Chapter 83: The Weight of Secrets

Chapter 83: The Weight of Secrets

(Elena ckwood’s POV)

I remained silent for half a minute, studying Marcus’s face carefully. His golden eyes held that familiar dangerous bedge/b, but there was something else beneath the surface. Something I couldn’t quite identify

“What do you want to eat?” I asked in a calm tone. “I’ll make it.”

The words felt strange on my btongue/b. How long had it been since I’d offered to cook for him? Years, perhaps. Back when I still believed our mate bond meant something.

Marcus studied my face intently, as if searching for cracks in myposure. I kept my expression neutral, deliberately obedient. It was a facade, and we both knew it.

Instead of exposing my pretense, he pulled me into his arms.without warning. His scent surrounded me, that familiar mix of cedar and dominance that once made my heart race.

Now it only made me feel hollow.

In the Alpha’s Private Chamber, our mating was intense and desperate. Marcus’s hands roamed my body with practiced familiarity, iming what he believed was his.

Yet I feltpletely detached, as if watching from outside myself. My body responded to his touch through the mate bond, but my heart remained locked away.

I stared nkly at the ceiling above our bed, feeling nothing despite our physical connection. The ornate molding seemed more interesting than the Alpha moving above bme/b.

This was what our rtionship had be. Physical need without emotional intimacy. A hollow shell of what mates should be.

(Marcus ckwood’s POV)

After a long time, I rolled away from Elena, my breathing still heavy. Something felt wrong, but I couldn’t pinpoint what.

“Make me the same lunch you used to prepare,” I said, watching her face for any reaction.

Elena sat up slowly, pulling the silk sheet around herself. “I don’t remember your tastes.”

Her words hit me blike /ba physical blow. “What do you mean?”

“I never truly knew you,” she replied with devastating honesty. “I always relied on Catherine Hayes for Information about your preferences.

The admission stung more than I expected. Had I really been that distant? That unknowable?

“I’m not picky,” I said quietly, though the words felt inadequate.

Elena got up and began dressing, her movements efficient and emotionless. I watched her from the doorway as she headed toward the Moonhaven Kitchen.

Memories flooded back unbidden. Elena in that same kitchen years ago, her face bright with enthusiasm as she prepared my meals. Her sweet greetings when I returned home. Her eagerness to please me

Chapter 83 The Weight of

And

bmy /b

dismissive responses. My cold shoulders. Myplete indifference to her efforts.

When had I started caring about the past? The pressure in my chest felt foreign, ufortable.

My phone rang, shattering the moment. Elena nced back at me, and I saw recognition in her eyes. She knew who was calling before I even looked at the screen.

Sophia Rivers‘ name shed on the disy.

I walked to the window before answering, putting distance between Elena and this conversation,

“Marcus!” Sophia’s voice was bdistraught/b, bordering bon /bhysterical. “Oliver fell and binjured /bhimself. He’s asking

for you.”

Annoyance red in my chest. “How badly is he hurt?”

“He’s scared of the strangers here,” Sophia continued, her bvoice /bbreaking. “He won’t let anyone near him

except me. He keeps crying for you.

I nced back at Elena, who had turned away, deliberately avoiding my gaze. Her indifference was like a p.

“I’ming over,” I told Sophia, ending the call.

I returned to the kitchen, where Elena was already preparing ingredients. The domestic scene

after everything that had just happened.

Before I could speak, Elena asked without looking up. “Will you be staying for lunch?”

“I’ll be backter,” I said, though the words felt like a lie even to me.

urreal

Elena simply nodded, her expression unchanged. “I’ll eat the lunch I prepared. No point in wasting foodb./bb” /b

The casual dismissal stung. She didn’t care whether I stayed or left. The realization hit harder than i

expected.

I arrived at the Northern Territory Central Healing Institute to find Oliver withdrawn and scared in bthe /b

Recovery Ward. He huddled in the corner bof /bhis bed, flinching away from the nurses.

