My Revenge, His Contract

Chapter 9 Get Out

Noel’s POV

Luna always answered the phone for me, but this was the first time she had ever caught me out like that. Of course, she would be mad at me. But she should hear me out at least. My side of the story mattered.

Two days had passed since she walked out the door. Two days of ignoring my calls, my messages, and my voicemails. I had no idea where she could have gone either.

I stared down at my phone, jaw tight, my thumb pressing call again before I had fully thought it through.

It rang once.

Then straight to voicemail.

Again.

I swore under my breath and threw the phone onto the kitchen island harder than I meant to. It skidded across the marble and stopped beside an empty wine glass from last night.

That night.

Everything had gone wrong that night.

The house felt different now. Too quiet. Too still. Like it was waiting for something that was never coming back.

I had never realised how much of this place was Luna until she was gone.

Her music drifted from room to room while she got ready for work. Her shoes were kicked off by the door after a long day. The smell of candles she always lit in the evenings. The pointless little lists she left on the fridge that somehow kept everything running.

Now there was nothing.

Just silence.

And it was beginning to grate on me.

“She’s ignoring you on purpose.”

Mira’s voice sliced through the room.

I looked up sharply.

She stood by the breakfast bar in one of Luna’s silk robes, coffee in hand, looking far too comfortable for someone who had helped destroy my life less than twenty-four hours ago.

“Take that off,” I said coldly.

Her brows lifted. “Excuse me?”

“The robe. Take it off.”

She glanced down at herself and gave a small laugh. “Seriously?”

“Yes. Seriously.”

With an irritated sigh, she tugged it tighter around herself.

“You’re in a foul mood.”

“You think?”

She set the mug down harder than necessary. “Maybe if you stopped calling her every five minutes and let her calm down—”

“Calm down?” I snapped. “She disappeared.”

“She left after catching us, Noel. What did you expect?”

I dragged a hand through my hair and turned away from her.

This wasn’t supposed to happen like that.

I had meant to sort things with Luna eventually, but Mira understood parts of me Luna never had.

And now the whole thing had exploded in my face.

I snatched my phone back up and dialled again.

Voicemail.

My jaw clenched so hard it hurt.

“This is ridiculous.”

Mira folded her arms. “You’re making it worse.”

“How?”

“By acting like she’s the victim.”

I stared at her.

“She is the victim.”

The words surprised both of us.

Mira’s expression darkened instantly. “Right. Nice to know where I stand.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“No, it’s exactly what you meant.”

She grabbed her mug and stormed from the kitchen, muttering something under her breath.

For once, I didn’t care enough to stop her.

I headed upstairs two steps at a time.

The bedroom door was half open. The bed is still unmade. The drawers are slightly open from where Luna must have packed in a hurry.

A strange tightness hit my chest.

I crossed to the bedside table and yanked open the drawer.

Empty.

I froze.

Then checked the second drawer.

Nothing.

The ring was gone.

The engagement ring I had bought weeks ago was hidden until I decided the timing was right.

“Where is it?” I started to panic.

“What?” Mira called from the hallway.

I held up the empty box where the ring should have been.

“The ring is not here, it’s gone.”

Mira appeared in the doorway, with her arms folded. Then she lifted her left hand with a smug grin.

“Actually,” she said sweetly, “I have it. Doesn’t it look awesome on me?”

My stomach dropped.

Did I hear her right?

“What have you done, Mira?” I swallowed hard and glared at her. The diamond ring sat on her finger, catching the light.

Mira did a slow little twirl, admiring it like she had every right to have it on her finger.

For a second, I just stared at her.

“What the hell are you doing?” I said sharply.

“Trying it on,” she replied casually. “Relax.”

“Take it off.”

Her grin widened. “Why? You bought it for someone who doesn’t even want you now.”

My jaw tightened.

“That ring is not yours.”

“And Luna didn’t want it either, apparently.”

She wiggled her fingers, watching the stone sparkle.

Something hot and ugly flared in my chest.

“Take it off, Mira.”

The warning in my voice made her pause.

Then, slowly, she slipped the ring off and tossed it onto the bed.

“There,” she said coolly. “Happy?”

I snatched it up immediately, gripping the small velvet box tighter than necessary.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“No,” she snapped, stepping closer. “What’s unbelievable is that you’re standing here angry at me while crying over a woman who walked out on you.”

“She didn’t walk out on me,” I said automatically.

Mira laughed in my face.

“She absolutely did.”

The words landed harder than I wanted them to.

Because somewhere beneath the anger, beneath the frustration, I knew she was right.

“Oh come on, Noel, you were going to leave that muppet eventually, weren’t you?” Mira rolled her eyes and tried to wrap her arms around me. I pushed her away and shook my head.

The sight of her suddenly made something in me snap.

“Take it off,” I said coldly.

She frowned. “You already said that.”

“I mean all of it. The robe, your things—whatever you’ve brought here. Pack it up and leave.”

For a second, she just stared at me as if she had misheard.

“You’re joking.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

Her face hardened. “You can’t be serious right now. After everything you said to me?”

“I don’t care what I said.” The words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t take them back.

“This has gone too far.”

Mira gave a sharp laugh. “Noel, you were in bed with me, remember.”

“And look where that got me.”

Her eyes widened, anger flashing across her face. “So this is my fault now?”

“I’m saying I need you to go.”

She stepped closer. “Because Luna’s ignoring you? Because suddenly you miss your safe little life?”

“Because I can’t think with you here,” I snapped.

Mira slowly pulled the robe off and threw it on the floor by my feet. “Fine, have it, you are a pathetic coward.”

“Maybe I am,” I said. “But you still need to leave.” I pointed to the door.

She searched my face for hesitation and found none. “You’ll regret this,” she growled.

“Maybe. But not today.”

With a bitter shake of her head, she turned, grabbed her bag, and stormed toward the door.

The slam echoed through the house.

And somehow, the silence that followed felt even worse.