Abandoned Luna: Now Untouchable-Chapter 16 They Know Better Than You

Cecilia’s pov

I curled up on the sofa after dinner, staring at my phone. The chat screen with Liam remained open, my fingers hovering uncertainly over the keyboard. I must have typed and deleted at least four different messages.

What was Sebastian Black’s game? First he gave me his measurements, then he just went silent? Was this some kind of power play?

I sighed, tossing my phone aside. Whatever Sebastian’s intentions were, they hardly mattered. Once this suit situation was resolved, our lives would never cross paths again.

Footsteps approached from outside the living room. I quickly closed the chat window and uncurled my legs, trying to look casual.

Xavier stormed through the doorway, his face like a thundercloud. "Where are all your clothes? Your shoes? Your jewelry? Your bags?" His voice was sharp, accusatory.

My heart skipped a beat. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

[Keep it together] I whispered to myself.

But how did he find out? Why was he suddenly home early for dinner, then immediately going through our closets? Had someone been watching me?

"I took everything for cleaning and maintenance," I replied, keeping my voice deliberately casual while projecting mild confusion. "The clothes and shoes are at the dry cleaner’s."

"All of them? At once?" His eyes narrowed with suspicion.

I shrugged with practiced nonchalance. "I’ve been bored out of my mind, so I decided to deep clean the house. I couldn’t remember which clothes I’d worn and which I hadn’t, so I just took everything to be cleaned. Same with the jewelry—diamonds get dull over time. The bags needed touch-ups. While I had the free time, I thought I’d get everything serviced."

My explanation sounded reasonable, even to my own ears. I was getting far too good at these half-truths.

Xavier’s brow furrowed as he processed my words. The suspicion in his eyes gradually faded. He seemed to accept my explanation, likely remembering how I’d been keeping busy around the house lately.

"You don’t need to rush," he said, his voice softening slightly. "You’re not going anywhere. You can take your time organizing."

"Well, I want everything spotless before our trip," I replied smoothly. "Since I’ll be gone for a few days, I thought I’d leave everything tidy."

Nothing about this statement was technically a lie, yet I saw how it unsettled him. Something in my tone, perhaps. His eyes drifted to the navy blue shopping bag on the sofa, and he reached for it.

"This is for me?"

"No!" I practically lunged forward to stop him from touching the shopping bag.

The movement was so sudden it stirred the air around us.

The atmosphere turned ice-cold instantly.

Xavier’s face darkened little by little, and his hopeful smile crumbled, his eyes sharp as daggers.

"It was for my father." I quickly added, my voice steadier than I felt, but my heart was pounding out of my chest.

The disappointment in his eyes hit hard, almost blindsiding me. The irritation and denial of having his fantasy shattered flashed in his eyes, almost pathetic.

"You bought something for your father, but didn’t get anything for your mate?" He said with wounded indignation, as if I had done something unforgivable.

I looked at him coldly, my tone level but final, "Still planning to pick out another suit? Or are you thinking of borrowing one from Cici White’s closet? I hear her collection is pretty impressive."

Xavier opened his mouth, but no words came out. For once, he looked like he might actually be speechless.

He stood there, his face frozen, as if I’d slapped him in public.

Before he could react, I grabbed the bag smoothly, turned around and hurried upstairs, went straight into the study room, and slammed the door.

The sound of an engine starting came from downstairs, and a few seconds later, his car peeled out of the driveway.

Only when the familiar sound of the engine completely faded into the distance did I let out a long breath, as if I’d just surfaced from underwater.

...

Sunday brought beautiful weather, perfect for my farewell tour.

I found myself wandering through the halls of the high school where Xavier and I had first met. Though it was the weekend, a few students in uniforms crossed the grounds, their laughter echoing across the campus.

My fingers trailed along weathered brick walls as I visited each significant spot: the classroom where we’d first locked eyes, the tree-lined path where we’d walked hand in hand, the track field where I’d cheered for him during every meet.

Eventually, I made my way to the bamboo grove beside the artificial lake—to that hidden corner where our younger selves had buried a time capsule the night before our graduation exams.

I knelt in the soft earth, digging until my fingers touched metal. As I pulled the small box from its grave, memories flooded back: Xavier pulling me out of study hall, the darkness around us broken only by our phone flashlights, writing our dreams and promises on paper balanced awkwardly on our knees.

"We’ll dig this up together in twenty years," he’d said, his eyes catching the dim light, shining brighter than any star.

I opened the box and removed only my letter, leaving his dreams buried in the dirt.

"Goodbye, Xavier," I whispered, feeling lighter than I had in years.

Xavier’s pov

The office blinds were drawn and the doors were locked tightly.

I sat in my chair, my knuckles white-knuckled, gripping the project proposal Cici had turned in, and the paper was completely wrinkled.

She smiled seductively, and the red dress clung to her body, like a coiled snake, pressing against me, fingers trailing up from my knees, her movements bold and practiced.

I didn’t move. Not because I enjoyed it, I just couldn’t be bothered to push her away.

I knew Cici wasn’t in Cecilia’s league.

But she threw herself at me, knew how to turn me on, was easy and obedient, and traded her body for attention. She did it without shame and even was proud of it.

Most importantly, she was an Alpha’s daughter.

"Still mad?" She got closer, her red lips almost touching my ear, "I can help you forget her."

"Do you want...right here?" Cici’s hand had unzipped my pants, with a flirtatious smile.

"Cut it out!"

I pushed her hand away and slammed the proposal on the table, and papers scattered everywhere.

"This is what you call work? You have the nerve to hand in this garbage?"

I knew she wasn’t capable, but I didn’t expect her to be this hopeless. I used to think her airheadedness was cute, but now I just found it revolting.

I rubbed my temples, but I couldn’t help but remember Cecilia’s presence in this office handling projects - calm, efficient, and on point, and every word during meetings was clear and confident.

She should be the one sitting in this position.

"Why are you so worked up? She’s history, you’re mine now-" Cici came at me again, her voice grating on my nerves.

My phone rang.

I picked it up, "Talk."

"Cecilia is out and about again today," came the voice of the private investigator I had hired, his tone professional as always. "She went to your old high school and then to a fancy community called Lantern Garden. The security there is tight and visitors can’t get in unless residents give prior approval."

"Did she get in?"

"She did. Must have been cleared by a resident."

My jaw clenched and my voice went cold: "Send me the address. Don’t lose sight of her."

I hung up and stood by the window, my hands balling into fists.

Why would she go there? High school? Lantern Garden? Didn’t she say she was over it?

Who was she meeting?

I hated this feeling - being in the dark, not knowing, losing control.

‘She is mine. We’re still married, her name, her ring, and her past are all mine. I can screw up and cheat, but she can’t. She can only focus on me, revolve around me, and belong only to me.’

I turned around and Cici was all over me again, wrapping her arms around my waist like an octopus.

"Why are you always obsessing over her?" She said with a pout, "You don’t love her anymore, right?"

I pried her hands off and looked at her with disgust.

"Redo the proposal. Actually try this time. If you don’t get it, ask the department head."

She looked stunned, staring at me with wide eyes, "You want me to ask...them?"

I smirked, "They know what they’re doing, unlike you."