The soft chime of a phone notification awakened me. A glimmer of light seeped through the slightly ajar bathroom door, and the sound of running water confirmed Easton was there.
I tried to go back to sleep, but the constant glow from his phone on the nightstand caught my attention. Normally, snooping wasn’t my style. Easton had been very strict in his boundaries and privacy. But these days, his behavior felt off. Before I could think it through, my hand reached for his phone.
The screen lit up, and a message from someone labeled "Baby" popped up. I tapped on the message, and I almost stopped breathing. Pictures of Elena dressed in nothing but stockings and lingerie, posing confidently. My fingers shook as I scrolled through.
"Easton, meet up with me. Same spot as always...”
I felt the air grow heavy, my breath coming in short gasps. I had brushed off the late-night outings, the vague texts, and the coldness in Easton's once-warm smiles. But this? This was the proof I’d been dreading.
Then, the bathroom door creaked. My heart raced as I quickly locked the phone and put it back. I turned onto my side, pretending to sleep. Easton stepped out and picked up the phone.
“Miss me, Easton?" Elena's flirtatious voice came through a voice message.
I clenched my fists under the covers, controlling my tears.
“Always,” Easton replied softly.
Her giggle pierced through me like a knife.
“Did you like the ceremonial gown I wore today? The one I know should’ve been hers?”
I wanted to jump out of bed, grab that phone, and throw it across the room. But I stayed still, letting his betrayal wash over me.
“You looked breathtaking,” he said after a brief pause.
"Better than Ardyn?" she teased.
He hesitated, and I felt his gaze linger on my back. I held my breath, hoping he would not notice I was awake.
“No one compares to you, my baby."
Those words landed like a punch to the gut. This guy had once sworn to love me forever, promised to make me his Luna, and the one I had loved with every bit of my heart. But now, here he was, ripping those promises apart.
“Come to me tonight,” Elena purred.
Easton sighed but replied, "I’ll be there soon.”
He left, and a minute later, I received a message from him.
“Urgent pack business. Rest well, my Luna. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I stared at the screen, the bile rising in my throat. I spent the day thinking and by the time he went home, I finally decided. No more doubts about my plan.
"Ardyn, what's going on?" Easton asked.
“Packing,” I replied casually.
His brows furrowed.
“Packing? Where are you going?”
I turned to him, forcing a smile.
“Oh, just tidying up. You know how I can’t stand a mess.”
His grin widened, wrapping his arms around me as if nothing had happened.
“No need to stress. Soon enough, you’ll be my Luna, and everything will just fall into place. You won’t have to lift a finger.”
I almost laughed. But I hummed, leaning into him just enough to keep up the act.
“You’re right. I should let you handle everything.”
His phone buzzed again, and he stepped back, glancing at the screen. A flicker of excitement crossed his face before he masked it with indifference.
“I’ll be back,” he said, kissing me quickly.
I followed at a distance, listening as his voice dropped low.
"Yes, Elena. The gown was perfect... I’ll take care of it. No worries.”
My blood was boiling as I stepped back into the room, slamming the closet door harder than I probably should have.
Later that night, we were called to dinner with Easton's family. The place was filled with crimson roses and golden decor and screaming Elena's name. She was seating, trying to look perfect in a ruby dress that hugged her every curve.
"Ardyn, darling," Eaton's mother softly said but sounded insincere.
“You’ve been so quiet lately. You should learn from Elena, so lively, so... inspiring.”
Elena leaned forward, her lips curving into a shy smile.
“Oh, don’t be too hard on her, Aunt Stella. She’s just a bit nervous. After all, being Luna is such a huge responsibility.”
I clenched my jaw, keeping my face as neutral as possible. Throughout dinner, Easton hardly looked my way, his eyes glued on Elena. By the time dessert came, I was running out of patience. But once done, I felt relieved and more determined about leaving.
