Howreyoudoing,Lyric?Thefrostinessinhertonedidntmakeitseemlikesheactually cared.
ThewomanwasnaturallycoldandintimidatingsomethingthatprovedshewasthemotherofJaris.
Imdoingjustgreat,Luna.Andyou?Iaddedthelastwordshesitantly.
Asexpected,shedidntanswerthat.
Itseems…youandJarisaregettingalongwell.
MyforeheadcreasedasImethergaze.
Inoticethecheerfulnessbetweenyou twothesedays.Yesterday,you evenvisitedhimathisoffice.Shescoffed.Howcute.
Okay.Whatwasshedrivingat? Is…thereaproblem,Luna? Ofcourse,not.Sheshrugged.Ijusthopeyoustillremember whatyourdealiswithJaris.Thiswholethingitsfake.Itsacontract.Andinlessthanelevenmonthsfromnow,itsallgoingtoend.
Herwordspushedmybeatingorgandeepintomylowerbelly,tyingmytongueaswell.
Ididntunderstand.Shecameallthewaytosaythattome? What wasitwitheveryoneandwantingtogetmeupsettoday? Iknow,Imumbled,keepingmyheadlow.
WhileIcouldtalkbackatMartaandanyoneelse,itdbeagravemistaketalkingbackatsomeonelikeLunaIsolde.Shedbeenalionessinhertime.Andwhileshemightbeolder,Ifearedshestillhadsomeofthat fiercenessinher.
Ifelthergazelingeronmyform.
Good,shemuttered,andthesoundofherheelsannouncedherdeparture.
Anunpleasantbitternesscurledonmytongue,reachingdowntomygut.
Aftertryingnottoletanyoneruinmymood,LunaIsoldesucceeded.
Itsfake.Itsacontract.
Thewordswerehaunting.Theywerewhatpeoplewouldcallthebittertruth.
JarisandIwerentmeanttobe.ThedreamsIhadwithhimwerefake.ThebutterfliesthatalwaysfilledmyhearteachtimeIsawhimwerefake.ThewarmththatconsistentlywelledupinmylowerbellyeverytimeIwatched himlaughcouldnthappenanymore,becausethiswasacontract.AndJarisDreadmoorwasnevermeanttobemine.
Iwalkedintothefieldfilledwithdistinguishedguests.Therewerealotofkidsaroundastheydaskedalltheguests tocomewiththeirkids.Eventhepeoplefromthetwinsschoolwereinvited.
Thepartyitselfdazzledwithunparalleledgrandeur.Everythinglookedjustlikeitwassupposedto.
ItriedtokeepasmileonmyfaceasIwalkedin.Istruggledtosilencethetorturousrhythmofmy heart,butitthuddedonwithalotofwordsgettingtome.
IwasaSiphonwhohadanExecutioneronhertail.Ialsohadaninsanewomanalwaysrubbingitonmy facethatIwassomeonewho likedkidsbutdidnt haveany.
Andnow,aLunawhojustremindedme thatIwasnothingbutacontractedLuna.

MystepsfalteredwhenIcaughtsightofJaris.
Myheart….itdidthatthingagain.Thatthingthatalwaysmadememeltcompletelyatthesightofhim.
Itsfake,Lyric.Itsacontract.
However,itwashard tofocusonthatwhenhestoodthere,lookinglikeagodonearth.Everythingabouthimwasperfect-hisblacksuit,thesilverearringononeear,the designerwatchhehadaroundhiswrist,anddowntotheglassofchampagnehehadinonehand.
Everythingmightbefake,butIdneverseenamore Successfullyunlocked! WasDreadmoor.
Iforcedmyselftokeepwalking.Ineededtocheckinonthecaterersspot.
ButwhenIgottowherehewas,henoticedme,andIdidntmissthewayhiseyeslitup.
Hey,hegave measmallsmile.
1/3 133 Hisgazetraveledfrommyheadtomytoebeforeheshookhishead.Wow.Youre…stunning.
Please,stoptalking.Please,stoptalking.Itwashardertofocuswhenhetalkedlikethat.
Thanks,Igavea nod.
Hekepthiseyesonmeashedrankslowlyfromhisglass.Andsomehow,thatwashotinakindofway.
Iknowyouvebeengreatlyinvolvedwiththekids.Thank you,Lyric.Hetippedhisglasstowardme.
Myheartfluttered.AtleastsomeonewashappyIwashelpingwiththekids.
Myphonevibratedinmypurse.ItookitoutandfoundMaddysnameonit.
Lyric,whereareyou?Shesoundedslightlyfrantic.
Imatthefield.Why? Ineed youtocomeover.Iminmyroom.Now.
Iwentasfast asIcould.
IthoughtIdfindherinadistraughtphaseorsomething,butshewasjusttherelookinglikeaprincessinacastle.
Oh,mygoodness!Maddy,youlook- HowdoIlook?Shecutmeoffinahighvoice,hereyesbrightwithexcitement.
Well,Ijustwasabouttosaythat.Youlookdazzling.
AAreyousure? Ofcourse!Takealookatyourself.
Herdresswasaredonewithoffshouldersanda slitbytheside.Shelookedwaybetterthanwhenshewasdressedlikeateen.Atleast,herheelsevengavehersomeheight.
Ineedtobeperfect,Lyric.YouknowIllbemeetingalotofpeopleIhaventseeninawhile.Plus,Ineedtomakeagoodimpressionas anaunt.Itsthefirst oftheirpartiesImattending.

