Chapter 1

In the dead of night, Luna Lambert staggered out of Room 666, her hair in disarray and her mind clouded with confusion.

At the company's team-building event the day before, she had stumbled upon the painful truth—her boyfriend had been cheating on her.

Devastated, she tried to drown her sorrows with two shots of vodka, only to end up drunkenly wandering into the wrong room.

As soon as she entered, she saw a man in the room. Panic swept over her, and she tried to back away, but her intoxication betrayed her, causing her to stumble right into his arms.

The man paused for a heartbeat before murmuring something under his breath. Without warning, he cupped her face and kissed her.

She knew she should push him away, but her body betrayed her. As his warm breath brushed her neck and the rhythmic thump of his heartbeat filled her ears, she became momentarily entranced.

By the time regret started to surface, it was already too late.

…

When the haze of the night began to lift, and her senses slowly returned, Luna was overwhelmed with regret.

She cautiously checked the room number and discovered it belonged to Dylon Smith, the department's general manager.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips.

Dylon was a well-known playboy with a string of girlfriends long enough to be a running joke. He probably wouldn't give a second thought to what had happened between them. Besides, the room had been pitch dark—the chances of him recognizing her were slim.

Convinced it meant nothing, Luna decided to push the whole thing out of her mind.

Once she regained her composure, she stepped into a long, hot shower. Noticing the hickey marks on her skin, she hurriedly grabbed a turtleneck sweater to conceal them.

Just as she finished dressing, a rapid knock sounded at her door.

"Luna, something big just happened! You need to get out here, now!" Ava Montgomery's voice rang out.

Luna's heart dropped. This was it.

Had her encounter with Dylon already made the rounds? How could it have spread so quickly? The sun hadn't even fully risen yet.

Dylon was a senior executive at Silvercrest Group, while Luna was merely an intern.

If the incident from the night before ever came to light, it wouldn't bother Dylon—his reputation as a notorious womanizer was well-known. But for Luna, an intern who had slept with such a high-ranking executive, the fallout would be disastrous.

With her heart racing, Luna hesitantly opened the door.

Ava burst in, completely unaware of Luna's pale, uneasy expression.

"Hurry up! You've got to see this!

"You won't believe it—Mr. Percell himself showed up for the team-building event!"

So, it wasn't about last night after all.

As Ava continued to ramble, Luna felt the heavy weight of her anxiety start to lift. Relieved, she followed her to the hotel's buffet restaurant.

Colton Percell was the company's CEO. Luna had met him briefly during her interview and remembered being struck by his handsomeness.

In just seven years, Colton had built Silvercrest Group from the ground up, turning it into an industry giant.

Though he had maintained a cold and distant demeanor during their interview, Luna couldn't help but admire him. To her, he represented the pinnacle of success.

At that moment, Colton sat by the window, his posture impeccably straight. He radiated an air of grace and authority, seeming to glow with innate brilliance, drawing attention without a single word.

Luna felt as if the sheer force of his presence might blind her.

Nearby, her female coworkers couldn't resist stealing glances at Colton, their whispers revealing their fascination.

"Mr. Percell is incredibly handsome."

"I just noticed a love bite on his neck! I wonder which lucky lady was with him last night."

At the mention of "love bite", Luna instinctively tugged at her collar. The memory of her impulsive actions from last night stirred an uneasy knot in her stomach, instantly draining all her excitement about seeing Colton in person.

As for Ava across the table, Luna couldn't bring herself to engage with her gossip.

Just then, Dylon walked in, casually sliding into the seat across from Colton.

"Mr. Percell, did you sleep well last night?"

Colton ate his breakfast at a leisurely pace, his gaze briefly shifting toward Luna. His expression remained calm, but a hint of a smile seemed to dance in his eyes.

"Yes, I slept quite well," he said.

Meanwhile, Luna felt the weight of his gaze, as if it were burning right through her. Instinctively, she pulled back, raising a hand to cover her face.

