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 house. Again. While 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

Margaret said desperately. “Maybe if

it more frightening than her screaming. “I’m tired of your pathetic schemes.

pushed past them and headed for her walk–in closet, grabbing a

you

Since you

“Sophia, wait-”

was already storming down the hallway. Her

front door.

driveway. She had no destination in mind, just the need to drive and think and figure out how to get what she

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

at this time

and plan. Her parents‘ approach

was something more direct.

Something more… permanent.

side of the road. Even in

dirty and torn, his hair was unkempt, and he had

would likely do

Perfect.

down her

help,” Sophia said, her voice

his neck with his dirty nails. “What kind of

reached into her purse and pulled out a thick wad of cash. She held it up so the

2/4

Chapter 6

eyes went

asked, waving the cash in his

Ella

when I’d told her we were going shopping,

get out

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

I linked my arm through hers, steering her toward

steps slowed. “Ella, dear, you

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

spoil you today, and you’re going to let me. Because that’s what

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

was warm on my face, and for the first time in weeks, I felt

“can I