Chapter 23 Luna's Plot Luna pretended to be kind and magnanimous, holding Oriana's hand and speaking gently, insisting that it wasn't her fault and asking her to stay at the Sterling residence. But behind the scenes, Luna was ruthless and dark, filled with jealousy and vengeance, determined to strip Oriana of everything. "You're terrifying, Luna," Oriana said. "Am I? Oriana, you don't know me well enough. The real me isn't even scary yet," Luna whispered lowly. Oriana sensed something was wrong. Before she could react, Luna grabbed the eyebrow razor from the table, lifted her skirt, and slashed downward across her thigh. "Luna!" Oriana cried out. "Ah! Oriana, I'm sorry! Don't. Please don't ruin my dress-" Luna shouted. Oriana immediately understood her intent. Her eyes went cold. "Luna, do you even know what you're doing?" Luna screamed a few times, then sneered at Oriana, her gaze full of malice. "Oriana, blame yourself for showing up here today." Oriana exhaled heavily. She stepped forward, snatching the razor from Luna's hand. In Luna's shocked eyes, Oriana quickly made another cut on the slit in Luna's dress- Clearly, Oriana had no chance of innocence now, so she would seal it herself. Luna reacted half a beat too slow. When she finally realized what had happened, she saw the faint trail of blood seeping through the torn dress. Though the razor was thin, it was sharp. Luna felt the sting. Her face went pale, and she struck Oriana's hand away, yelling, "How dare you-" Oriana stepped back two paces, her own hand showing two claw marks from Luna's nails-more shocking than the cut on her leg. "What's happening?" The commotion drew everyone in. They broke open the door and saw Oriana holding the small knife, while Lama stared at the torn dress in a daze. Everyone was shocked. Alaric and the others were stunned. "My god, how did it get like this? The dress is ruined, and Luna's injured? How can she still go to the signing ceremony?" 1/3 Grant was almost frozen by the scene. Before he could act, Luna leapt into his arms, panicked and crying, tears streaming down her face. She cried out, "I just wanted to warn Oriana about things to watch for at the ceremony, but she said I was meddling. She accused me of taking her graduate placement. I just didn't want any mistakes at the ceremony. I didn't expect to make Oriana angry. "Grant, it hurts. Will my leg leave a scar?" Grant bent to check her injury. Her delicate skin was clearly cut. The wound was shallow, but there was blood. Two slashes on the dress suggested two separate strikes. He frowned deeply. This time, he didn't push Luna aside to go to Oriana. He looked at Oriana from a few feet away as if she were a stranger. In his mind, Oriana had always been kind, gentle, and considerate, a girl who would think of others first. He never imagined she would hold a knife and cut Luna. And she remained so calm. Ɔriana was calm enough that Grant couldn't find any reason to defend her. His voice restrained, he asked, "Oriana, why did you do this?" The claw marks on her hand throbbed belatedly, a sharp sting. in the past, if she accidentally burned her hand while cooking, Grant would be anxious, but now he only ooked at her wound calmly, indifferent. Oriana's hands trembled slightly as she put down the razor, lifting her chin to meet his disappointed gaze. I have nothing to say." Alaric quickly stepped forward to mediate. "Isn't this a misunderstanding? You didn't mean to-" 'No accident. That slash was deliberate," Oriana said. She was done pretending. She had acted long enough, exhausted from the charade, Those words shattered Grant's last hope. "I always thought you were a good girl who understood me," he said. He scooped the sobbing Luna into his arms, his gaze cold. "I never imagined you could become this selfish." He strode out, leaving Alaric and the others stunned. 2/3 "Oriana, Grant's just angry. Just apologize to Luna later, and this will-" Alaric said. Oriana curled her lips coldly, looking at them. "Save your fake concern." Alaric and the others froze, mouths open. The next second, Oriana added with full sarcasm, "After all, you have someone to please." That completely changed their expressions. Oriana ignored them and left. She had been worried about finding an opportunity to escape. Luna had just given her the perfect chance. She owed Luna a silent thanks. Oriana hailed a taxi by the roadside and immediately called Zara. Zara, I'm out," Oriana said. Where are you? I'll pick you up," Zara asked. Oriana checked the time. "Plenty of time. I'll go back to my apartment to pack, and we'll meet at the irport." 20 3/3