After Betrayal I Accepted Arranged Marriage With Alpha novel Chapter 42

Chapter 8

I avoided Steven for days.

His near–confession had thrown me off

balance.

Deep down, I’d suspected his feelings. The way he’d share random things with me, the lingering glances–it wasn’t hard to piece together. But I denied it, brushing it off as impossible.

Maybe it was Bran’s years of belittling me that made me feel unworthy of someone as kind and steady as Steven. So, I ran.

Bran, meanwhile, had turned into a shadow.

Every morning, he was at the packhouse gates, waiting.

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Chapter 8

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Steven had the guards remove him. repeatedly, but Bran wouldn’t leave.

Then, one morning, he tried a different tactic.

With a bouquet of wildflowers in hand, he blocked my path during peak hours, drawing attention from every wolf nearby.

“Laura,” he called, grinning with infuriating confidence, “so many people are watching. Give me a chance, huh?”

I shot him a cold glare. “Move.”

He mirrored my steps, blocking every attempt to slip past. “I’ve got time,” he said smugly.

“Why the flowers?”

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“To win you back, of course.” He grinned.

Disappointment flickered briefly, but I didn’t let it show. It wasn’t like he’d remember today was my birthday. Why would he?

His phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling his attention just long enough for me to escape inside.

But the bad mood lingered.

That afternoon, as I stared blankly at the coffee machine, a familiar voice broke my thoughts.

“Happy birthday.”

I turned, startled, to find Steven standing in the doorway. His cheeks were flushed, his voice soft but steady.

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Chapter 8

“W–What?” I stammered.

“I saw it in your file,” he admitted, stepping closer and placing a small packet of sugar on the counter. “Do you have plans tonight? Let me celebrate with you.”

I nodded before my brain caught up. “Sure.”

Steven rented an entire restaurant. When the cake came out, he lit the candles himself, singing softly.

As he slid the first slice to me, he smiled. “So, what did you wish for? A promotion?”

Embarrassed, I shook my head. “Nothing like that. I just… want to be happy.”

Steven’s gaze softened. “That’s funny. I had the same wish–except it was for you.”

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Before I could respond, fireworks burst outside the window, lighting up the night sky.

I turned away, blinking back tears. “Why me, Steven? You could have anyone. I’m not… enough.”

He handed me a napkin. “Remember when I confessed to you in high school? I was short, awkward, nothing special. You rejected me.”

“Steven, 1-”

He raised a han. “I’m not blaming you. That rejection made me push myself, made me who I am. And even now, I know–you’re my best choice.”

I looked up at him, his dark eyes unwavering. My heart answered before my lips could.

“I wanted to take it slow,” he admitted, voice

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dropping.

“But when Bran showed up, I couldn’t wait anymore.”

I bit back a smile, pretending to think. “Well, it is a little overwhelming…”

Steven’s face fell, and I quickly added, “But maybe you can make up for it. How about a movie after this?”

His grin lit up the room.

That night, Bran stopped showing up.

Months later, the news came: Bran had been hit by a car while chasing someone he mistook for me.

His mother called, begging me to visit him.

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