Chapter 3 - The Secret Behind the Charity Gala
Luna left the gala with Maya before midnight.
She did not go home.
Not to the apartment where every room carried the memory of Liam’s betrayal.
Maya brought her to a hotel downtown, ordered room service, and sat beside Luna on the bed while they ate fries from the same carton.
“You were incredible,” Maya said.
“I was shaking.”
“Everyone shakes. You still walked in.”
Luna looked at the red dress hanging over the chair.
“I thought bringing Nico would make Liam jealous.”
“Did it?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you look sad?”
Luna stared at the city lights outside.
“Because I should not have needed another man to make me feel valuable.”
Maya reached for her hand.
“You didn’t.”
The next morning, Luna woke to forty-seven missed calls.
Sixteen from Liam.
Twelve from Amber.
Eight from Valentina.
The rest from relatives who had heard some version of the story before breakfast.
But one message caught her attention.
It was from Nico.
I hope you are safe. I will not contact you again unless you want me to. My attorney has arranged for your belongings to be collected from the apartment if you need assistance.
There was no demand.
No invitation.
No pressure.
Only an option.
Luna read it twice.
Then she called him.
Nico answered on the first ring.
“Luna.”
“I need to get my things.”
“I will send someone.”
“I do not want someone. I want to go myself.”
A pause.
“Then I will be nearby.”
“I did not ask you to come.”
“I know.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I am trying to learn it.”
That afternoon, Luna returned to the apartment with Maya, a locksmith, and two discreet security officers Nico had arranged at Maya’s request.
Liam was waiting in the lobby.
Of course he was.
He looked like he had not slept.
“Luna, please.”
She did not stop walking.
“Move.”
“I want to explain.”
“You had all night.”
“Amber left.”
Luna paused.
“Good for Amber.”
“She is not who I want.”
Luna turned toward him.
“You do not get to decide that after you chose her in my bed.”
Liam looked at the security officers.
“Is this because of my father?”
“No,” Luna said. “This is because I finally understand that I do not have to be alone to leave you.”
Inside the apartment, she packed only what mattered.
Her clothes.
Her laptop.
Her grandmother’s necklace.
The framed photograph of her mother.
The half-finished painting she kept near the window.
Then she found a folder beneath Liam’s desk.
At first, she thought it was another work document.
But the papers inside carried her name.
Luna Carter.
A private credit report.
A copy of her lease.
Bank statements.
Her social-security number.
And a draft application for a business loan she had never requested.
Her stomach dropped.
Maya saw it.
“What is this?”
Luna turned another page.
The loan was for $250,000.
The borrower listed as Carter Events LLC.
A company Luna did not own.
But the signature at the bottom looked like hers.
Almost.
May you like
Liam had not only cheated on her.
He had planned to use her identity.
