The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 23

-Ava’s POV

“I’m still trying to understand how your life got so interesting all of a sudden,” Isabella said with a dramatic sigh, handing me a drink.

I couldn’t help but laugh, taking a sip. “If you count the absolute chaos I’ve been dealing with as interesting…..”

She

rolled her eyes and flopped down onto the couch, snuggling into the blanket she’d wrapped herself in. She was right, though- Grayson’s mansion really did have everything. From an indoor swimming pool to an outdoor one, and now this private theater room that Isal watching session.

In her words, “Grayson won’t mind. You’re going to be his wife anyway.”

His wife. The words still made me tense up. I hadn’t seen Grayson since the moment I’d impulsively told him I wanted to marry him in two w Honestly, I hadn’t thought much about the wedding. Not since I’d blurted it out in his office. I’d put off any kind of planning until next week be The thought made my stomach twist in sadness. I didn’t expect it to hurt as much as it did, realizing that no one from my family would be the But Grayson had more power than my mother. That much was clear now. I had an interview scheduled at one of the biggest medical centers

moment.

Still but fine.

Until Isabella brought up the one thing I didn’t want to think about.

“The ultimatum

quiet.

your

father us for tomorrow… what do you think he’s going to do?” she asked, her voice unusually

gave

I sighed, setting the glass down on the table in front of me. “They already disowned me. I doubt he’ll go through with the threat. What’s left t Isabella didn’t respond right away, the room falling into an uneasy silence as we both sat there, the tension gnawing at me. I wanted to push “What are you thinking about for the wedding?” She asked eventually, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Can we just watch the movie?”

But Isabella wasn’t one to let things go that easily. Of course, she pressed on.

“I mean, you have the black card! You could go all out, Lilian. This could be the biggest, most glamorous wedding of the year. Just picture it- lights, cameras, the dress, the venue-”

I groaned. “I don’t want that, Bels. I just want something….. simple.”

<

21:56

Thu, Dec

“Simple?” She blinked at me like I’d just said I wanted to get married in a grocery store.

“Yes, simple,” I repeated, more firmly this time. “I don’t want a circus. I don’t need a spectacle.”

She looked at me for a second before narrowing her eyes. “Wait Don’t tell me this is about Grayson. Is he making you feel like you can’t-” “No.” I cut her off quickly. “It’s not about him. I just don’t want a big thing. That’s all.”

Isabella raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. She knew better than to push when I was serious. “Fine,” she relented. “But you’re at least gett I smiled a little, grateful that she was trying to lighten the mood. But even as I sat there, pretending to focus on the movie, my mind kept war What was he thinking? Why hadn’t I seen him since our conversation in his office? I didn’t expect him to be the kind of guy who’d hover, but waiting for the other shoe to drop.

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