Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One - Chapter 235

Chapter 235: The other woman
Hailee’s POV

I had gotten dressed for the day and was about to check on the boys when I saw her. The same woman from last night, the one who had dared lay a hand on Ozzy, was walking down the hallway toward me. The moment our eyes met, she gave a small, nervous smile, trying to play it off as friendly.

I didn’t return it.

Instead, I met her attempt with a cold, unflinching frown. Her steps slowed, and when we finally reached each other, she shifted deliberately, stepping right into my path. I stopped, my patience instantly wearing thin. My face darkened.

“And what is the meaning of this?” I asked, my voice flat and cold. “Move.”

She looked a bit startled at my tone but didn’t move. Her fingers twisted together for a moment before she spoke, her voice small and overly sweet.

“I just wanted to apologize,” she said quickly. “For what happened last night. It was a misunderstanding… I lost my temper.”

I crossed my arms, my expression unmoved. “A misunderstanding?” I repeated quietly. “You struck a child. My child. I don’t call that a misunderstanding; I call it disgraceful.”

Her fake smile faltered. “I said I was sorry,” she muttered.

I raised an eyebrow. “And who exactly are you?”

She hesitated, clearly unsure whether to be proud or cautious. “I’m… Peter’s fiancée,” she finally said, forcing confidence into her voice.

My expression didn’t change. “His mate?”

That question seemed to catch her off guard. She blinked, her lips parting slightly before she looked away. “Not yet,” she admitted quietly. “But soon.”

Something in my chest tightened. So she wasn’t the woman Peter had spoken about before, not the one Father approved of, or Peter even cared for deeply. This one was different, and I didn’t like the kind of different she was.

I took a step closer, my tone calm but edged. “Then, as of now, you’re nothing to him. Which means this conversation is over. I have no interest in talking to you.”

I started to move past her, but she stepped sideways again, blocking my path a second time.

Her tone turned sharp, defensive. “Oh, come off it,” she said with a short laugh. “You act like you’re some golden girl now, like you’re perfect. But weren’t you once—”

She stopped herself, biting her tongue too late.

I tilted my head slightly, my eyes narrowing. “Finish that sentence,” I said quietly. “Go on.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, clearly realizing she had said too much. The silence between us intensified as I glared at her, daring her to speak more.

I smiled then, just barely. “That’s what I thought,” I murmured, stepping around her. “Next time you want to apologize, try meaning it.”

And with that, I walked away, leaving her standing in the corridor, fuming, embarrassed, and very aware that she had just picked a fight with the wrong woman.

I needed to find Peter. I needed to know what was happening.

I found Peter in his study, leaning over a pile of documents with two advisors beside him. He looked up the moment I entered.

“Everyone, give us a moment,” he said immediately.

The men bowed and hurried out, closing the door behind them. Peter straightened, reading my expression before I even spoke. “What happened now?” he asked carefully.

I folded my arms. “That woman,” I said, my voice tight. “Your fiancée, or whatever she’s calling herself, just stopped me in the hall.”

He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Hailee…”

“Don’t ‘Hailee’ me,” I snapped. “She said she’s your fiancée. Is that true?”

Peter hesitated, clearly not eager to answer. “It’s… complicated.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Complicated? You either love her or you don’t, Peter. And from what I’ve seen, you don’t even like her.”

He looked down for a moment, his jaw tightening. “She’s not my mate,” he said finally, his tone flat. “And she knows it.”

That caught me off guard. “Then why—”

He cut me off, his voice quieter now. “Because she’s convenient. The council wanted the engagement for alliance purposes. It keeps the Northern Houses loyal.”

I frowned. “So you’re using her?”

He met my eyes again, his voice low. “She’s using me too, Hailee. It’s mutual.”

Something in his tone told me more, that this wasn’t about politics alone. That he was still thinking about someone else.

I stepped closer, my voice softer now. “What about the girl you told me about? The one you said you—”

His eyes darkened slightly. “She ran away,” he said simply. “Years ago. Without a word.”

