Chapter 2 First Clash

There was no one she loved. Luna had only ever loved Marcus.

Luna stood frozen for a long time, her limbs numb and distant, before she finally moved mechanically to get dressed and head back to her room.

The moment she opened the door, she stumbled backward in disbelief. She checked the room number, then looked again at the woman sitting inside. "This... I think this is my room," she said quietly.

"You must be Luna."

The woman wore a lavender halter dress that contrasted beautifully with her porcelain skin. Her dark hair cascaded down her back, framing delicate features and bright eyes.

Luna recognized her immediately—Marcus's first love, Chloe.

After all, she'd seen countless photos of her on Marcus's phone. She'd compared their faces in secret more times than she could count. Sometimes, when Luna looked in the mirror, she felt a strange sense of vertigo.

They looked so similar—seventy, maybe eighty percent alike. So why could Marcus tell them apart so easily?

"I've heard Marcus mention you quite a bit lately," Chloe said, looking her up and down with thinly veiled malice. "You really do look like me."

Luna said nothing. She simply walked into the room and started packing her things.

Then she froze.

Her eyes fell on the music box in the trash can. She jerked her head up to look at Chloe. "Did you break this?"

Chloe shrugged dismissively. "I thought it was some kind of antique. I was just looking at it and—oops—it fell apart. Sorry. I'll buy you a new one."

But you can't replace this.

Her father had made it by hand before he passed away. Luna barely let herself touch it, let alone carry it around. She'd only brought it on this honeymoon because she wanted him close.

Luna's expression darkened. "Ms. Morris, didn't your parents ever teach you not to touch other people's things without permission?"

Chloe's smile faltered. She clearly hadn't expected Luna to push back.

Her smile turned cold. "My parents taught me not to pretend to be someone else to steal what doesn't belong to me."

Luna went still. Without another word, she crouched down and carefully began picking up the broken pieces.

But Chloe wasn't done with her.

She stepped closer, looking down at Luna with smug satisfaction. "Actually, Ms. Ramirez, you should be thanking me. The moment Marcus found out I was back, he wanted to divorce you immediately."

Luna's chest tightened, a sharp sting spreading through her ribs.

She forced herself to focus on gathering the fragments, but Chloe's voice slithered into her ears like a snake.

"I was the one who convinced him you deserved something after five years of playing house. That's why he agreed to this honeymoon." Chloe's tone dripped with self-satisfaction. "So? How are you enjoying your little farewell trip?"

Luna's eyes burned. Her fingers gripped the pieces of the music box so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Then she let out a soft laugh and looked up. "Enjoyed it? Of course I did."

"After all, without your suggestion, we never would've picked such a romantic spot. Marcus made love to me three times tonight. I'm exhausted." Luna mimicked Chloe's tone perfectly.

She stood and adjusted her collar with a casual air, revealing several faint red marks along her collarbone.

Chloe's face turned red with rage.

She lunged forward, hand raised to slap Luna.

But before she could, Chloe's eyes flicked toward the doorway. In one smooth motion, she grabbed Luna's hand and slapped herself with it, then collapsed dramatically onto the bed.

"Ms. Ramirez, please don't be angry! I didn't mean to come between you and Marcus."

"I'll leave right now, okay?"

Luna stood frozen, completely blindsided by the performance.

Before she could react, a strong hand yanked her backward. Her back slammed hard against the wall.

"Luna, who the hell gave you permission to lay a hand on her?"

Marcus's furious voice rang in her ears, snapping her back to reality. The pain radiating through her body seemed to seep into her chest, making it hard to breathe.

She looked up slowly, watching as Marcus cradled Chloe like she was made of glass.

That kind of tenderness—Luna had never experienced it. Not once.

She looked away, keeping her voice steady. "I didn't. She did it to herself."

Chloe curled into Marcus's arms, tears streaming down her face. "Marcus, don't blame Ms. Ramirez. I lost my balance. Please, just let it go."

She tugged on his hand, tilting her face just enough to reveal a faint red mark on her cheek.

Marcus's gaze turned ice-cold. "Still trying to lie?"

His eyes cut into Luna like knives.

Luna stared at him in disbelief. He hadn't even asked for her side of the story. He'd simply chosen Chloe.

