Chapter 16\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 16\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
Steam curled lazily from the bathwater, the soft scents of jasmine and rose drifted in the air. My hair clung damp to my cheeks, as the water glistened against my skin. Evelyn\u2019s hands were gentle as she poured warm water over my shoulders, her fingers brushing down my back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cToday is still your birthday, my lady,\u201d she said softly, \u201cWhere would you like to go?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head, leaning against the cool edge of the tub. Droplets slid down my arm and disappeared into the water below. Birthdays. Once upon a time, I might have been excited by them. But after so many lives, and so many meaningless celebrations that faded into nothing, I\u2019d grown bored. All I truly wanted now was the coming-of-age ceremony tonight, and finally meeting Mira. That was the only gift I cared about.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want us to do?\u201d I asked, opening my eyes to look at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her face lit up instantly. She dipped her hand into the water, washing my legs gently. \u201cI don\u2019t know what to choose, my lady. There\u2019s so much we could do today! We could find something nice for you to eat, walk through the stalls, and buy you something beautiful, and expensive\u2026.\u201d Her words faltered. She glanced at me quickly, her excitement dimming, and I almost laughed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew that look. It was obvious. How could we buy expensive things when we were flat out broke?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Moonborn or not, I was, in reality, a broke woman. Unlike Sienna, who was showered with gifts, dresses, and coins by our family, I had been left with scraps.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I remembered in my past lives how I once dared to ask for coins to buy a dress I\u2019d seen, only for my stepmother to roll her eyes and tell me not to be greedy, and then Sienna received that exact dress the next day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn caught herself quickly, her smile bright but strained as she tried not to ruin the mood. \u201cI still have my salary, my lady, I know it\u2019s not a lot, but we can buy things with it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her for a moment, the way her eyes shone with determination despite the embarrassment, and I couldn\u2019t help but smile. She really was adorable sometimes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I parted my lips to say something, but before I could, voices drifted in from outside the bathhouse door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my god, Lady Sienna is so lucky! Did you see what her brothers and stepmother brought for her? It was so much that five servants had to carry it!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn\u2019s hands froze mid-motion. Her eyes flickered toward the door, then to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I simply crossed my arms against my chest, indifferent. The servants always had something to say.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, right?\u201d another voice chimed in. \u201cLady Sienna was so happy. They must have spent thousands of coins! And I heard they still plan to get her more. She deserves it, after all, the true Moonborn will finally awaken her white wolf today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their voices grew louder, and deliberate. They wanted me to hear every word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUnlike someone,\u201d one of them added, laughing. \u201cHahaha, everyone will see who\u2019s the real Moonborn and who\u2019s the fake one tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn stiffened beside me, her gentle expression melting into fury. \u201cThose bitches,\u201d she muttered under her breath, standing abruptly. \u201cHow dare they-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I caught her wrist before she could move. My tone was calm, and lazy. \u201cDon\u2019t pay attention to them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 16\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, my lady-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my head and met her gaze. \u201cWhy bother when they\u2019re going to eat their words later?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her anger faltered for a second, replaced by confusion. She sighed, sitting back down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside, the servants kept talking, their laughter echoing against the walls.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I heard the masters are taking Lady Sienna to the auction house today to get some rare items for her! Apparently, there\u2019ll be unique artifacts there tonight, especially ones that can help with cultivation, like the Moonstone Amulet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard about that too!\u201d another said eagerly. \u201cThe Moonstone Amulet can help a wolf grow stronger. Everyone will be after it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their voices slowly faded down the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn sighed. \u201cThe Moonstone Amulet? I wish we could get something like that for you too, my lady.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t respond. My fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the tub as my thoughts drifted. The Moonstone Amulet. Sure, it strengthened a wolf temporarily, but its effects barely lasted a few hours. A trinket like that wouldn\u2019t help me, it was child\u2019s play compared to what I\u2019d seen in my past lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No, something else happened at that auction. Something\u2026 important.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned, trying to remember. My mind ran through fragments of memory until suddenly, it hit me. My eyes widened, and a slow, delighted smile stretched across my lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I whispered, leaning forward slightly. \u201cThat\u2019s it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn blinked, startled. \u201cMy lady?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I grinned, my reflection rippling in the water. \u201cThat thing will also be auctioned today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn\u2019s brows knit in confusion. \u201cThe\u2026 thing?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEvelyn, I have an idea of what we can do today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She blinked, tilting her head slightly. \u201cWhat is it, my lady?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to the auction.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, she just stared. Then, as if she wasn\u2019t sure she\u2019d heard right, she said, \u201cWe are?!\u201d Her eyes went wide with disbelief. \u201cBut, my lady, we don\u2019t have any coins. You need a lot if you want to compete with the others there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I chuckled softly, rising from the tub as water dripped down my body. Evelyn quickly wrapped a robe around ine. \u201cNo need for that. No one\u2019s going after what we\u2019re going for, so it won\u2019t be expensive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn still looked lost. \u201cBut\u2026 even then, we\u2019ll still need something.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry about the money, I\u2019ll handle it. I know exactly where I can get some.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her brows furrowed, and I could almost see the questions forming behind her eyes. \u201cWhere, my lady?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t answer immediately. Instead, I stepped closer to her, close enough for her to see the glint of amusement dancing in my gaze. \u201cYou just have to handle the disguise.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDisguise?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Anything that will hide our appearance, and my hair.\u201d I ran a hand through the damp white strands, watching them\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tue, Dec 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 16\u00a0<\/p>\n
shimmer faintly in the candlelight. \u201cI don\u2019t want any drama there. And besides, if anyone finds out what that item truly is, half the room will try to snatch it before I do. Better we hide our faces and fool everyone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn straightened. \u201cY-Yes, my lady! I\u2019ll handle it right away. But seriously\u2026 how are you going to get the money?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned away from her, the corner of my lips curving upward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019m just going to take something I\u2019m owed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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05\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 16 Chapter 16\u00a0 Chapter 16\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 Steam curled lazily from the bathwater, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27810"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27810\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}