All Chapters of Fated to Ruthless Alpha Connor: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"I feel a strong bond with her." Hectare's words echoed in my head as I watched Isabella disappear into the elevator.I clenched my jaw. "Stop it." My wolf growled softly."You felt it too."I ignored him and walked toward the reception desk.The doorman had already disappeared, leaving the lobby almost empty. I adjusted the collar of my polo shirt and approached the receptionist."Excuse me."The young woman looked up. "Good evening, sir.""I think I left something upstairs yesterday when I came here with a friend."But I needed access.The receptionist smiled politely. "Which floor?"I glanced at the elevator numbers. "The private floor."Her smile immediately vanished. "I'm sorry, sir. Only authorized personnel are allowed there."Of course. I expected that much. Before I could think of another excuse, the elevator doors opened again. A familiar manager stepped out. The same one who had escorted Isabella moments ago.His eyes lit up in recognition. "Sir! Welcome back."Perfect.I

I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, numbers flashed through my mind. Two point three million dollars gone, stolen right from under my nose. By sunrise, I was already seated in my office with three cups of coffee and enough files to fill an entire bookshelf.The knock came exactly at seven."Come in."Jeremy stepped inside carrying several thick boxes, dark circles hanging beneath his eyes. The poor man looked just as exhausted as I felt."These are the financial reports from the last three years," he said, dropping the boxes on the conference table. "Every report the accounting department submitted."I nodded. "Thank you."His eyes narrowed. "You really found something, didn't you?"Instead of answering, I pushed the calculator toward him. The final number remained displayed on the screen: $2,387,000.Jeremy's eyes widened. "What the hell?"That reaction made me feel slightly better; at least I wasn't the only one shocked."I stayed up all night reviewing the transactions," I

Bella's POVThe word divorce lingered in my mind long after I left the pack offices. It followed me through the courtyard, into the mansion, and even into the master bedroom that had never truly felt like mine. For three years, I had called it our room, yet it had become painfully obvious that it belonged entirely to Zayn and his memories of Gina.I closed the door behind me and leaned heavily against the dark wood. Silence enveloped me. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to ask the question I had been desperately avoiding: How much longer could I keep doing this?Every sacrifice I had ever made suddenly replayed in my mind. The sleepless nights balancing the pack's accounts, the endless negotiations with stubborn merchants, and the businesses I had built from absolutely nothing. I thought of the insults I had endured whenever Zayn chose Gina over me, the loneliness, the humiliation, and the systemic betrayal.I had convinced myself it was all temporary. I thought that if

Bella's POVI almost didn't go. After everything that had happened over the last few days, meeting Connor alone felt like the worst possible decision. Yet, I couldn't stop thinking about him or rather, I couldn't stop thinking about what he had uncovered.The trafficking, the missing money, the forged reports, every lead had proven him right, and I absolutely hated admitting that.The message he had left with the concierge was simple: Tomorrow. Seven o'clock. Riverside Café. Come only if you want the truth. No signature, no long explanation. Just those few words.I had stared at the note for nearly an hour before finally slipping it into my purse. Now, standing outside the quiet café at sunset, I seriously questioned my own judgment."What are you doing, Bella?" I muttered to myself.Meeting another Alpha behind my husband's back was reckless. If anyone from Silver Moon saw us together, the rumors would spread like wildfire. Still, despite the warning bells in my head, I pushed open

Zayn's POVSomething didn't sit right. I stood near the head table with a glass of whiskey in my hand, but I hadn't taken a single sip. My eyes kept drifting across the ballroom toward Bella, toward Connor, toward the smile on my wife's face.It wasn't a wide smile. It wasn't even a happy one. But it was genuine.When was the last time she had smiled like that around me? I couldn't remember."Zayn?" Gina slipped her hand through my arm, her voice pulling at my attention. "You've barely spoken all evening."I forced myself to look at her. "I'm listening.""No, you're watching." Her gaze followed mine, tracing a straight line right back to Bella.Connor was speaking with a group of merchants, but every few seconds, his eyes darted toward Bella as if making sure she was comfortable. The merchants laughed at something she said. One of the older businessmen shook her hand enthusiastically, while another complimented her latest trade agreement. Even the neighboring Alphas had gathered arou