Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 94: They Lived Happily Ever After

Later that afternoon, I was

sitting in the nursery, finishing up the baby blanket I'd been working on, when I heard a bit of a com Even though it sounded like

it was coming from the garden out by the living room, I could hear it in the back of the cottage, in tf My first thought was that Ethan had come to see me, and Soren and his guards had showed up and I pushed up from my chair, laying the blanket carefully aside, and headed into the other room to inv: When I reached the living room, I saw Lola and Seraphine looking out the window. There were a lot ¢ Seraphine turned and looked at me. “Mr. Soren called a bit earlier,” she explained. “He

said to tell you he was sorry for all of the noise, but the flower bushes he

had ordered came in, and he asked the gardeners to come and put them in right away.”

"Flower bushes?” I repeated.

Then I

remembered the other night when he’d made those comments about how badly it stunk out in

the garden, when Ethan had been there the first time. Soren had

said that we needed more flowers in the garden.

I didn’t think he was serious, but clearly, he was.

“Do you want to go outside and sit on the porch to watch them put them

in?” Seraphine asked, “We could get some fresh air.”

“Sure,” I told her. “That sounds like a good idea.”

I hadn't been outside all day because Soren told me to stay inside, but

it had to be safe with all of these men in the yard.

Out on the porch, we had a clear view of what the

gardeners were doing. Several large bushes were sitting in pots, waiting for

their holes to be dug so they could be dropped into the earth near the other bushes.

It wasn't necessary at all, but they were beautiful, and I didn't mind.

ecess

They were not going to help with the smell if Ethan kept coming back, though.

"Would you like to sit for a little while?” Seraphine asked, gesturing to the wide porch steps.

“Sure.” I said, “You might have to help me up, though.”

We both giggled, and I lowered myself down

onto the top step of the porch, and Seraphine sat next to me.

I wanted to bring up what I had been thinking about all day, my dilemma. Seraphine always had such good advice, and I thought she could help me decide whether

I had been too quick to let Ethan back into my life... whether or not I was making the right decision. When Ethan wasn't here to influence the logical part of me, and I just thought about his behavior in the past, I truly wondered whether we could even make this work.

“Is there something on your mind, Ro?" Seraphine asked me. “You look lost in thought.”

“I was just thinking... you know a lot of the people on this island, right?”

She raised her eyebrows, obviously surprised at my question. “Yes, I know a lot of them.”

I nodded. “Do you happen to know anyone who... went on to

be happy in their marriage... after the husband did something awful?”

Seraphine stared at my face for a really long time before she asked, “Are

you thinking of going back to whoever it was that hurt you, Ro?"

I shook my head. “No, of course not,” I said, laughing

a little like that was a really silly question. “It's just... I was just thinking... you know... hypothetically. T together and stared at me for a second, and then said, “Oh, then, uh... honestly?”

I nodded. “Of course, please. Tell me the truth.”

"Well, if I'm completely honest with you, Ro, I've never met anyone who's been happy in their marria “Really?” I asked, not

able to keep the disappointment out of my voice, even though I tried to hide it. “No one?”

“No, no one, dear. I know plenty of people who have tried. There were the

Normans, a couple who were married for about five years

before the husband had an affair. When the wife found out, she was devastated. He said he was so s the same room where I'd help her deliver three children.”

“That's terrible,” I said, thinking about poor Mrs. Norman.

Seraphine nodded. “And then there were the Wilsons. Mr. Wilson had a drinking problem, and he go he'd never drink again. That didn't even last a week. He hit her again a few months later, only this tin broke her jaw. She ended up in the hospital. When she got home, I tended to her for three weeks. St I stared at her for a long moment. I knew what that was like, to be hit that hard.

“How horrible...”

Seraphine shook her head. “It was, but that wasn't even the worst part.” She paused as if she didn't that, she had a miscarriage and lost her baby.”

Seraphine’s voice was filled with sorrow. My heart broke

for Mrs. Wilson. I couldnt imagine anything happening to my baby...

Seraphine sighed. “That's the thing about most men, Ro. I would say... ninety-nine percent of them— they don't change. Their nature is set the way that it is, and no matter what

they say or promise that they are going to do, they simply cannot. The way that they are is so ingrair I listened closely to everything that she had to say.

Part of me wanted to disagree with her and tell her she was wrong, that she didn’t know Ethan—

or the man that I was referring to— but most of my mind knew that she was right.

Ethan had been the way that he was for so long. The chances that he could just change now were no My mind was clouded, and I was beginning to fill with so much negativity that I felt sick

to my stomach.

