Abandoned Luna: Now Untouchable-Chapter 313 Fair Play

Cecilia’s pov

Sebastian followed me back to the apartment. He didn’t say a word in the elevator, and the tension between us was thick enough to choke on.

I didn’t look at him or even say a word. I just wanted to get through the doors and shut everything out.

The moment we stepped inside, I made a beeline for my bedroom, not even bothering to take off my heels.

"Cecilia, wait..." he started, but I was already closing the door.

"I just need some time alone," I said, snapping the lock into place with a click that felt final.

I heard him sigh on the other side of the door, then the soft sound of him sliding down to sit against the wall outside my room.

Of course. The man had the persistence of a bloodhound.

I kicked off my heels and collapsed onto the bed, arms spread, staring blankly at the ceiling like it could offer answers.

One more night ruined by someone else’s family drama. Classic.

First Xavier’s mother, now Sebastian’s grandmother.

What was it with powerful people and their obsession with bloodlines and status? 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Like love had to come with a pedigree and a family crest, and if you didn’t have either, you weren’t even worth the glass of water they offered you.

I turned my head toward the quiet of the apartment.

No chandeliers here. No vintage wine. Just me, and the silence, and the faint hum of the city beyond the window.

And honestly? That felt more like home than anything I’d felt all night.

Then my phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Grandma’s name lit up, soft and familiar.

And just like that, the tightness in my chest loosened a little.

"Cece, are you coming over tonight?"

Her voice wrapped around me like a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Funny how just hearing her voice made the whole day feel a little less sharp around the edges.

I sat up and tried to sound cheerful.

"Not tonight, Grandma. I’m a bit tired. I’ll come by tomorrow, I promise."

There was a pause. She could always read me like an open book.

Grandma had a sixth sense about my moods, and honestly, not even Sebastian with all his werewolf senses came close.

I hugged a throw pillow to my stomach, suddenly feeling six years old again, caught in a lie I didn’t want to tell.

"What’s wrong with my girl? Who upset you? Was it that Sebastian fellow?"

"No, nothing like that," I lied, too quickly. "Just tired from work."

"Don’t try to fool me, young lady," she scolded gently. "I raised you. I can hear it in your tone."

Her tone softened.

"You know what I told you when you were little. If someone tries to put you down, don’t shrink. Stand tall and look them straight in the eye."

"You’re not some side character in their story, sweetheart. You’re the leading character."

"I know, Grandma. I’m your precious girl." I swallowed hard. "And you’ve got the strongest backbone I’ve ever seen."

We talked a little longer, about everything and nothing, until she had to hang up.

When the call ended, the silence didn’t feel so heavy anymore. I leaned back against the pillows, a soft smile tugging at my lips.

Author’s pov

Harper arrived at the Moore residence carrying a container of her mother’s special pot roast. She stepped through the front door just as Helena was ending a phone call with Cecilia, her face unreadable but her energy tense.

Earlier that afternoon, Cecilia had messaged Harper to say she was officially meeting Sebastian’s family that evening for the first time as an invited guest.

Now Harper looked rattled, clutching the pot roast like it might protect her from the fallout.

"She didn’t get burned by Sebastian’s mother too, did she?" Harper muttered under her breath.

"Harper, what did you say?" Esther’s sharp hearing zeroed in instantly. She reached out and grabbed Harper’s wrist, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"What? Oh, nothing!" Harper blinked, then forced a smile. "Nothing at all, Aunt Esther. Grandma Helena, I should get going. Don’t forget to try the pot roast!"

She placed the container a little too quickly on the table, gave a tight nod, and turned on her heel.

Her footsteps were brisk, almost panicked.

She practically bolted toward the door like the room had suddenly turned into a courtroom.

Esther stared after her, lips parted, eyes narrowing. A few seconds passed before she spoke, as if replaying Harper’s exact words in her head.

"I know what I heard," she muttered, her voice tight with worry.

From the kitchen, the quiet clink of a plate broke the tension.

VanDyck stepped into the room, carrying a small plate of sliced fruit.

"Don’t work yourself up," he said calmly, setting the plate down with deliberate care.

"Harper clearly mentioned Sebastian’s mother giving Cece a hard time!" Esther fretted, wringing her hands.

VanDyck placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder, gentle but grounding.

"She didn’t give details. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions without facts."

Helena picked up a slice of apple and nodded slowly.

"VanDyck’s right. Worrying won’t fix anything. If you want to help Cece, focus on what she needs. Don’t pile on your anxiety. She’s got enough of that already."

She took a small bite before continuing, her tone casual but laced with calculation.

"If I had to guess, I’d say things didn’t go smoothly tonight. These old-money families always find a way to make outsiders feel like they don’t belong."

Helena’s eyes drifted toward the window, thoughtful.

"We can’t afford to let this spiral. By the sixteenth, Cece needs to be in Colorado Springs."

She glanced toward the door Harper had just slipped through, a trace of sadness in her eyes.

"We may have to... adjust our approach. Something a little less obvious. A little more persuasive."