After two sleepless nights, Vesper had finally untangled the messy threads of future events from her memories.
As she stepped downstairs, her gaze locked onto a girl lounging on the living room sofa, clad in a white sundress with her hair twisted into a cutesy butterfly bun.
Luna.
Impossible.
In the original timeline, she had only learned of Luna's existence after marrying Ethan. Yet here the girl was, materializing right before her like some twisted version of déjà vu.
"Hi, Vesper." The girl beamed with saccharine sweetness. "I'm Luna. I'm here to see Ethan."
This version lacked the polished glamour of the future entertainment queen, with no sultry curves or practiced charm, but those calculating eyes were identical. And that face was even plainer than her later surgically enhanced celebrity version.
"Your dress is so pretty." Luna's fingers twitched greedily. "Can I touch it? I would kill for an outfit like this."
As the girl advanced, her slimy gaze crawling over every inch of Vesper, bile rose in Vesper's throat. This venomous snake's behind-the-scenes scheming had led to her gruesome end last time.
She smacked the reaching hand aside. "Get lost."
Though neither girl was particularly strong, Luna wobbled like a tipped vase, crashing onto the floor with theatrical flair. Tears instantly pooled in her eyes as she bit her quivering lip.
"Vesper." A frantic shout cut through the tension.
Ethan came barreling out of his room, dropping to his knees beside Luna. "Are you okay?"
She sniffled. "E-Ethan." Her voice hiccuped, tears wobbling on her lashes. "I went to your house first. Your mom said you were here. I didn't mean to intrude."
Before Vesper could retort, doors squeaked open down the hall. Magnus Reed, Felix Scribner, and Marlowe Leaf, her would-be grooms, poked their heads out, drawn by the commotion. The boys all lived in the Lynd Villa, their rooms strategically placed one floor below hers.
"Vesper, are you out of your mind?" Magnus spat, his voice sharp with anger. "Does everyone who comes to the Lynd Villa get a beating from you? What did she even do to deserve this?"
A hot-tempered teen the same age as Vesper, Magnus had always been quick to argue with her. Now he stormed forward, his eyes locking onto the angry red mark on Luna's knee, his words biting.
Vesper did not even blink. Leaning back against the couch with her arms crossed, she fixed him with a glare that could kill. "Did the Lynd family spoil your family rotten? Is that why you dare speak to me like this?"
They had grown up side by side, childhood friends even if she had never felt anything more for them. But this was the first time she had lashed out with words meant to cut deep, every syllable deliberate.
Magnus's face turned beet red, his fists clenching as he lunged forward. Felix hauled him back hard, hissing for him to stop.
Meanwhile, Ethan scoffed coldly. Without another word, he carefully lifted Luna onto his back and strode away, his retreat oozing contempt. Magnus and Felix followed, murmuring worried questions to the girl on his back.
Alone on the couch, Vesper watched them go, her face a mask of cool indifference. The realization that Luna was practically a goddaughter to the Grants made her nails dig into the couch.
Aksara