CHAPTER 6
1891 Words
Lana POV
“Can you please stop fidgeting?” she snapped at me.
“This is insane!” I shot back. I couldn’t care less about the deadly glare she threw in my direction. She never told me I had to move in today.
“Stop overreacting, Lana. Relax—you’re doing fine,” Luna said as she parked the car in front of a sprawling mansion.
My jaw dropped. This was where I would be living for the next few months?
“Is this… your house?” I asked, wide-eyed. She nodded casually, as if it were nothing.
We’d already swapped clothes. If anyone saw me now, no one would believe I’d been a bar waitress just yesterday. The dress clung too tightly to my chest and waist, making me silently vow to start a diet tomorrow.
“Okay, you’re good to go,” she said suddenly, smiling like a proud artist admiring her masterpiece. Was it too late for me to run? Abort this whole mission?
“Why are you handing me the car key?” I asked dumbly.
She rolled her eyes. “Duh. You’re Luna Quinn now. You drive this car wherever you want. You don’t actually think Luna Quinn would take a bus or a taxi, do you?”
“What’s so wrong about public transportation? And anyway, I can’t even drive this thing!” Panic prickled through me.
“You what? You can’t drive? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Her eyes widened.
“Hello? When do you think I ever had the chance for driving lessons?” I shot back.
“Fine. Just ask Ricardo to drive you whenever you need to go somewhere.”
“Who’s Ricardo?”
“My personal driver. But I usually prefer to drive myself because… you know.” She smirked devilishly. I got it. No need for details.
“How many flings do you have? Besides Marcus? Anyone else?” I asked cautiously, trying not to step on a landmine. We’d been apart too long, and I didn’t want to ruin what little sisterly bond we had left.
“That’s none of your business, sis. Just take care of Artemis while I’m gone. I’ll transfer ten thousand dollars into your account as soon as you’re inside the house.”
I swallowed hard. Ten thousand. Just like that. She really was rich.
Luna leaned back, as if remembering something. “Oh—and there’s Gwen.”
“Who’s Gwen?” I frowned.
Her face softened, a smile tugging at her lips. “She’s my sunshine. Do me a favor and be a good mom to her. That kid… she’s innocent.”
“Your kid?” I raised a brow.
“Adopted—” The word slipped from her mouth, but the way she said it stung her in a way I didn’t understand. Her smile wavered, like there was more to it than she was willing to share.
I studied her face, but she quickly looked away, pretending to fuss with her hair.
Before I could press further, she pointed toward a large tree near the gate. “I’ll be watching from over there.” She pulled a black cap low over her face. Before she left, she turned back one last time. “Have I ever told you how lucky I was to have you as a sister?”
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. “I wish I could say the same.”
But she was already gone, hidden behind the tree.
My palms were slick with sweat. My heart pounded. Relax, Lana. You’re Luna Quinn now. You can do this.
I stepped out of the car, trying to walk with the confident posture she’d drilled into me. The sharp clack of my heels against the pavement drew the guards’ attention.
“Mrs. Quinn? Why are you walking? Where’s your car?” one of them asked. His uniform read Daniel.
“It’s right there.” I gestured vaguely at the car behind me.
He frowned. I could feel suspicion brewing. If I hesitated, he’d see right through me. Think, Lana, think. What would Luna say?
“You handle it, Daniel.” I tossed him the keys. He caught them smoothly, and I swept past him before he could ask anything else.
The grounds were massive. The mansion loomed ahead, but I had no idea where I was actually going.
“Mrs. Quinn? Where are you headed?” Daniel called again.
“Into my house, of course. Where else?” I said lightly, keeping my stride even. Stay in character.
His brows knit together. “But that’s the way to the pool.”
Shit. Of course they had a separate pool. They were filthy rich.
“Yes… well, it’s hot today, isn’t it? I suddenly felt like swimming.” I forced a smile, praying he wouldn’t follow me into the water—because I couldn’t swim to save my life.
“As you wish, ma’am. Let me know if you need anything,” Daniel said, scratching his head in confusion.
I took a few steps, then pivoted quickly. “Actually, I could use your help. There are shopping bags in the car. Would you mind carrying them to my bedroom?”
Brilliant, Lana. This way, I could follow him to my room without exposing how lost I was.
“Of course, ma’am.”
He retrieved the bags and walked ahead, occasionally stealing odd glances at me. “Ma’am, you don’t have to wait. You can walk ahead.”
“It’s fine. I wanted to… talk to you about something.”
His face drained of color. “If this is about Sandra, I swear—I haven’t bothered her again. I know it was one-sided. She doesn’t like me.”
I blinked. “Sandra?”
“The new cook Mr. Quinn hired last week.”
