Novel Palace
43
“How am I being sarcastic?” Alpha Kilian growled in a low, dangerous voice. He felt his wolf bristle with irritation at her reaction, a simmering annoyance that threatened to boil over.
However, before Nelly could respond, her phone blared with another call, so loud and urgent that it pierced the tension in the air.
The caller ID flashed “Big Darling” once again, causing Nelly to instinctively hide her phone beneath her body, as if shielding a secret. The sight only deepened the frown lines etching on Alpha Kilian’s face, transforming his annoyance into a brewing storm.
“Do you need me to handle this situation for you?” Alpha Kilian asked, his voice laced with barely contained anger.
“No, it’s not necessary,” Nelly shook her head, her fingers still pressing on the screen, her body tense and unable to relax.
“I may be your ex-husband, but it’s not out of the ordinary for me to be here in your ward,” he explained, his voice tinged with bitterness.
“Forget it,” Nelly dismissed his words with a smile, her expression as enigmatic as ever.
Alpha Kilian’s face contorted further, his emotions a tumultuous mix of frustration and confusion.
The phone continued to ring, the caller persistently seeking her attention, but Nelly remained resolute in her refusal to answer.
Finally, unable to bear the tension any longer, Alpha Kilian stormed out of the ward, slamming the door behind him. And only when the door sealed shut did Nelly let out a relieved breath and retrieve her phone, answering the call without delay.
“Nelly, what the hell happened?” Tony’s worried voice echoed through the line.
“Nothing. I’m fine,” Nelly reassured, her eyes still fixed on the door, her guard unwilling to be let down.
“You disappeared all night, didn’t respond to any messages or calls. We were freaking out,” Tony fretted.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. I’ll be back soon. We can talk about it tonight, alright?”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I am. You’re talking to me right now, aren’t you? Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Nelly assured.
“Alright then,” a relieved sigh came from the other end. “Don’t come back too late.”
“Got it.” Nelly smiled, a warmth blossoming in her chest. “I love you,” Donna’s sweet voice chimed in.
Hearing the affectionate words from her loved ones, Nelly couldn’t help but feel a soothing comfort. She smiled back and softly replied, “I love you too.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of that closed door, Alpha Kilian brooded, his frustration fueling the cigarette that now dangled between his fingers. The sound of Nelly’s voice declaring her love to someone else grated on him, igniting a deep-rooted unhappiness within him.
Without a second thought, he crushed the cigarette and made his way back to the ward.
The moment Nelly caught sight of him entering, her expression transformed as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Swiftly, she stowed her phone back in her bag, ready to depart.
“Why didn’t you ask him to pick you up?” Alpha Kilian scoffed, his voice laced with thinly veiled jealousy.
“No, it’s not necessary. I can go back by myself,” she dismissed, her tone betraying her reluctance.
“It seems your relationship with him isn’t as close as I thought,” Alpha Kilian commented, a desperate attempt to gather any information about the other man that might assuage his own insecurities.
Unfazed, Nelly offered him a smile and didn’t dignify his comment with a response.
His mood only darkened further at the sight of that smile. Suddenly, Alpha Kilian’s phone rang, a new distraction from his turmoil. He checked the caller ID before subconsciously shifting his gaze towards Nelly.
Sensing his eyes upon her, Nelly instinctively knew who was calling.
“Go ahead,” she motioned, urging him to answer. “Don’t worry, I won’t make a sound.”
Alpha Kilian hesitated, his emotions in turmoil, before he finally replied, “I’m not like you.” And with that, he answered the call. “Hello.”
“Alpha Kilian, my parents have arrived. They wanted to treat you to a meal, so they’re wondering if you’d be free today?” Lara’s voice chirped through the phone.
His eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. “I’m busy today, so I can’t make it. How about another day?”
“Um, alright then.”
Before Lara could say another word, Alpha Kilian abruptly ended the call, his frustration seething beneath the surface.
Intrigued, Nelly looked at him teasingly and goaded, “You’re going to leave a bad impression by turning down your future in-laws’ invitation. I’m fine now, so you don’t have to worry about me. If you need to leave, go ahead.”
“Did you think I’m staying because of you?” Alpha Kilian challenged, his anger simmering just below the surface.
Before Nelly could respond, the door was forcefully thrown open. “Alpha Morris, are you hurt?” Fabian burst into the room, thinking Alpha Kilian was injured. However, his words halted when he laid eyes on Nelly lying on the bed.
“M-Ms. Jackson?” Fabian stammered, the surprise evident in his voice.Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.
Nelly, ever unflappable, looked at him with a polite smile.
Taking in the bandaged wound on her, Fabian quickly pieced together the situation.
He hurriedly handed her the breakfast he had brought. “Ms. Jackson, this is the breakfast Alpha Morris asked me to get for you. Enjoy it.”
The sight of the food made Nelly’s stomach grumble with hunger. She glanced at Alpha Kilian and spoke, a playful undertone lacing her words, “We used to be married, after all. A small gesture like this is nothing.”
Fabian, a flurry of thoughts racing through his mind, was in the process of handing Alpha Kilian the clean clothes when he heard the revelation about their past marriage. The shock coursing through him was palpable, leaving him speechless and dumbfounded.
Taking in Fabian’s bewildered expression, Nelly merely gave him a brief glance, uninterested in explaining herself. Instead, she focused on opening the food packaging and indulging in her meal.
“M-Alpha Morris…” Fabian stuttered, attempting to resume his sentence, but he faltered when he noticed the bloodstains on Alpha Kilian’s shirt. “Alpha Morris, are you injured?”
“No, they’re not mine,” Alpha Kilian replied tersely, finally accepting the clothes and heading towards the restroom to change. With the two men gone, Nelly and Fabian were left alone in the ward.
Observing Nelly’s presence and the significance it held for Alpha Kilian, Fabian couldn’t help but feel a mix of confusion and curiosity. Though he couldn’t comprehend the reason behind their divorce, he sensed the profound impact Nelly had on Alpha Kilian’s heart.
“Ms. Jackson, how’s the food?” Fabian asked, watching her eat. Nelly nodded, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. “It’s good. Thank you for the food.”
“You’re welcome,” Fabian replied, his hands clasped before him in a servile manner, waiting for her commands.
Unaccustomed to such treatment, Nelly looked at him and offered, “Would you like to join me?”
“It’s okay,” Fabian waved his hands, his apprehension evident. He was afraid that dining together would bring forth unwanted consequences.
“How’s your wound?” Fabian inquired.
Nelly nonchalantly shook her head, her gaze fixed on her bandaged wound. “I’m fine.”
“Dave is notorious for being a player in the industry. But don’t worry, he won’t have the chance to bother you again,” Fabian revealed, hoping to alleviate her concerns.
Perplexed, Nelly threw him a curious glance. “What do you mean?”
But before Fabian could respond, the restroom door swung open, halting any conversation. Alpha Kilian emerged, his attire fresh and his demeanor crisp. He exuded a magnetic energy, oozing the air of a lead character stepping out of a movie.
In that moment, all eyes were drawn to him, even Fabian’s gaze lingered longer than necessary.
Alpha Kilian’s piercing gaze landed squarely on Nelly as he advanced closer. “Is the food to your liking?”
Nelly nodded, her expression nonchalant and carefree as ever. “Yeah, it’s good.”
She seemed unfazed, as if their shared past held no sway over her.
“I’ll drive you back once you’re done eating,” he asserted.
Nelly was momentarily taken aback by his offer.
“No!” Every fiber of her being revolted against accepting his offer.