Chapter 169
Just as she opened her mouth to say more, the Alpha King’s voice came out commanding
and firm.
“Estelle. I will speak now.”
Doris,” he began. “There’s something you don’t know about Estelle, so I wanted to introduce
you to her identity.”
I watched him carefully, waiting for the revelation I could feel coming.
“Estelle’s father Marcus was once my most trusted warrior,” he said, his voice steady but
filled with a hint of reverence.
“He was by my side through every battle, the one I could always count on. When an assassination attempt was made on my life, he died protecting me. It was his sacrifice that kept me alive.”
I could only stare in surprise. Estelle’s father had been the Alpha King’s protector? This was more than I’d ever expected to hear.
The Alpha King’s gaze softened as he continued, “Since his death, Estelle has been under my care. I arranged for trusted people to look after her. No one, not even Luna, has had any
part in her management.
“I’ve ensured her safety, her well–being, and her future. Everything about her has been
handled by my arrangements.”
I felt a rush of disbelief. Estelle, who I’d thought was simply an ambitious and manipulative player in this web of politics, had a much more complicated background.
She had been raised under the Alpha King’s personal protection. That meant her position was not just strategic, it was deeply personal.
The Alpha King leaned forward slightly, his expression shifting, the weight of his words
Cising Un My First Love For Secret Research: Second Chance at Happiness
86.0%
Chapter foo
tling in the air. “I will be blunt with you, Doris. I love Estelle.”
The declaration hit me harder than I expected. I stared at him, trying to process the
magnitude of his words.
“I didn’t let her betroth Carlos when she was younger. I didn’t allow it because she was too young. It wasn’t about politics or alliances, Doris.
“It was because I cared for her too much to let her enter such a serious commitment before
she was ready. That’s how much she means to me.”
The truth of it landed heavily. Estelle was not just a pawn in a power game; she was the Alpha King’s responsibility, and his feelings for her went beyond duty.
It explained her privileged position in the pack, the favor she was afforded, and the way
she wielded influence so effortlessly.
“I kept her close, made sure she was safe. And now, Doris,” the Alpha King continued, his voice firm, “I trust that you understand just how much she is a part of my life, and how much I will protect her from anyone who dares harm her.”
The Alpha King’s affection for Estelle was undeniable, and it made her far more important
than I had ever imagined.
She wasn’t just a rival in this game, she was the daughter of someone who had died for the Alpha King’s survival. The stakes were much higher than I’d realized.
The King then asked me, ‘And you, Doris? You’ve spent time with Estelle. What do you think
of her?‘
I forced a smile, “She’s… wonderful. It’s an honor to call her a friend.”
Estelle turned toward me, her eyes wide with warmth. She stepped closer, her soft voice wrapping around the room. “And I feel the same about you, Doris. You’ve been so kind to me since I arrived.”
Her hand reached out, brushing against my arm. The contact made me stiffen, though I tried to hide it. I couldn’t bring myself to trust her, not after witnessing her evil side.
Chance at Happiness
86.2%
Chapter 169
The King’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Kindness? Is that truly what it was, Doris? Or have you been as hypocritical as your actions suggest?”
I jerked back. “Your Majesty, I’ve always acted with sincerity.““Have you?”
Estelle took a step back, her hands folded neatly in front of her. She cast me a look of pity,
as though she were the victim in this exchange.
I felt the weight of the moment pressing down on me, suffocating me. I wanted to defend myself, to scream that I was being set up, but the King’s authority kept me in check.
I felt aggrieved, my emotions swirling inside me like a storm, but I couldn’t bring myself to voice it. The weight of the situation was too heavy, and the words I wanted to say seemed to
be swallowed up by the tension in the air.
I tried to control the rising frustration, but the atmosphere in the room became thick with discomfort. It was as though the walls themselves were closing in on me, and I could hardly
breathe.
Just as I was about to speak, to maybe set things straight, the door suddenly swung open *with a sharp creak, cutting through the stillness like a sudden gust of wind.
Carlos stepped in, his tall frame filling the doorway, casting a shadow across the room.
♡ (0)
