Alpha's Private Plaything (Elsa and Drake Stone) novel Chapter 246

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10:06 am PPPP

Alpha’s Private Plaything

Chapter 246

“Something wrong?” Drake asked, shrugging off his suit jacket.

Just tired. I lied, rubbing my arms to dispel the goosebumps that had risen on my skin.

hat’s when I saw it–a black silk nightgown draped over the arm of the sofa. I felt bile rising in my throat.

fou’ve got to be shitting me, I muttered, glaring at the garment. The message couldn’t be clearer: the transaction was already in progress.

need to shower,‘ I snapped, desperate for a moment alone before I completely lost my composure.

earched the bedroom for some of my old clothes, my movements frantic as I yanked open drawers. I found underwear and toiletries exactly where I’d left m months ago. There were no signs that any other woman had stayed here–no unfamiliar perfumes or beauty products. Yet somehow that made it worse, wing I was being slotted back into a space that had been kept vacant specifically for my return, like a fucking museum exhibit preserved for reopening.

nored the silk nightgown and grabbed a plain cotton pajama set instead, clutching it to my chest like armor, clinging to this small act of defiance.

he bathroom, I sank into the steaming water of the oversized tub, letting it envelop me like a cocoon. As I scrubbed my skin raw, memories flooded back ake’s cruel dismissal when I’d b with flu last winter, his casual command for me to attend a business dinner despite my 102–degree fever, his atience when I’d nearly fe

meeting.

tard,” I whis

words dissipate into nothing. “Selfish, entitled bastard.”

or my mother’s life. My hands trembled as 1

maculate dining table–six elaborate dishes deliv

ke normally avoided due to his sensitivity to cert

hair, tears mixing with the bathwater.

noticed immediately that several were spicy Korean dishes

said, gesturing to a particularly fiery–looking stey

he interrupted. “I know you haven’t been eating p

on hung in the air between us. I needed strength

self to eat more than my shrunken appetite we satisfied. My fork scraped loudly against the

was broken by Drake’s phone ring

take this, he said, standing

in relief, my shoulders

ross the room and g

You need to regain your strength.”

1. er. For when he decided to collect his payment.

me with each bite. My stomach churned in protest, but I continued until food, each bite tasting like ash.

his expression hardening instantly.

Fant–his voice took on that sharp, commanding tone he used for crisis management.

, knowing that work emergencies meant he would be distracted for hours. He caught

rest, I’ll jo

delayed. I swallowed hard, nodding mechanically.

e, my fingers shaking as I dialed, relieved to hear that my mother’s vitals were stable and improving.

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Chapter 246

A text from Allen came through, informing me that he and Luke were back in Black Obsidian territory.

His concern seemed genuine, but I responded with cool politeness, my thumbs hovering over the screen before typing a noncommittal reply. Whatever was between us felt tainted now that I was back in Drake’s bed.

Where do you go from rock bottom? Deeper, apparently. Maybe straight to hell.

Allen follow–up message told me he’d already arranged my time off with Aiden. Even this kindness felt like sandpaper against my raw emotions. I left the message unanswered, too exhausted to maintain any pretense of normalcy, tossing the phone onto the nightstand with disgust.

As I drifted into sleep, I wondered if selling pieces of your soul became easier with practice. I curled into a tight ball on my side of the bed, as far from his pillow as possible. The only comfort was knowing my mother would live–a price worth paying, no matter how steep. No matter how fucking degrading.

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