Revenge Of The Luna Who Rose From The Ashes

Lana’s POV

“The award for Best Actress of the Year goes to….”

I unconsciously held my breath, my grip on my purse tightening. 

“Lana Sinclair!” The host's voice bounced off the mic, and on cue, the spotlight shifted to me.

I gasped, slowly rising to my feet with my eyes wide in shock. The round of applause was almost deafening, and as I mounted the stage, it all felt surreal. 

I took the sleek golden award with one hand, bowing slightly to acknowledge the audience. It was time for my speech, and even after I practiced in front of my mirror for hours, I was still at a loss for words.

I looked down at the award, then back at the crowd, my fingers trembling as I took the mic. Taking a deep breath, I let my heart lead. 

“Thank you,” I started, holding the award to my chest. “This means the world to me. To my craft. To my team. To the little girl who never gave up.” 

The applause grew louder, but I was far from done

“This…” I swallowed hard, blinking back tears. “This isn’t just my award. It belongs to everyone who has had to fight to be seen, who’s had to prove themselves over and over again.” My voice wavered as memories of my hardships washed over me, threatening to overwhelm me. 

I remembered leaving my father’s pack, walking away from a life that was never truly mine. I remembered when I begged for scraps on the streets, working multiple jobs just to stay afloat. 

But now, I stood in front of the world, grateful for the woman I’ve become. 

“And last but definitely not least,” I chuckled, not caring about my makeup as tears slipped down my cheeks. “I dedicate this award to my mother. She taught me strength. She taught me how to keep moving forward,”

A bittersweet smile pulled at the corners of my lips. “And even though she’s not here to see her little star shine, I hope my rays will somehow reach her.” 

At the end of my speech, I received a standing ovation, and as I lifted the award, I knew this was only the beginning. 

After a successful night, I returned home, yet instead of a sense of warmth and peace, I felt dread as I stood at the entrance. The thrill of the milestone I just crossed faded the moment I stepped inside. 

My heels clicked against the marble floors as I made my way to the living room, where I found my fiancé, Jonathan, seated at the dining table, his focus trained on his laptop. A half-empty glass of whiskey sat beside him, and even as I drew near, he didn't look up. 

My chest tightened, but I wasn’t surprised. 

“Jonathan,” I called softly, setting the award on the table. He didn't answer. I pressed my lips into a thin line, my shoulders slumping in exhaustion. 

“I won the Best Actress of the Year,” I told him. 

A beat of silence passed. 

He merely glanced at the award. “Congrats.” He murmured, returning his gaze to his laptop. 

My hands balled into fists at my sides, frustration biting deep into my bones. “It would have been better if my future husband had cared to accompany me to the award ceremony.” I snapped, hoping it would get his attention. 

And it did.

He finally looked at me, his expression as hard as stone. “What do you want from me, Lana?” 

Is he really asking me this? 

“Your support, Jonathan.” I shot back, hiding my pain behind a veil of anger. “How can you miss my big moment?” 

“Support?” He scoffed, shaking his head. “Did you support me? Did you?!” 

I blinked at his raised tone, genuinely taken aback. He had no right to speak to me that way. 

“Is this about the shares?” I took a step forward, realizing the root cause of the problem. 

Jonathan slammed his laptop shut, his jaw clenching. “Yes, Lana.” His glare sharpened, stabbing straight through me. “We’re mates, and soon we’ll be married. So what’s the big deal if I get the company shares?!” 

My patience snapped at his twisted logic. “Because it’s not just your decision Jonathan! My company isn’t something I can just hand over because you want it!”

He sprang to his feet, his eyes sharp with something deeper than rage. “This is the problem with you.” He spat, “You only care about yourself. So much that you can’t afford to compromise for the sake of our relationship.” 

“Compromise?” My jaw hit the floor, utterly and completely dumbfounded. “Giving away all I’ve suffered to build isn't a compromise. It’s unreasonable.” 

Jonathan held my gaze, the tension between us crackling like static electricity. 

