novelxo Chapter 26
Anastasia
I took a deep breath to calm myself. His betrayal of those photos should not have affected me so
much.
But they did.
And I felt angry at myself for letting my past affect my present.
“Nothing, I wasn’t talking to you. About Vivian, maybe I can come this evening at 5 pm and finish it for good.”
Julian noticed the irritation in my voice.
“Please don’t talk like that. I understand your hatred for me but my mother does not deserve the
ire.”
If only he knew that hatred was still directed at him. But telling him that would be akin to admirting some part of me still cared.
And I did not want to do that.
So, I only directed our conversation back to the main topic.
“I said I can come over this evening. But I will leave the moment I am out of Vivian’s room.”
Julian’s voice sounded a little distressed.
“I…really hoped you would stay over for dinner.”
“I am only coming to see Vivian and it is only going to happen once. If you try to do anything else, know that I would regret ever believing you once again.”
“But Anast…”
I disconnected the phone before he could continue his argument and try to lure me again. Julian gave me a call again but I cut it.
Thankfully, he did not try to talk to me again after that.
With a relieved sigh, I tossed the phone away and got busy in the kitchen with Mom to prepare something for lunch.
In reality, I just did not want to be left alone with my thoughts. I distracted myself with the cook and maids as we chatted while cooking.
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Chapter 26
Lea had never seen such a huge kitchen so she was eager to see how it functioned as well. So, I perched her on one of the high stools and gave her some apples to eat as she watched.
Mom was baking an apple pie for her grand daughter who was fascinated to see so many people cook together.
The head maid, Amanda, was standing beside me and instructing the maids what to do as the chef cooked and his apprentices helped him with everything he required.
“She looks quite young to be a mother, right?” I heard one of the maids whisper and pretended not to hear it.
I knew they were talking about me.
“Yes, she got married quite early. And the ruckus that happened yesterday, that was her husband.” The other one, a blonde girl, supplied.
“Oh really? I was doing laundry so by the time I came to look what was going on, he had left. But damn, he looks so handsome.” The first maid with brown hair said wistfully.
“Yes, he took such a big beating for her. If he did that for me, I would just run into his arms.” The
Blonde maid sighed.
“I have heard he used to be a very powerful alpha. Poor guy took a hit when she left him. He was all bloodied and bruised yesterday but did not raise a hand on anyone. How can she be so cold to him?”
“Would you two take out the trash instead of idle gossiping?” Amanda’s stern voice reached me from behind.
The two girls were startled and promptly began gathering the kitchen waste. Amanda came to stand beside me and whispered.
“Ignore them, they are just little girls who have not seen the ups and downs of life.” She gave me at kind smile and I smiled back at her.
Amanda
gave my back a light pat and went to the next counter to see how preparations were going. I, meanwhile, decided to go near my mother and see what she was doing.
Somehow, after hearing the girls‘ conversation, I felt everybody was judging me for letting Julian be beaten black and blue..
I did not ask him to come to my home, I did not force him to endure the beating. He did it of hist own–free will. So why did just one seemingly sweet act of his turn me into a villain?
Lea was busy observing the kitchen but I did not have the heart to continue with the charade. So I stepped out and decided to take some fresh air to clear my
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1018 Mon, Aug 26 O
Chapter 26
my clothes,
” is creepy and you know that” I muttered and his smile disappeared.
“I apologize but that was not my intention”
He hovered around the door uncertain of what to do next and I yelled, “Can you wait outside? I have to treshen up and change.”
Julian stepped outside and I shook my head.
I had not asked him to play driver today for me but I could not just send him away and then take a car to the same destination either way.
I changed into a simple cream colored dress that reached my knees, nothing too fancy since I was going to meet a patient, and paired it with white wedges.
After washing my face and doing minimal makeup. I stepped out of the room. But I was surprised to see that Julian was talking to Lea.
And that she seemed wildly interested in the conversation.
Are you an alpha?” She asked him and he replied,
“I am.”
“Do you also turn into a big bad wolf when you get angry?”
Julian smiled and corrected her. “I do that when bad guys try to harm my people.”
I froze in my tracks for a while.
This was the scene I had imagined multiple times in my head. Of Julian playing with his daughter and me waking up to see them smile at each other.
I had dreamt of a happy family as Julian told the kids stories of how to be a wolf and what a pack
meant.
But Lea was learning all of it from her grandparents.
Both Lea and Julian turned around at the same time to look at me standing by the door.
Julian’s eyes sparkled and he gave me a smile that used to make my heart flutter.
“Mummy, where are you going?” She asked me as she looked at me from head to toe.
“You met Alpha Julian, right? His mother is sick so I will go meet her and return in some time.”
1 gave her a short answer but that brought up more
“Is he your friend?” She asked, looking from him to
Julian looked at me expectantly, wondering what I w
“He used to be. Now he isn’t” Julian’s face fell but he gave him a look of warning.
“Then why do you have to go, mummy?” She asked,
I looked him straight in the eye and answered, “Bec convenient for me.”