ALEXANDER'S POV I should have known that the press would definitely be the first to know about the development in Katherine's and I relationship.I should have expected it but somehow it took me off guard when I woke up this morning to a phone call from Henry.My hands reached out for my phone in the drawer next to me and I grabbed it."Hello?" I answered groggily."Alex, check your socials."It was a simple sentence but the edginess underlaced in those words forced my eyes open and I immediately sat up."What's wrong?""You're trending everywhere."I sighed heavily and relaxed, my shoulders were tensed up but I immediately eased them."Right. That's not something new, is that? I'm always trending everywhere.""Well, this time it's not just you."I frowned and ran my hands through my hair in frustration.He didn't have to tell me who the other person was, I could immediately tell who it was.Either Astra or Katherine but a part of me knew that it was no other than Katherine."Fuck! N
ALEXANDER'S POV I turned to look at the stare I was now familiar with and immune to."Hazel... You're right. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be saying this here, it's a private matter."I knew my words were like an ice cold bath on her face and rightly so.It was meant to shut her up and put her in her place.The silence that followed my words was exactly the response I wanted."Let's just settle everything here once and for all. Why did you send that text to Katherine? What's the secret you want to tell her?"My brow raised at Charles' interrogation and the burning feeling I get in my chest whenever he gets like this, resurfaced.Astra glanced at me nervously, an act obviously, and then stared at Katherine."I sent you a text?"Her eyes were wide and innocent as she tried to maintain a blank expression on her face.For fucks sake! She was putting on an act!Katherine would be a fool to fall for it.But I guess I overestimated Katherine's dislike for Astra as her next words broke me."Yes, yo
ALEXANDER'S POV His hands were on her hand.That was the first thing I noticed the minute I got out of the car.She stared at me, her eyes widening with a mixture of surprise and something almost akin to suspicion.The slight suspicion in her face made me turn my eyes to her right and I saw someone I never expected to see with her.Astra.No wonder she looked suspicious of me.What scheme was Astra cooking up this time around?I took brisk steps towards them, my chest burning with every single step as my eyes lingered on that damned guy's hands on her."Alex."That was all..?I clenched my teeth."What is he doing with you?"She rolled her eyes, an action that seemed foreign for a face like hers."I don't think you need to know, besides I should be the one asking questions here. What are you doing here? And why is..." Her eyes trailed behind me and her voice faltered, "Hazel?"I turned to look behind me, following her eyes.Hazel stood some steps away from me, her eyes drilling a hol
KATHERINE'S POV I opened my mouth to query him, to demand reasons why he did that but the sound of my phone ringing took the words out of my lips.His eyes went down to the bag and lingered there before coming back to my eyes with a painful look on his face."Your phone's ringing..." He nudged me."Ohh, right."I reached into my bag and grabbed it just in time.An unknown caller but there wassomething familiar about the number."Hello?" "You want to meet up?" Astra.Earlier, before meeting with Charles, I sent her a text and asked her to pick a place so she could explain herself instead of cowardly sending me a text."I did.""Did? Look, Katherine, I understand that you don't believe me, that you hate me and honestly it's what I deserve but I don't want you to be a fool, just like I was."What the hell was she saying?"Astra, I don't understand what you mean."My voice was cold and sharp but it didn't hide the tremors underneath it. She sounded so serious and sincere unlike the A
KATHERINE'S POV He didn't say anything immediately and his reaction was exactly as expected, but weirdly I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with the silence and calm look on his face."So…" It was obvious what words were at the tip of his tongue. His calm look didn't hide what questions he had dancing around the edge of his eyes.So what's your plan?That was exactly what he wanted to ask.But I didn't want to respond immediately, no, actually I couldn't let him see that I actually understood what he meant."So what?" I blinked innocently.He leaned forward, this time, the almost hopeful look was back in his eyes."So why would she send you such a text?"He was dancing around the question. Well, figures.We both knew what the answer was.He was the only person who understood me, aside from Hazel so he would have an inkling of what I want.But the truth was that while the idea of getting back together with Alex seems okay, I still can't bring myself to actually do it.I guess th
KATHERINE'S POV I gasped loudly as her words went straight through me like a sharp arrow.A part of me wanted to chase after her and give her a piece of my mind, or probably slap some sense into her but another part of me knew that she was slightly right. Sort of.Maybe it was because I wanted him, not just because of Frankie.Or maybe...I let out another sigh and picked up my phone.Was it really because I wanted him? No, that's impossible.Alex was hot, yes, annoying so. He has ways of making me get wet without even doing anything. His stare alone messes with me, but then again, he wasn't the hottest man on planet earth.I mean, there's Charles.He's hot, he's humble, he's kind and he cares about me, a lot.Alex? Not that much.Heck, I wasn't even sure if Alex really cares about me, about getting back together with me or if he just wants complete access to me, and then when my guard is down, he'll leave with Franklin.He was definitely capable of something like that, but he also