Hidden Heiress Luna

Love and Humiliation

Savannah Pov

The next morning, I stood in front of the building where Silver Enterprises was located. My heart beat to a different rhythm, with a very strange mix of nerves and anticipation tumbling inside. A new identity was cast, and I had pulled my connections to offer Aaron's ex-secretary a better opportunity so that things worked out just perfectly in my favor.

Clutching the strap of my shoulder bag, I stepped inside and took a deep breath. The lobby had marble floors and sleek decor to a tee rich and powerful Silver family. I went to the receptionist and got a brief but polite smile before she nodded toward the elevator.

At the top floor, Aaron's door was open. My heart thudded in my chest as I knocked softly.

"Come in," his deep voice thundered from inside.

I pushed open the door, stepping into his office. He lifted his gaze from the papers on his desk, and his dark eyes widened in surprise, taking me in.

"Savannah?" he asked, leaning back in his chair. "What brings you here?"

I smiled, keeping my voice light. "I'm your new secretary."

His brow furrowed in an unbelieving frown. "What? How?”

"It's fate," I teased, "The universe works in mysterious ways."

He shook his head, tugging a small smile to the corner of his lips. "Fate, huh?"

I nodded, trying to mask my nervousness. "I guess we're meant to be around each other."

And so it began.

For the first couple of weeks, I threw myself into my work, always there, ready when Aaron needed me. Then, over time, we drew closer. I got to know the man behind the Alpha: charming, driven, passionate. When he finally acknowledged our connection, my heart soared.

And we started our illicit love affair, stealing glances across the office, brushing hands when passing each other, stealing kisses whenever no one was looking. It was almost a dream, and that dream became reality for me at some point in time.

But dreams are fragile things.

It all started to fall apart the day our relationship became public. That afternoon, the office buzzed with whispers, judgmental stares burning holes into me. By the end of the day, Aaron's father, Richard Xavier, stormed into the office.

I was sorting through files at my desk when the sound of heavy footsteps made me freeze. His voice was booming as he flung open Aaron's office door.

"What is the meaning of this?" Richard's voice boomed down the hall.

I stammered and slowly made my way to the door. I stopped just outside the door, peeking in as the argument unfolded.

"What are you talking about, Father?" Aaron asked, firm but calm.

"Don't play dumb with me!" Richard snapped. "I've heard about this… this… affair you're having with your secretary!"

Aaron crossed his arms, his expression hardening. "Savannah is my mate.”

A coarse laugh from Richard sent cold chills running down my spine. "Mate? That's out of the question. She is nobody! A secretary! Aaron, don't you know how much this will disgrace our family prestige?"

His words pierced a stab into my heart, and yet I said nothing.

"You're an Alpha!" Richard continued to push, his voice rising. "You need a strong, capable woman by your side- someone who can uplift you and this pack. Not some gold-digging slut only after your cash."

My breath caught, and I laid a hand against my chest, willing my calm to return.

"I won't let you talk about her like that," Aaron said coldly.

Richard snorted. "Oh, please. Don't tell me you love her. She's using you, Aaron. Open your eyes!"

"She's my mate," Aaron said flatly. "The Moon Goddess chose her for me, and I won't abandon her.”

Richard's hand came crashing down on the desk, and I jumped. "The Moon Goddess made a mistake," he spat. "And if you don't fix this, I will."

I stumbled backward, blinded by tears. The venom in his words was too much to bear, yet I couldn't turn my back and walk away. I had to take it for Aaron, for us.

The next day, Aaron's mother, Eleanor, struck. I was in the office kitchenette making myself tea when she appeared. Designer heels on the tile floor sounded, the coldness in the commanding demeanor.

"You must be Savannah," Eleanor said in low, honey-laced tones underlaid with malice.

"Yes, ma'am," I answered, trying to force politeness into my tone.

Eleanor didn't return it. Instead, she reached into her purse, pulled out a checkbook, and began to scribble out a number. She tore the check free and extended it to me.

"This should be more than enough to make you disappear," she said coldly.

I continued to stare and stare at the check, the amount on it causing my stomach to roil. My fists had tightened into balls at my sides, with my nails digging deep into the soft tissue of my palms. "I'm not leaving Aaron," I said, my tone even though a large lump was working its way up my throat.

Eleanor's eyes narrowed. "Take the money, dear, it's the best offer you'll ever get."

I hesitated a moment, then took the check. For one bright flash, Eleanor seemed triumphant, but the smirk fell off her face as fast as my next words could delete them.

"Thank you," I said, pocketing the check. "But I'm still not leaving him."

Her face scrunched up into an angry, twisted thing. "You little-" She bit it off. "You'll regret it," she said with ice in her voice.

I smiled sweetly. "We'll see.”

The next few months were just a tease and belittle blur. Acidic words from Richard, plots from Eleanor—these all turned out to be the constants in our relationship. I took it all and hung on to that belief that my love for Aaron—and his love for me—would see me through anything.

But over time, Aaron's apathy was no longer something I could just ignore, and seldom would he come to my defense anymore but instead shove my pain off as if it didn't mean much. Those sweet moments that used to be shared between us began to be very few and far between; coldness and distance took their place in the process.

I had tried holding on, smiling through my tears, swallowing my pride, staying by his side. But deep inside, I knew he wasn't fighting for me.

And one day, he crushed what was left of my heart.

The limousine stopped noiselessly and pulled her from the reverie. A door popped open and a guard bowed over it.

"My Lady," he said, and his voice was respectful; "we are here."