Abandoned Luna Now Untouchable (Cecilia) novel Chapter 21

Cecilia

I slipped out of my parents’ house at 5 AM, leaving only a note behind. Mom and dad are still asleep–my parents asked me about my hospital visit yesterday. They didn’t fall asleep until 2:00 a.m.

After disguising myself with sunglasses and a baseball cap, I hailed a cab to Harper’s place. When she opened the door, the dark circles under her eyes told me she hadn’t slept since my frantic call in the middle of the night.

“You look terrible,” I said, trying to inject some normalcy into this nightmare.

“Speak for yourself,” she replied, but her attempt at humor fell flat as she ushered me inside.

After I recounted last night’s events in detail-the trap, the drugs, the men Cici had arranged to assault me, and Sebastian’s unexpected rescue-Harper looked ready to commit murder.

“Xavier is not even human anymore! He’s a monster! No, calling him a monster is too kind!” Her voice rose with each word, hands trembling with rage. “And Cici and that mother of his? They’re worse than animals!”

While Harper paced and cursed, moved toward her kitchen with an eerie calm that surprised even me. “Do you have food in the fridge? I’ll make breakfast.”

Harper stared at me like I’d grown a second head. “You can think about breakfast right now?

I removed my jacket, guiding my furious friend to the sofa. “Starving ourselves for creatures who don’t deserve it is pointless. We need strength to fight back.” When 1 pulled away, Harper caught my wrist, her eyes widening at the bloody marks where the restraints had cut into my skin last night.

“They tied you up?” Her voice cracked. “They gave you zero chance to escape.”

“Yes,” I smiled bitterly. “Not a single way out.”

“Cici’s cruelty 1 can understand-she’s always been vicious. But Xavier..” Harper shook her head in disbelief. “How could he do this? Eight years together, Cecilia. Eight years! Even if he fell out of love, there should be some basic human decency left. For someone he’s known less than six months, he’d destroy you like this?”

“He’d do anything to please his new plaything.”

“But he acted like he still cared about you!”

Cared? What a joke.

“Did you know they’re announcing their engagement tonight?” I asked flatly.

“WHAT?!” Harper whipped her head around so fast I thought she might get whiplash.

“You’re not even divorced yet! Wait..” Her expression darkened. What if he knew about the divorce papers all along? What if this was their plan from the beginning-to corner you on the final day of the waiting period, so you’d not only lose your settlement but be blackmailed into a quiet divorce? They’d have those videos to keep you silent while he starts his new life with Cici with no consequences!”

I considered her theory silently, then headed for the kitchen. Tll make breakfast first.* A short while later, I returned with two plates of scrambled eggs and toast. Harper couldn’t eat a bite, acting as if she were the one whose husband had orchestrated her assault. Meanwhile, 1 methodically cleaned my plate, washing it down with milk.

1 dabbed my lips with a napkin and looked at Harper. “I need your help with something.”

Her eyes blazed with loyalty. “Name it. I’d walk through fire for you.”

“Good.”

Xavier

The charity gala was in full swing by 7 PM. The grand ballroom of Peninsula Hotel glittered with Port City’s elite-old money, new money, and everything in between. The Slood Moon Pack’s territory was well-represented, and Gavin White had brought practically the entire Shadow Pack leadership.

I scanned the room, nodding at various Alpha and Beta dignitaries while trying to ignore how Cici clung to my arm. She kept checking her phone nervously, which was starting to Irritate me.

*Expecting an important call?” | asked, keeping my voice low.

“Just some business,” she replied quickly, tucking the device away.

Mother approached, her silver-streaked black hair perfectly arranged, pulling Cici aside.

I caught fragments of their whispered conversation:

“Did you get the settlement agreement?”

Cici hesitated. “Of course. I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

Mother’s face lit up. “Perfect.”

What settlement agreement? I frowned, watching them exchange conspiratorial smiles.

Something about their closeness lately unsettled me. Mother had never shown such enthusiasm for any of my previous relationships-not even Cecilia, who had stood by me for eight years.

Excusing myself, I stepped onto the balcony for fresh air. Kael, my wolf, paced restlessly in my mind. He’d been agitated all day, sensing something was wrong.

I dialed my security detail. “Is she still at her parents’ house? Hasn’t left once? Good, I’ll stop by after the gala.”

Returning to the ballroom, I found Cici waving an auction catalog in my face.

“Xavier, look at these gorgeous pieces! This pink diamond set from Mrs. Linda is stunning!

The design is so unique. And Mrs. Liu’s ring is beautiful too…”

Dora beamed, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

“Wonderful!” she said, giving my

hands an excited squeeze. “Everything is falling into place.”

1 nodded, stiffly.

if I had to forge the agreement, so be it. It wasn’t like Cecilia would be showing up to dispute it.

Not after what I’d arranged for her.

If they’d actually done it.

A flicker of doubt ran down my spine, cold and sharp.

No. They had to have succeeded. She was weak. Too proud to scream, too stubborn to beg.

She would’ve let it happen just to keep her dignity-and that, ironically, would’ve ruined her beyond repair.

Across the room, I spotted Xavier, standing beneath the chandelier, his silhouette carved in light and shadow. My chest fluttered at the sight.

He was so close now.

Soon, he would be mine-officially. No more sneaking around. No more hiding in hotel rooms and watching him return to her bed. No more pretending to be content with crumbs.

Let his perfect little human wife rot in whatever hole she’d been thrown into.

1 approached him with the auction catalog, babbling about jewelry to distract him from my nervousness. “Xavier, look at these gorgeous pieces! This pink diamond set from Mrs.

Linda is stunning!”

His eyes barely skimmed the page before he suddenly stiffened, demanding to look more closely at the catalog.

As his expression darkened, I felt the first tremor of unease. Something had caught his attention-something that displeased him greatly.

What had I missed?