The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 166

**Chapter 166**

Horace’s eyes hardened, transforming into a chilling glare that sent a shiver down my spine. “Zephyra, did your father dare to lay a hand on you?” His voice was a low growl, filled with protective fury.

I quickly dismissed his concern with a wave of my hand, my voice steady. “Don’t let her nonsense get to you. I was the one who laid a hand on *him*,” I replied, my gaze sharpening as it pivoted back to Antonia. “Antonia, if you’re so infatuated with Steven, why don’t you go ahead and seduce him? Just make sure to gather some evidence and send it my way. I’ll gladly step aside. How does that sound to you?”

The thought struck me like a bolt of lightning—Antonia had been fixated on Steven for two lifetimes. She was hardly innocent, and neither was Steven. If they ended up together, it would not only liberate me but might also save Jacob in the process.

Horace’s expression darkened further, his eyes boring into me with an intensity that made my heart race.

Antonia, who had been standing there with her arms crossed and a smug smirk plastered on her face, suddenly seemed flustered, her bravado faltering.

“What are you even talking about? A good girl like me would never stoop so low as to seduce a married man. Zephyra, the mere fact that you can suggest such a thing is utterly shameless!”

“Oh, I see it now,” she continued, her voice dripping with contempt. “It’s because you’re just as cheap and promiscuous yourself. Look at how Steven treats you, and yet you betray him with this broke loser. You’re not just shameless; you’re blind!”

I couldn’t help but scoff at her words. “Don’t you own a mirror? Can’t you see ‘I love Steven’ written all over your face? Or are *you* the blind one here?”

For a fleeting moment, Antonia was left speechless, her mouth agape. “You!” she finally managed, her voice barely a whisper, laced with disbelief.

A round-faced woman, standing beside Antonia, tugged on her arm, trying to regain some composure. “Antonia, Horace’s family are academics. They’re not exactly poor,” she interjected, her tone a mix of defiance and concern.

Antonia sneered, rolling her eyes dismissively. “I’m aware of that. But compared to Steven’s family, he might as well be a broke loser!”

The round-faced woman shot Horace a glance that was both challenging and filled with disdain. “Exactly. And he sacrificed his leg to save Zephyra. Now he’s a cripple. I guess only Zephyra would still want him.”

Horace’s fair, elegant features remained impassive, but before he could respond, I slammed my hand down on the table, the sound reverberating through the room. My eyes blazed with fury as I locked my glare on Antonia and her friend.

“Apologize to Horace and get lost while I’m still in a good mood. Otherwise, I won’t be so polite,” I warned, my voice low and menacing.

Antonia’s surprise morphed into a loud, arrogant laugh.

I stared blankly at Horace, usually gentle and refined, now looming over them, his voice laced with icy authority.

“Who did you just call pathetic?”

“Who the hell do you think you are, hitting me?” Antonia shrieked, clutching her face in a fury. She scrambled to her feet, ready to retaliate against Horace, but he met her with two sharp slaps, his voice colder than winter.

“Say it again. Who’s pathetic?”

Antonia was utterly stunned, her mouth bleeding, tears streaming down her face as she looked at him in sheer terror.

“I am! I’m pathetic! Please, stop hitting me. You’ll ruin my face!”

The round-faced woman clumsily got to her feet, her wrist scraped and her face bruised, glaring at Horace with unbridled hatred.

“Horace, you’re unbelievable. Always playing the hero for Zephyra. Don’t you see she doesn’t give a damn about you? The moment you were in trouble, she turned around and got married. You’re just a pathetic lapdog—”