Chapter 14

Alana’s POV. As I gradually emerged from my slumber, the world beyond the cabin began to seep into my consciousness. My eyes blinked open, and I found myself cocooned in the warmth of a plush, inviting bed. The covers cradled me like a comforting embrace, making it seem as though I had been sheltered by the night itself. But it wasn't just the bed that contributed to my sense of contentment. I realized that I had shed the barrier that had separated Alec's side of the bed from mine. My arm and leg draped over his body, and he appeared to be awake, lying flat on his back, engrossed in his phone. He didn't attempt to shake me off; instead, he welcomed my presence. "Good morning, sunshine," Alec greeted, setting his phone aside. "Good morning," I murmured. I turned around, and the first thing that caught my eye was the soft, diffused light filtering through the wall of glass that stretched from floor to ceiling. It framed a breathtaking winter landscape on this beautiful morning. Alec also turned to admire the view. "It's beautiful out here, but I'm afraid we'll need to pack up," Alec informed me as he rose from the bed and began organizing the clothes he had already placed in the dresser. "What? What happened? I can fix it," I exclaimed, ready to put up a fight to keep our room. "Relax, I have a surprise for you. We'll be leaving right after breakfast," Alec chuckled. "Where?" "Not far, and please, no more questions, or you'll spoil the surprise." "I don't like surprises," I declared, rolling my eyes as I rummaged through my bag for some clothes. "That sounds a bit dishonest," Alec teased, and to some extent, he was right. "The last time I was surprised was when I was supposed to be left at the altar." I noticed a chuckle escape his lips. I couldn't help but smile at myself. After all, I couldn't change the past. "Fair point, but I'm not Daniel," Alec reminded me, as if I needed the reminder. "Fine," I sighed dramatically, but deep down, I was genuinely curious to discover what surprise Alec had in store for me. — We were back in the room after breakfast, and I had just finished packing up my toiletries. I combed my hair back and was about to put on my beanie when my phone started ringing. I checked it and saw it was Izabel from InkVoyage, a newly popular reading platform with the potential to turn books into big-screen hits. I had been pursuing a deal with them for a while now, particularly for 'Hearts Entwined: The Five Seasons of Romance.' Securing the rights to those five movies would be a major win. I had read the books, fallen in love with the stories, and knew exactly how to bring them to life on screen. "Hello, Izabel?" I answered. "Alana, congratulations are in order," Izabel sounded professional, but there was a hint of surprise in her tone. "Though I must say I’m a little surprised by how things turned out." "What can I say? The heart wants what it wants," I chuckled awkwardly as I reapplied my tinted lip balm. "That it does. It seems like the stars have aligned perfectly for you," Izabel replied. After a brief pause, she continued, "The author has decided to accept your offer." "Oh my god, oh my god, are you serious?" I gasped with excitement, almost on the verge of squealing. "Yep, you’ll be bringing 'Hearts Entwined' to the big screen," she confirmed. "This is incredible!" "I do have some potentially bad news," she cautioned, threatening to burst my bubble. "The author is a fan of Daniel Ray, and when you pitched him for the main character, her eyes lit up. But she also wants Suzanne Cook for this." This was the consequence of my recent association with Daniel, and I had anticipated that it might come back to haunt me. "Are you serious?" I sighed. "I’m afraid so. Remove the actors, and she won’t be on board," Izabel said with a sigh of her own. "It’s okay; we’re all professionals," I assured her, then replied thoughtfully, "Thank you, Izzy." "You’re welcome, Lana." "Izzy, I’m sorry. I want to explain myself to you once I return from my honeymoon," I admitted, my lips pressed together. Izzy was my best friend, but she remained unaware of my true identity as Alana Jordan. I had been concealing this secret for years, and I could sense that she was still upset about it. If she had been at the wedding, I would have seized the opportunity to explain myself, but she was currently in Italy. "You’re lucky I love you," Izzy replied, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I ended the call and tucked my phone away before bouncing with excitement. Alec walked into the room and raised an amused eyebrow at my enthusiastic display. "Everything alright?" he asked. "I just got the offer I've been hoping for, for months!" I exclaimed, practically radiating joy as I launched myself at him, finding comfort in his warm embrace. "That's amazing! What offer?" Alec inquired, his curiosity piqued. "'Hearts Entwined' saga. It's five movies! I'll be bringing this to the big screen!" I announced proudly, and his face lit up with genuine happiness for me. "I'm sure you'll do amazing," Alec reassured me, rubbing my back before we separated. I continued, "There's some bad news though… Daniel and Suzanne are the leading actors." A shadow of concern crossed Alec's face as he processed the information. "Are you up for this?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine care. "I don't have a choice. This will boost my career, and I'll get to show I can be professional," I replied with a shrug, my determination unwavering. "You'll do amazing, Alana," he reassured me, his support unwavering. — Finally, we left, and Alec took me to his surprise. We had barely settled into the car when he announced, "We've arrived." Okay, so we were certainly close to the resort. I peered out of the window, greeted by the sight of an open field of pristine snow and inviting pathways. I frowned at first. "We're here," Alec said, turning my attention to the cozy cabin we had admired during our walk.