Chapter 85
\nMarked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 85<\/p>\n
85 Who\u2019s the Woman in the Picture?<\/p>\n
Deanna\u2019s POV:<\/p>\n
I had been in the hospital for a few days. Luis took such good care of me; he treated me like I was helpless.<\/p>\n
He even brought in a housekeeper\u2013an older woman with years of experience\u2013who he claimed was the most attentive person from his pack.<\/p>\n
Anyone watching would\u2019ve thought I was seriously ill.<\/p>\n
That day, after a follow\u2013up for my concussion, I returned to my room. I saw a tall man in a white coat standing at the door.<\/p>\n
His features were open and calm, and when he smiled, there was a polite, almost gentle air about him. His eyes swept over me quickly, though he tried not to make it obvious. He greeted, \u201cHello, I\u2019m Erik.\u201d<\/p>\n
i blinked in surprise. I didn\u2019t recognize him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m the director of this hospital,\u201d he went on smoothly, \u201cand Luis\u2019s childhood friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded politely. \u201cNice to meet you. I\u2019m Deanna.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled and said, \u201cSmall world. Didn\u2019t expect we\u2019d run into each other like this. Oh\u2013forgot to mention, I was in the west district not long ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
West district?<\/p>\n
My chest tightened. That was where I first met Luis, the night I\u2019d been drugged.<\/p>\n
The memory rushed back, and my cheeks flamed. My fingers curled into the edge of my hospital gown. \u201cO\u2013oh, is that so?\u201d I stammered.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Erik said with a wave of his hand. \u201cLuis and I grew up together. You\u2019re the first woman he\u2019s ever cared about this<\/p>\n
much.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first?<\/p>\n
Then who was the woman in the photo on Luis\u2019s desk?<\/p>\n
Before I could ask, someone called from down the hall, \u201cMr. Harding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erik crouched slightly to my level, his voice lowering.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, little Deanna, we\u2019ll meet again. Just don\u2019t tell him I stopped by.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he turned to leave, I blurted out, \u201cMr. Harding, about the photo in Luis\u2019s office\u2013the girl in it, do you know who she is?\u201d<\/p>\n
His smile widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you see the photo, you\u2019ll understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
And with that, he left.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter 95 Who\u2019s the Woman in the Picture?<\/p>\n
I sat there, still unsettled by his sudden visit.<\/p>\n
But honestly, what bothered me more was this: I\u2019d been on medical leave for days. Not a single person from my pack had come to see me. The only call I got was from Philip.<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t say I was surprised. After all these years, I had grown used to their coldness.<\/p>\n
On my first day back at work after being discharged, I finally sorted out the plan for Muses\u2019s launch. Just as I placed the last file in order, my office door swung open.<\/p>\n
Kathryn walked in wearing a designer suit, her face full of fake concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeanna, I just got back from Slico and heard you were in a car accident. I wasn\u2019t avoiding you on purpose. Are you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t even look up; I just kept reading through my files.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot dead. Is that good enough for you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kathryn\u2019s POV:<\/p>\n
I forced a smile, feeling a little awkward.<\/p>\n
The truth was, Jillian dragged me out shopping in Slico.<\/p>\n
She was upset when she learned about Deanna\u2019s promotion, so I went along.<\/p>\n
I only found out about the accident when we got back.<\/p>\n
Deep down, I suspected Jillian knew Deanna was in the hospital and kept it from me. She probably pulling me away on purpose.<\/p>\n
Jillian had suffered lately. I didn\u2019t want to add fuel to the fire.<\/p>\n
Both of them were my daughters.<\/p>\n
What could I do? Sometimes it\u2019s easier to just turn a blind eye.<\/p>\n
1 ignored the cold edge in Deanna\u2019s voice and tried to sound casual.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you in Mooncrown Pack\u2019s hospital of all places?\u201d<\/p>\n
Deanna set her pen down, leaned back in the chair, and stared straight at me. \u201cYou came here just to ask me that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her sharp gaze made me uneasy. I coughed twice and quickly changed the subject.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour birthday\u2019s coming up. I was wondering if you could celebrate it together with Jillian this year. We shouldn\u2019t make her wait until the next day. After all, you two were born on the same date.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deanna let out a dry laugh. \u201cYou\u2019ve always spoiled Jillian. For years, you said it was better for appearances if she had the main celebration and I was pushed to the next day. Funny how you never said this back then.\u201d<\/p>\n
My face burned with embarrassment.<\/p>\n
Forget it. She\u2019s been on edge lately, ready to explode at the smallest thing.<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter 85 Who\u2019s the Woman in the Picture?<\/p>\n
I tried again, gently. \u201cAnd what about Jake? I could invite him to celebrate with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deanna smiled. \u201cHe\u2019s my boyfriend. I\u2019ll invite him myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Relief washed over me, and I quickly brightened.<\/p>\n
It looked like she and Jake had patched things up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is great. I\u2019ll make sure we throw you a wonderful birthday party this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-2168","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/2168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}