#Chapter 49: Flowers

Alexander & Ella Alexander The soda can fell to the bottom of the vending machine with a clatter. I grabbed it, along with a bag of pretzels to help settle Ella’s stomach, then made my way back toward her room. The door was slightly ajar as I approached, and I could hear voices coming from inside. “I don’t want him to mark me anymore.” Ella’s words stopped me dead in my tracks, my hand frozen midair as I reached for the door handle. I didn’t catch what she said before that, but it didn’t matter. Those seven words were enough. I don’t want him to mark me anymore. For a moment, I just stood there, processing what I’d heard. Ella didn’t want my mark. Didn’t want me. Not that it should have been a surprise. She’d already asked for a divorce. Hell, we’d even signed a contract promising to divorce after my campaign. Besides, I never had any intention of marking her. And yet something about hearing her say those words made my chest hurt more