The Alpha who was never mine のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

Elena Cruz Elena went to her room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment while trying to catch her breath. The house felt too quiet around her, too big, and she needed space to think. Everything felt wrong. All of it. She moved to her bed and sat down, then immediately stood back up because she couldn’t stay still. The nightmares wouldn’t stop coming, every single night waking her up drenched in sweat with her heart racing and images she couldn’t quite grasp slipping away the second she opened her eyes. And during the day this restlessness crawled under her skin constantly, making her want to run or scream or do something just to get it out. And her emotions were the worst part. They swung wildly from one extreme to the other without warning or reason. One minute she’d feel something intense and overwhelming, the next minute she’d feel absolutely nothing at all, like someone had flipped a switch inside her and turned off every feeling she had. It didn’t

Elena CruzElena walked through the front door and heard noise coming from the kitchen which was unusual. The staff usually had everything cleaned up and put away by this time of evening.She dropped her bag by the stairs and walked toward the sound, stopping in the doorway when she saw who it was.Vivian stood at the counter making coffee. Actually making it herself, not asking Mrs. Parker to do it, her hands working the expensive machine like she actually knew what she was doing but just never bothered.Elena couldn’t help but smile. “I didn’t know you knew how to make your own coffee. I thought that’s what Mrs. Parker was for.”Vivian glanced up and a small smile crossed her face, almost genuine. “I’m full of surprises.”Elena leaned against the doorframe and watched Vivian pour the coffee into one of those delicate cups that looked too expensive to actually use. Vivian took a sip, then turned to face her fully, leaning back against the counter in a way that looked casual but someh

Alexander Hale Alexander walked through the front door and heard movement upstairs. He climbed the stairs and found Vivian in their bedroom packing a suitcase on the bed, clothes folded neatly beside her Louis Vuitton luggage. “Going somewhere?” Vivian looked up. “London. There’s a merger that needs my attention.” “When do you leave?” “Tonight. Flight’s at eleven.” Alexander loosened his tie and sat on the edge of the bed. “Max came by my office today.” “What did he want?” “Father’s stepping down. He’s opening the floor for the board position at the next meeting.” Vivian stopped folding and looked at him. “And Max wants you out of the way.” “He’s always hated me.” “He doesn’t hate you, Alexander. He’s just upset.” Vivian crossed to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been with the family for years but you’re never around. You don’t show up to dinners, you don’t return calls. Max has been there doing the work while you’ve been here playing doctor.”

Elena “Carlos.” Ethan’s voice sliced through whatever was building and Elena’s lungs remembered how to work. He stood in the doorway looking calm but his shoulders were locked tight. Carlos’s face changed so fast Elena almost thought she’d imagined the gold in his eyes. He smiled, easy and charming again. “Just showing Elena our collection. She’s interested in the family history.” “Dinner’s about to start.” Ethan crossed the room and his hand landed on Elena’s back. Firm. Possessive. “We should go.” “Of course.” Carlos lifted his glass, took a slow sip. “Enjoy your evening, Elena. We’ll talk more later.” The promise in those words made her stomach drop. Ethan pulled her out fast. Too fast. His fingers dug into her back through the thin fabric of her dress and Elena wanted to shake him off but her legs were still shaking from whatever the fuck just happened with Carlos. “What were you doing with him?” “Nothing. He just started talking to me.” “Stay away from him.”

ElenaElena woke up to bacon. Not the faint smell of breakfast cooking somewhere downstairs. The actual scent of pork fat hitting a hot pan, salt crystalizing on meat, smoke curling up from the stove. She could smell it like someone was holding the pan directly under her nose.Her eyes snapped open. Her head felt like someone had taken a hammer to it. She pressed her palms against her temples and tried to breathe through the pain but that made it worse because she could smell everything. The detergent Mrs. Parker used on the sheets. The wood polish on the furniture. Her own sweat soaked into her pillow.She sat up too fast and her stomach lurched.The nightstand came into focus and her eyes drifted to the pill bottle which sat there where it always did, two white tablets already laid out on a napkin beside it. Dr. Alex must have come in while she was sleeping. The thought of him standing over her bed watching her sleep should have creeped her out but instead something warm twisted in h