My arms went around my midsection, instinctively covering my baby, like I always did when I was fee apprehensive. “Ro? Are you

all right?” Seraphine asked, placing a hand on my arm. “You look troubled. That's not good for the b: we shouldn't talk about anything else like this if it's making you anxious. I don’t want to upset you.” “I'm okay,” I said. “But are you sure... there's not even one case

of a man who changed his ways and became kind to his wife after he realized he was about to lose h Seraphine stared at me for a moment.

Then she said, “You know, now that you mention it... there is one story I can think of.”

Even hearing her say those few words made me feel better. “Really? Can you tell me that story? That to think that the world is such a dark, sad place.”

"Of course,” she said with a smile. “One time, there was a man named... Sor

aby... Soraby, and he had done some things to his... wife... that weren't so great.

My forehead crinkled as I wondered if she was talking about Soren. Sor-aby?

But he hadn't been married before-had he?

“What did he do?” I asked.

“Well, he had done some things behind her back, told some lies, been a little sneaky. Just a lot of unc “What was his wife’s name?” I asked.

"Her name was.. Jo—sephine,”

I nodded, but I was beginning to wonder. Was Seraphine basing this story on Soren and me? We we that didn’t mean this wasn't a true story starring us.

Soren hadn't done anything underhanded though. So maybe she was just having trouble changing t were what popped to mind.

"And what did Josephine think when she found out? ...Did she find out?”

"Of

course, she found out. And she was angry, naturally. But Soraby was very apologetic and explained tl to take care of some... business... and Josephine finally understood and forgave him. They

lived happily ever after together and raised many

children, which I delivered. The couple grew old with one another, and died within a few weeks of ea I couldn't help but chuckle at her. “Did you just make that up?”

“No!” She seemed slightly offended at first, but then she laughed. “I don’t know why you'd think that!”

I only shook my head. She hadn't

really made me feel any better with this story because I was pretty sure

she had made it up, but I did appreciate her trying.

I appreciated her.

“You're such a good friend, Seraphine.” “Do you feel better?” she asked me, smiling. “I don’t

want you thinking of anything bad or negative right now. It's bad for the baby.”

“I do feel better, thank you,” I told her.

But I was still conflicted.

Thad such good friends here, such a good life. And that was what made my predicament so difficult. I felt like I was right back to where I had been before Ethan had spoken to me the night before. Perh: say I would give him another chance.

Had I acted too impulsively? Had I let Ethan's allegedly heartfelt apology cloud my judgment?

“As much as I enjoy sitting with you, I do have more work to do,” Seraphine said, patting my knee. “All right,” I said. “Thank you for humoring me with your stories, though.”

“I'm worried about you, Ro. You're asking me such strange questions.” ;

“It's just... the pregnancy,” I smiled. “You know that. All of these hormones. I'm so emotional these dz be fine in a bit."

“I do know that hormones can do

that, but I'm not sure that's the case right now. I sure hope so,” Seraphine said, standing. “Because if you truly are thinking about going back to wherever you came from, Ro, please... don't

do it. It's a really bad idea.”

She took my hands and pulled me to my feet.

“And I would miss you so very much. And so would Mr. Soren.”

She had a good point. Why was I

passing up someone I already knew was so good and loving for someone who had treated me so ba “I know,” I said with a nod. “I'm going to lay down for a while.”

"Good," she said. Thave some other patients to tend to, but I'll be back. See you later, Ro.” "Goodbye, Seraphine. Thanks again for the advice.”

When she was a few steps from the porch, she turned and said, “Oh, and don't forget... stay

inside, especially at night. Mr. Soren has added more guards, but we need you to be safe.” I

I stared at her for a moment, and then nodded.

I walked back up the stairs, but paused on the porch to look out over the garden. With so

many guards around, I knew that it would be hard for me to meet Ethan that night.

But I also knew I had to try.

I needed to speak to him

I needed to see him.

I went inside and laid down for a bit before I went about all of the tasks I needed to get done that d: Soren wasn't joining me for dinner because he had a business meeting. I ate with Lola and Seraphine when she came back, and then, when dinner was over, they helped me with the dishes anc I was a nervous wreck as I contemplated what to do. What if I went out to speak to Ethan

and things went badly?

Or what if he was taken by the guards?

I didn’t know what might happen, but I did know I needed to speak to him

It was dark outside, and the moon was bright in the night sky.

With my heart in my throat, I walked out onto the porch, praying to the

Moon Goddess that I made the right decision and that everything would go well.

I walked over toward the new bushes, but I only made

it a few steps when my head suddenly felt very light, and a wave of dizziness overcame me.

Was it my anxiety about seeing Ethan, or something else?

I didn’t know, but I felt like I needed to lie down right then and there.

I turned back toward the house as my head grew fuzzy, and the next thing I knew, my vision was clot field of stars..

Then the world went black.