Chapter 8 Chloe’s Methods

Seeing Marcus still staring in the direction Luna had left, Chloe's eyes darkened. Yet her voice remained laced with concern. "Marcus, you're hurt. We should get to the hospital too—you're bleeding so much."

Marcus tore his gaze away, shoving down the turmoil churning inside him. He steadied Chloe with one hand, his tone ice-cold. "Let's go."

The restaurant manager rushed over, bowing apologetically after security had restrained the attacker. "Mr. Graham, I'm terribly sorry about this—"

Marcus waved him off dismissively. "Call the police. I'm leaving."

"Of course, of course. Let me escort you out."

The manager practically groveled as he ushered them toward the exit, relief flooding his face.

The car pulled away from the restaurant slowly, but the atmosphere inside was suffocating.

Chloe studied Marcus's silent profile, unease prickling at her chest.

Something was off. His mood—both earlier and now—was all wrong. Female intuition told her it had everything to do with Luna. Especially the way he'd looked when he saw Luna fussing over Logan—like someone had stolen his favorite toy.

She hadn't taken Luna seriously at first.

Just a stand-in. The moment Chloe returned, Marcus had discarded her without hesitation. Right?

But now… Chloe bit her lip. Maybe she'd underestimated the situation.

She leaned forward suddenly, sliding onto Marcus's lap and draping her arms around his neck. Her cheek brushed against his jaw, her voice syrupy sweet. "Marcus, don't be upset. I know you're hurting. I'm here for you."

She tilted her face up, aiming to kiss him—hoping physical intimacy would anchor his attention back to her.

But Marcus lifted his hand calmly, pressing it against her shoulder and gently but firmly pushing her back. "Sit properly."

His eyes held no trace of desire. It was as if the man who'd shielded her moments ago had been a complete illusion.

Chloe froze mid-motion. Her smile stiffened, then crumbled. She slid back into her seat awkwardly, her face cycling between pale and flushed.

Her worst fear had just been confirmed. Marcus's reaction spoke volumes—Luna still held a place in his heart.

He probably hadn't even realized it yet.

If she let Luna linger in Marcus's orbit any longer, she'd lose him eventually.

That woman needed to disappear. Completely.

Chloe's eyes gleamed with cold determination, sharp and unyielding.

She would be the rightful Mrs. Graham. No one—no one—was going to stand in her way.

After a moment, Chloe smoothed her expression, tucking away the venom and slipping back into her usual mask of innocent sweetness.

The next day, the hospital room smelled faintly of disinfectant mixed with the delicate scent of flowers drifting in through the open window.

Luna sat beside Logan's bed, her gaze fixed on the thick white bandage wrapped tightly around his arm. The edges were faintly stained with dried blood.

"Logan, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. You wouldn't have gotten hurt if it weren't for me."

Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper.

"If I hadn't been there, you wouldn't have been dragged into this mess. You wouldn't have taken that knife for me."

Her eyes reddened, tears pooling at the edges—but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

After everything she'd been through, she'd learned to bury her vulnerability deep. No matter how much guilt or pain she felt, she wouldn't cry in front of others so easily.

Logan leaned back against the pillows, his face still pale but his smile warm and reassuring. He lifted his uninjured left hand and gave her hand a gentle pat.

"It's not your fault, Luna. Protecting you was the right thing to do." He chuckled softly. "Besides, it's just a scratch. The doctor said a few weeks of rest and I'll be good as new. Won't affect anything long-term. Don't beat yourself up."

Logan could see the guilt weighing on her—and beneath it, a deeper exhaustion. The kind that came from being worn down by life over and over again.

He'd known Luna for years. From the bright-eyed college student with a camera always in hand, to the guarded, wounded woman sitting beside him now.

It broke his heart.

But he also knew her well enough not to push. Some things didn't need to be said aloud. He just needed to be there—a steady presence she could lean on.

"Logan, seriously—thank you," Emily chimed in from the corner of the room. "If you hadn't been there, Luna would've been the one hurt."

She'd only found out about Logan's injury that morning. And after hearing the full story, she was livid.

"Marcus is pathetic," she spat, pacing angrily. "Chloe's been back for what—five minutes?—and he's already standing by while someone tries to stab Luna. What kind of man does that?"

"Enough." Luna's voice was quiet but firm. "What he does doesn't matter anymore. We're done."

Emily huffed but let it drop.

A little while later, she glanced at the clock. "Alright, what do you guys want to eat? I'll grab something and bring it back."

"Whatever you think is best," Luna said softly. "Just keep it light."

Emily nodded and headed out.

But less than ten minutes later, she stormed back in, phone clutched in her fist, her face flushed with fury.

"Luna!" she practically shouted. "That bitch Chloe—she's gone too far this time!"

Luna blinked, startled by the outburst. She looked up, confused. "What happened?"

A sinking feeling settled in her stomach—especially at the mention of Chloe's name.

Emily shoved her phone into Luna's hands. "Look at this."

Luna glanced down at the screen.

It was Chloe's social media account. A pinned post sat at the top of her feed—a carefully curated carousel of nine photos, each one dripping with staged romance and saccharine sweetness.

The first photo showed Marcus shielding Chloe at the restaurant, his broad frame protectively wrapped around her as she nestled into his chest.

The second showed them sitting side by side at the table, Marcus gazing down at her while Chloe looked up at him with adoring, crescent-moon eyes.

The rest featured Chloe holding up gifts Marcus had supposedly given her, posing with exaggerated joy and blowing kisses at the camera.

And the caption?

[Every moment from now on will be perfect. Thank you for being my exception, my favorite person in the world.]