Chapter seventy nine
Alora’s POV
“You don’t get it. I’ve searched every nook and cranny.”
“I’ll have the maids keep looking,” Maria assured me.
I left the kitchen with a weight pressing against my chest. My appetite vanished before breakfast even crossed my mind.
“Good morning, honey. Why do you look like someone served you divorce papers this early?” Macko’s teasing voice echoed down the hallway.
“Morning,” I shrugged, taking a seat on the adjacent couch.
“What’s going on? You’ve not been yourself since the conference.”
I let out a deep sigh, flipping my hair to the side and lifting my face to meet his gaze.
“I lost the ring Rafe gave me yesterday.”
“What? How is that even possible?” he exclaimed, setting his mug down.
“I don’t know how or where. I know I had it last night, but when I woke up, it was gone.”
“Yeah, that’s bad,” he muttered, his jaw tightening.
“I know. How am I going to tell that to Rafe?”
He crouched beside me, gently holding my shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure he can get a replacement.”
I nodded, but relief didn’t come. Even if he forgave me for this, I didn’t think I could forgive myself. I felt destined to never have peace this winter.
“Enough frowning. Let’s go outside. I want to hear all about the conference.”
Before I could protest, he was already pulling me toward the main entrance, determination written across his face.
Murmurs floated from the opposite direction as we walked toward the garden.
“Do you think the boss would want someone like her? I think she just crawled her way into his bed,” a voice mocked.
“I think you’re right,” another added.
Macko halted, ready to rush toward them, but I held his hand back.
“She’s such a gold digger,” the first voice spat.
I told myself I didn’t care, but the words sank under my skin.
Before I could turn away, Macko grabbed my hand and led me toward them.
“Is running your mouth part of the job description, or is that just a personal hobby?” he snapped.
They froze, fear flashing across their faces as they lowered their eyes to the ground.
“Apologize this instant,” he ordered.
“Sorry, ma’am.”
“Get out of my face.”
They rushed off in opposite directions.
A slight warmth spread through my chest. Macko really was the best.
“Don’t let what they said get to you, honey, alright?”
I nodded slightly as we sat on the bench. The chilling breeze brushed against my face, easing some of my worries.
Silence settled between us, soft and heavy, broken only by the steady chirping of birds.
“Now tell me about the conference. I thought you guys would spend the night out.”
“Where do I start? Honestly, I’m glad I didn’t stay any longer,” I admitted.
“Start with the good parts. Any interesting people? New connections?”
He tilted his head, resting his hand on his chin, waiting for me to spill the tea.
“The best part is his grandfather didn’t get the chance to humiliate me.”
“Not what I expected, but that still counts.”
“There was this guy who introduced himself as the Prince of the East, but someone snatched him away before we could talk further.”
He stared at me for a second, brows lifting slightly, as if he wanted to say something but stopped.
“What?” I asked.
“That’s like the most important person who was invited to that party. Technically, he came on his father’s behalf, but you should have done more than just talk.”
“What could I have possibly done? All that status and me? Don’t forget I’m married.”
He laughed slowly, pushing me back slightly as if I had said something ridiculous. I frowned, glaring at him.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean if you’d acquainted yourself with him, he might come in handy in the future. You never know.”
“Fine. Enough about him. I don’t know why you are making such a big deal out of it anyway,” I argued.
“His father is the most feared man in the East. Money, strategy, influence—he has it all.Even the fiercest men in the room tread lightly when he’s near; power follows him like a shadow.”
“And the Godfather? He has been itching to overthrow him for years.”
I wasn’t even shocked. That man was power-hungry, and nothing was ever going to satisfy him.
“That’s up to him. I don’t even care what he does at this point.”
“You should. That man is selfish and merciless, and with the prince by your side, you would never be intimidated.”
His words made sense. It was all power plays and endless games.
“Anything else that happened? Ones that made you ruin my artistic work on your face?”
I rolled my eyes. How dramatic. Just because he did my makeup.
“There was one creepy guy, Don Vescari.”
“Hell no. That’s Rafe’s arch-nemesis.”
“I figured.”
“He has been looking for ways to start a war with Rafe, and Rafe has been looking for ways to kill him.”
I nodded. That much was obvious from the tension rolling off their glare at each other.
“Why is that?”
“He was allegedly involved in the assassination of Rafe’s dad. Rafe vowed to kill him, but his grandfather’s rules held him back.”
I took a deep breath. This world was a blanket of secrets waiting to be unraveled inch by inch.
“Why are you suddenly quiet? Anything else I should know?”
I ran my hands through my hair, shut my eyes tightly, then opened them.
“Victoria was there.”
“Oh no. Hun, are you okay?”
“I don’t know. She was just perfect. The way she walks, dresses, elegant.”
“Everything I have never been and probably never will be.”
“No. Don’t do that. That woman is fake, and the last thing I expected was you to compare yourself with her,” he scolded.
I wanted to believe him, but the way Rafe had so easily agreed to leave with her made doubt creep in.
“You don’t get it. Rafe loves that woman, and he could just leave...”
He placed a finger over my lips.
“Rafe will never leave you for her. Not when he gave you his mother’s ring.”
“What?”
I jerked upright, the forming tears instantly drying.
“He had it polished a week ago before any of this happened.”