#Chapter 20: Disgrace

Elara Finally, after what felt like an eternity of pleading and puppy-dog eyes from the girls, Alaric let out a resigned sigh. “Fine,” he muttered, looking out the cabin window. “Yay!” Zoe and Ella cheered, clapping their hands in delight. I couldn’t keep my expression entirely neutral. My thoughts drifted back to last night’s party—the unexpected kiss, the way his lips had felt against mine, the softness in his gaze. And then, of course, there was the moment we’d shared in the bathroom. My mind swirled with confusion. Was any of it real? Or just another part of our facade? No one was here to watch us other than the girls, but… still. The girls were still so young and didn’t deserve to lose faith in love because of our complicated arrangement, so it wasn’t like we could let them see the truth. But, blissfully, by the time we reached the top, both children had fallen asleep. I exhaled deeply, relieved. Thank the Goddess for children’s short attention spans