Right. Luna mentioned her name once. My brain scrambled to keep track of everything I was supposed to know.
“Ah, of course. That girl,” I said, bluffing my way through. It was getting dangerous. Maybe I should stop talking to staff before I accidentally exposed myself.
“Actually, that’s not what I meant to say,” I added quickly. Relief washed over his face.
Finally, after what felt like a fifteen-minute walk, we entered the mansion.
My breath caught. The marble floors gleamed beneath golden light, and the white-and-gold décor screamed luxury from every angle. My jaw nearly hit the ground.
Daniel led me upstairs and opened a door.
I gasped. “Oh. My. God.”
The bedroom was enormous—royal even. A king-sized bed sat beneath a crystal chandelier. White walls gleamed with gilded trim.
When Daniel left, I let out a squeal of excitement. I rushed around the room, exploring. A walk-in closet overflowing with designer bags and shoes. Drawers of diamond jewelry. A perfectly organized collection of men’s watches and ties.
Am I dreaming? A pauper yesterday, a princess today.
But my joy faltered when my eyes landed on the wedding photo of Luna and Artemis. They looked so in love, gazing at each other with that kind of intensity I’d always longed for. Would I ever find someone who looked at me like that?
I shook off the thought and continued exploring.
That was when I heard it—a child’s laugh.
Light. Musical. Innocent.
Curiosity pulled me down the hall. I followed the sound until I reached a playroom door slightly ajar. Inside, a little girl sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by dolls in matching dresses.
Her head lifted the second I stepped inside.
“Mommy?” Her big eyes lit up.
My breath hitched. This had to be Gwen.
“Uh… hi, sweetheart,” I said carefully, kneeling beside her.
She tilted her head, studying me in that unnervingly perceptive way only children could. “You look like Mommy… but you’re not Mommy.”
I froze.
Her words weren’t accusing—just an innocent observation. Yet they pierced me to the core.
I forced a smile, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. “Silly girl. Of course I’m Mommy.”
But Gwen just giggled, as if amused by my bad acting. Then she leaned against me anyway, small arms wrapping around my waist. “You smell different,” she whispered.
My heart squeezed. Even at her age, she could sense the truth.
“I’ll… tuck you in later, okay?” I said quickly, trying to end the moment before she asked more questions. She only nodded, returning to her dolls, humming softly to herself.
I slipped out of the room, pulse racing. That little girl—Luna’s “sunshine”—already knew.
I tried distracting myself with the rest of the mansion. The ties in Artemis’s wardrobe made me laugh—there had to be hundreds. Enough to wear a different one every day for a year. I giggled, imagining him wearing one even in bed.
“Stop it, Lana,” I muttered, fanning my flushed face. “He’s your brother-in-law.”
To distract myself further, I checked the last unopened door.
The bathroom.
I stepped inside and nearly fainted. It was as big as my apartment. A glass shower box loomed like a palace on its own. The scent of rose soap filled the air.
I stripped and stepped under the warm cascade. It felt like rain—luxurious, endless rain. My back relaxed under the spray. I didn’t want to step out.
Thirty minutes later, I finally emerged, fresh and shivering. It took me ten minutes to find the cabinet with towels and a robe.
By then it was seven o’clock. When will Artemis be home? Should I prepare something? Wives were supposed to cook, weren’t they? But I didn’t have a clue about his preference.
Feeling defeated, I tossed my phone aside and searched Luna’s closet for casual clothes. Instead, I opened a wardrobe full of men’s shirts. Artemis’s.
Before I could stop myself, I pulled one free. Soft fabric, faintly smelling of his cologne. My robe slipped to the floor as I buttoned it over my skin, leaving the top open.
The shirt hung loose, brushing mid-thigh. For a moment, it felt like he was holding me.
“This is wrong, Lana,” I whispered. Yet I hugged myself tighter, savoring the forbidden thrill.
Then curiosity tugged me further. I opened a drawer inside the wardrobe—and froze.
Sex toys. An entire collection—vibrators, cuffs, things I didn’t even recognize.
My hand hovered over a pair of cuffs when suddenly, strong hands closed around my wrists.
“So we’re going to do role play tonight?”
The deep voice vibrated against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. My eyes flew wide.
“A-Artemis? Y-you’re back already?” I stammered, forcing a smile I hoped looked seductive rather than guilty.
And then our eyes met.
Holy. He was gorgeous. Too gorgeous—more devastating in person than in any photo.
The way he looked at me, desire blazing in his gaze, left me breathless.
He leaned closer, his voice a husky whisper at my ear. “You look good in my shirt. But I bet you’d look even better without it.”
My knees went weak.
Luna… what have you done to me?
- Writer
