Chapter 21
Cecilia’s pov
I snuck out of my parents’ house at 5 AM, leaving only a note behind. Mom and dad were still asleep–they’d been grilling me about my hospital visit yesterday. They didn’t fall asleep until 2:00 a.m.
After disguising myself with sunglasses and a baseball cap, I hailed a cab to Harper’s place. When she opened the door, the dark circles under her eyes told me she hadn’t slept since my panicked call in the middle of the night.
“You look like hell,” I said, trying to inject some normalcy into this nightmare.
“Right back at you,” she replied, but her attempt at humor didn’t land as she ushered me inside.
After I recounted last night’s events in detail—the trap, the drugs, the men Cici had arranged to assault me, and Sebastian’s unexpected rescue—Harper looked ready to commit murder.
“Xavier isn’t even human anymore! He’s a monster! No, calling him a monster is an insult to monsters!” Her voice rose with each word, hands trembling with rage. “And Cici and his psycho mother? They’re lower than scum p>
While Harper paced and cursed, I moved toward her kitchen with an eerie calm that surprised even me. “Do you have food in the fridge? I’ll make breakfast p>
Harper stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “You can think about breakfast right now p>
I removed my jacket, guiding my furious friend to the sofa. “Starving ourselves over trash that isn’t worth it is pointless. We need strength to fight back p>
When I pulled away, Harper grabbed my wrist, her eyes widening at the bloody marks where the restraints had cut into my skin last night.
“They tied you up?” Her voice cracked. “They didn’t give you any chance to escape p>
“Nope,” I smiled bitterly. “Zero way out p>
“Cici’s cruelty I can understand—she’s always been a psychopath. But Xavier Harper shook her head in disbelief. “How could he do this? Eight years together, Cecilia. Eight years! Even if he stopped loving you, there should be some basic human decency left. For someone he’s known barely six months, he’d destroy you like this p>
“He’d do anything to keep his new toy happy p>
“But he acted like he still cared about you p>
Cared? What a load of crap.
“Did you know they’re going public tonight?” I asked flatly.
“WHAT THE HELL?!” Harper spun around so fast I thought she might get whiplash. “You’re not even divorced yet! Wait Her expression darkened. “What if he knew about the divorce papers all along? What if this was their master plan—to corner you on the final day of the waiting period, so you’d not only lose your settlement but be blackmailed into a quiet divorce? They’d have those videos to shut you up while he starts his new life with Cici scot-free p>
I considered her theory silently, then headed for the kitchen. “Food first p>
A short while later, I returned with two plates of scrambled eggs and toast. Harper couldn’t touch a bite, acting as if she were the one whose husband had orchestrated her assault. Meanwhile, I polished off my plate, washing it down with milk.
I wiped my lips with a napkin and looked at Harper. “I need your help with something p>
Her eyes blazed with loyalty. “Anything. I’d move mountains for you p>
“Good p>
Xavier
The charity gala was in full swing by 7 PM. The grand ballroom of Peninsula Hotel was packed with Port City’s elite—old money, new money, and everything in between. The Blood Moon Pack’s territory was well-represented, and Gavin White had brought practically the entire Shadow Pack leadership.
I scanned the room, nodding at various Alpha and Beta dignitaries while trying to ignore how Cici hung on my arm. She kept checking her phone nervously, which was starting to get on my nerves.
“Waiting for someone important?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
“Just work stuff,” she replied quickly, tucking the device away.
Mother approached, her silver-streaked black hair perfectly arranged, pulling Cici aside. I caught fragments of their whispered conversation:
“Did you get the settlement agreement p>
Cici hesitated. “Of course. I’ll bring it tomorrow p>
Mother’s face lit up like Christmas. “Perfect p>
What settlement agreement? I frowned, watching them exchange conspiratorial smiles. Something about their newfound camaraderie lately unsettled me. Mother had never shown such enthusiasm for any of my previous relationships—not even Cecilia, who had been there for me for eight years.
Needing some air, I stepped onto the balcony. Kael, my wolf, paced restlessly in my mind. He’d been on edge all day, sensing something was wrong.
I dialed my security detail. “Is she still at her parents’ house? Never left? Good, I’ll swing by after the gala p>
Returning to the ballroom, I found Cici shoving an auction catalog in my face.
“Xavier, look at these amazing pieces! This pink diamond set from Mrs. Linda is stunning! The design is absolutely gorgeous. And Mrs. Liu’s ring is beautiful too p>
“They’re all fine,” I replied absently, barely glancing at the catalog.
Wait. That pink diamond set looked way too familiar p>
“Let me see that,” I said, taking the catalog from her hands.
As I turned to the page with the pink diamonds, my heart stopped. These weren’t just similar—this was the exact set I’d commissioned in Italy for Cecilia last year on our anniversary. She’d been obsessed with them, even talked about passing them down to our future daughter someday.
[How the fuck did they end up being auctioned off?] Kael snarled in my mind. [Those belong to our mate]
Something was seriously wrong.
Cici’s pov
I couldn’t stop checking my phone.
Again.
And again.
Those worthless idiots should’ve contacted me hours ago. The plan was bulletproof—drug Cecilia, let those sick bastards do what they do best, record everything, and send me the footage. Just one video. That’s all I needed.
Something to destroy her with.
By now, I should’ve been sipping champagne while watching her humiliation unfold—frame by frame.
Instead—radio silence.
No texts. No calls. No updates. No proof she’d been broken.
Had they killed her? Or worse—had they totally screwed up?
My stomach was in knots. I hated not knowing. The silence was driving me crazy.
Dora appeared at my side, right on cue as always, her lips curved in that practiced high-society smile. “Darling,” she said sweetly, slipping her arm into mine, “did you get the signed settlement agreement from Cecilia p>
Pure panic shot through me.
Shit.
If I admitted failure, she might get cold feet. Cancel the engagement announcement. Back out of the deal. I couldn’t have that—not when I was this close. Not when I was finally about to be the one standing beside Xavier in the spotlight.
I forced my lips into a smile. “Of course,” I lied smoothly. “She signed it yesterday. I’ll bring it to you bright and early tomorrow p>
Dora beamed, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Wonderful!” she said, giving my hands an excited squeeze. “Everything is coming together perfectly p>
I nodded, trying to look calm.
If I had to forge the agreement, so be it. It wasn’t like Cecilia would be around to challenge it.
Not after what I’d arranged for her.
If they’d actually pulled it off.
A chill ran down my spine.
No. They had to have succeeded. She was weak. Too proud to scream, too stubborn to beg. She would’ve just taken it to keep her dignity—and that, ironically, would’ve ruined her beyond repair.
Across the room, I spotted Xavier, standing beneath the chandelier, his silhouette carved in light and shadow. My heart fluttered at the sight.
He was so close now.
Soon, he would be mine—for real. No more sneaking around. No more hiding in hotel rooms and watching him return to her bed. No more settling for scraps.
Let his precious little wife rot wherever she ended up.
I approached him with the auction catalog, babbling about jewelry to keep him distracted. “Xavier, look at these gorgeous pieces! This pink diamond set from Mrs. Linda is stunning p>
His eyes barely skimmed the page before he suddenly went rigid, demanding to look more closely at the catalog.
As his expression darkened, I felt my first wave of panic. Something had caught his attention—something that really pissed him off.
What had I missed?