Chapter 19: Echoes of Accusation

"So, tell me, Luna," Elijah said, crossing his arms, his posture casual but his gaze sharp and unwavering, his tone deceptively light, but with an underlying edge of suspicion. 

"What exactly brings you here, to Blackwell Industries? You've suddenly taken a keen interest in Killian's company, in his business affairs, after all these years of avoiding him, after all these years of being absent from his life?"

Luna clenched her fists beneath, her nails digging into her palms, a subconscious effort to maintain control, to suppress the rising tide of anger and hurt. Elijah's words hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating and accusatory. The judgment in his eyes, the barely concealed contempt in his voice—it was unbearable, a blatant display of his distrust and his unwavering loyalty to Killian.

Her jaw tightened, her muscles tensing, the insinuation clear as day. He thought she was after Killian's wealth, his power, his empire. Just like the rest of them, he believed she was driven by greed, that she was nothing more than a manipulative opportunist.

Luna met his gaze, her own eyes flashing with defiance, her voice measured despite the anger simmering beneath her skin, the need to defend herself, to assert her own truth. 

"I came to see my husband, Elijah," she stated, her voice clear and firm, her words a direct challenge to his assumptions.

Elijah scoffed, a short, derisive sound that conveyed his disbelief. "Husband. Right," he said, the word dripping with sarcasm, his expression twisting into a sneer. He shook his head, laughing humorlessly, the sound devoid of warmth or amusement. 

"How convenient that after all these years of being apart, after all these years of estrangement, you suddenly show up as Mrs. Blackwell, claiming the title, asserting your position, as if nothing had ever happened between you two," he said, his tone laced with accusation, his words a blatant challenge to the legitimacy of their relationship.

Luna bit her tongue, a conscious effort to prevent herself from reacting impulsively, to avoid saying something she might regret. The urge to lash out, to throw the truth in his face, to expose his ignorance, burned inside her, a fierce desire to defend herself against his unfair judgment. Killian had been the one to leave, she wanted to scream. He had disappeared without a word, vanishing from her life as if she had meant nothing to him, leaving her with unanswered questions and a heart full of pain. And now, after all these years of silence, after all the hurt and confusion, she was the one being accused of scheming, of being the villain in their story?

She wanted to scream at Elijah, to tell him that she wasn't the villain in this story, that she had her own reasons for being here, that she had suffered just as much, if not more, than Killian. But she wouldn't. She refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break, of seeing him provoke a reaction. She would maintain her composure, she would remain dignified, despite the storm raging within her.

She lifted her chin instead. "Believe what you want."

Elijah's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I do. I believe you walked back into Killian's life knowing exactly what you were doing. You think a piece of paper changes anything? You think it erases the past?"

Luna exhaled sharply. "No. Nothing erases the past." Her voice was quieter this time, but the weight of her words was undeniable.

For a moment, something flickered in Elijah's expression. But it was gone just as quickly, replaced by hardened skepticism. "You were never good enough for him," he muttered.

Luna felt the words like a slap, but she refused to flinch. "And yet, he married me."

Elijah's lips pressed into a thin line. "Because he had no choice."

That did it. The simmering anger boiled over, but just as Luna parted her lips, ready to fire back, a cold, commanding voice cut through the tension.

"Elijah."

Both of them turned to see Killian standing by the elevator, his expression unreadable, but his presence alone was enough to shift the air in the room. His sharp gaze flickered between them, settling on Elijah with quiet authority.

"What the hell is going on here?" Killian's voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

Elijah stood, his demeanor changing just slightly, but Luna caught the rigid set of his shoulders. "Nothing. Just catching up with your wife."

Killian's jaw twitched. "It didn't sound like catching up."

Luna tore her gaze from Elijah and looked at Killian. He was standing tall, exuding the same commanding presence he always had, but there was something different in the way his eyes lingered on her.

She wasn't sure what to make of it.

Elijah exhaled, shaking his head. "I'll leave you two alone," he muttered, brushing past Killian as he left the building.

A heavy silence settled between them.

Luna turned her head slightly, avoiding Killian's gaze. She wouldn't let him see how much Elijah's words had shaken her. But Killian wasn't the type to miss anything.

"What did he say to you?"

Luna let out a small laugh, devoid of humor. "Nothing I haven't heard before."

Killian took a step closer, his brows furrowing. "Luna."

She finally met his gaze, and for the first time since stepping into this building, she let herself show a fraction of what she felt. "He hates me, Killian. And he's not the only one. I'm sure your entire circle has their own assumptions about why I'm here. Why we are married."

Killian didn't answer right away, and that silence was enough to confirm what she already knew. He had heard the whispers. Maybe he even believed them himself.

She swallowed, feeling the weight of it all pressing against her chest. "I should go."

She turned, but before she could take a step, Killian's hand caught her wrist.

"Don't." His voice was lower now, almost…pleading.

She froze. That single word did something to her resolve, cracked something inside her she wasn't prepared to face.

"Why?" she asked, barely above a whisper. "Why shouldn't I?"

Killian hesitated, his grip loosening just slightly. "Because if you leave now, you'll let them win."

Luna stared at him, trying to decipher what he meant. But more than that, she found herself trying to decipher him.

This wasn't the Killian she had expected to find when she walked into his company. This wasn't the cold, unfeeling man she had prepared herself to face.

And that terrified her more than anything.