As she pretended to focus on her meal, she silently prayed that her attempt to blend into the background would succeed.

Dylon's voice cut through the air from across the room just then. "Mr. Percell, did you forget you took my room last night? While you were sleeping soundly, I had to go out in the middle of the night and book another hotel room."

With so many employees at Silvercrest Group, the entire hotel had been fully booked, leaving no extra rooms available.

When Colton spontaneously decided to join the team-building event, Dylon had no choice but to give up his room to accommodate him.

After all, he was just a department manager.

After a brief pause, Colton casually replied, "I'll make sure you get a raise."

Dylon's eyes brightened instantly, his complaints disappearing without a trace. Grinning from ear to ear, he eagerly declared he'd do anything for Colton.

Chapter 2

Luna's table was situated far from Colton and Dylon's, so she couldn't hear their conversation. She had no idea that the person who had stayed in Room 666 the previous night wasn't Dylon, but Colton himself.

Luna's heart raced as she watched Dylon animatedly gesturing in front of Colton.

She was plagued by the fear of being recognized, dreading that Dylon might reveal everything to Colton. The constant worry kept her distracted and on edge throughout the entire day.

Thankfully, the team-building event ended without any drama.

The company had arranged shuttle buses to take everyone back.

Luna walked slowly, becoming the last to board the bus.

"Luna, over here!" Ava called out.

The bus fell eerily quiet, and Colton's voice broke the stillness, laced with irritation. "Are there no other seats?"

Luna froze. Why was Colton on the bus? Was he talking to her? Was he frustrated with how slowly she was moving?

She was just an intern—why would Colton care about something so trivial?

As Luna glanced around, she quickly realized Colton wasn't addressing her. A female coworker had nervously attempted to sit beside him, only to be met with Colton's icy stare.

Luna breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

With her face flushed crimson, the embarrassed coworker stammered an apology before quickly making her way to the seat next to Ava.

"That's my friend's seat," Ava immediately protested.

Humiliated, the coworker shot back, "Is there a name on this seat? This is the company shuttle—when did it become your friend's exclusive spot?"

Enraged, Ava fell silent, not bothering to respond.

With no other options, the only empty seat left on the bus was beside Colton. Luna hesitated, torn between sitting down or getting off to call a taxi, even if it meant spending extra money.

Before she could decide, Colton's gaze turned toward her, his expression stoic. "Aren't you going to sit down?"

Luna froze, her mind going completely blank.

Was Colton genuinely irritated by her slow reaction?

Surrounded by her coworkers' envious and sympathetic gazes, Luna reluctantly settled into the seat next to him.

A few moments later, Colton's voice cut through the silence. "Am I really that frightening?"

Luna nodded silently in her mind.

Though she idolized him, the look on his face at that moment was undeniably intimidating.

Of course, she couldn't say that aloud—she might find herself jobless by tomorrow.

Lifting her head, Luna met Colton's piercing gaze and forced a smile. "Not at all. It's an honor to sit next to you, Mr. Percell."

At her words, Colton's mood seemed to shift slightly. Leaning back, he closed his eyes, adopting his usual aloof, high-and-mighty demeanor.

Luna, however, was on the brink of tears.

Her first company retreat had been a nightmare—discovering her boyfriend's betrayal, losing her virginity to a stranger, and now having to endure the pressure of sitting next to the CEO.

When the bus finally arrived at the office, Luna stepped off, feeling a rush of relief as she left Colton's oppressive presence behind. For the first time that day, she could finally breathe.

Ava sidled up to her, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, Luna, what was it like sitting next to Mr. Percell?"

"Like being a lamb."

"A lamb?"

"The kind that's waiting for slaughter."

Ava gave Luna a sympathetic glance before quickly rushing off as though she'd just seen something terrifying.

Perplexed, Luna was about to call her back when her phone buzzed with a friend request on Facebook. The username was a random string of letters. Thinking it was likely a marketing account, she quickly rejected it.

