Whisper 261

bChapter /bb189/bb: /bbLingering /bHearts and Unwavering bDevotion /b

Chapter 189: Lingering Hearts and Unwavering Devotion

(Reba’s POV)

It was bjust /bas I expected. I nodded and said calmly, “Yes, they severed their mate bond.”

Miranda’s relief was obvious. Her shoulders rxed and a subtle smile yed at the bcorners /bbof /bbher /bmouth.

I observed the change in her expression carefully. Then I asked bluntlyb, /bb“/bDo you still have feelings for bAlpha /b

Connorb?/bb” /b

Miranda was stunned. She clearly hadn’t expected me to be so direct about such a personal matter.

“Yes,” Miranda generously admitted after a moment’s pause. “It has never changed over bthese /bbyears.” /b

I was slightly surprised by her honesty. Most she–wolves would try to deflect or deny such feelings.

“You are truly a devoted person,” I said. “If I remember correctly, it’s been about seven years, bright/b?b” /b

“Yes,” Miranda lowered her eyes and responded softly. Her voice carried the weight of those long years.

I sighed inwardly. It wasn’t easy to love someone wholeheartedly for so long.

But mate bonds and feelings weren’t something that could be achieved with persistence alone. Love required

mutual connection, not just one–sided devotion.

“But…” I smiled carefully. “Alpha Connor still loves Olivia very much. I think they might reconcile their mate

bond.”

Miranda’s smile disappeared from her lips instantly. Her amber eyes sharpened with concern.

“How so?” she asked, leaning forward slightly.

“Their severed bond was actually due to hidden reasons,” I exined. “It wasn’t because they stopped loving

each other or grew tired of their connection.”

Miranda’s brow furrowed as she listened intently.

“Frederick Warner, the Rivers pack’s illegitimate son, knew that Olivia was Connor’s weakness,” I continued. ”

Frederick kidnapped Olivia and almost killed her several times.”

Miranda’s eyes widened in shock.

“Olivia was shot by Frederick’s mercenaries not long ago and is still recovering in bthe /bbhospital/b, I finished.

“Such a thing actually happened!” Miranda eximed, her hand flying to her throat.

“s…” I sighed heavily. “Fortunately, Frederick has now been brought bto /bjustice.”

Miranda frowned deeply. Her face grew grave as she seemed lost in thought.

I could see her mind racing, processing this new information about bConnor /bband /bOlivia’s bsituation/bb. /b

“Miranda,” I looked at her with a serious expression. “Feelings and mate bbonds /bbcannot /bbbe /bbforced/b”

Miranda forced ba /bbsmile /bbthat /bbdidn’t /breach her eyes. “I know, bbut/b…”

She paused bfor /bba /bmoment, gathering her thoughts before bcontinuing/b,

m

bO /b

Chapter 189: Lingering He

“I really can’t let go. This time I came back to the territory, I want bto /bbfight /bfor myself.”

Her voice grew more determined. “They have already severed their mate bbond/bb, /bbso /bpursuing Connor bnow /bdoesn’t count as interfering in their rtionship.”

I looked at Miranda, hesitating to speak. The words of discouragement sat heavy on bmy /bbtongue/bb. /b

Miranda knew what I wanted to say. It was nothing more than advising her to give up.

She had already tried to give up seven years ago. But she had been unable to let igo /iall bthese /byears.

A few years ago, after graduating from a top ten world–renowned universityb, /bshe refused bto go /bhome band /binherit the family business. Instead, she chose to start her own business band /bbcreate /bher own bfashion /bbbrand/b.

In recent years, herpany had developed well overseas and had already gone public. bNow/bbi, /i/bshe bwas /bconfident enough, excellent enough, and enough of a match for Connor Rivers.

She had inquired about Olivia’s recent situation as soon as she returned bto /bthe territory. When she blearned /bthat Olivia was just a smallwyer with no fame, Miranda breathed a sigh of relief.

At least in terms of ability and career, she had apetitive advantage.

Seeing that I couldn’t persuade her, I stopped trying. Some battles had to be foughtb, /beven if bthe /boue seemed predetermined.

