Chapter 14
Alatic returned to MIT and found Professor Leckwood, cutting straight to the point
Trofessor, I need stellas contic information at the research facility I’m Iringing her hark-
Professor: Lockwood stared at him as if he’d go
na second head.
“Are you serious right now? This is a classified government initiative, not so corporale retest. The of Applicants. Once you commit, you don’t just walk out became your boyfriend shows api
researchers are handpicked from thomant
cunfamiliar cleaning inside him. His words handled out with uncharacteristic argency
Alaric, typically the picture of composite, felt something u
“You don’t understand the situation. Stella doesn’t actually want this project. We had a fight a few days ago, and the ‘s just doing this to get back at me.
Even now, Alaric clung to the belief that Stella was simply reacting to their recent conflicts,
He continued: “She’ll cool off in a few days and regret it, which will only mess up your project rimeline. Peter if we bring her bark me before
things get complicated”
Profesor Lockwood looked at him with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
“That’s completely wrong. Stella didn’t make this decision recently at all.”
Alaric froze
As Alaric walked out of the research building, he moved like a man depwalking
The professor’s words kept replaying in his mand-
“Stella contacted us about joining the Nebula Initiative last week. She was completely determined. We verified her commitment multiple times to be sure. This was absolutely not an impulsive decision.”
Alaric stopped mid stride.
Last week
had first mentioned their wedding date.
Right when he had
Stella had indeed talked about breaking their engagement even then
He had dismissed it as another emotional outburst, as usual.
But she had been deadly serious–simultaneously breaking their engagement while arranging her escape?
But why?
The auction incident hadn’t happened yet, nor the drugging, nor the fire
What had made Stella so determined to leave?
Maric couldn’t make sense of it. In a fog, be returned home, only to find his father sitting in the living room wearing
“Maric, there you are. Great news–I’ve solved our wedding problem
Chapter 15
Chapter 15
free, then felt a songe of lige.
⠀ “We find Stella?!
“Not a chance. Eve nude
Alarie’s fonds fell limply to his tider..
Stevens continued excitedly. That finding Stella dormt matter. I ve beated her nonin indeed, the virili » Forbes, Stella’s place. We’d still have met alliance seith the
“Tve already spoken with her. She’s agreed, and we laid becoming the laughingstock of New York?
“Absolutely
Maric’s face darkened
was engaged to Stella We can’t just swap her out like she’s interchangeable. And aren’t you worried she’ll find out and grillad
“What planet are you on?”
Steven frowned at his son
“Stella has committed to a long–term project. She dearly wanted out of this marriage and has moved on from you. Why would the ge a damn w marry someone else?”
“Beyond that, Stella won’t return for at least a decade, maybe two. The Forbes business is already in the hands of manage can’t deny
interfere
In short, all the concerns you raised at the wedding are now irrelevant. Our only problem is avoiding looking like we backed
“The perfect solution is to marry another Forbes woman. That way, everyone will see that the Gilbert family honors sen!”
“All the issues have been resolved. Alaric. What are you still hung up
Alaric’s hands clenched into tight fists, his expression frorem.
His rational mind knew his father was right. All the practical concerns had been addressed. He simply needed to marry Stella’s cousin.
After all, he didn’t love Stella. Marrying her or her cousin made no difference to him
So why?
Why did he feel this face resistance? Why
? Why did his chest feel hallow, as if something essential had been carved out?
“I can’t marry Stella’s cousin,” he said mechanically, unable to articulate his feelings. “I just can’t do it.”
“You-“Steven was about to explode, but Camilla who had been sent until now, placed a restraining hand on her husband’s arm and looked up at her
“Alarie, at this point, you could marry anyone–Stella’s comin, even Jenna. We’d accept it. But I need to ask you somethu
She looked straight into her son’s eyes
Your insistence on marrying Stella–is it really just about promises and business interests, or do you love he
“Ofcom ir it’s herause-” Alaric began automatically, but stopped mud sentence.
Tina in I men with Your Before That Cruel Summer Took Everything
Chapter 15
Because if it were truly about promises and business, he would have already let go
Camilla nodiled slightly with understanding aid
“Alarie, now that Stella’s gone, but it time you faced the truthor
ar you genuinely indifferent to her, or are you simply afraid to admit that you love her?
Alaric had no recollection of leaving the Gillest mansion.
His mother’s words echoed is his mind-
“Are you genuinely indifferent to her, or are you simply afraid to admit that you love her?”
Maric’s fists clenched tightly.
No!
He couldn’t possibly love Stella.
He loved Jenna!
With this thought, he inmediately decided to End Jenna.
Too much had happened lately, clouding his judgment.
Once he saw Jenna, he would remember who be truly loved!
He asked his assistant and learned that Jenna was at a bar with friends.
He went there immediately
Thit as he approached the private room, before he could push the door open, he beard one of Jenna’s friends speaking-
“Jenna, you were so confident about landing your uncle and becoming Mrs. Gilbert with all that cash. So did you seal the dealer what