To her surprise, the person sent another request almost immediately, this time with a message reading, "You left something behind."

Luna stopped, trying to recall—what had she forgotten? She was certain she hadn't left anything behind.

Just as she was about to brush it off, a sudden realization hit her.

Could this be from last night? Did she leave something in Room 666?

Shit!

Was this Dylon's account?

She quickly accepted the request and typed a response: "What do you want?"

After what felt like an eternity, the reply came, "A lamb to the slaughter."

Luna froze, shock spreading through her.

Had Dylon overheard her earlier remark? No wonder Ava had scurried off like she'd seen a ghost.

Despite the fact that the account clearly belonged to Dylon, Luna couldn't shake the eerie feeling that she was somehow talking to Colton.

It was strange.

Luna scratched her head, trying to convince herself it was just her overactive imagination at play.

She quickly typed a message. "Dylon, last night was a misunderstanding. I'll take the blame and move on. Can we just part ways from here on out?"

Realizing the message sounded too blunt, she deleted it and reworded it. "Mr. Smith, when would be a convenient time for me to pick up my things?"

In the CEO's office, Colton sat in his black swivel chair, reading the message with a stoic expression. His lips tightened, and he typed each word carefully. "You thought I was Dylon?"

As Luna stared at the message, she could almost hear the sharpness in his tone, a chill running through her. "You're not?" she typed back.

Minutes passed with no response.

Had Dylon been testing her, and now he was angry because she had figured it out?

If anyone had the right to be upset, it was her.

It always felt like women were at a disadvantage in situations like this.

If Luna had any real courage, she would have confronted the situation head-on—and maybe even quit her job right there and then.

But… Was she really the type to be confrontational?

Swallowing her pride, she sent another message. "Mr. Smith, when would be a good time for me to collect my belongings?"

"Wait."

His curt reply left her completely stunned.

Wait? How long was she expected to wait?

Today was the company's team-building day, and everyone had the day off. After the shuttle dropped everyone back at the office, they all scattered in different directions.

Now, even Ava was gone. The lobby felt unsettlingly empty, with no one in sight.

How long was she supposed to wait?

Chapter 3

Soon, darkness settled in.

Dylon's Facebook message didn't mention anything about Luna picking up her belongings, nor did it include any further details.

Luna stared at her phone, frustration swirling in her mind.

Was he planning to take advantage of her under the cover of night?

She felt an overwhelming urge to storm out and leave.

But… Silvercrest Group was a difficult company to get into, and she was still in her internship. Upsetting her superior would only lead to trouble.

With that in mind, Luna forced herself to stay, her focus shifting to reviewing criminal law over and over.

As time passed, her frustration slowly became a more troubling rationalization.

After all, Dylon was her direct superior, and her future at the company hinged entirely on him.

It was also her own fault for getting drunk and putting herself in this situation. Even if she wanted to report him, what evidence could she possibly provide?

Luna sat in the silence of the office, cursing her bad luck. By the time she heard the click of leather shoes on the floor, it was already well past 9:00 pm.

"Damn, why are there still people here at this hour?" Dylon's voice echoed through the quiet space, sending a chill down her spine.

Luna jumped to her feet, trying to maintain her composure. "Mr. Smith, you're finally here."

Dylon looked at her, clearly surprised. "You were waiting for me?"

Was that a rhetorical question?

Before Luna could answer, Dylon asked, "I heard you mumbling earlier. What were you saying?"

Luna had drawn his attention From the first day she joined the company. Despite her sweet, innocent look, he quickly realized she was completely impervious to his usual flirtations.

He had been curious about why she was still at the office after the team-building event instead of going home. What could she possibly be up to?

"I was reciting the Criminal Code!" Luna blurted out, immediately regretting her choice of words.

Although Luna had heard that Dylon was usually gentle with his girlfriends, a nagging worry crept in—what if he got angry and lashed out?

