Chapter Seventeen – The Stranger

Eight years ago

Luna ran a nervous hand down her sequin gown. The material was a finer one than she had ever felt pressed against her body in all her life, so when she realized she was running her sweaty palms on it, she immediately stopped.

She stood on the entrance to the hall, where the party was already in full swing. Jake Kierney had only just dropped her off at the mansion a few hours ago, and a few hours after that, she’d gotten the call from Moira Lake. She’d told her a personal stylist was going to be coming to the house to help her get dressed for a party, she’d instructed her to be ready for the stylist and for her first night as Justin’s wife.

Luna had been staggered to hear the news for a couple of reasons. One, she’d thought she was going to be introduced as Justin’s girlfriend first, or fiancée. And then after that, after they’d shared a few moments in public and in the spotlight, and everybody had adjusted to the idea of the two of them as a couple, then they’d be