Outcast: The Alpha King's Beloved

Chapter 300: The Candlelit Dinner 

Amelia's POV:

After the meeting, Morgan and I headed back to our room.Thinking about everything that had happened since last night, my heart felt heavy.Larry, that bastard! Why couldn't he just let me go?

"What's wrong, honey? You don't look so happy.Is it because you need to get close to Larry to drug him? If you don't want to do it, I'll tell Mr.Jones right now."

Morgan wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.

"There must be another way.I don't want you to force yourself."

But I shook my head and sighed heavily.

"It's not that, honey.I know you feel sorry for me, but I have to go through with this.It's the only way."

I turned around to look into his eyes sadly.

"It's just, I was thinking that if I were to get close to him, I'd need to convince him that we broke up..."

My voice trailed off.It would hurt Morgan too much.

Sure enough, tears welled up in his eyes but he stayed strong for me.

"It's no big deal.If it means saving you, I'm willing to pretend we broke up!"

"But, honey, it's not fair to you!"

I hugged him tightly, wishing all our troubles were behind us.

"It's all my fault!"

Thinking of the nude photos, I felt more and more ashamed.

"It's all my fault," I repeated sadly.

"If it weren't for me, we wouldn't be in this situation."

"Don't say that! Honey, it's not your fault!"

Morgan lowered his head and kissed me, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"It's all my fault! If I had been able to protect you well, nothing would have happened."

Morgan was always so nice to me.He was so considerate and thoughtful.

"We both didn't do anything wrong, honey.This is all Larry's fault.I'm just grateful we got to meet again.Without you, I wouldn't have had the will to live on!" I murmured tearfully.

"Honey, if we want to convince Larry that we broke up, we need to sleep in different bedrooms.But don't worry.Once we catch Larry, we can finally be together in peace."

Morgan stroked my hair to comfort me.

I nodded.

"You're right.I'm sure we'll have our happy ending, Morgan."

As I spoke, I reluctantly let go of Morgan's hand.

"Go get some rest now.Let's sleep in different bedrooms starting tonight, in case Larry is monitoring us.You should go to bed early.You've been so busy taking care of me that you haven't slept well lately."

"Okay,"

Morgan promised.

"You have to go to bed early too, my dear.If anything happens, just call me.I love you."

After Morgan left, I stood alone in the bedroom in a daze.I went to the cabinet and took out the photos Larry sent.

Each photo rubbed more salt into my wound.

I hated Larry so much! He had tortured me for so many years.

He needed to pay the price.

I gritted my teeth angrily and took out a lighter.I lit those photos on fire and watched them burn at my feet.

When there were only ashes left, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Even though I knew that Larry must have had copies, it felt cathartic to vent my anger like this.

Just then, I received a text from the queen.

"Don't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, okay? The past might be dark, but it's in the past.You have to look forward.The future is bright!"

I felt touched.

When Jennifer became the queen, I thought that she would distance herself from me, but the kind girl still treated me the same as before.

She was still the previous Jennifer—a considerate and good girl.I texted her back immediately.

"Thank you, Jennifer.I will be strong!"

After hitting send, I felt more determined than ever to defeat Larry.

Anthony's POV: Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

When I finally put down the last of my work, I found that it was time for dinner.

"Honey, let's have dinner with your mom!"

When Jennifer saw me tuck away the last document, she perked up.

"Good idea, babe."

I felt sorry for making her wait for me.I took her hand and we went to my mother's room.

However, when Jennifer invited her to dinner, my mother simply smiled and shook her head.

"No, thank you.I'm feeling very tired today.I'll just have dinner here."

After asking a maid to bring some food up to her room, she started shooing us away.

"Anthony, take your queen out to dinner.Don't starve your wife and your child."

Jennifer and I were soon driven out of my mother's room.

As the door shut in our faces, Jennifer and I exchanged sheepish glances.

We both knew that my mother was just giving us an opportunity to be alone.

"Since she insisted, we might as well," I said to Jennifer with a knowing smile.

"Let's have a candlelit dinner tonight."

Jennifer's eyes grew wide with excitement.

"Okay!"

The truth was, after I declared to Carl that I was going to have a candlelit dinner with my queen, I had asked my men in secret to make the necessary preparations.

I took Jennifer to the royal restaurant, where royals and nobles dined.

However, I had specifically asked them to clear the entire restaurant for us tonight.I took Jennifer's hand and led her inside.

"Please, my queen."

The restaurant was dimly lit for a romantic ambiance.

Jennifer and I walked hand in hand to the table in the center, where some dishes had already been served.

The atmosphere was perfect.

In the soft light, Jennifer's delicate face was so lovely that I felt enchanted.

"Anthony, why aren't you eating? Weren't you the one who wanted to have dinner here?"

Jennifer teased me as she popped a piece of steak into her mouth with a silver fork.I smiled and shook my head.

"The food on the table is not as delicious as you."

"No one is as good at sweet talking as you."

Resting her chin on her hand, Jennifer picked up another slice of steak with her fork and held it in front of me.I happily accepted the morsel and chewed on it.

"That's because I met the most perfect woman,"I answered after I swallowed.

"Oh, Anthony, you flatter me!" Jennifer giggled.

The sound of her laughter was like music to my ears.

When I felt that the time was right, I suddenly pulled out a bouquet of roses from under the table.

"Surprise! Right on cue, a row of heart-shaped candles on the floor nearby suddenly lit up.The flames danced and flickered to the beat of my heart."Oh, my God! Anthony, did you plan this? How?"

Jennifer clasped her hands with glee, pleasant surprise written all over her face.

"The most beautiful roses for the most beautiful queen."

I cradled the bouquet in the crook of my arm and got on one knee before Jennifer.

"I've told you before that I'd surprise you at any given moment.I want you to feel happier with me with each day that passes."

Jennifer covered her heart with one hand and graciously accepted the roses.

"I love you so much, Anthony,"

"I love you too, honey."

I stood up and hugged her tight.

When we finally pulled away, I set the bouquet on the table and snapped my fingers.

Suddenly, the prelude to a waltz started to play.

"Care to dance?" I asked Jennifer with a broad smile.

"Some irrelevant person ruined last night's dance.Since it's just the two of us tonight, I want to try again." I reached out my hand to her.

Jennifer blushed and put her hand on mine.

We began to dance to the waltz in the restaurant.

The lights and candles were our audience.I just wanted this moment to last forever.