Back home, I looked worried as I paced around our living room.

Gabriel looked up from his tablet and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Gabriel, do you know that Miranda likes Connor?” I asked directly.

“Miranda likes Connor?” Gabriel raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I really didn’t know that. When did that

happen?”

There were too many she–wolves who liked Connor Rivers. Someone like Connor wouldn’t bring up things that others confessed to him as conversation starters.

Miranda had found a private ce to confess, so it was normal that Gabriel didn’t know about it.

I only knew because I had a close friend who knew Miranda’s best friend at bthe /btime. Once, when we were having afternoon tea, that friend identally let it slip.

That friend then begged us not to tell anyone, otherwise Miranda would break off their friendship.

Miranda was very proud. She was the daughter of the prestigious Silverridge pack, a she–wolf bthat /bbmany /balphas couldn’t win even if they loved her.

She didn’t want people to know that her confession had been rejected.

I wasn’t bthe /btype to spread gossip. I had promised Miranda’s friend not to tell anyoneb, /bbso /beven bthough /bI bknew /babout bit/bb, /bI had never told anyone, including Lily and Olivia.

At that time, I only knew that Miranda had been rejected. But I didn’t know the reason why bConnor /bbhad /brejected Miranda.

In other words, bdidn’t /bknow that the she–wolf bConnor /bcared for was my bbest /bbfriend/bb, /bbOlivia/b.

Later, when Olivia band /bConnor formed their mate bond, Miranda bhad already /bbbeen /bbabroad /bbfor /bbseveral /bbyears/bb. /bbI /bthought that Miranda might bhave /bbforgotten /bConnor blong /bbago/bb, /bbso /bbthere /bbwas /bbeven /bbless /bbneed /bbto /bbmention /bbit/b,

Chapter 189 Lingering He

Now that Miranda had returned to the territory, I thought that since Miranda was nning to openly pursue. Connor, it wouldn’t count as breaking my promise if I told others now.

So I honestly replied, “She confessed before she went abroad, but Connor rejected her.”

Gabriel raised his eyebrows. “Is that so? I never heard Connor mention it.”

“There’s nothing to say about this kind of thing,” I pouted. “She asked me ito /imeet today and said she still can’t let go of Connor and ns to openly pursue him.”

“Ah?” Gabriel was genuinely surprised. “I remember she went abroad a long time ago, right? Hasn’t she let igo /i

after all this time?”

“Yeah,” I said with a worried face. “I see that Olivia hasn’t let go either. Who ido /iyou think Connor will choose?”

“Is there even a need to say?” Gabriel smiled confidently. “In Connor’s eyes, as long as Olivia is there, it won’t be a multiple–choice question.”

My furrowed brows rxed, and I smiled. “I feel relieved now that you say that. After all, you are his closest friend and should know him best.”

Gabriel nodded. “Connor secretly loved Olivia for many years. He would never let go easily.”

Speaking of this, Gabriel suddenly asked, “What’s the situation with that Adrian Sinir? There’s no multiple–choice question with Connor, but what about Olivia’s side?”

“This…” I shook my head uncertainly. “I really don’t know. When Olivia was hospitalized before, Adrian even went to the ancient shrine and climbed three thousand steps to pray for a protection charm for Olivia.”

I paused, considering. “His devotion is also very impressive. If I had to choose…”

I thought about it and found it difficult to make a choice myself. “They both love Olivia very much, and both their looks and pack backgrounds are very well–matched with Olivia. It’s hard to say.”

Gabriel lightly raised his eyebrows. “Originally, Connor and Olivia formed their mate bond naturally through a pack alliance, with no one pursuing anyone.”

He continued with growing interest. “Now, if he still wants to be with Olivia, he’ll have to do some pursuing. To be honest, I’m quite looking forward to seeing Connor pursuing someone.”

Gabriel’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “It’s a rare thing. I’ve never seen it in the past twenty–odd years.”

I grinned at the thought. “Now that you mention it, I’m looking forward to it too.”

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