Zayn kept his pace and got into his Bentley Bacalar, his thoughts running fast. He had to get back to work. He pressed the key fob to start the car and drove into the streets of the city at high speed, not caring about anyone's thoughts on what he was doing right now.
Intentionally, he took the route that led to Rivera's country estate. He slowed down a bit as he approached the country home and spotted two men conversing seriously at the front gate of the Rivera estate.
He wondered who they were, until they came into full view, and he realized they were Kai Rivera, Luna's adoptive brother, and Detective Noah Grey who was too good to be true. He stopped the car for a few seconds to take a good look at the scene."The Riveras have no idea what I have in store for them, do they?" he muttered to himself, with a smirk on his face, then drove off at breakneck speed.
Back at The Lord's Hotel, Luna was sober as she held the contract against her chest, walking around the room, trying to figure out the reason why Zayn would want to marry her.And she knew, if she wanted answers, she needed to think out of the box.
She walked inside the bath, which fortunately had a moderate sized Jacuzzi.The only reason she had to smile slightly today, because she was going to wash off the pain, if that was possible.
Gently turning on the tap, adding lavender soap into the tub, she walked in with her body still clothed. It was when her phone started ringing that she realized she had been crying.
Trying to get a hold of herself, she picked up her phone to check the caller and it was Kai. She had already missed the call, but just as she was about to return it, he called again.
"Hey," she sighed softly.
"Hi. I was told what happened. I'm so sorry I couldn't make it there earlier. Why didn't you call me at first? It was about an hour or two after you left when Detective Grey called to tell me everything that had happened."
"I know you would've tried to do something about it, but you can't protect me every time."
"No, that's not possible. I'll protect you from everything and anyone that tries to hurt you. You're my Teddy, you know?"
"I know. But not today. It's done. There's nothing I can do now," she said, sobbing softly.
"I'm so sorry. Is there anything you want to talk about?"
She thought about telling him about the contract marriage, then said, "Meet me at the SC Street, the place where we eat French fries."
"Alright. I'll be there in thirty minutes," he said, and ended the call
Luna arrived earlier and settled at their favorite spot, looking around anxiously to see if Kai had arrived, but he was nowhere to be found until it was exactly seven minutes after the time they had planned to meet. He came.
"Luna," he called her softly. Raising her head from the table she had rested on to avoid easy recognition, she saw him standing at her side with his hands open wide to hug her.
She hugged him and whispered, "I wish this bear hug could last forever."
"I wish so too, my Teddy." He led her back to sit down and sat opposite her.
"How are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm going to be fine," she sighed again and ordered water.
"Of course, you have your way of getting out of things like this. I'm going to be with you throughout all of these," he smiled lightly and sat opposite her.
"Are you ready to talk?" he urged.
"Not yet." Then the water she had ordered arrived and she took a few sips before looking up to see his deep blue eyes for the first time that day.
"Zayn Lancaster was in the hotel room I lounged in today. I can't say for certain how he got in. But he said knowledge is power," she said, with her fingers trembling. "He was cold and said words that cut deep but that's not the reason I am telling you this."
"What…?" he asked,she could hear the anger in his voice .
"Hmm," she took a deep breath. "You need to calm down.
The reason I am saying this is because he wants me to be his wife. Play the part. Stay out of his heart, for reasons I don't know."
"No, you can't do that." He raised his voice a little. "He is cruel, you don't want to be around anyone like him..."
"Wait, Kai, let's be honest. You know I can't stay at the hotel for more than two weeks."
"You can stay there for as long as you can. I can foot the bills."
"I know you can, but you don't have to. I won't let Eloise Rivera and Aria Stella walk away after what they did to me, so one thing I am thinking about is vengeance, and I'm going to serve this one cold."
"Luna, you can't put your life at risk in the name of marriage with a man like Zayn Lancaster."
"All I have to do now is to get back to Zayn and know what he wants from the marriage."
"You don't mean it. Zayn is no-good for you and you know it."
"I know, but in this game, I'm not going to be the pawn." She rose up and walked away.
Aria Stella had fixed a rendezvous with her mother and her best friend, Sasha Wynn, who is a rising fashion influencer. They had been doing life together for years.
The meeting was going to be held in the sunroom, she had sent all the staff away for a few hours because they were going to be having a deep conversation.
She left her room to walk around the house to ensure nobody was in the house to eavesdrop. As soon as she was done checking for house staff and found no one, about a few minutes later, she got to the sunroom and saw her mother and Sasha having small talks. As soon as they noticed her, they both raised their heads.
"Hi y'all."
Her mother smiled brightly.
"Make welcome the true daughter of the Rivera family," Sasha started, making sweet sounds.
Aria's heart was filled with joy but had something bigger to share with them that might change the way they viewed her, especially Sasha.
"Thank you, but I have something to share with both of you."
"Okay, what can that be? I am excited to hear all of it," Sasha said, giggling.
"Alright, about Luna's scandal. Have you been wondering who was responsible for exposing her?"
They said yes in unison, nodding.
"I did. But I didn't do it alone." She understood the look on their faces.
"I will explain. She was the one enjoying everyone's attention. She had everything: beauty, wealth, and a high place in society. I hated her, and the fact that she was always sweet living my supposed life. I paid some anonymous detective to check everything out. When it came out the way I had always dreamt and Mother had confirmed it without her even knowing, I was more than happy and put it on the flash screen of the event that was supposed to move her to the next massive level. What falls is greater than that?" She laughed wickedly.
All this while, Sasha's mouth was agape, wondering how she ever met Aria again.
She asked her, "Why are you so insecure?"
"The truth is, I'm insecure. But if my insecurity is going to get the best of me, then let it be."
Her mother said nothing, just looked at her intently.
"But one thing I want to tell the both of you is.I'm not done yet. I am going to bring down Luna brick by brick. Just watch how everything unfolds." She sighed.