<h4>Chapter 296: Chapter 296 The Family Business</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    I stood frozen as the two figures stepped into view, and suddenly everything made sense.


    Xavier and Dora.


    Of course. Xavier couldn’t stand being left behind while I was up here. And somehow, Luna Dora had gotten herself involved too.


    The second Xavier’s eyes locked onto mine, it hit me like a live wire.


    I hated that it did.


    "What the hell is he doing here?" Harper whispered beside me, her voice tight with protective anger.


    I shook my head slightly. "Let’s just see how this ys out."


    Xavier walked toward us, slow and steady.


    Luna Dora trailed behind, clearly nervous.


    They both looked tense, like they knew they’d just walked into something bad.


    "Alpha Xavier," Maggie Locke called out with a sugar-sweet smile that made my skin crawl. "What a pleasant surprise."


    Her eyes slid to Luna Dora like a panther sizing up a rival. "And this must be Luna Dora. How lovely to finally meet you properly."


    The effect was immediate and startling.


    Luna Dora physically recoiled, taking two stumbling steps backward on the uneven trail like she’d seen a ghost. Her face went chalk-white, and Xavier had to grab her arm to steady her.


    "Luna Dora certainly looks like she could use some forest meditation," Maggie continued, her voice dripping with false concern. She turned to me suddenly, her smile sharpening.


    "Miss Moore, aren’t you going to greet your ex-husband and his mother?"


    The air went still. Everyone froze.


    Sebastian stiffened beside me, his hand instinctively brushing mine in silent support.


    The ck family and the Locke women all exchanged shocked nces.


    The revtion hung in the air like smoke.


    Harper and Yvonne looked like they were ready to fight.


    Tang was already scanning the area, probably figuring out where to hide a body.


    Sebastian reached for me, trying to pull me behind him.


    I did the opposite. I stepped forward and gently pushed him back.


    I wasn’t going to stand there and do nothing. I’d stayed quiet long enough.


    But if Maggie wanted to drag me into her little Game of Thrones audition? Fine. Let’s see who gets cast as queen.


    I looked at her, eyes wide like I was genuinely confused.


    "Funny. You already knew they’re my ex and his mom. You keeping tabs on me?"


    Beat.


    "Right. Cici’s your niece. The one who tore my marriage apart like it was a game show challenge."


    Smirk.


    "Guess that kind of talent stays in the bloodline."


    "Looks like ruining lives is the family business. Impressive consistency."


    Maggie’s expression slipped for a second.


    Most people probably missed it, but I saw it. That perfect, polished face started to crack.


    Sebastian gave my hand a light squeeze, half a smile tugging at his lips.


    "Pity the next generation couldn’t keep up. The Locke legacy is slipping."


    Harper didn’t miss a beat.


    "You ever think of teaching? ‘Homewrecking : Advanced cement’ would probably fill up fast."


    Xavier and Luna Dora looked like they’d been pped. The color drained from their faces as they stood there, trapped in this verbal crossfire.


    Poppy and Liora looked like they wanted to disappear. They hadn’t expected this, and it showed.


    Luna Regina seemed lost in thought.


    While I went after Maggie, she didn’t take her eyes off me. There was approval in her stare.


    "Young people have no respect," Maggie said softly, like she was already the victim. "What happened to manners?"


    "You don’t deserve respect," Luna Regina snapped. "They’re angry because you earned it. You’re not misunderstood. You’re guilty, and you know it. Time doesn’t make people forget. It just gives the rot more time to spread."


    Maggie smiled like she had nothing to lose. That smug, quiet, ‘I’m still the victim’ smile. No words. No defense. Just that look.


    To anyone on the outside, she probably looked graceful. Like she was above it all. She wasn’t.


    "Xavier,e with me," Luna Dora tugged at her son’s sleeve, voice thin and shaking. "I need a moment somewhere quiet."


    She looked like she might faint.


    The realization that Maggie was Cici’s aunt had clearly knocked the ground out from under her.


    Whatever leverage Cici held over Luna Dora , Maggie almost certainly had it too.


    Xavier saw how pale his mother looked and gave a quick nod. The staff, who’d been too stunned to move, finally stepped in.


    I watched them go with barely disguised contempt.


    [ Now they were nervous? That was adorable. The real storm hadn’t even touched down yet. ]


    As the arguing died down, the retreat master cautiously approached our group. "Everyone," he began tentatively.


    Sebastian raised a hand, cutting him off. "As you can see, joint meditation’s not in the cards today. We’ll reschedule."


    The master looked genuinely distressed. "But what should I tell Elder Luna ck when she asks?"


    Sebastian’ s lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile.


    "Tell her exactly what happened. Word for word. Don’t scrub a thing."


    "Please don’t cancel," Liora blurted out, panic flickering across her face as she realized just how badly things had gone off-script.


    Maggie stepped up, wearing that sad, self-sacrificing look like it was designer.


    "Let them leave. I’ll take the fall. I’ll tell the truth. That I’m the bitter one. The one who can’t move on. me me. I’ll apologize to both families myself."


    She was acting, and she knew it.


    Everyone else ? Maybe not.


    "You... " Luna Regina looked ready to detonate.


    "Let her apologize," I said from behind, my voice cool and clear. Like steel dressed in velvet.


    Everyone turned to look at me, surprise etched on every face.