#Chapter 130: Strength and Support

Ella POV I didn’t know how long I cried as my mother rubbed my back and whispered comforting words, but it must have been a while. By the time I managed to pull myself together, we were already home. My emotions still felt raw, but I excused myself and went upstairs to my room. Sadness gave way to a simmering anger as I paced the floor. Amanda and David had already taken so much from me, yet they had the audacity to continue. That Amanda would publicly brag about her schemes—not just to hurt me but to parade her actions for the world to see—was not only infuriating but outright shameful. My mother had been right, as she so often was. None of this made logical sense unless Amanda and David believed they had already won. On one hand, this was a small comfort—it meant our plan to change the venue was still under wraps. Christopher Slater was proving to be as trustworthy as Alexander had promised. But perception mattered, as much as I hated to admit it. We cou