Chapter 361

For a long moment, I didn’t know what to say. Alex’s firm, almost angry tone was new to me. What had he heard about Victor and me to make him respond to me like this?

“We’ll be there in a few hours,” I assured Alex. “But I don’t think it’s fair to blame us for everything that happened.”

“We will talk about it when I see you,” Alex insisted, but his tone was milder. “Would you like me to send guards to bring you home?”

“I think we can get there without help,” I replied.

“Then I’ll see you and Victor in a few hours,” Alex said. “Sweetheart, I understand you needed to get away, but the problems here aren’t going away on their own.”

“I was afraid after being attacked outside the bakery.” My voice shook with emotion. “We weren’t thinking clearly.”

“I understand, honey,” Alex said. His voice had completely thawed. “Why don’t I come to you so we can talk?”

“That would be nice,” I said, barely holding back tears.

“Let me talk to Victor for a moment, and I’ll be there soon,” Alex assured me. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too,” I said and passed the phone to Victor.

I was filled with relief, knowing Alex was on his way. I didn’t believe Victor and I did anything wrong, but Alex had way more experience governing and would know the best ways to calm the situation.

I listened to Victor briefly speak to Alex and realized how much I had missed my father. I couldn’t wait to see him.

“Alex is on his way,” Victor said. The way he stuffed his phone into his pocket told me he was annoyed and a little angry.

I moved in front of him and put my arms around his neck. “Are you still mad at me?”

He kissed the tip of my nose. “I’m frustrated because it seems like we can’t catch a break.”

“Are you glad Alex is back?” I asked while running my hands over his chest.

“Yes and no,” he admitted. “I hoped to have things under control before he returned. Alex, seeing the riots and discontent among the Alphas makes me feel like a failure.”

“He is more experienced and may have suggestions to calm them down.” I kissed him softly. “But you are no failure, my love. John Cameron and the faction are sabotaging you.”

Victor held me close and buried his face in my hair. “I feel as if my actions have emboldened John. Discontent among the people helped his faction grow.”

I pulled away and shook my head. “Perhaps that is why some of his followers joined him, but I think most were motivated by greed.”

“If only we knew where his money was coming from to finance his cause, we could shut it down.” We sat together on the futon. “He can’t be making that much money that fast legally.”

“Let’s put our heads together when Alex arrives,” I suggested. “Let’s take that walk on the jetty now.”

Victor took my hand and led me off the deck and onto the sand. “Since Alex is back from his cruise early, do you want to get married?”

“What a wonderful idea,” I said. “Where?”

“Anywhere you want,” Victor replied. “I will marry you anywhere and at any time.”

“Let’s get things straight with Alex first before we decide,” I said.

We walked for an hour in the sun and warm breezes before returning to the beach house to shower and change.

While slipping a green sundress over my head, I heard a helicopter flying low. I ran to the bedroom deck and saw it land on the beach.

“Alex is here,” Victor called.

I ran down the stairs and straightened the collar of his shirt before we hurried outside to greet him.

I flew into Alex’s arms. “I missed you so much. But I’m sorry you had to come home early from your cruise.”

He shook Victor’s hand. “I turned on the TV in our suite for the first time last night. When I saw the news report about Denhurst, I told Cassidy we had to come back.”

“I feel bad for ruining your trip,” Victor said. “I apologize for my failures and for letting things get out of hand.”

“Let’s go to the beach house,” I said and took Alex’s arm as we walked to the deck stairs. “We can talk over cold drinks. Where’s Cassidy?”

“She stayed at the mansion to unpack,” Alex replied. “We brought back many souvenirs, including a few intriguing artifacts.”

“It sounds like you had a good time,” I said, climbing the deck stairs.

“We did,” Alex agreed. “But I was ready to come home. Each port of call was beginning to look like the rest. We can travel again later.”

Alex and Victor made themselves comfortable in the living room while I went to the kitchen and poured glasses of chilled white wine.

When I returned to the living room, the men were discussing the faction.

“John Cameron has always been greedy for power and wealth,” Alex said. “He must be dealt with permanently this time.”

“Agreed,” Victor said. “But how?”

“The discontent among the Alphas must be appeased without setting off the Betas and Omegas,” Alex said.

“Victor and I discussed that before your arrival,” I said. “But how do we do that?”

Alex sipped his wine and settled back in his chair. “Your new laws were needed. However, you didn’t give the Alphas anything.”

I shrugged. “Because Alphas didn’t need anything.”

“Hear me out,” Alex said. “Reforming laws is different from running a company. You cannot order people to change their minds overnight about things they believed all their lives.”

Alex continued. “When dealing with employees, would you give your housekeeping staff a raise or a new perk and ignore the secretaries?”

“No, Victor answered. “The secretaries would feel undervalued and rebel.”

Alex put his finger in the air. “Correct.”

Victor nodded. “So, you’re saying there should be something in it for the Alphas in the new laws?”

“Exactly,” Alex said.

“But Alphas always get all the perks,” I argued.

Alex chuckled. “That’s why they are bad at being excluded from benefiting from the new laws. They are like badly spoiled children who think they deserve the best toys.”

“What should I give them that they don’t already have?” Victor asked.

“A new tax break is always good, or maybe a low-interest rate on a special business loan. But don’t reveal it’s for any business owner, not just Alphas,” Alex suggested.

“If that’s what it takes to calm them down, I’ll draw up an amendment tomorrow,” Victor said.

“I heard you are planning on marrying soon,” Alex said. His tone was neutral, but there was hurt in his eyes.

“We panicked when Councilor Getty demanded I get a new fiancée,” Victor confessed. “However, Daisy decided we should wait until you returned from your trip.”

“You need to wait a little while longer,” Alex said. “Marrying now will throw gas onto the flames of rebellion. You cannot marry until we change the public’s opinion of my daughter.”

“To do that, we need to stop the faction from poisoning Alphas' minds against her,” Victor stated. “I’m not sure how to do that.”

“How long must we wait to get married?” I asked. Now that Alex was back, I wanted to marry Victor as soon as possible.

“I don’t know, honey,” Alex replied. “You don’t need to break up or anything, but I wouldn’t register a marriage license until we take out John’s faction or the political climate changes.”

I sighed and looked at the floor. My chance to become Victor’s wife had passed me by again.

Alex patted my arm. “Don’t look so downcast, dear one. Work with us to restore your reputation, and I will host a grand wedding and reception to celebrate your and Victor’s love.”

I nodded and tried to smile.

“I will spare no expense. You may have any wedding you wish,” Alex promised.

I forced a broader smile, but I was angry with myself for thinking I needed that big wedding more than I needed Victor.

Alex’s cell phone chirped. “I must take this video call. Two council members contacted my assistant as soon as they heard I was back in Denhurst. You can remain in the room but stay silent.”

Alex accepted the video call. “Good afternoon, Councilor Getty, Councilor Chen. How may I help you?”

“Were you able to get in touch with Victor?” Councilor Getty asked.

“Yes, I’m in a meeting with him now,” Alex replied.

“Good,” Councilor Chen said. “The council has voted not to remove him as leader at this time.”

“But only if you agree to be co-leader until Victor can prove he is worthy of the office,” Councilor Getty announced with a grin.