Abandoned Luna Now Untouchable (Cecilia) novel Chapter 301

Chapter 301: Chapter 301 Dinner Party Showdown

Author’s pov

The air hung with an icy silence.

The atmosphere had frozen solid, like Cecilia and Simon had been discussing how to cover up a murder, not whether he should stay for roast chicken.

The stakes felt impossibly high.

Harper and Yvonne instinctively glanced at Sebastian, then at Tang beside him, as if trying to gauge whether this awkward dinner was about to escalate into a full-on standoff.

Cecilia felt pressure building in her chest like she needed an oxygen tank.

In this toxic atmosphere, Simon smiled brightly, his eyes lighting up.

"Great! Thanks, Cecilia. I’d love to stay."

His tone was cheerful, but there was a flicker of challenge in his eyes.

Sebastian leaned back with his arms crossed, his eyes like Arctic ice, the pressure around him so threatening it felt like he might have a weapon concealed under his designer jacket.

Everyone else barely dared to breathe.

Cecilia finally recovered enough to force a smile. "Please, sit. You can chat with my friends... "

Her gaze swept across the room, accidentally meeting Sebastian’ s frigid stare.

Her eyelashes fluttered nervously as she quickly looked away, throwing caution to the wind.

"You can all get acquainted."

She paused before retreating toward the kitchen. "My dad will be here soon. I should finish preparing the rest of the food. So much to do."

--

The friends left in the living room exchanged helpless glances.

Sebastian continued radiating cold fury as Simon took a seat.

Harper noticed the fruit knife on the coffee table, blade side up.

She reached for it, but stopped cold when she saw Tang pull out a knife from under his jacket.

It was all black, sharp as hell, and definitely not made for peeling peaches.

He twirled it once between his fingers, then leaned back with a grin.

"So... who’s ready for party tricks?"

Yvonne’s eyes widened. "Tang, seriously? What is wrong with you?"

She clutched her chest, half-laughing, half-horrified.

"Don’t worry, Yvonne. I’m just bored," Tang said, flashing a brilliant smile as he toyed with the blade.

He flicked his wrist, and the knife shot across the room.

It sank into the back of the sofa, just a couple inches from Simon’s neck.

"Bullseye," he said, like he’d just nailed a dartboard.

Simon didn’t flinch, though his body visibly tensed.

To his credit, he only blinked. No scream. No flinch. Just one sharp inhale through the nose.

Harper’s knees weakened as she gripped the edge of the sofa.

"I... I think I’ll help Cece in the kitchen."

She stood so fast she nearly knocked over the fruit bowl, then made a beeline out of the room.

"Enough," Sebastian said, cutting in with a calm edge. He swatted Tang’s arm.

"This isn’t your personal training ground. And that couch was imported. Like, handcrafted in Italy imported."

He gave Tang a pointed look, then nodded toward Simon.

"Now go get your knife. Preferably without nicking our guest."

Tang started toward the sofa, but Simon was already there.

He plucked the knife out cleanly, gripping it by the blade, and held it out with steady hands.

"Solid blade," he said, voice even. "But maybe not the best choice for parlor games."

Her tone was warm, but the volume wasn’t accidental. She was signaling the house like a smoke alarm.

Esther smiled. "Oh, Cece’s mentioned you. Come on in."

VanDyck moved to hold the door.

Lately, he kept running into Simon. On walks, at the farmers market, even once outside a yoga studio.

He knew it wasn’t random. Simon clearly still had feelings for Cece, and honestly, VanDyck didn’t mind him.

Today, when he threw out his back trying to carry three grocery bags at once like a hero, Simon had shown up and offered to help.

He’d offered to watch the stove while VanDyck went to pick up the family. Inviting him to dinner had felt... neighborly.

VanDyck had no idea Cece would be showing up tonight. Let alone with Sebastian tagging along.

"You’re back," Simon said quickly as the group entered.

He stepped forward to help, eager to earn points.

Tang moved at once.

He stepped in between them smoothly and ever-so-slightly clipped Simon’s shoe with his own.

"Oops. Sorry, man. Totally accidental. Here, let me get that for you... "

While Tang was being "helpful," Sebastian stood up slowly, fluidly, and crossed the room like he owned it.

He took the bags from VanDyck with practiced ease and set them next to the gifts he’d brought earlier, lining everything up like trophies.

After setting everything down, Sebastian turned to them.

"Mr. Moore. Mrs. Moore," he said, nodding first to Cece’s parents.

Then he looked at the woman he hadn’t met before.

"And you must be Grandma Helena. I’m Sebastian. Cece’s mate." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Everyone in the entryway went completely still.

Cecilia, who had just stepped out of the kitchen with a tray of appetizers, nearly dropped the whole thing.