The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 69

Sophia & Ella

Sophia

“Sophia, darling, please-‘

“Don’t ‘darling‘ me!” Sophia hurled the intricate vase at the window, watching with satisfaction as both vase and window shattered. “You promised me Alex would be mine! You swore you could make it happen!”

Richard stepped into the room, holding his hands up in surrender. “Sweetheart, we’re still working on it. These things take time-”

“Time?” Sophia’s voice went shrill. “It’s been five fucking years! Five years of watching him with that pathetic little mouse while you two sit around making empty promises!”

She grabbed a framed photo of herself and Alex from her high school graduation–back when he’d still smiled at her, still looked at her like she might have a chance–and threw it as hard as she could. The glass exploded against the doorframe, right next to her father’s head.

“Sophia!” Margaret gasped. “You could have seriously hurt Daddy!”

“Good! Maybe that would motivate him to actually do something useful for once!”

Sophia had always gotten everything she wanted. Always.

When she’d wanted the lead role in the school play, her parents had donated enough money to the drama department to ensure she got it.

When she’d wanted to get into the most exclusive university, Richard had made a few phone calls and suddenly her mediocre grades were no longer an issue.

Every holiday, every birthday, every fucking other week, she got piles and piles of gifts. Cars, phones, laptops, clothes, anything she set her sights on, it was hers.

But Alex… Alex was the one thing they couldn’t seem to give her.

“The leak about the mating mark was supposed to destroy their marriage,” Sophia said, her hands clenched into fists. “It was supposed to be the final nail in the coffin!”

“It would have worked if they hadn’t come up with that fake mark nonsense,” Richard said defensively. “Who could have predicted they’d be clever enough to-”

“Shut up!” Sophia screamed. “Just shut up with your excuses! Do you know what happened today? Do you

know what your brilliant plan accomplished?”

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Chapter 69

Her parents exchanged worried glances.

precious little wife stood there laughing at me like I was some kind of joke.”

said desperately.

it more frightening than her screaming. “I’m tired of your pathetic schemes. I’m done waiting around for you

walk–in closet, grabbing

you going?” Richard

this myself. Since you two

“Sophia, wait-”

the hallway. Her parents‘ voices faded behind her as she

front door.

roared to life, and she peeled out of the driveway. She had no destination in mind, just the need to drive and think and figure out how to

would get Alex. She’d been in love with him since they were teenagers, and she wasn’t about to let

through the forest were empty at this time of evening, which

think and plan. Her parents‘ approach had been too subtle, too political.

was something more direct.

Something more… permanent.

she spotted a lone figure walking along the side of the road. Even in the fading light,

dirty and torn, his hair was unkempt,

that said he would likely do anything for a

Perfect.

over and rolled down her window. The

some help,” Sophia

the car cautiously and scratched his neck with his dirty nails.

wad of cash. She held it

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Chapter 6

eyes

job?” she asked, waving the cash in

Ella

slowly, but it finally came around, and I was determined to keep my promise to Lilith. She’d tried to protest when I’d told her we were going shopping, insisting that she didn’t need anything new and I needed to rest, but I

I had to get out of that

me too much already,” she said as we walked through the downtown shopping district. “I don’t need you spending your money on

can spend it however I want.” I linked my arm through hers, steering her toward a nearby clothing boutique. “Besides, when was the last time someone bought you something just because they

dear, you don’t

I stopped walking and turned to face her. “Lilith, you’ve been more of a mother to me in the past five years than anyone has been in my entire life. You held me while I cried over that stupid music

eyes started to

the shop, “I’m going to spoil you today, and you’re going to let

going from shop to shop. I bought her a beautiful silk scarf in deep blue that brought out her eyes, a pair of soft leather gloves for the

found a bench in the small park across from the shopping district and sat down to rest. The afternoon sun was warm on my face, and for the first time

said softly, “can I