Chapter 79

“Oh my God, Eleanor! You look beautiful!” Adeline exclaimed.

‘Yeah...I just wish I felt beautiful,’ I thought to myself.

I stood tall in front of the floor length mirror, wearing what had to be the most stunning dress I'd ever worn. Each dress I tried on before was equally as gorgeous, but it didn’t matter. There was still that terrible feeling of lead weighing in my stomach.

I felt like I was being lied to—purposely being kept in the dark about things that very much involved me.

It wasn’t fair. All I wanted was to enjoy my day out with my best friend and I couldn’t. I didn’t want to think about the case, or that bullshit evidence Cruz had sent over, or the way Lorenzo had been treating me recently.

Speaking of which, Lorenzo and I hadn’t spoken since I basically stormed out of his office yesterday. I wasn’t even certain if he’d ever actually made it to bed last night.

I tried to paint on a decent face for when I met up with Adeline; however, she was always quick to see through my facades.

“Well, Eleanor?” she prompted. “What do you think?”

The dress really was perfect. It accented all of my curves in the best possible manner yet still left some room for the imagination. It was sexy yet tasteful. It was perfect for my special day with Lorenzo.

It was just a shame that I really didn’t believe it was going to be special anymore.

What was the point of solidifying our relationship to its fullest extent if this was what our relationship had become? Cold and distant.

“I...I think...” My features pinched in irritation. “I think I should take this dress off and go home. I should forget about this entire thing.”

Adeline nearly jumped out of her chair to stand at my side. She wore a look of deep concern that it was almost comical.

“What?” she gasped. “What do you mean? Is it the dress? Are yout not happy with any of the ones you’ve tried on?”

“No, it’s not the dress—”

“It’s the staff working here, isn’t it?” Her voice filled with exasperation. “I swear each one of them came out with a bitchy attitude the second they found out that you’re the one who plans on bonding with Lorenzo.”

I let out a sigh and rubbed my tired eyes. “No, Adeline. It’s the shop, it’s the staff, and it’s not the dress,” I told her.

“Well, then tell me what’s been eating you,” she insisted. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you’ve been dragging yourself around today. You’ve been upset about something since we first met up earlier.”

“...It’s Lorenzo,” I admitted.

Her expression went slack. “What about him? Did something happen between the two of you?”

I fought back a sneer. “I don’t know. He’s been keeping me at a distance for some unknown reason and refuses to talk to me.”

“But about what specifically?” she pressed.

“Seems like everything lately,” I muttered. “He stopped talking to me about the case. He hardly speaks to me on just a basic decency level. He’s always hauled up in his office and only cares to talk to his men. It’s driving me mad.”

“Oh, Eleanor. I’m so sorry,” she said softly.

I shrugged my shoulders and stepped off the dressing stand. “I don’t know what to do anymore. I mean, am I making a mistake by trying to go through with this ceremony?”

Adeline’s brows pulled together. “But I know that you love Lorenzo.”

“I do love him,” I confirmed. “I want a future with him. I want a family with him. But how am I supposed to go on with the ceremony if he won’t even so much as look at me when I try to talk to him?”

Right as Adeline parted her lips to speak, another voice filled with space. It was deep, darker, and far more unsettling.

“My, my...Aren’t you the most beautiful looking Luna?”

We both turned our heads to find Cruz steading against one of the pillars just across the room.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

He smiled like a fox. “I just happened to be walking by and noticed you through the window outside. I’m surprised, I would have thought that Lorenzo would have been here to witness all this.”

My muscles coiled at the sound of Lorenzo’s name passing through his lips. I turned back to face the mirror, hoping to ignore his annoying presence.

“He’s been very busy lately,” I remarked.

I sensed him moving closer. “Oh, yes. I’m sure. Keeping up with the investigation has surely become his top priority. Especially now that he’s been given that new evidence.”

‘He’s trying to goad us into speaking,’ my wolf commented. ‘Either that or he’s just trying to plainly piss us off.’

If that were true and Cruz was trying to get me to disclose some kind of information, he was in for sheer disappointment. Even if I accidentally ended up giving something away, it wouldn’t have been of any great use.

So, what was his purpose then? Why try to drill me for information?

“But, what I can’t seem to understand is how you’re taking it all so well,” he said casually.

My body went still as I glanced over my shoulder.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Cruz’s features crinkled in confusion a little bit before slowly relaxing. It was as if he’d come to some sort of realization. The corner of his mouth curved upward.

“Wait, you mean...Lorenzo didn’t share with you what was on the disk?” he questioned.

I tried to keep the anxiety to a minimum. “What disk? What are you talking about?”

Cruz chuckled, causing my anger to simmer beneath my skin.

He shook his head and held up his hands in defense. “You know, it’s really none of my business to be getting involved in your relationship.” His eyes raked over my body. “But all that aside, between you and me, I think you ought to pick the dress you’re wearing for the ceremony.”

He left without so much as another word.

“What was that about?” Adeline asked.

“I don’t know...But now, I really need to go home.”