“Have it your way then.” 

With that said, he stormed past me, carrying his laptop and keys as he headed for the door. It slammed shut with a cruel finality, leaving me alone. 

I braced myself against the table, letting out a shaky breath as anxiety gnawed at me. 

Every argument ended the same way. He would storm out, disappearing for days, sometimes weeks. And for him to return, I would have no choice but to apologize and give him what he wants. 

But my company? That was crossing the line. 

Yet my heart ached at the thought of losing him. 

“With us on today’s show, we have award-winning actress and entrepreneur, Lana Sinclair.” 

I was welcomed by soft applause, a gentle smile on my face as I waved at the camera. The studio hummed with activity, and I answered each question politely, engaging with the host of the talk show and the audience.

I tried my best to avoid any personal questions, but the host had a way of drawing them out. 

“Fans know you’ve been engaged for quite some time now. Any chance we’ll be hearing wedding bells in the near future?” she asked with a practiced smile. 

I chuckled despite myself. “Well, if I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore, would it?” 

The studio erupted in laughter, but the truth weighed heavily on my chest.

It’s been three years since Jonathan and I got engaged, and I’d suggested delaying the wedding for my acting career, but he never brought it up again.

Now he was gone for more than a week, and I couldn't reach him. 

After the show wrapped up, my manager helped me into my coat. “Anything else on today’s schedule?” 

Amber shook her head, “You’re free for the rest of the evening, miss.” 

I pursed my lips, partially relieved. “Alright then.” 

Amber trailed behind me as we made our way to the exit, but then my steps screeched to a stop. 

Jonathan stood outside the building, leaning against my car with an awkward smile on his face. The same smile that never failed to make my heart skip a beat. 

He held a bouquet of tulips—my favorite flowers. A wave of warmth and disbelief washed over me, but I tried not to show it, schooling my expression as he straightened up. 

“I’m sorry, Lana,” He began, his voice low and sincere. “I’m sorry for throwing a tantrum and leaving the way I did. I should never have spoken to you like that.”

I averted my gaze from him, knowing I would fold if I stared at him any longer. “So you think flowers are going to cut it?” 

Jonathan chuckled, taking my hand in his. “Let me make it up to you.” He said, “The shares don’t matter anymore. All I want is you, for us to set the wedding date and kickstart our lives together.” 

I stared at him in awe, my cheeks burning. “Really?” 

He answered with a charming grin. “Tonight, we’ll celebrate properly. Our love, your award, everything.” 

Hope bloomed in my chest, and for the first time in a while, everything seemed to fall in place. 

I beamed at him, excitement buzzing in my fingertips as I accepted the bouquet. “Alright.”

Later that night, I wore my favorite dress; a shimmering gold gown that hugged my curves in all the right ways. I let my blonde hair fall in loose waves and finished the look with teardrop emerald earrings. 

Jonathan looked sharp in a crisp black suit, and when we arrived at the restaurant, I was stunned to see that he had reserved the entire place just for us. 

Everything was perfect, and as we took our seats at the decorated table, a female waiter approached us. Her black face mask immediately caught my eye as she wordlessly poured each of us a glass of wine, but I brushed it off. 

The waitress stepped aside, then Jonathan raised his glass, his gaze softening with affection. “To us,” 

I grinned proudly, clinking my glass with his. “To us.” 

I took a sip, but the moment the wine hit my tongue, a crease formed between my brows. It had a strange metallic taste, and the sweetness did little to mask it.

Just then, a sharp pain shot through me, like an arrow tearing through my skull.

The glass slipped from my grasp, shattering at my feet. I clutched the edge of the table, my vision splitting into two. 

Jonathan didn’t move, and neither did the waitress. 

The world tilted, and I slumped headfirst onto the table, my hands going limp at my sides.

“What….” I trailed off, my eyelids growing heavy. 

The waitress stepped into my line of sight, pulling down her mask. 

I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

Because she was…..

My twin sister……

But before I could say anything, everything went black.