One Night. One Mistake. Ch 17

 

Chapter 17 

Elle’s POV 

I couldn’t breathe as I watched Jason’s eyes glitter with naked greed, his gaze locked on the open briefcase full of cash. My heart hammered against my ribs as if trying to escape the pain that was coming. 

Brad stood a few feet away, watching Jason with the calculated patience of a predator who knew his prey was already trapped. 

“Jason,” I grabbed his arm. My voice cracked as I pleaded, “Let’s go! We don’t need his money. We can leave together, right now.” 

The tears blurred my vision, making the world around us swim. My dress-this ridiculous, extravagant gown meant for a ceremony I never 

wanted-felt impossibly heavy as I struggled to hold onto him. 

“We can start over, I choked out, desperation making my voice thin. “Like before. Remember how we made it work when we had nothing?” 

The jewels on my dress caught the sunlight, sending prisms of light dancing across Jason’s face. For a moment-just a moment-I thought I saw 

a flicker of the man I loved in his eyes. 

Then it was gone. 

“Get off me!” Jason shoved me backward with enough force that I stumbled, nearly falling. The back of my knees hit something solid-Brad’s leg 

-as he stepped forward and steadied me with one hand, his touch impersonal and brief. 

Jason’s face transformed into something I didn’t recognize-something hungry and mean. “Do you have any idea what I could do with this kind 

of money?” He gestured wildly toward the briefcase. “Everything!” 

Each word was like a slap. I jerked away from Brad’s steadying hand and lunged toward Jason again, grabbing his collar and forcing him to look 

at me. 

“Look at my eyes!” I demanded, tears streaming down my face. My eyes stared into his. The eyes he once told me were beautiful. “Tell him you 

won’t throw away two years for money! Tell him!” 

‘Jesus, Elle, you’re being fucking dramatic.” Jason pried my fingers from his collar, shoving me away again. “You’re such a pain in the ass. With 

this kind of cash, I can have any woman I want. Why would I stick with you?” 

ľ 

The words hit me like physical blows. My body felt suddenly cold, like ice water had replaced my blood. I staggered backward, away from him, away from the stranger wearing Jason’s face. 

Brad’s voice cut through the haze of my shock, low and dangerous. ‘Last chance, Mr. Miller. The girl or the money?” 

Around us, Brad’s security team watched impassively, their faces showing no reaction to the scene unfolding before them. I stood there, my wedding dress soaked with tears, my makeup ruined, feeling more exposed than I had ever felt in my life. 

Jason ran his fingers lovingly over the edge of the briefcase. “The money, obviously. He turned to Brad with a sycophantic smile. ‘She’s all yours, Alpha sir.” 

I nearly collapsed. The ground seemed to sway beneath me as Jason’s words echoed in my head. Two years. All of it, worth less than cash in a 

1/3 

Chapter 17 

briefrase 

Brad’s face remained expressionless, but something in his eyes hardened. “Very well. The money and the Bentley are yours.” 

The silver lighter snapped shut with final-sounding click. 

I couldn’t speak. My lips trembled, but no sound came out. I watched as Jason transferred the briefcases into the luxury car Brad had offered him, not once looking in my direction. He was whistling-actually whistling-as he slammed the trunk shut. 

“Pleasure doing business,” Jason said to Brad, bowing slightly. Then he slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The powerful purr filled the church courtyard. 

I stood frozen as the car pulled away. The Bentley disappeared around the corner, leaving only the echo of its engine and the scent of exhaust 

in the air. 

The silence that followed felt absolute. 

I hate you, Jason! The thought roared through my mind with such intensity I was surprised it didn’t escape my lips. I fucking hate you so much! 

My fingers clutched at the fabric of my wedding dress, crumpling the delicate material. Inside, I felt something fundamental breaking. Every beautiful dream I’d ever had about love was dying right here in this church courtyard. 

I laughed suddenly-a hollow, broken sound that surprised even me. A few stray bills had fluttered to the ground when Jason packed the money, and now they danced in the breeze at my feet. I stared at them, feeling strangely calm. 

I was so fucking stupid. The thought was crystal clear in my mind as the numbness spread. I actually thought what we had was special. I defended our relationship to everyone. Looking at those discarded bills, I felt a cold clarity washing over me. Thank you for the lesson, Jason. If money is 

what you want, then go have a nice life with it. 

The numbness was spreading through me now, a blessed anesthetic against the pain. I turned and walked back toward the church entrance, past Brad, past his security team, past everything that had just shattered my world. 

Inside, the makeup artist and hair stylist rushed to repair the damage my tears had caused. Their hands worked quickly, efficiently, as if I were a doll that needed mending. I sat perfectly still, staring at my reflection without really seeing it. 

Elizabeth Rayne was there, examining me with calculating eyes. When she saw that I was no longer crying, that my face had settled into a mask of indifference, she nodded once-approval or acknowledgment, I couldn’t tell. 

The marking ceremony proceeded exactly as rehearsed. I walked down the aisle mechanically, one foot in front of the other. The gathered werewolf elite watched with curious eyes, but I barely registered their presence. I repeated the traditional words when prompted, my voice so soft that even I could barely hear it. 

When Brad’s teeth grazed my neck for the marking bite, I felt nothing. Not fear, not pain, not even the strange electrical current that usually 

sparked between us. Just… nothing. 

The applause afterward sounded distant, as if filtered through thick glass. I shook hands, nodded at congratulations, smiled when appropriate. 

All the while, inside, I was hollow. 

2/3 

1:35 pm PPTM 

pp 

After One Night with the Alpha