All Chapters of Rejected as the Fat Mate: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Tahlia's POV"Convince you," Corin repeated slowly, something bitter twisting behind the words. "You want me to justify a lifetime built on a single, unchangeable fact. Our family was destroyed, Tahlia. Not simply scattered, not simply hidden. Destroyed, deliberately, by the crown you're now expected to marry into.""I know the history. I've read the treaty, spoken with the advisor who confirmed our father's betrayal, learned exactly how deep this goes.""Then you understand why I can't simply walk away from everything I've built." He paced the small chamber, restless energy radiating from every movement, the torchlight catching the sharp angles of his face in a way that made the resemblance to our father almost painful to look at directly. "I was raised believing our bloodline's restoration was the only purpose worth pursuing. Even now, knowing our father orchestrated his own family's purge, that purpose hasn't changed. If anything, it's grown more urgent. He may have betrayed us for

Tahlia's POV"Both sides. Say that again, slowly, because I need to understand exactly what you're suggesting."Corin sat across from me, the forged execution order still spread between us on the small table, his earlier composure entirely abandoned in favor of genuine, unguarded attention."I think someone has been orchestrating this entire conflict from the shadows, manipulating both Silver Ridge and your coalition into believing reconciliation is impossible." I gathered my thoughts, laying out the pattern the same way I'd once laid out financial discrepancies for a skeptical war council. "Consider everything we know. Corwin poisoned the King, framed me for it, and provoked Kael's return at exactly the moment it would create maximum chaos. That conspiracy served someone's purposes beyond simply Corwin's own ambition, given his admission that he wasn't working alone.""You think whoever guided Corwin is also feeding false documents into my coalition.""I think it fits the pattern per

Ronan's POV"You expect me to believe you've allied yourself with him after two days."The words came out harder than I intended, my blade still raised, every instinct still screaming betrayal despite the reasonable explanation Tahlia had just offered. "Two days ago, this man drugged you and dragged you from our palace against your will. Now you're defending him.""I'm not defending him blindly. I'm telling you what I've learned, and I need you to actually listen instead of assuming the worst simply because the picture in front of you doesn't match what you expected to find." Tahlia's voice carried none of the panic I'd braced myself for, only steady, exhausted determination. "Lower your blade, Ronan. Please. We don't have time for this."I hesitated, torn between the fury still coursing through my system and the trust I'd promised her months earlier, the same promise that had carried us through every previous crisis. Slowly, I lowered the weapon, though I didn't sheathe it entirely.

Tahlia's POV"Reyes." I stared at him, refusing to fully accept what stood in front of me despite the unmistakable proof. "You commanded warriors under Ronan's banner. You helped organize this kingdom's defenses. You stood in my war room, defended my judgment against Kastor himself.""All true," Reyes said, his voice carrying none of the easy camaraderie I remembered from those early days of proving myself to a skeptical council. "And all useful, precisely because it earned exactly the trust required to manipulate this conflict from the inside without anyone suspecting.""Why?" Ronan's voice cut sharp with fury. "What could possibly justify this level of betrayal?"Reyes's smile carried nothing but cold satisfaction. "You'll learn eventually. For now, understand only that I'm considerably less important than whoever I answer to, and that revealing anything further would accomplish nothing beyond satisfying your curiosity."Before I could press further, movement near the compound's ent

Ronan's POV"You knew we'd find this eventually. That's why you're not surprised."I held the document steady despite the fury coursing through my system, watching my stepmother dismount with the same unhurried grace she brought to every formal occasion, as though the wreckage surrounding her simply didn't warrant urgency."I'm not surprised because I've spent years anticipating exactly this moment, Ronan. Preparation is considerably more useful than surprise when the stakes are as significant as what we're actually discussing.""What we're discussing is treason. Conspiracy against your husband's throne, manipulation of a rebellion that's cost lives on every side of this conflict." I stepped closer, refusing to let her composed authority soften the accusation. "Explain yourself, or I'll have you returned to Silver Ridge in chains regardless of whatever formal position you currently hold.""You may do exactly that, once you've heard what I have to say." Selene's expression remained mad