Cecilia’s pov
Harper and I were casually browsing the jewelry displays when the entire vibe of the store shifted, like soone had just walked in wearing a title and loaded with a trust fund.
Staff scurried around, preparing the VIP lounge as if the Queen herself had RSVP’d.
Then I felt it. Soone was watching .
I turned toward the entrance, but I only caught a glimpse of an elegant woman before a sales associate stepped in and blocked my view as he hurried to greet her.
"Wait a second... that’s her," I muttered, the mory clicking into place.
Harper looked up from the diamond earrings she’d been fawning over. "Who?"
I leaned in and dropped my voice. "The woman from Mrs. Dahlia’s masquerade ball. The one who bailed with us through the window. Rember? The Real VIP?"
Harper’s eyes lit up. "Oh, her! Where is she?"
"Don’t bother. She’s already in the VIP room."
Harper smirked like she’d just spotted a celebrity in sweatpants.
"Well, that night was crawling with the rich and ridiculous. Hey, you did save her. Technically.That’s gotta be worth at least one social contact, right? Let’s go say hi. Could be good for your brand."
That word stuck with . Save.
It echoed in the back of my mind, unsettling and oddly specific.
Sebastian’s mom had been there that night too.
She’d been in danger. Soone had helped her. Soone she was now trying to find.
And what if that soone... was ?
"Cece?" Harper waved a hand in front of my face. "You just spaced out. What’s going on?"
I blinked and shook it off. "Nothing. Let’s go check out the other side of the mall."
We walked for a bit, stopping in front of a few stores, but I wasn’t really paying attention. I nodded at displays I didn’t see, gave vague answers, and Harper was definitely catching on.
After ten minutes of being weird and distracted, she finally gave up.
"Uh, okay." Harper gave a look, but she didn’t press.
Author’s pov
In the VIP lounge of the jewelry store, Luna Regina stood abruptly, interrupting the sales associate’s careful presentation of exclusive pieces.
"Excuse for a mont," she said, already moving toward the door.
She stepped into the main showroom, eyes scanning the space like she might catch a ghost of familiarity lingering in the air.
Sothing about that girl, maybe the way she stood or moved, brought sothing back.
But the floor was empty now. No sign of the two girls who had just been browsing the displays.
"They already left?" she asked, her eyes lingering on the spot where they’d been standing.
The associate glanced in the sa direction and nodded, looking apologetic.
"Yes, ma’am. But they haven’t gone far."
Luna Regina hesitated, her eyes drifting toward the VIP lounge where her son stood waiting, arms crossed, bored out of his mind. After a brief pause, she let out a quiet breath and turned toward the exit.
York followed, brow slightly furrowed.
She slowed down, then glanced at him.
"Can you go find that girl we saw earlier? The way she carried herself... it felt familiar."
York blinked. "You want to follow soone based on how she walks? That feels... weird."
"You..." Luna Regina started, but stopped herself.
He wasn’t wrong.
This wasn’t like her. Luna Regina wasn’t the type to act on impulse, especially not over a silhouette.
But sothing had nagged at her. Sothing more than logic.
She let out a breath and shook her head. "I’m going ho."
As much as she wanted it to an sothing, recognizing a figure from behind in a city this size ant nothing.
There were thousands of graceful won in Denver. Probably more.
And she hadn’t even seen the girl’s face.
Cecilia’s pov
Once we were in the elevator, though, Harper broke.
"Alright. Spill. You’ve been acting like you saw your ex with your therapist."
I forced a laugh, but it ca out hollow.
"I think I just ate too much barbecue," I said. "Stomach’s throwing a fit. We’ll co back another day for your mom’s gift."
She didn’t even blink. Just stared at , eyes narrowing like she could see the lie forming before I said it.
When we got to her car, she stopped before I could open the door.
She planted both hands on my shoulders, pinning down like a human lie detector. Her brows were drawn tight, jaw set.
Full interrogation mode.
"Who was that woman? And don’t say ’no one’. You recognized her."
My mouth opened, then closed. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to organize the swirl of thoughts crashing through my head.
She unlocked the car and shoved in, then locked the doors like she was trapping a suspect.
"You’re not escaping this conversation," she added, sliding into the driver’s seat and turning to face . Her expression was equal parts concern and determination.
"Talk."
I stared straight ahead, heart pounding harder than I liked. My hands were in my lap, fingers knotted.
Then I finally said it.
"Sebastian’s mom was at that sa party. She was in danger. Soone helped her escape. And now she’s looking for that person."
Harper’s jaw dropped.
"Whoa. Hold up."
She blinked, then leaned in, her voice lower. "You think it was you?"
"I don’t know," I said. "But it feels... too specific. Sa night. Two rich won. Sa kind of situation."
I paused, hearing the words out loud for the first ti. They sounded ridiculous. But sothing about it still clung to , sticky and persistent.
Harper threw up her hands.
"Then just ask Sebastian! Or I don’t know, go to his house like a normal person and figure it out."
I exhaled. If only it were that simple.
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