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Shelookedso nervous.
Iwentcloser,takingherhandinmine.Dontsweatit,Maddy.Youreadamselrightnow.YoushouldseewhatIsee.Shegavemea smallanxioussmile.Areyousure? ThemoonforbidIdbelyingtoyou.Itiltedmyheadatthedoor.Comeon.
Wewalkedout to thefieldtogether.Maddykeptholdingmyhandsotightlikeitwasherlifeline.Iwasntusedtoseeingherthisnervous.Ithoughtsheshouldbe usedtopublicgatheringsorsomething? Wegreetedsomeguestsandtooksomedrinks.
See?Everyoneadoresyou,Iwhisperedinherear,earningmeagiggle.
Hersmiledroppedwhenshespottedsomeone.Isawittoo.Nerion.
Hewaswalkingwithalady,comingourway.
InoticedMaddygotensebesideme.
Rightnow,Nerionlookednothinglike theheadofsecurity.Helooked likeoneofthedistinguishedguests whowewereallhonoredtohaveinourmidst.
Andwhowastheladybesidehim? Maddykepthereyesonthefloorastheywalkedpastus.ButIkeptlookingandnoticedNerionsgazelingeronher.
Hesgone,Ifelttheneedtowhispertoher soshecouldstraightenherneckatleast.
Sheballedherhandsintofists.Hesanasshole.
Ichuckled.
Abackstabber.
Wow.
Thekindofhumaneveryoneshouldavoid.
Maddy.
Hessuchasnake.Youllthinkhesgentleandcaresaboutyou,buthellstrangleyouwhenyou leastexpect.Hey,Iplacedmyhandsonhershoulders.Todaysaspecialdayforus,Maddy.DontletNerionoranyoneelseruinitfor you,okay? Iwatchedherbitetheinsideofhercheeks.Buteventually,shenoddedandseemedcalmer.
133 Wegottothemostimportantpartthearrivalofthecelebrants.
Everyonestoodquietlywithsmilesonaswewatchedthetwinscomeupattheentrance,lookinglikealittleprinceandprincess.
Theiroutfitshadbeenmadetomatch,andIdontthinkIdeverseenmoreadorablekids.
Acoolsoundwasputonastheywalkeddowntheaisle.
Theylookadorable!Maddychirped,clappingherhands.
Morethanadorable.
MyeyesglistenedwithtearsIfoughttoholdback.

Xylonwaswearingacustomizedsuitthathadthesame designsashissisterslongreddress.Sheevenhadasmallcrownonherhead.
Theguestscooedandmadelovelysoundsastheywalkedthrough.They wavedatMaddyandIwhentheyreachedourline.Theywavedatme!Maddysquealedhappily,likeakid.Look,Lyric!Wereevenwearingmatchingoutfits!Shepointedatherownreddress.
Right!Ilaughed.
Reachingtheendof theaisle,JarisandMartajoinedthem,takingtheirhandsandleadingthemtotheirseats.
Somethingtuggedinmyheartatthesight.
Everyonegavearousingapplauseforthem.
Myeyesdartedthroughthecrowdandsomethinggrippedmyattention.
Notsomething;someone.
Inarrowedmyeyes,tryingto geta betterlook.
Butthen,Maddytappedme toasksomething,andwhenIlookedagain,thepersonwasgone.
Ishookmyhead,notabletomakesenseofit.IthoughtIsawsomeonefamiliaramongtheguests,butImustvebeenmistaken.
EveryonetooktheirseatsasawelcomespeechwasgivenbyMarta,andafterward,themaineventkickedoff.
ActivitieswereintroducedbytheMC,includingsomegamesforthekidsaround.
Forhours,welaughed,clappedandcommentedonthenumerousactivities.
Myeyes weremajorlyonXylonandXylathewholetime.
Icouldntgetenoughofhowredtheirfaceswereastheyhadfunwiththethingstakingplace.
Jarisand Martasatcloseby,theirfacesbeamingwithpride.Ismiledwistfully.Thejoyofparenthood.I hopeIgettoexperience itsomeday.
Awhilelater,thekidswerecalledtodanceon stage.IwassurprisedathowgoodofadancerXylonwas.Hismoveswerealittletoosmoothfor someonehisage.
Xylawassimplyhavingfunandkept gigglingatherclumsysteps.ComparedtoXylon,shewasntthatgood.ButIwasnteven sure she noticedor cared.
Whenthey finishedwiththedance,itwastimeforthemtoplayagame.
Listenup,kids,theMCaddressedthem.Thisgameneedstobeplayed withyouandtwoadults.Xylon,Illneedyoutopick a manofyour choicetobeyour partner,andXyla,youpickawoman.Youcan choosemummyanddaddyifyouwant.Doyou understand ? Theynoddedecstaticallyandwenttheirseparateways.
Iwaseager for thegame.Iwassureitwasgoing tobebetweenJarisandMarta.However,IwassurprisedwhenInoticedXylawasntgoing towardhermother.
Everyone watchedinanticipation, thinking maybeshewascomingtopickthem .Itcameasabigshockwhenshe stoppedinfront ofme,holding out herhand.
Iwantyou to bemypartner,auntyLyric!