Page 36 of Alpha-Ex Wedding Ruse
Leila’s POV
I’d been on edge for the rest of the week, ever since Blaze’s unannounced and unwelcome visit to my house. And then running into Luca again. It felt like everything in my life was sliding west, deeper and deeper into a pit I couldn’t climb out of. By Saturday, I needed a distraction—something normal, something that belonged only to me and Ollie.
The park buzzed with the sounds of haggling and the distant honking of cars from the nearby road. Every Saturday, this place was crowded with people hunting for thrifted items and sales. Ollie and I had a tradition—every Saturday, we’d come here to browse for secondhand finds. Lately, it had become more of a ritual of looking at things I wished I could buy but couldn’t, calculating the weight of every financial decision before making it.
Luckily for me, the first payment for planning the wedding had come through. It was just enough to pay off Blaze before he could make good on his threat, cover Ollie’s school trip, and take care of a few household expenses. I wasn’t left with much afterward, but the relief was instant—a heavy weight lifted off my shoulders. For now.
Ollie raced ahead with his friend Daniel, who Valerie was alsobabysitting, clutching a cone of ice cream in one hand and the little paper bag holding the digital watch I’d just gotten him in the other, like someone might try to snatch it away. I’d seen the way his eyes lit up when we passed the electronics stall, that same wild excitement that usually came out when he talked about dinosaurs. The sleek black watch with its glowing display hadn’t exactly been in my budget, but I’d promised him a reward if he aced his math concepts. And at the last parent teacher conference, I learnt Ollie performed exceptionally well. Despite what it might mean for grocery money this week, seeing Ollie’s pure joy made every sacrifice worth it.
“So, how’s that cousin of yours?” Valerie asked as we walked side by side. She took a spoonful of the ice cream we were sharing and popped it into her mouth. “You know, I’m a little offended that in all the years we’ve been friends, you never once mentioned that you had a cousin.”
Suddenly, I had the urge to empty the contents of my stomach. By cousin, Valerie meant Blaze. Apparently, the son of a bitch had lied to her—told her he was my cousin when she came home from school with Ollie and found him waiting.
“Probably because he has multiple prison records, and I’m not exactly proud to call him my cousin?”
I didn't want to get into all the debt situations with Valerie.
“What was he arrested for?
“I don’t keep such insignificant information in my head.”
Valerie’s eyes narrowed. “Then we better do well to keep him away from Ollie.”
“I intend to do exactly that,” I said, my jaw tightening.
“So, how’s the wedding planning coming along? I expected all the media outlets to be buzzing from news of her engagement. I mean, everyone wants to know who Elena Moreau is getting married to.”
I shrugged,hating the thoughts and reminders of this wedding. “It’s going well,” I said simply, hoping that would end the conversation.
But, typical Valerie…she probed.
“You’ve seen him, right? The groom.”
“Yes.”
“Is he hot? Is he handsome? Is he rich—of course he is, I don’t imagine Elena Moreau would settle for less.”
I felt unease curl in my stomach. There was no way I was admitting to Valerie that Luca was hot. “He’s…exactly what you think him to be.”
Valerie caught on instantly.
“Okay, Leila…” She stuck her spoon in her cup and turned to me, brows raised. “Spill. What’s been eating at you all week?”
I shook my head before she even finished. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit.” She wasn’t buying it. “You’ve been crankier than usual—”
“I’m not cranky!”
“Yes, you are,” she insisted, holding up a hand to silence my protest. “Cranky, lost in thought, flushed…and sadder than I’ve seen you in months.”
“You just described a depressed person, Val.”
“Exactly my point.”
I sighed and watched Ollie point excitedly at some graffiti art, whispering something that made Daniel giggle.
I turned to Valerie, my expression serious. “Okay, Val. I’m going to tell you something, but promise me you’re not going to freak out.”