She lost all desire to explain. She just looked at him, silent and hollow.

Marcus frowned, scooping Chloe into his arms. "If anything happens to her, you'll regret it."

They disappeared from view.

Luna's legs gave out. She sank onto the bed, drained of all strength.

After a long moment, she blinked hard, forcing back the tears, and started packing.

She hadn't brought much for the honeymoon. Within ten minutes, she was done. She grabbed her suitcase and left.

On the way back, she watched the scenery blur past the window—scenes that seemed to reflect the past five years with Marcus. Tears slipped down her cheeks, unstoppable.

It's fine, she told herself. Everyone's just going back to where they belong.

She had nowhere else to go, so she showed up at her best friend Emily Clark's door, suitcase in hand.

"Luna?" Emily's eyes widened in surprise. "Weren't you supposed to be on your honeymoon with Marcus?"

Luna stepped inside, forcing a bitter smile. "I might need to crash here for a while." She paused. "Marcus and I are getting divorced."

"What?" Emily's voice shot up. "What did he do to you?"

Luna pulled out the check Marcus had given her. "It's not like that. His first love came back. He gave me a settlement. Enough to live comfortably for the rest of my life."

"Well, that's still—thirty million dollars?" Emily's protest took a sharp turn. She let out an awkward laugh. "Okay, yeah, I guess that's... not exactly mistreatment."

Luna sat on the couch, staring blankly into space.

After a long silence, she finally spoke. "Emily, can you help me find a job?"

Marcus had taken up too much space in her life. If she didn't stay busy, she'd lose her mind.

Emily studied her for a moment, then sighed. "Of course. Actually, my studio's swamped right now. Why don't you come work for me?"

"Let me see Ellen in action again."

Luna had lost her parents in a car accident when she was young. She'd been passed around between relatives who didn't want her, until she ended up in an orphanage.

In college, she'd done everything to pay tuition—tutoring, waitressing, handing out flyers. By chance, she'd stumbled into photography and discovered a raw, undeniable talent.

Within six months, she'd skyrocketed to the top of the emerging photographers' list.

If she hadn't dropped everything to marry Marcus, she'd probably be at the top of the industry by now—far beyond where Emily was.

"Okay," Luna said softly. "Thank you."

She settled into Emily's place quickly. After a few days of adjustment, her work began to shine again. Client after client left glowing reviews.

And once she'd decided to pick up the camera again, the first thing Luna did was call Eric Foster.

Eric had been her agent back in college—sharp, well-connected, ruthless in the best way.

He'd been instrumental in her meteoric rise. But after she married into the Graham family and quit photography, they'd lost touch.

"Luna?" Eric's voice on the other end was surprised, then amused. "I thought you were done with cameras for good."

"I want to start again," Luna said, her voice quiet but firm. "Are you still working as an agent?"

"Never stopped." Eric didn't ask questions or waste time with pleasantries. "When are you free? Let's meet up. I'll help you map out your next steps."

After hanging up, Luna let out a long breath.

Emily peeked over curiously. "Eric? Your old agent?"

"Yeah."

"He's loyal. You haven't talked in years, and he just said yes like that."

Luna smiled faintly but didn't respond.

She knew Eric. He wasn't the type to make empty promises. If he said he'd do something, he'd do it right.

Still, she wanted to sharpen her skills at Emily's studio first. She wasn't ready to meet with Eric just yet.

Eric didn't push. He just told her to reach out when she was ready.

A few days later, Luna had just finished a session with a couple when the doorbell rang again.

"Marcus, I heard the photographer here is amazing. I had to book weeks in advance." A familiar voice drifted through the door, freezing Luna in place.

She looked up slowly.

Standing in the doorway were Marcus and Chloe.

Marcus looked as immaculate as ever in a tailored black suit, his sharp features almost too perfect to be real.

Beside him, Chloe wore a sleeveless white dress, her makeup flawless, her expression serene.

They looked like newlyweds.

Chloe's eyes lit up when she saw Luna. "Ms. Ramirez! What are you doing here?"

She glanced at Marcus, her smile sweet and adoring. "Marcus and I are here for our engagement photos. Are you the photographer?"

Engagement photos?

Luna felt the world tilt.

They were moving this fast?