The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 46

-Ava’s POV-

I blinked my eyes open, the sterile white of the hospital room coming into focus. My shoulder throbbed, the pain

making me gasp. reminding me that none of this was a bad dream. I tried to sit up, but the sharp ache shot through my arm,

“The doctor said you shouldn’t sit up just yet.” Grayson’s voice sounded from somewhere to my left. I turned, catching sight of him sitting in

I leaned back, fighting the discomfort, and let out a breath, hoping he’d go back to ignoring me. But then he spoke again, his voice steady, almost clinical. “How do you feel?”

“Like I just got shot,” I muttered, the words slipping out before I could stop myself. I saw the corner of his mouth twitch, but his face remaine His next words came swift and cold. “I’m ending the contract.”

My head snapped up, and I pushed myself up on the bed despite the pain, a strangled curse slipping from my lips. “You’re what?”

Grayson finally looked up, his gaze ice-

cold, “I just told you not to sit up. Lie back down before you do more damage.“. I glared at him, ignoring the pain that pulsed through my sho chance. “No. I’m not finished. I know you hate interruptions, but I just got shot, so I’m going to talk, and you’re going to listen. You’re not end to say no. End of discussion.”

My tone was sharp, bordering on desperate, but I didn’t care. “And if you bring it up again, I swear I’ll start screaming, and when the doctors His eyes narrowed slightly, but he quickly masked it, his gaze going back to that cool, controlled look. “You got kidnapped and shot because “And if I want to go through worse, that’s my decision to make.”

The words spilled out before I fully understood why I was pushing against him. He was offering me an exit, the very thing I’d once wanted -a way out, with my dignity and, hopefully, my life intact. I would still get the money and I could take it,

my own life. disappear, leave the mess behind and finally prove to my parents that I could handle

But deep down, I knew that wasn’t what I wanted anymore. Since I’d met Grayson, my life had been a rollercoaster, but it was a life I was a not just existing. Before him, I was a ghost in my own world, never taking risks, never feeling anything real. And now, even with all the dange

“Ava,” he said, my name slipping from his lips like an order, snapping me back to the present.

I shook my head. “No. The contract will end when the year is up. Like we agreed from the start.”

For a moment, silence stretched between us, a standoff of wills. Finally, he spoke, his voice even colder than before. “Fine.”

I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, thinking it was over. But he continued, his tone flat. “I’ll speak with the doctor and have you

With that, he got up, not sparing me another glance as he strode to the door and slammed it shut behind him. I let myself collapse back aga

09.46 Sat,

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So much for a wishful almost-

romantic getaway. And to make it worse, I hadn’t even gotten to taste the gelato.

The entire flight back was a blur of pain and frustration. Grayson barely said two words to me, reverting to his icy, unfeeling self. I’d seen the especially me-could get close.

By the time we arrived back at the mansion, I was both physically and mentally drained. Grayson disappeared the moment we arrived, leavi spoken word. I spent the night tossing and turning, wrestling with memories and half-

formed thoughts until the early morning light finally crept through the window.

The door suddenly burst open, and I flinched, only to see Isabella bounding into the room.

“Where’s my sneaky little best friend who just disappeared to Italy without a word?”

I groaned, grabbing a pillow and pulling it over

my head. Isabella yanked it away almost immediately, her eyes going wide when she noticed the bandage on my shoulder. “Lilian, what the

I forced a weak smile. “I got shot. Well, kidnapped, then shot-two separate incidents, same trip.”

She gasped, eyes filling with shock and concern then flicked my forehead. “Why are you acting like it’s no big deal? Why didn’t you tell me to Italy? Or that you were, you know, planning to get kidnapped and shot?”

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