“He’s been like this since the fall, Sophia exined, her eyes red–rimmed, “The trauma from that incident with

the Elder ckthorne Couple has made him afraid of strangers.”

I studied Oliver carefully. He was thin and pale, his small frame seeming even more fragile in the hospital

gown. Dark circles shadowed his eyes.

In contrast, Sophia looked radiant despite her supposed distress. Her skin glowed with health, her figure full

and well–nourished.

“How are you caring for him?” I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice.

Sophia’s face flushed. “I do my best, but the stress of his condition-”

b“/bHe would be better off with me,” I interrupted. “Away from whatever is causing this deterioration.”

“Did the Elder ckthorne Couple really push him?” I asked, studying her face. “The evidence was circumstantial at best.”

Sophia seemed nervous, her hands fidgeting with her sleeves. “Oliver, tell Marcus what happenedb./bb” /b

The boy looked between us, then nodded slowly. “They pushed me down the stairs.” ol start="5"liChapter 23 The Woo /li/ol

But something in his eyes didn’t match his words, Fear, yes, but not of the memory. Fear of disappointing his

mother

Til take him to the ckwood Ancestral Manor,” I decided. He needs proper care.”

At the ckwood Ancestral Manor, Margaret ckwood and Victoria ckwood were notably absent. Only Grace Burton and two Manor Staff members greeted us at the entrance,

“Mrs. Rivers,” Grace Burton said coolly, “the ckwood family is already doing you a favor by taking Oliver in.

I hope you understand the boundaries.b” /b

Sophia’s face reddened with embarrassment. She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again, speechless.

I watched as Grace Burton gently led Oliver away, the boy clinging to a smallfort toy. He didn’t look back

at his mother.

1 should go.” Sophia said quietly.

I nodded, offering only a simple farewell. “Take care of yourself.”

(Elena ckwood’s POV)

For three days, I didn’t see Marcus. He was presumably with Sophia and Oliver, ying the devoted father figure.

At the Northern Territory Central Healing Institute, Sophia deliberately sought me out. She cornered me near the Surgical Wing, her smile sharp as a de.

Elena, do you mind Oliver’s presence in the ckwood household?” she asked sweetly.

I looked up from my patient files, meeting her gaze directly. “I wouldn’t even mind if you yourself entered the ckwood family.”

Sophia’s smile froze on her face. The barb bhad /bhit its mark.

“After all,” I continued casually, “it would save me the trouble of pretending to care about bMarcus’s /baffairs.”

Sophia’sposure cracked slightly. She hadn’t expected such direct dismissal.

Afterpleting a particrlyplex surgery, I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I barely made it to the

private washroom before vomiting.

This was unusual. I rarely felt sick after procedures, no matter how intense.

A terrible thought crept into my mind. Could I be pregnant?

The possibility filled me with dread. With the mate bond severing looming, a pregnancy wouldplicate

everything beyond repair.

I needed to know for certain.

At the Moonstone Apothecary East Wing. I purchased a Luna’s Truth Pregnancy Test Kit discreetly. The pharmacist barely nced at me as I paid.

As I left the pharmacy, I spotted Marcus’s Shadow Moon Alpha’s Phantom Rolls Royce parked nearby. My heart jumped into my throat

I

I quickly hid the test kit in my jacket pocket, praying he hadn’t seen me emerge from the pharmacy.

Chapter 83. The Weight of

Marcus rolled down the window as I approached. “Buying medicine?”

“Stomachache,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “Nothing serious,”

He studied my face with those prating golden eyes. Professor Andrew Kelly is hosting a dinner tomorrow night. Academic exchange. Would you like to attend?”

The invitation surprised me. “Yes, I’d be honored.”

Marcus nodded, seemingly satisfied. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

(Marcus ckwood’s POV)

I watched Elena’s retreating figure, noting the slight tension in her shoulders. Something was off, but I couldn’t identify what.

After a long moment of contemtion, I turned to my Personal Driver without changing my expression.

“Go to the pharmacy and check what medicine she bought.”

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