My chest ached. “So you just gave up looking?”

He shook his head slowly, his voice carrying both pain and exhaustion. “No. I looked everywhere. I found traces, rumors, but by the time I got close, she was gone again. It’s like she didn’t want to be found.”

For a moment, I just watched him. The calm, confident king I knew looked tired. Hollow in a way only heartbreak could make someone.

I exhaled slowly, shaking my head. “Then why settle for this?” I asked quietly. “Why chain yourself to someone like her? She’s cruel, Peter. You saw what she did to Ozzy. A queen is supposed to be passionate, and she is nothing like that. And you won’t be happy with her.”

He didn’t look at me, just stared down at the papers on his desk. “Because sometimes,” he said, his voice low, “the crown doesn’t care about what you feel. It only cares about what looks right.”

I scoffed softly. “That’s the dumbest excuse I’ve ever heard.”

His lips twitched, almost a smile. “You sound like Mother.”

I leaned against the desk, crossing my arms. “Good. Then listen to me when I say this: that woman doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near you. She’s fake, power-hungry, and heartless. If you can’t have the one you want, at least don’t settle for someone you’ll end up hating.”

Peter sighed, finally meeting my gaze again. “You think I don’t know that?”

“Then stop pretending,” I said firmly. “Find her, the one who ran away. The one who made you smile when you talked about her. Not this…” I gestured vaguely toward the door, my tone sharp. “Not this bitch.”

Peter blinked, and for a moment, there was silence. Then a short laugh escaped him, weary but real. “You haven’t changed at all,” he said quietly. “Still fearless. Still blunt.”

I smirked faintly. “Someone has to be honest with you.”

He leaned back in his chair, his smile fading. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s time I stopped pretending.”

“Good,” I said, turning toward the door. “Because if she ever touches any of my kids again, I won’t stop at a slap next time.”

Peter chuckled quietly. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t come near them again.”

I nodded, satisfied, and left his office.

I had just left Peter’s office when one of the maids hurried toward me, slightly out of breath.

“Your Highness,” she said, bowing quickly, “King Rylan is here to see you.”

I frowned. “Rylan? At this hour?”

“Yes, my lady,” she replied. “He’s waiting in the main living room.”

It was barely eight in the morning. The sun had only just begun to warm the palace walls, and the staff were still arranging breakfast trays. What could he possibly want this early?

With a sigh, I made my way downstairs.

The moment I stepped into the living room, I stopped short.

King Rylan stood in the center of the room, tall and perfectly composed, but what caught my eye were the flowers.

Dozens of bouquets filled the space: roses, lilies, tulips, even rare moon orchids scattered across tables and vases like a colorful storm.

He turned the instant he saw me, his usual confident smile softening into something unexpectedly warm. “Good morning, Hailee,” he greeted. “Forgive the early visit. I wasn’t sure what your favorite flowers were, so I brought them all.”

I blinked, utterly taken aback. Around us, the maids and guards exchanged amused glances, some of the younger ones even smiling and whispering behind their hands.

I crossed my arms, trying to hide my surprise. “What is all this, Rylan? Is something wrong?”

He chuckled quietly, taking a few steps closer. “No. Nothing’s wrong.” His eyes held mine. “I just didn’t want to waste another day pretending I didn’t feel what I do.”

My brows furrowed slightly. “And what exactly do you feel?”

He stopped just a few feet away, his voice lowering and sounding sincere. “Hailee, I have an interest in you. I want to court you.”

For a second, I thought I had misheard him.

“You… what?” I asked, blinking in disbelief.

Rylan smiled faintly, the kind of smile that carried quiet confidence, the kind that said he was used to getting what he wanted. “I want to court you,” he repeated softly, his eyes locked on mine. “Properly. Openly. Not as a passing fancy or political arrangement, but because I mean it.”

My heart skipped once, hard, before I found my voice again. “Rylan, this isn’t funny.”

“I’m not joking,” he said calmly. “You intrigue me, Hailee. You are my type of woman.”