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.

his precious little wife stood there laughing at me like I was some kind of joke.” The memory made Sophia’s cheeks flame with humiliation. “She was laughing, Daddy. Laughing at me like I

Margaret said desperately. “Maybe if we

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

for her walk–in closet,

you

Since

“Sophia, wait-”

the hallway. Her parents‘

front door.

the driveway. She had no destination in mind, just the need to drive and think and

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

roads through the forest were empty at

to think and plan. Her parents‘ approach had

was something more direct.

Something more… permanent.

walking along the side of the road.

torn, his

that said he would likely do anything for a bit of

Perfect.

rolled down

use some help,” Sophia said, her voice sweet as

the car cautiously and scratched his neck with his

pulled out a thick wad of cash. She held it up so the rogue

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Chapter 6

his eyes went

job?” she asked, waving the cash in

Ella

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

had to get out of

me too much already,” she said as we walked through the downtown shopping district.

her toward a nearby clothing boutique. “Besides, when was the last time someone bought you something just because

dear, you

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 box. You bring me soup when I’m sick.

started to

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

her a beautiful silk scarf in deep blue that brought out her eyes, a pair of soft leather gloves for the coming

face, and

said softly, “can I ask you