From Rejected Luna To Lycan Queen (Eloise and Edward) novel Chapter 7

SUMMER.

The silence in the car was wonderful, mainly because it gave me time to think. But unfortunately, I had to play a part. I let out a soft, trembling sniffle, loud enough for Julian to hear over the hum of the engine.

And voila, it worked instantly.

“Summer, don't cry,” Julian said, his hands tightening on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. “She isn't worth your tears. Eloise has lost her mind.”

I dabbed at my dry eyes with a silk handkerchief, making sure not to smudge my mascara. Inside, I was seething. How dare Eloise speak to me like that? How dare she look…good? She was supposed to be miserable, she was supposed to be dirty and begging on the streets. Instead, she walked into my favourite boutique, bought my dress and humiliated me in front of the staff.

And that golden card. The image of it was burned in my mind. Gold and trimmed with black ag at the edges. It screamed royalty. Where did a loser like Eloise get that card from?

“I just…” I made my voice wobble perfectly. “I just feel so bad for her, Julian. Did you see her eyes? She looked so lost. I feel like this is all my fault. If I hadn't come into this family, she wouldn't be acting out like this.”

“Stop it,” Julian snapped. However, his tone was soft towards me. “You're the best thing that ever happened to this family. Eloise is just jealous; she's always been weak, and now she's turning into a criminal.”

I looked out the window to hide the smirk growing on my lips. Good, hate her, Julian. Hate her so much that you don't want to ever see her face again.

“But that card, Julian,” I whispered, looking at him with wide, innocent, doe eyes. “Do you think, do you think she did something bad to get it? I mean, who gives a girl with no job a royal carc, unless…” I trailed off, letting his imagination do the dirty work.

And I got him right where I wanted him because Julian clenched his jaw. “She sold herself, that's the only explanation. She's selling her body to some old, disgusting rogue with money. It's sickening.”

“Oh, Goddess, no!” I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand. “Please don't say that, Ellie wouldn't….she has more self-respect than that, right?”

She probably doesn't, I thought to myself. She's desperate. She'd do anything to get any scrap of attention right now.

“You're too pure and innocent, Summer.” Julian sighed, reaching over to pat my hand. “You see the best in everyone, but Eloise is rotten. She's embarrassing the Lockwood name.”

When we pulled into the Lockwood Estate, I took a minute to compose myself. I needed to look fragile, like I was dying. I needed to look like the victim. We finally walked into the grand living room where Dad and Mom were waiting. They looked up expectantly.

“Where's the dress, darling?” Mum asked, smiling at me.

I immediately let my shoulders slump and look to the floor. Julian stepped in front of me like a shield, doing the work I needed him to do. “No, she didn't,” Julian announced, his voice booming with anger.

“Because Eloise was there, and she caused a scene.”

Dad stood up, his face turning red. “Eloise? I thought she ran away. What was she doing at the boutique?”

“She was buying the dress Summer wanted.” Julian spat. “And she paid with a golden Royal card.”

Mom gasped. “A Royal card? Impossible! Did she steal it?”

I stepped forward, wringing my hands together nervously. “We don't know…Mum. But she was so mean. I tried to hug her, I tried to tell her to come home cause we miss her, and she pushed me. She said she hates us!”

I squeezed out a real tear this time around, and it rolled down my cheek perfectly.

“She pushed you?” Dad roared. “After everything we’ve done for her. That ungrateful wretch.”

“I tried to stop her.” I sobbed. “But she looked so rich, Dad. She had new clothes and shoes. She looked down on us. Julian thinks she might have found a sponsor.”

“A sponsor? As in someone she's selling her body to?” Mom looked disgusted. “Our daughter? A prostitute?”

“We don't know for sure.” I quickly added, playing the role of the defender. “Maybe she…she just made a friend? But Dad, I was thinking, those shares Grandma left for her. The thirty-five percent?”

“Yes, what about them?” Dad’s eyes narrowed.

“Well,” I bit my lip, acting hesitant. “What if she sold her shares? What if she sold her shares to a rival pack or maybe even rogues? That would explain how she can afford those things.”

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