Counterback of the Despised Luna by Diana West

Chapter 27 The Battle of Pretenses

Mc Crawford

I frowned slightly, watching as Eleanor entered with Wendy’s hand in hers.

“Dad, how are you feeling? Wendy came especially to see you,” Eleanor said, looking at Richard.

+8 Pearls

“Hello, Mr. Holbrook.” Wendy put on her best good girl look. “I heard you were sick and wanted to visit sooner, but I didn’t want to disturb you.

Richard’s smile faded slightly as he responded with mild politeness.

I immediately noticed he wasn’t charmed by Wendy’s t and was well aware of her intentions toward Caden. It was clear to him that Eleanor favored Wendy and didn’t think I was good enough.

But she didn’t know that, in Richard’s eyes, I was worth thousand times more than her chosen candidate. He was the only one who knew my true identity, so he was set on getting me and Caden together.

Mom, what are you doing here?” Caden’s expression turned dark the moment he saw Wendy.

“Wendy’s just being thoughtful and wanted to check on Dad. She happened to be free today, so we came together, Eleanor replied with a warm smile, giving Wendy a subtle nudge closer to Caden.

Wendy wasted no time stepping between Caden and me, clinging tightly to him and practically shoving

me off.

I pressed my lips together. Eleanor didn’t like me; she brought Wendy here just to put me in my place.

And Wendy thought she could push me around? If I weren’t keeping my Alpha strength under wraps, a tiny shove would send this delicate young lady flying.

Wendy was practically melting against Caden, gazing at him with open admiration. “Caden, my brother’s coming back soon. Let’s all get together then, alright?”

Without missing a beat, Caden turned her down coldly. “I’m busy”

clapping, and Freya

looked disappointed but persisted, ‘Are you

no amusement, but before could react, Caden took a long stride forward, slipped an arm around my waist, and said, “Roseline just got to Rivemon, I’ll be showing

with a playful smile. “You promised

looked down at me with ‘adoring‘ eyes and nodded. “Of course.”

What a fake!

are

on his back, but he didn’t even flinch; instead, he pulled me closer.

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go on, and honestly, seeing

pled on a strained simile. Then she presented a gift she’d brought for Richard. She smiled sweetly, doing her best to look geile and considerate. “Mr. Richard, this is the finest Vivara Snow. It’s very nutritious and perfect for somente

glance my way. “Ms. Sinclair. I’m not sure they have things like this up in Winterfell,

remarklond and clear. I replied coolly,

needed to be finished. “Ms. Sinclair, did you

bumpkin Omega. I hadn’t bothered to bring any gift at all. She was relentless in her

as clear as day: a little competition for gifts to show off who the real lady from a prestigious family was,

over Richard, leave me embarrassed,

gift showdown? Against me?

calm smile, I motioned for the butler, Leslie, to bring over my case. I opened it carefully, took out a framed painting, and presented it to Richard. “Mr. Richard, this is Picara Voss’s original Le Rêve. My grandfather wanted you to

examining it closely. “Picara Voss! A true masterpiece. Thank your grandfather for me.”

the canvas was a serene young woman with closed eyes and golden hair flowing behind her–a piece of artwork capturing the pinnacle of Picara Voss’s genius. Just one glance revealed its priceless

utterly delighted with the gift. With this world–renowned masterpiece in his hands, I’d hit the

paled, and she blurted out, “Ms. Sinclair, what’s the meaning of bringing a fake painting

had entrusted me with this gift–it was no fake. She just assumed that someone from the remote Frostmoore couldn’t possibly come up

Richard’s judgment is so poor he

not what meant. But Picara Voss’s original works are priceless. Where did you get it?”