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.

there laughing at me like I was some kind of joke.” The

something else out,” Margaret said desperately.

somehow made it more frightening than her screaming. “I’m

her walk–in closet, grabbing a leather jacket and her car

are you going?” Richard

myself. Since you two are

“Sophia, wait-”

storming down the hallway. Her parents‘ voices faded behind her

front door.

She had no destination in mind, just

she would get Alex. She’d been in love with him since they were teenagers,

winding roads through the forest were empty at this time

approach had been too subtle,

was something more direct.

Something more… permanent.

side of the road. Even in the

were dirty and torn, his hair was unkempt,

he would likely do

Perfect.

pulled over and rolled down her window. The

could use some help,” Sophia

scratched his neck with his dirty nails.

purse and pulled out a thick wad of cash.

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Chapter 6

his eyes went

a job?” she asked, waving the cash in his

Ella

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

had to get out of that

much already,” she said as we walked through the downtown

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

“Ella, dear, you don’t have

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

started to

pulling her toward the shop, “I’m going to spoil you today, and you’re going to let me. Because

next two hours going from shop to shop. I bought her a beautiful silk scarf in deep blue that brought out her eyes, a pair

sun was warm on my face, and for the first time in

I said softly, “can I