As she searched for a way to ease the tension, the sound of a chuckle sliced through the air. Luna turned to see Colton standing in the doorway, his eyes locked on her.

With his long legs and perfectly sculpted features, he became a living masterpiece simply by standing there. He looked like a work of art brought to life, framed by the dull office backdrop.

Even as his lips curled into a cold smirk, it didn't matter—his striking good looks made even a contemptuous expression captivating.

Luna's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she felt her expectations soar to impossible heights.

Upon seeing Luna's dazed expression as she stared at Colton, Dylon clicked his tongue in annoyance.

It seemed his cousin's charm was truly unmatched. Even the company's most aloof beauty couldn't resist falling under his spell.

Dylon's click of the tongue jolted Luna back to reality.

This was Colton—her ultimate heartthrob and the one who signed her paycheck. How could she be staring at him like that? She might as well resign on the spot.

Still, Luna decided it was better to focus on retrieving her things first.

With that, she quickly turned her attention to Dylon. "Mr. Smith, about last night—"

Before Luna could finish, Colton's voice sliced through the air. "Dylon, bring the car around."

Even though Colton had his own chauffeur, Dylon didn't dare question the command. Without a word, he turned and left to do as instructed.

Only Luna and Colton remained in the office lobby. Luna was so anxious that she had no idea what to do with her hands and feet.

What was she supposed to do? Colton's expression didn't seem particularly pleased. Had he noticed something between her and Dylon?

As Dylon pulled up, he received a call from his girlfriend. With a cheerful farewell to Colton, he headed off to enjoy some time with her.

Ignoring Dylon, Colton opened the car door and slid into the seat.

Luna quietly exhaled as she watched the door close, feeling the tension melt away from her shoulders.

Colton's presence was so commanding that she couldn't even bring herself to make a sound.

A moment later, Colton rolled down the car window and asked, "How are you getting home?"

"I'll take the bus," Luna answered politely.

Colton's brow furrowed slightly. "Get in."

Knowing he was the company's CEO, Luna couldn't bring herself to accept his offer. She shook her head quickly and said, "No, really, it's fine. I'll take the bus."

Colton regarded her with a stoic expression, his face giving away no trace of emotion.

Luna felt an unsettling chill crawl up her spine beneath the weight of his unblinking stare. Not daring to keep him waiting, she slowly opened the car door.

She had planned to sit in the back, maintaining some distance between them.

But just as she was about to settle in, Colton's cold voice sliced through the silence. "Do you think this is a taxi?"

Though his voice was calm, it carried a chilling undertone. Luna's heart raced as she swiftly climbed into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.

Throughout the entire ride, she didn't dare speak. Colton's expression remained grim, his lips pressed into a tight line.

Luna could feel her fingers trembling.

It became evident to her that distance truly made the heart grow fonder. After today's events, she realized Colton's personality was far more unpredictable and volatile than she had ever anticipated.

With that, she made up her mind to keep her distance from him moving forward.

As they paused at a red light, Colton seemed on the verge of saying something, but ultimately, he remained silent, not uttering a single word.

When Luna finally arrived home and stepped out of the car, Colton's expression remained as cold and unyielding as ever. The disdain in his gaze was almost painfully obvious.

Luna's heart sank, a heavy sadness settling over her.

She couldn't help but feel as though she was being treated unfairly.

It wasn't as if she had asked him to drive her—why was he so angry?

Nonetheless, her dejection quickly gave way to seething anger when she spotted her ex-boyfriend, Zachary Paulson.

Chapter 4

Luna and Zachary had been college sweethearts, planning to marry once they graduated.

However, shortly after starting their internships, Zachary betrayed Luna's trust by cheating on her with Luna's cousin, Hannah Lambert.

His arrogance in the betrayal was staggering, as if he felt entitled to hurt her.

"Luna, I still care about you, but the reality is, money has to come first. We're adults now, and we need to be practical. Honestly, what do you bring to the table besides your looks? We've been together for so long, and now you won't even let me be intimate with you. That advantage is no longer in my favor.

