea.

“Here you go, Miss Rowan,” she said, offering a tight smile.

“Thank you,” I replied brightly, taking the cup from her. “Have a good day.”

“You too, Miss,” she murmured, quickly averting her eyes.

As I stepped away from the counter, James followed closely behind me.

“That was strange,” he commented, his tone casual but watchful.

“She seemed young,” I replied, shrugging. “She’s probably just nervous.”

James shrugged noncommittally, and we fell into a comfortable silence as we walked back toward Alexander's office. I took a sip of my tea. It was sweet as usual, but an unexpected bitter aftertaste made me wrinkle my nose. Maybe she hadn’t added enough sweetener.

“Everything okay?” James asked, noticing my reaction.

“Fine,” I said, waving it off. “So, what do you have planned when you’re off work?”

“Not much,” he said. “I’m free after Alexander’s meeting.”

“No plans for Friday afternoon? You’re not going out?” I teased.

James chuckled. “I don’t have much of a social life.”

“Well, you should,” I said, grinning. “You’re really nice. People would enjoy spending time with you, and maybe you’d feel less tense if you relaxed a little.”

“I’ll consider it,” he replied, amused by my suggestion.

I took another sip of the tea, but the bitter aftertaste lingered. The barista must have been more distracted than I realized.

As we continued walking, the heat seemed to intensify, and I began to feel lightheaded. I shifted into the shade of the nearby buildings, hoping it would help, but instead, a wave of dizziness made me feel even more unsteady.

“Are you okay?” James asked, his voice laced with concern.

“It’s just so hot,” I replied with a weak smile, trying to brush it off. “That’s all.”

James frowned. “It’s not that hot. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I feel a little off,” I admitted, the stubbornness in my tone giving way to the unease creeping up on me. “I probably just need to eat.”

“Do you need to sit down?” he asked, his concern deepening.

“No, no,” I said, shaking my head. “We’re almost at the hotel. Let’s just get there, and I can rest in the air conditioning.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push it. Instead, he moved closer, staying just behind me, as if ready to catch me if I faltered.

When we finally reached the hotel, the cool rush of air inside helped ease the discomfort. I gave James a reassuring smile as we headed toward the restaurant connected to the lobby.

“See, I’m fine,” I insisted.

He shrugged, not fully convinced. “If you say so.”

I approached the hostess, a bright young woman with brown hair. She greeted us with a radiant smile. “Hello, Miss Rowan. Your table is ready.”

“Thank you,” I replied. James followed me as the hostess led me to the table. I wanted to argue that Elizabeth’s guards would take care of things from here, but I knew better. James was very dedicated, and he would never leave me without protection.

Alexander knew about the letter David had left in my bedroom, and despite the fact that things had been quiet since then, he was on high alert. James wouldn’t go against Alexander’s orders for anything.

The table the hostess led us to was empty. I took a seat, and James sat beside me.

“Your friend will be meeting you shortly,” the hostess said sweetly as she handed me a menu.

I thanked her again, then turned my attention to the menu. I still felt lightheaded, so I wanted to place an order for an appetizer. Hopefully I’d feel better by the time Elizabeth joined me.

I could feel James staring at me and I glanced at him in annoyance. “What?”

“You’re sweating,” he said matter of factly.

I put the menu down and turned to face James, intending to scold him, but I froze. Near the entrance of the restaurant, I saw him—a figure in a baseball cap and dark sunglasses. Even with the disguise, there was no mistaking who it was.

James, sensing my fear, glanced around, scanning the restaurant. But I didn’t know if he would recognize the man who was closing in fast.

Summoning all the strength I had, I managed to force out one word.

“David.”