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Chapter 176
~Snow’s POV~
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, I stood on the balcony with Zara. The cool breeze rustled her hair as she leaned against me, her gaze fixed on the sprawling gardens below.
"Are you nervous about the Ball?" I asked, brushing my fingers through her hair.
"A little," she admitted. "But with you by my side, I think I’ll be okay."
I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You’ll do more than okay, love. You’ll shine."
She turned to look at me with those eyes filled with affection. "Thank you, Snow. For everything."
"Always," I said softly and pulled her closer.
*************
The mansion shone in the morning sun, promising a good day. I decided it was the perfect opportunity to show Zara more of the town and our surroundings.
She deserved a break before the overwhelming stress of the upcoming Alpha Ball.
As we stepped out of the car at the mall, I couldn’t help but watch Zara’s expressions. She marveled at the towering glass structure and the people bustling about. It was a world far removed from the quiet packs and their territories.
"Do you like it?" I asked, taking her hand as we walked toward the entrance.
She smiled. "It’s different from what I’m used to, but yes, I do."
"I’m glad. Come on, let’s go shopping."
Inside, we browsed through stores, picking up essentials and a few items that caught her fancy. Zara was particularly drawn to a delicate charm bracelet, her eyes lighting up as she admired its intricate design. I didn’t think twice before purchasing it for her, ignoring her protests.
"You’re spoiling me," she teased, her eyes twinkling with gratitude.
"That’s my prerogative," I replied smoothly, tucking the small box into the bag.
After shopping, we stopped at a cozy café nearby to grab snacks. Zara sipped on a smoothie, her eyes scanning the vibrant street outside.
We kept the conversation light, talking about random things—her favorite books, my childhood pranks with Aira and Tempest.
It was a moment of normalcy in the chaos of our lives.
Just as Zara was laughing at one of my stories, my phone buzzed on the table. I glanced at the screen, frowning as Taylor’s name flashed across it.
"Who’s that?" Zara inquired in a curious tone as she took another sip of her drink.
I sighed, showing her the screen. "Taylor, my assistant. She’s efficient, but she wouldn’t call without a valid reason."
"Answer it," Zara urged, her expression soft but encouraging.
Reluctantly, I swiped to accept the call and brought the phone to my ear. "Taylor?"
Her frantic voice resounded in the call. "Sir, there’s a situation, and I don’t know how to handle it."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Take a breath and tell me what’s wrong."
Taylor inhaled sharply before continuing. "Do you remember the call girl you requested before... your marriage?"
My brows furrowed. "Yes. What about her?"
Taylor hesitated. "It turns out there’s a misunderstanding. She’s here at the office, furious. She claims she wasn’t paid and demands her payment."
I exhaled deeply. Thank Goodness it was a minor issue, I thought but no.
"It’s simple then. There isn’t anything to worry about. Taylor, settle her and compensate for the delay."
"I wish it was that simple, sir." My brows knitted further.
"How so?"
"She is threatening legal action against the company for the delay and breach in agreement."
I sat straighter, my jaw tightening. "Didn’t you cancel the arrangement when I met Zara? How can she sue us for her own error?"
"I thought I did," she admitted, her voice fraught with tension. However, it appears that the request was approved regardless, and before she received the news, she had already fulfilled her role. She married someone else, thinking it was you and part of the contract, and now she’s here demanding compensation."
"Married someone else?" I repeated incredulously. "How the hell does that happen?"
"I don’t know, sir," Taylor stammered. "But she’s refusing to leave until it’s resolved."
I exhaled sharply, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. "Fine. I’ll handle it. Prepare the necessary documents, and I’ll be there shortly."
"Yes, sir. Thank you," Taylor said, relief evident in her tone.
I ended the call, my eyes locking with Zara’s concerned gaze. "Trouble?" she asked softly.
From her expression, I knew she felt my anger and frustration. "Nothing we can’t fix," I assured her.
"Good. You can tell me what is wrong on the way. For now, let’s go."
"Sure, I’ll explain."
We stood to leave, but before we reached the café door, Zara’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She fished it out as soon as we stepped outside and made our way towards my car, her brows knitting together as she saw Ella’s name on the screen.
"Ella?" she answered, putting the phone on speaker mode. "What’s up?"
I stepped closer, unlocking the car as her conversation unfolded.
"Things have gotten out of hand, Zara," Ella said, her voice tinged with worry.
Zara paused, frowning. "What do you mean?"
Ella’s words tumbled out in a rush. "You remember when you wanted a call boy for your marriage?"
My hand froze on the car door handle.
"Yes," Zara replied hesitantly, her voice low. "But I met Snow instead."
"Exactly," Ella continued. "Well, the man you would have hired went ahead and married someone else, thinking she was you. Now he is demanding payment and threatening legal action against both of us."
Zara inhaled sharply, her hand gripping the phone tightly. "Forward me their details, Ella. I’ll handle it."
"Zara, I’m so sorry—"
"Don’t apologize," Zara interrupted firmly. "This was my decision. You only helped me. I’ll take care of it."
The call ended, and Zara leaned back in her seat, exhaling slowly. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, we sat in silence, understanding the problem that was before us, ones we created.
"They may have staged this," she said finally, her voice steady despite the tension in her jaw. "But how did we let loose ends lead to such a mess?"
I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "We’ll sort this out, Zara. Together."
She nodded, a flicker of gratitude softening her features. "Let’s go."