"With your parents gone, you have no financial safety net. If we want a house and a car after marriage, it'll have to come from my family. Men and women are equals these days, so a woman can't expect to rely solely on the man.

"Take our class monitor, for example. Her family gave her a house and 500,000 in cash when she married. What do you have to offer, Luna?

"My mom was right—you're nothing but a burden. Don't talk about financial support; I won't even have a mother-in-law to help with the kids. I'm done. Let's end things."

When they first broke up, Luna had been heartbroken, convinced that the reason was her own inadequacy.

But as she looked at Zachary, the clarity hit her all at once. She realized it wasn't her fault—it was Zachary, the leech.

He was the one trying to live off her, yet he had the nerve to blame her.

Luna had been so naive, numbing her pain with alcohol and ending up tangled with someone like Dylon.

As she thought back on it, regret washed over her, and she wished she could slam her head against the wall.

How could she have been so blind to fall for someone like Zachary?

Now, Zachary had moved on to Hannah. No longer in his worn-out jacket, he was dressed in a tailored suit—tall, refined, and radiating an air of sophistication.

He blocked her way at the door and retorted, "Why are you back so late? Didn't you know Hannah waited up all night for you? If you're living under someone else's roof, you should know your place and not make things difficult for the host."

The host?

Luna couldn't help but sneer inwardly. This was her home, not theirs.

When Luna was eight, her mother passed away. On her deathbed, she entrusted the family business to Luna's uncle and asked him to care for her. As a result, Luna's uncle and his family moved into the house her mother had left behind, supposedly to look after her.

Despite being the rightful owner of the house, Luna found herself living as a guest in her own home.

Luna wasn't interested in explaining herself to Zachary or even acknowledging him. She simply muttered a curt "Okay" and tried to walk past, but he grabbed her arm, halting her.

"Hannah is your cousin, for heaven's sake. How can you be so heartless?"

Luna's face remained expressionless. "My phone wasn't off."

Her cousin couldn't even come up with a believable excuse. In today's world, who wouldn't reach out first if they genuinely cared? How could Zachary fall for such a weak excuse?

The water in the Pacific was probably more plentiful than the thoughts in his head.

Zachary's brow furrowed further, his patience running out. "Hannah's been dealing with insomnia all night, and you're still hung up on the fact that she didn't call you.

"How could you be so indifferent to your own family? Don't forget, Uncle Victor and his family took you in and raised you. Is this how you repay them?" Zachary's voice was sharp, his words cutting through the silence.

"Go apologize to Hannah right now. And next time, make sure you call her if you're going to be late."

Luna was done with Zachary. She brushed him off and walked straight past him into the house.

As soon as she entered the living room, she saw Hannah lounging on the couch, looking as if she were about to fall apart.

Hannah struggled to stand and exclaimed, "Luna, you're finally back! I was so worried!"

Luna was exhausted and had no patience for Hannah's feigned concern. She responded curtly, intending to head straight for her room.

Suddenly, Zachary grabbed her hand. "What's with this attitude? Hannah couldn't sleep all night because of you. Are you seriously not going to show any concern?"

"Zac, don't make this worse," Hannah quickly cut in. "I'm the one who owes Luna an apology. She's completely right to be upset with me."

"It's not your fault," Zachary said, pulling Hannah into an embrace, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Luna.

"Are you still holding a grudge against Hannah? Haven't I explained everything? I don't have feelings for you anymore, and it has nothing to do with her. If you're angry, take it out on me, but don't you dare take it out on Hannah."

Luna's patience finally shattered, her lips curling into a smirk. "Insomnia, huh? That sounds pretty serious. Maybe you should rush to the hospital and get a specialist to check you out—we wouldn't want it to kill you."

The cold sarcasm in Luna's words left Hannah's face pale, her eyes brimming with tears.

"How can you be so cruel, Luna? I know you had feelings for Zac, and I get that losing him hurts. But you can't put all the blame on me. Zac and I really love each other."

