The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power (by Emily Reed) novel Chapter 129

Chapter 129 Down in the Gutter

Chapter 129 Down in the Gutter

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I later heard what happened; James wasn’t punished too harshly for Evelyn’s mistakes, but his merits and faults canceled each other out. He wasn’t granted a title. His reward was only 1,000 gold coins.

That amount was almost nothing. He still had to support a large family and keep paying for Evelyn’s endless medical treatments. That money barely made a dent.

He was standing in a weapon shop, arguing with the owner over a sword that cost five gold coins. At the same time, in the shop next door, I casually spent 100 gold coins. I bought supplies that filled several

wagons.

As if he sensed my gaze, James suddenly turned his head.

In the crowded street, through the glass window, our eyes met.

He saw me.

He saw me surrounded by people, calm and confident, with several wagons behind me loaded with war spoils.

I watched his expression change.

First shock, then shame. Then deep inferiority and despair.

His face flushed red. In a panic, he stuffed away his thin coin pouch. He did not buy the sword. With his head down, he slipped out the back door wretchedly.

“Cindy, what are you looking at?” Viola followed my gaze and clicked her tongue. “Ugh, is that James? That’s just depressing. I hear his family fights every day now. That lunatic had used up all of his money.”

“Forget him,” I said, turning away. The last ripple in my heart faded completely.

To me now, he was nothing more than a small pebble by the roadside.

“Come on,” I said, pointing ahead at the most expensive jewelry store in the entire kingdom. “Let’s pick out a bracelet for Jewel.”

Sunlight poured over the wide street. Our S

stretched long across the ground.

Some people are meant to live in the shadows of the

gutter, struggling for a few copper coins.

We had survived the blood and fire. And now, we walked forward with our heads high, into the sunlight meant for the strong.

James’s POV:

Inside the house, the air felt heavy and suffocating.

Priscilla gripped the announcement that had just arrived. Her dry fingers were white from the pressure.

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09:41 Tue, Jan 13 OG *.

100

Chapter 129 Down in the Gutter

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The notice was clear. Cindy was granted the title Duchess Protector of the Realm and rewarded with 2,000 pounds of gold. And me? Just 1,000 gold coins. Nothing more. Even my general’s position was now uncertain.

“No title! You aren’t even rewarded with a title!” Priscilla suddenly screamed. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed.

“Grandma!”

The living room fell into chaos.

Hannah and I rushed to help her. After a long time, she finally woke up.

The first thing she did was slam her cane against the floor. “Where is that walking disaster?” she shouted. “Where is Evelyn? If she hadn’t rushed in for glory and dragged James down with her, how would our family end up like this?”

Hannah, sitting in the corner, snorted. She flipped through a fashion magazine and spoke mockingly. “Grandma, what’s the point of yelling now? All our money went into those expensive recovery drugs for her. And look at her; nothing improved. The family is finished. I have to think twice just to buy a dose of suppressant serum. This life is unbearable.”

At that moment, the door swung open. Evelyn walked in.

Her face was wrapped in thick bandages; only her bloodshot eyes showed.

She had heard everything. Waves of angry pheromones rolled off her, sharp and harsh, like burnt rubber.

“Who are you calling a walking disaster?” she rasped. Her voice was hoarse and sounded like a wounded animal. “Who says life is unbearable?”

“I mean you,” Hannah snapped back, standing up at once. “Luna-no, Gamma. Everyone outside is talking. They say you were violated in the prison camp by low-ranking vampires. If you don’t feel ashamed, we do. If I were you, I’d never show my face again! I would kill myself and be too ashamed to come back and suck this family dry.”

“Arghhh!” Evelyn screamed. “I’ll kill you!”

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09:41 Tue, Jan 13