Page 17 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 2

He frowned immediately."Now?Just wait, I'll come with you."

"It's fine," I whispered back, giving his hand a small squeeze."I'll be right back."

He sighed, then gave in."Okay, but don't take long."

"I won't," I said, smiling as he leaned in to press a soft kiss to my cheek.The gesture was so casual and sweet it made some people around us stare even harder.But I didn't care anymore.

I turned and made my way toward the restroom, finally breathing out when I stepped through the door and into the quiet hallway that led there.It felt like I could breathe again.

Until I stepped inside.

The cold shock hit me instantly.

a full bucket of water.Ice cold.

It hit my chest and shoulders first, soaking my gown completely, making me gasp out in shock.I stumbled back, heart racing, my hands clutching my chest as I tried to figure out what the hell just happened.

Then I looked up.

There were three women standing there.Two of them I didn't recognize.But the third?

I remembered her face so well.

It was Cynthia...

CHAPTER 57

Liana's POV

Of course it was her.

She was standing there with her arms crossed, a cruel smirk curling her lips while the two other women flanked her like some designer-packaged version of the devil's entourage.Her eyes traveled over me with open disgust, making my skin crawl.She looked at me like I was filth.Like I didn't belong anywhere near her world.

She stepped forward slowly, dragged a perfectly manicuried finger along my soaked arm, then grabbed me harshly by the wrist and yanked me into the center of the restroom like I was a pathetic showpiece.

"Why are you so shameless?"she sneered, tilting her head mockingly."Clinging to your brother like a desperate little whore.Do you even have any pride left, or did you lose it the second he spread your legs and reminded you what a good little family fuck you were?"

I stood frozen, lips trembling, and that's when the first laugh came, from the girl on her right.Then the second girl followed, giggling like it was the most hilarious thing they'd ever heard.

Cynthia started circling me."You seriously thought you could just slap on some glittery dress, get a pity mark on your neck, and suddenly become Luna?Bitch, are you delusional or just stupid?"

My throat tightened.I couldn't speak.I couldn't even move.

"Let me guess," she continued, voice growing louder."He told you he loved you?That you're his mate?That you're special?God, it's honestly laughable.Do you know how pathetic you look, Liana?Do you really think you've won anything?"

She shoved my damp hair away from my neck, revealing Killian's bite mark."So he marked you.So what?He didn't marry you.He married me.I'm the one who stood beside him in front of the Elders.I'm the Luna.I've been the Luna.You?You're just the sad little girl who never got over her brother.Just a convenient fuck when he was lonely."

Her words were like knives, slicing deep into places I didn't even know could bleed.

"You're not his equal," she spat."You never were.You're not even in the same universe as him.You were nothing seven years ago, and guess what?You're still nothing.Just a washed-up, used toy he decided to pick up again for fun.He'll get bored.Men like him always do."

"He's divorcing you," I said quietly, clinging to the only truth I had left.

She burst out laughing.

"Killian?Divorce me?Oh, you poor naive idiot.He needs me.You think he's going to throw away years of power, alliances, and status for what?a week little nobody who cries every time someone raises their voice?He's running for alpha King.He can't afford someone like you beside him.You're a liability."

I wanted to scream that she was wrong, that he loved me, but she wasn't done.