Zachary's expression darkened with anger. "Luna, I never thought you'd be this cold-hearted and jealous. You've really disappointed me."

"Enough," Hannah interrupted, placing a hand over his mouth with a look of fake sympathy. "Luna will probably never find someone as amazing as you. She'll have to settle for someone far beneath you. I can only imagine the pain she's feeling right now."

Someone beneath him?

Luna let out a derisive laugh. While she didn't care much for Dylon, she knew he was leagues better than Zachary.

Despite everything, Luna had no desire to get involved in a petty argument with Hannah.

She stormed to her room, locked the door behind her, and shut herself off from the two of them.

After a quick shower, Luna lay in bed, replaying the events of the past few days. It all felt surreal, like something out of a strange dream.

She expected to lie awake for hours, but surprisingly, sleep came swiftly.

The next morning, Luna woke up. She brushed off her unpleasant thoughts and slipped back into her carefree attitude.

Before long, she arrived at the office. Just as she set her bag down, Ava leaned in with a playful grin on her face.

"Have you heard? Mr. Smith got transferred to one of the branch offices."

Luna's spirits lifted instantly. "Why?"

Finally, it seemed like the universe was on her side.

"What else could it be? Mr. Smith is practically untouchable at the company. The only person who could have moved him is Mr. Percell," Ava whispered. "Mr. Smith must have done something to upset Mr. Percell."

Indeed, anyone who dared to cross Colton deserved whatever came their way.

Nevertheless, Luna's satisfaction was brief. Her thoughts quickly shifted as she remembered that Dylon still had her belongings, and an uneasy knot formed in her stomach.

"When is Mr. Smith leaving?" she asked with urgency in her voice.

Luna was determined to get her things back before he left the headquarters.

"I heard he's already packing up. He'll be out of here any minute now."

Luna quickly found an excuse to step away from Ava. Once she was out of earshot, she pulled out her phone, ready to send a message.

"Are you really that concerned about him?"

Out of nowhere, a cold, commanding voice interrupted her. Luna's hand jolted, nearly dropping her phone.

It was Colton's voice. What was he doing in the sales department at this hour?

Chapter 5

As Luna looked up and saw Colton's handsome yet displeased face, she instantly realized she had entered dangerous territory.

After all, Dylon had been reassigned for offending Colton. Luna knew she had to tread carefully, ensuring Colton didn't suspect any strange connection between her and Dylon.

In a hurry to prove her loyalty, she quickly said, "Of course not, Mr. Percell. The only person I truly care about in this company is you."

As the words left her mouth, Luna realized how easily they could be misinterpreted. Just as she was about to clarify, she noticed Colton's expression soften slightly.

Luna's eyes widened in surprise.

It seemed she had stumbled upon an unexpected revelation—the usually cold and distant Colton actually appreciated flattery.

It felt like she had discovered a hidden key.

Determined to keep things on track for the sake of her job, Luna quickly added, "Mr. Percell, you look especially handsome today."

Colton cleared his throat. "Where do you think I'm handsome?"

Luna was momentarily caught off guard.

No wonder Colton was the CEO—he couldn't let even the smallest compliment go unchallenged.

"Mr. Percell, you're handsome from head to toe, a complete 360 degrees of dazzling brilliance! In any crowd, you're undoubtedly the most eye-catching!" Luna proclaimed dramatically.

Thankfully, her quick thinking saved her from disaster.

Despite the over-the-top flattery, Colton appeared to be in a better mood. "At least you have good taste," he said, turning and walking away.

Behind him, his assistant, Gabriel Cobb, stood speechless and stared at Luna in disbelief. He shot her several puzzled glances, clearly confused.

How could Luna deliver such cringe-worthy flattery without hesitation?

What was even more surprising was that Colton didn't seem the least bit bothered.

It was well known that Colton was cold and unyielding, setting high standards for everyone in the company without a shred of leniency.

