Chapter b173 /b

    I stepped into the room without thinking. “Why can’t Ie?”

    Both men jerked their heads up. I thought I saw a ghost of a smile cross Alexander’s face as his eyes flicked down to where my hand was resting on the slight swell of my belly; I had taken to wearing my nightgown and robe in the morningstely, too sick and tired to worry about getting dressed so early in the day.

    Gabriel’s brows lifted. “Well, you’re sick all the time. Surely you can’t attend an event like this without having to run to the bathroom every five minutes.”

    “It’s not that bad,” I said, rolling my eyes.

    “You threw up twice yesterday morning and barely ate anything at dinner.”

    “Oh, I didn’t know you were monitoring me, Gabriel.”

    The Beta’s eyes shed, but I held his gaze steadily. I had be so used to our constant battle of wills that his remarks didn’t even faze me anymore.

    Alexander cleared his throat. “E, I know you want to support me, but you don’t have toe if you’re not feeling up to it.”

    The concern in his expression made my chest warm, but I shook my head. “This is thest major event of the campaign, Alexander. Of course I’m going to be there.”

    Gabriel’s expression turned thunderous. “Pregnant females need rest. It will only hurt the campaign if she’s visibly sick at such an event-”

    “She is standing right here,” I bit out. “And I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions about what I can and can’t handle. I’m going to that pic, and I’m going to smile and shake hands and do whatever needs to be done to help Alexander win this election. Because that’s what our arrangement requires.”

    The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. Not because they weren’t true, but because of the way Alexander’s expression shuttered at the mention of

    our contract.

    “The arrangement,” he repeated quietly.

    “Yes.” My cheeks burned, but I forced myself to continue. “We agreed that I would help you win the election. This is me holding up my end of the bargain.”

    Alexander was quiet for a long moment, studying my face with an intensity that made my pulse skip. Gabriel had gone very still, although I could practically scent his frustration.

    Finally, Alexander nodded. “If you’re sure you can handle it.”

    “I’m sure.‘

    “Then we’ll n on having you there.” He turned back to Gabriel. “Set it up. I want this to be the kind of event that people remember.”

    Gabriel nodded and left to start making phone calls and coordinating vendors, leaving Alexander and me alone in his office. I expected him to dismiss me as well, but instead, he remained seated, looking at me with that same unreadable expression.

    “Can I ask you something?” he finally asked.

    I nodded.

    “What would you do?” Alexander’s green eyes were fixed on mine. “If there was no contract?”

    My heart stuttered to aplete stop. “What?”

    “If there was no arrangement between us. No agreement about the election or anything else. What would you do then?”

    The question felt like a mockery. What would I do if there was no contract? If I was free to make my own choices about our marriage, about this campaign, about everything?

    I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. My chest felt tight, like I couldn’t draw a full breath. Because the truth was, I didn’t know. Without the contract, would Alexander even want me here? Would we still be married?

    What about our child?

    Before I could find the words, there was a sharp knock on the office door.

    “Alpha?” Gabriel’s voice called from the other side. “I need to discuss the vendor contracts with you. It’s urgent.”

    Alexander sighed and stood, and just like that, our conversation was over.

    iYet /i