Chapter 29 A Bowl of Drama, A Cup of Greed
Raine wiped away two delicate tears as she choked up dramatically.
“I’m her stepmother. It’s only right I help.”
James instantly pulled her into a tender hug.
+8 Pearls
“Raine, you’re too kind. Not like that ungrateful daughter of mine-helping outsiders, wasting family funds, and now forcing her own stepmother to pull together a dowry just to rebuild the cemetery! Ingrate!”
Some relatives eagerly piled on.
“Tsk tsk, even the stepmom’s willing to chip in. What’s the real daughter doing-clutching her wallet like it’s her soul?”
Stella chuckled coldly.
“If my dear stepmother is so generous, why not pay the whole thing for me?”
“What-”
Before Raine could finish, Stella continued with an easy smile.
“My mother is also Moses’s mother. If my stepmother’s already paying half, she might as well say she’s doing it for the Landon family. That way, when Moses hears about it, he’ll owe her one. Right?”
Raine froze.
What kind of logic was that!?
The room went still.
Helping Stella was one thing. Helping the Landon family? Completely different stakes.
Raine knew full well-even if she gave up that million, it didn’t guarantee the Landon family would remember her kindness. Why should she take the fall?
But Stella’s reasoning sounded so calm, so reasonable, that she had no obvious excuse.
The room sat in tense silence-until Luna strutted in, sunglasses perched high on her nose, arms full of designer shopping bags.
“Why’s everyone gathered? Did word get out about my lunch date with John?”
Gasps all around.
John? As in John Landon?
Raine’s eyes lit up like a dying candle given air.
1/4
“You’re serious? How’d it go?”
“Oh, great,” Luna preened. “He was such a gentleman. Took me to the best restaurant, bought me a few gifts… Won’t be long before I win his heart.”
She raised her chin triumphantly, shooting Stella a pointed look.
“How come you’re always showing up alone? Doesn’t Moses have the manners to at least walk his wife to the door?”
Raine jumped on the opening.
“Don’t be mean, Luna. Not everyone is as lovable as you. Maybe Mr. Moses just isn’t that into her.”
Classic Raine-pitting them against each other while reaching for Stella’s wallet.
Stella raised an eyebrow.
She’d heard of John. Spoiled, arrogant, reckless. A far cry from Moses. But technically, the only Landon heir of this generation.
So that’s what Raine was angling for.
She laughed lightly.
‘At least I’m married to Moses. John throws around a few bucks and you think you’ve sealed the deal?”
Luna flushed.
How dare Stella insult her in front of everyone?
‘One day, John will inherit the entire Landon empire. And he’ll marry me!”
‘I’ll look forward to it,” Stella said blandly. She glanced at the time. “You all have your games to play. Raise the money, seduce the heir-whatever works. I won’t waste my time here. Goodbye.”
“You take that back!”
Luna snapped.
Stella paused, turning halfway.
Then-
A teacup flew across the room and smashed right into her forehead.
“Hiss-”
Everyone gasped.
Luna froze. Her hand still half-raised.
“I-You were the one who said I was seducing him!”
2/4
Stella held her hand to her head, where blood threatened to break skin.
That psycho really just threw a cup at her head.
The maid rushed in, panicked.
“Mr. Moses is here. He’s waiting to take Ms. Stella home.”
What!?
James blanched.
Seeing Stella’s head injury, his eyes filled with panic.
“Don’t say a word to him! If you so much as mention this, I swear-your mother’s urn will never enter the cemetery again!”
Before Stella could react, he shoved her toward the front door.
Her vision spun. The overhead lights felt blinding.
Then-
Moses appeared through the brightness.
Backlit and tall, he walked toward her.
The moment he saw her bruised forehead, his brows twisted in a terrifying scowl.
He reached out, fingers gently grazing the wound.
His voice dropped to a dangerous, icy whisper.
“What happened?”
James erupted into a dramatic cough behind them, dragging Raine and Luna into frame, eyes screaming at Stella not to speak.
Stella pressed a hand to her forehead.
“It’s nothing. I hit it on something.”
The trio exhaled in relief.
But Moses’s fingers remained, cool and deliberate.
His voice dropped even lower.
And colder.
3/4
