Ruin Me, Alpha: Breaking The Enemy's Daughter のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 131 - チャプター 140

ElenaI returned to my chambers to find servants already cleaning up the flood damage.“Your Highness!” One of them rushed over. “Thank goodness you’re safe. We were so worried when we couldn’t find you.”“I sheltered in the north tower.” The lie came easily. “I’m fine.”“Lord Thorne has been looking for you. He’s quite concerned.”Guilt crashed over me.Adrian. My fiancé. The man I’d betrayed last night.“Where is he?”“In the great hall, I believe.”I found him there, speaking with my father about storm damage.When he saw me, relief flooded his face.“Elena!” He rushed over, pulling me into his arms. “Thank the gods. I was so worried. The guard said you’d gone to the top of the tower and when I tried to find you this morning, you weren’t there.”“I came down early.” Another lie. “I didn’t want to worry anyone.”“You should have sent word.” He pulled back to look at me. “I barely slept thinking about you alone up there.”The guilt was crushing.While he’d been worried about me, I’d

ElenaThe next day, Adrian announced he wanted to have dinner with my parents.“To discuss the wedding,” he said. “And our future.”Dread pooled in my stomach.That evening, we sat in my parents’ private dining room.My mother kept giving me meaningful looks. She knew. And she was waiting to see what I’d do.“Adrian has something he’d like to discuss,” my father said.Adrian took my hand. “I know we originally planned the wedding for two months from now. But I’ve been thinking—why wait? Why not marry sooner?”“How much sooner?” my father asked.“A month.” Adrian looked at me. “I know it’s fast. But Elena, I love you. I don’t want to wait any longer to make you my wife.”A month.Four weeks.Thirty days.I was going to be sick.“That’s very soon,” my mother said carefully, her eyes on me. “Are you sure you want to rush?”“I’m sure.” Adrian squeezed my hand. “Elena and I have already waited six months. I see no reason to wait longer. Unless…” He looked at me. “Unless you object?”Everyo

Elena“You’re cruel, you know.”I turned to find Kieran emerging from the shadows.“What?”“Letting him kiss you.” His voice was hard. “Letting him talk about your future together. Letting him plan a wedding that should never happen.”“What am I supposed to do? Tell him the truth? Destroy him?”“Yes!” He moved closer. “Yes, you should tell him the truth! That you don’t love him! That you’re bonded to someone else! That you’re fucking your bodyguard while planning your wedding to him!”“Keep your voice down—”“Why?” His eyes blazed. “Afraid someone will hear? Afraid the truth will come out? You should be afraid, Elena. Because this can’t last. Eventually, we’ll get caught. And when we do, it won’t just be a scandal. It’ll be a catastrophe.”“I know that—”“Do you?” He grabbed my shoulders. “Do you really understand what happens when this blows up? Your reputation will be destroyed. Adrian will be humiliated. Your father will be furious. And I’ll be exiled or executed or both. Is that w

ElenaI avoided Kieran for three days.Three agonizing days where I threw myself completely into wedding preparations.Final dress fitting. Seating arrangements. Menu confirmations. Vow writing.I forced myself to be present. To be engaged. To commit fully to Adrian.Adrian noticed the change."You seem different," he said over breakfast on the third day. "More... here.""I am here." I squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry I've been so distant. But I'm ready now. Ready to be your wife."He smiled, relief clear on his face. "I'm glad. I was starting to worry you were having second thoughts.""No second thoughts." The lie came easily now. "Just pre-wedding jitters.""Well, ten days from now, you'll be my wife. And all the jitters will be worth it."Ten days.I had ten days to keep avoiding Kieran. To stay strong. To not break.I could do this.I had to.That evening, there was a ball. One of the final pre-wedding celebrations.I wore silver silk. My hair was elaborately styled. I looked every i

ElenaI watched from my window as dawn broke over the palace.Below, in the courtyard, a small group was preparing to leave. Horses. Supplies. Guards escorting a single rider north.Kieran.My hand pressed against the cold glass as if I could reach him from here. As if the distance between my tower window and the courtyard below wasn’t an impossible chasm.He didn’t look up.Why would he? The bond was broken. He couldn’t feel me watching. Couldn’t sense my desperation, my grief, my need to run to him.He mounted his horse with fluid grace despite the beating Adrian’s men had given him. Even from here, I could see the stiffness in his movements. The way he favored his left side.They’d broken ribs. Split his lip. Blackened his eye.All because he’d touched me.All because I hadn’t been brave enough to choose him before it was too late.The group began to move. Heading toward the gates. Toward the northern border. Toward a life that didn’t include me.I wanted to scream. To throw open t