Gabriel quietly took note of this quick-witted intern, impressed by her boldness.

Once Colton had been successfully sent on his way, Luna returned to the unfinished Facebook message she'd been editing earlier.

At that moment, she noticed the recipient's username had been changed to "Not A Smith!"

The bold exclamation mark at the end caught her attention, and she couldn't help but feel impressed.

Despite being dismissed by Colton just moments ago, Dylon had already changed his last name.

Was he truly willing to give up his surname just to spite Colton?

Now, that was a bold move.

Luna decided to test the waters by sending him a message: "Mr. Smith, are you busy right now?"

"Not A Smith!" replied with a single word. "Yes."

Worried that things might escalate, Luna hesitated to confront him directly. She carefully chose her words, asking, "When will you be free? I need to come by and pick up the things I left behind."

But there was no response.

Meanwhile, Dylon hadn't even finished gathering his things when Gabriel arrived to escort him out of the office and into a car. He didn't even have the chance to say goodbye to his team.

A gnawing feeling settled in the pit of Dylon's stomach.

Although Colton had promised him a promotion and a raise, something about it didn't sit right. It felt as though hidden traps were waiting for him to stumble into.

Despite the uneasy sensation, Dylon didn't dare speak up. He followed the arrangements without question.

That evening, Luna left work feeling frustrated, having been unable to retrieve her belongings.

When she got home, her mood worsened as Hannah greeted her with yet another devastating blow.

"Luna, Zac proposed to me today! The wedding is set for next month," Hannah announced smugly, lounging on the living room couch.

She waved her hand to showcase the massive diamond ring on her finger, her expression oozing with pride. "He insisted on giving me this ten-carat diamond ring. It must've cost him a fortune. Do you think it's a bit too flashy to wear something this big?"

That was classic Hannah. To the outside world, she played the role of the sweet, gentle angel. But behind closed doors, she had no problem showing Luna her cruel, venomous side.

The ten-carat diamond was almost as big as a pigeon egg—impossible to ignore.

Luna nodded. "You're right—it's way too big, almost like something a nouveau riche would wear. But I'll give you credit—it suits you. You've definitely got that up-and-comer vibe."

Hannah's face tightened for a brief moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "Luna, are you jealous of me? Maybe you should find a boyfriend soon. That way, I wouldn't have to constantly worry about you stealing mine."

Upon seeing Hannah act so shamelessly, Luna felt no need to hold back. "What's a homewrecker like you acting all high and mighty? Don't worry, I have no intention of clinging to a lowlife like him."

Hannah's expression darkened, and her voice dripped with venom. "Luna, why are you still pretending to be tough? I've heard there are plenty of single men at your company, though let's be honest—most of them are probably bald, scruffy, and downright unattractive.

"But hey, as long as they can support a family, that should be good enough for you. You don't need someone perfect—just settle for what you can get."

Hannah's gaze swept over Luna as she spoke, her eyes filled with mocking disdain. "Honestly, with your situation, you should be grateful to land someone even remotely average."

Luna's beauty had always drawn attention, with admirers surrounding her throughout her school years. However, Hannah couldn't stand seeing her in the spotlight.

Consumed by jealousy, she went out of her way to spread harmful rumors, accusing Luna of being a gold digger and even suggesting she secretly worked as an escort for money.

As time passed, the rumors continued to spread, and some people started to believe them.

With that, the respectable men who had once admired Luna began to distance themselves, wary of the gossip surrounding her.

Meanwhile, some mischief-makers concealed their cruelty behind a mask of admiration, taunting her with mocking remarks. They insinuated that she was selling herself while pretending to be virtuous.

As a result, Luna's entire school life had been tainted by Hannah's presence.

Now, having secured a position at a prestigious company, Luna finally had the courage to stand up for herself.

She pulled out her phone, which had been recording the conversation, and shoved it in Hannah's face.

"I don't want Zachary to see your repulsive attitude. Stay out of my way from now on," Luna threatened.