The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

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Liam stood there, frozen, for a long moment. His eyes flashed between hurt, guilt, and finally

realization.

“You’re right,” he said, slowly sinking onto the bed. He dragged both hands through his hair and hung his head. “This isn’t me. I’m sorry, Ella I just… I worry about you, that’s all. I look at you, and I see the pain in your eyes, and all I want to do is protect you. I blame myself for not being there to protect you these past ten years.’

Some of the anger began to fade away. “I missed you, Liam. I really did. But I don’t need a protector—I just need a friend.”

Liam sniffled. When he looked up, his eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. The sight broke my heart, but I held my ground.

Finally, he nodded. “I promise I won’t go to the press. Here. Take this.” He pulled out the all- too-familiar folder containing the contract and handed it to me, then extended his left pinky.” Tell Alexander he doesn’t need to worry. Your secret is safe with me.”

I took the folder with one shaking hand, then wrapped my other pinky around his. “Thank you,” I whispered.

Leaving Liam in his room, I hurried downstairs to Alexander’s office. I didn’t knock-just burst in, the same way he had burst in on me earlier. I threw the folder on his desk.

“He’s not going to the press,” I ground out. “And for the record, I told you I didn’t tell anyone about the contract and I fucking meant it. If you think so little of me that you’d believe I would betray you like that, then why enter into a contract with me at all?”

Alexander and Gabriel stared at the contract. Slowly, Alexander looked back up at me. Remorse shone in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Ella.” He stood. “I should have listened to you.”

“If you didn’t tell Liam about the contract, then who did?” Gabriel suddenly asked.

I didn’t have an answer to that. In my haste to clear the air with Alexander, I hadn’t thought to

ask.

Just as I was about to speak, the phone rang. Gabriel answered it, his face darkening with each passing second. “Yes… I understand… Thank you for letting us know…”

My heart pounded as Alexander and I stared at the Beta. Finally, he hung up the phone with trembling fingers. When he turned to Alexander, his face was grave.

“The news has been leaked. It’s all over already.”

The room fell silent. Alexander’s body went rigid his hands curling around the edge of his

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Chapter 33

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desk until his knuckles turned white.

Suddenly, the door burst open again. Liam, breathless, ran into the room with his phone in his hand. I couldn’t quite make out the news headline that was plastered across the screen, but I was certain it was about us.

Alexander’s face blackened. “Liam, you fucking-

“It wasn’t me,” Liam insisted, holding his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t leak it. I swear to you that it wasn’t me.”

Alexander growled low in his chest and took a step toward Liam, but I put myself in his path. He didn’t do it,” I said firmly, lifting my chin.

There was a long, tense silence as Alexander stared me down, but I held my ground. I knew Liam didn’t do this; he had made a pinky promise. And despite what had happened to my friend over the years, I knew one thing for certain.

“Best friends keep pinky promises,” a nine-year-old Liam had said all those years ago, wrapping his little finger around mine. “No matter what.”

Some things simply couldn’t change.

Finally, Alexander relaxed somewhat.

“If it wasn’t you,” he said, looking at Liam now, then who leaked the information?”

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