28
“Very well,” Nelly replied in a calm tone.
“Do you love me?” Ben asked eagerly.
“Yes, I love you,” Nelly reassured him.
“Then say I am your favorite baby,” Ben insisted, which prompted a loud objection from Tony on the other end. “Ugh, stop being disgusting,” Tony grumbled.
Ben retorted, “You’re just jealous.”
Nelly, relieved to hear the familiar chaos in the background, reassured them both. “Alright now. I’ll be back soon. Behave and wait for me at home, alright?” She hung up the phone and turned her attention elsewhere.
As she glanced up, Nelly locked eyes with Alpha Kilian, who stood there, appearing slightly disheveled. Despite suspecting their meeting wasn’t coincidental, she feigned ignorance and casually walked past him towards the restroom.
“Was that your boyfriend?” Alpha Kilian suddenly inquired.
Taken aback, Nelly realized it must have been a misleading phone call. Well, it’s better than him finding out about the kids, she thought. Grinning mischievously, she responded, “He’s far more important to me than a mere boyfriend.”
Alpha Kilian’s gaze dimmed. “Is he the one from the cafe?”
Nelly remembered their meal together and the realization dawned on her. “Ah, so you witnessed us together the other day,” she mused. With her head held high, she retorted, “That’s a personal matter, and I see no need to answer.”
Just as she started to walk away, Alpha Kilian unexpectedly grabbed her wrist, pinning her against the wall. His captivating face loomed close to hers.
Frowning, Nelly stared back into his burning rage-filled eyes. “Alpha Morris, do you enjoy bullying others?” she questioned.
Alpha Kilian was momentarily speechless.
“Or perhaps there’s something about this position that you find appealing?”
Unexpectedly, Alpha Kilian’s voice carried a hint of seduction as he replied, “Well, what position would you prefer?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
That’s not the point, Nelly thought. Blinking in surprise, she scoffed, “A position I might like? Any role that keeps you far, far away from me.”
Alpha Kilian’s grip loosened and she massaged her aching wrist. He looked at her with a frown, his eyes filled with confusion. “How can I trust that you’re not lying?”
“My word, Alpha Kilian, you truly are a narcissist,” she sassed. “I’ve already made it clear that I have someone more significant in my life than boyfriends. So, why would I need to lie? Do you really think you will always be my type?”
Nelly effortlessly pushed all of Alpha Kilian’s buttons. Just a few words were enough to provoke a change in his gaze. The darkness and wrath beneath his surface were like a swirling tornado, threatening to consume her whole.
Ignoring her response, Alpha Kilian taunted, “Regardless of whether I’m your type, you’ve experienced what I’m like. Was it enjoyable? Did I make an impression?”
Speechless for a moment, Nelly refused to back down. “You know what, I actually can’t recall what it felt like anymore,” she retorted.
“Do you want me to refresh your memory?” Alpha Kilian proposed.
“Didn’t you call me boring and uncultured? What happened? Did you change your mind, Alpha Morris?” Nelly shot back. Alpha Kilian’s hand caressed her cheek gently. “To be honest, you are undeniably stunning.”
What a shallow man, she thought.
“Alpha Kilian, lust isn’t everything. Morals matter too. I truly wonder, what kind of person do you think I’ve become? You might be interested in this new me, but I have no interest in you, especially as someone else’s boyfriend.”
Before Alpha Kilian could complete his sentence, a weak and desperate voice interrupted them. Nelly and Alpha Kilian turned to see Lara standing at a distance, her eyes filled with sorrow. “What are you two doing?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Nelly only released her grip on his hand when Alpha Kilian let go. She rubbed her sore wrist, understanding that Lara must have misunderstood the situation.
“Alpha Morris, you created this mess, so handle it,” Nelly retorted before turning to leave.
“Nelly Jackson, you accepted my money, so why are you still bothering Alpha Kilian?” Lara demanded anxiously.
Alpha Kilian furrowed his brow and turned towards her.
Nelly glanced back, meeting Lara’s gaze head-on. “Ms. Gareth, I think I need to clarify something. I never pursued Alpha Kilian, nor am I now, or ever will be interested in him. As for your money, you were the one who forced it upon me. Besides, I never received it. If you insist on getting it back, I’ll ask every employee at Prosper Technologies to return it.”
“You…” Lara growled, glaring at Nelly. Unfortunately for her, there was nothing she could do. Moreover, she suspected Nelly orchestrated the entire situation.
“What do you mean?” Alpha Kilian questioned, catching onto the crucial details in her words.
“It means nothing. As I stated before, Alpha Morris, whatever happened between us belongs in the past. Let’s keep things civil. Stop bothering me. Not everyone is okay with being a home wrecker.”
Suddenly, the door to the private room swung open, and both Alpha Larry and Alpha Wade appeared.
Alpha Larry frowned upon seeing Nelly, Alpha Kilian, and Lara together in the corridor. “What’s happening here?” he demanded to know.
Lara, seeing Alpha Larry, retracted her claws. “Old Alpha Morris, I didn’t know you were here too.”
Although Alpha Larry gave her a quick glance, he remained silent.
On the other hand, Alpha Wade stared at Nelly with concern. “Nelly, what happened?”
Nelly smiled. “It’s nothing, Grandpa. Alpha Morris’s troubles spilled over and affected me a little.”
Alpha Wade’s frown deepened upon hearing that. “Alpha Kilian, I don’t know what’s going on, but you and Nelly are divorced. Furthermore, you’re engaged to someone else. I hope you’ll stay away from Nelly, and if possible, don’t contact her at all. That’s my one request.”
Alpha Larry turned his head towards Alpha Wade. “Engaged? What are you talking about?”
Lara, equally confused, interjected, “Divorced? Are you saying Nelly and Alpha Kilian used to be mated?”