Chapter 15 A New Secret For years, Rory had raised Luna quietly, never seeking attention. Before her death, Rory told her, "If you ever face something you can't overcome, take this medal to the military compound." Luna did. Her story enraged the entire garrison. The comrades who had once fought alongside Niall had since become influential figures across provinces, and they stepped forward to defend her. That was how Luna came to know Xander, the commander who had led the earthquake rescue. The students and parents who had bullied her all but vanished afterward. To protect her, those men covered up the incidents and didn't let them spread. Over the years, Luna kept in touch with those powerful leaders. Thanks to their support, she enjoyed privileges and prestige she could never have imagined on her own. But they were men of high office, constantly busy, and none of them knew the Sterling family had reclaimed her. If they ever found out Oriana was actually Niall and Rory's biological daughter, then all of Luna's honors and special treatment would be stripped away. "Ms. Sterling?" Silas's voice snapped her out of her memories. Luna composed herself, smiling with poise. "Mr. Marsh, you flatter me. You know very well Mr. Stone has met countless people. Since his retirement, he no longer receives guests. If I were to bring up your name out of nowhere, it would only make him suspicious." A chill ran down Silas's back. He shuddered, instantly sobered. "You're right, Ms. Sterling. That was foolish of me. Mr. Stone lives in seclusion-no one should disturb him." He laughed it off, letting the matter drop. Luna's smile stayed perfectly sweet, but a flash of cold light flickered in her eyes. She had suffered more than ten bitter years in the Sterling family in Oriana's place. Everything she had today was rightfully hers. She would never let Oriana take it away. Not a single thing. Grant had a sharp memory, yet he completely ignored the reason Oriana was beaten. He never once mentioned seeking justice for her, pretending it had never happened. Zara messaged Oriana to ask if she was being bullied, but Oriana brushed it off with an excuse so Zara wouldn't worry. Two days later, Oriana's face finally looked normal again. Grant studied her delicate features and let out a quiet breath of relief. Right in front of her, he called his assistant. Book me flights and a hotel. We're leaving tomorrow for 1/3 Fortine Mount in two days. Push all the work back-I'll handle it when I return." Hanging up, he looked at her indulgently. "Oriana, does that sound good to you?" She tugged at the corner of her lips but said nothing. As long as he was pleased, that was enough. After their trip to Fortine Mount, everything wrapped up quickly. Grant personally packed their luggage and urged Oriana to drink her milk, wash up, and get some rest. Too weary to deal with him, she went into her room. But she had slept for two days straight. Now wide awake, she leaned against the headboard and dragged the hundreds of clumsy reminders she had once written to please Grant into the trash folder, deleting them all. Not long after, she heard faint, hurried footsteps outside, followed by the softest click of the front door. Oriana pulled up the doorbell camera and saw Grant holding a cane, rushing into the elevator. She didn't need to guess where he was headed. Just as she was about to switch off the feed, the elevator stopped on the 14th floor. A vile, frantic thought tangled through her mind like creeping vines. Oriana threw on a coat and left the apartment. They lived on the 15th floor. She didn't take the elevator-she went down the stairs. Thanks to the one-apartment-per-floor design, the hallway was silent. No one else was around. Grant had been in such a rush that he hadn't even shut the door properly. Stepping inside the entryway, Oriana looked around. The layout and decor mirrored their own place upstairs almost exactly. Her lips curled in bitter irony. The day they moved in, Grant had told her they finally had a home of their own. Yet here he was, keeping another identical home just one floor below. Then came the sounds from the master bedroom. "Luna, how much did you drink?" "Grant? Is it you? Am I dreaming?" Luna slurred, her tongue heavy. "No, I must be dreaming. It's so late- you should be with Oriana." "Since you said that, I'll head back," Grant replied. "Don't." Luna whimpered, followed by a loud thud-like two people had fallen together, their weight colliding on the floor. 2/3 Chapter 15 A New Secret Finished "Don't go, Grant." Luna's voice trembled with longing. "I know you belong to Oriana, but I can't let you go. Just five minutes-let me have you to myself for five minutes. Please?" "Luna, why did you drink so much?" Grant sighed helplessly, letting her cling to him. "I went to make amends," Luna hiccupped, a strange delight in her tone. "The speech the other day left Aurora with a bad impression. I went to apologize to those leaders. They all agreed-Aurora's connections to the city and provincial projects won't face any more problems," she said. She went on, voice thick with drink. "I know, Grant; you can't bear to blame Oriana. But I can't bear to see your efforts wasted. So I drank, I smiled, I endured it all. As long as things go well for you, it's worth every bit of it." B 3/3