Page 9 of The Moral Dilemma

She knew her reputation just as she knew how hard she’d worked to cultivate it.

People feared her just as they were in awe of her, and that sentiment she’d instilled in them allowed her to maintain her position.

But when Blue had looked upon her, sitting on her golden throne and acting as if she was above everyone else, it had cut her to the core.

For years she’d dreamed about their first encounter, making up countless scenarios in her mind of how he would fall for her, finally reciprocating her feelings. Yet never in her wildest dreams had she imagined it would be like this.

When their eyes had first met, she could have sworn she’d seen in his gaze what she, herself, felt. She thought he’d felt the same thread of fate tying them together, pulling them closer and closer.

It had been there, hadn’t it?

He’d looked at her with awe in his eyes, his body angled towards her as if he’d like nothing better than to reach for her, pull her into his arms where she belonged.

It had been there, until it hadn’t.

Until Sergio had leaned in to dare her to show her to show her weakness for him—something she could never do, for it would forever put a target on his back.

So she’d acted the only way she could. She’d treated him like the slave he was, not worthy to gaze upon her with such adoration.

In the span of one moment—one fucking decisive moment—she’d had to prove to everyone that her heart was indeed made of stone.

So she’d thrown the plate.

She’d… hurt him.

God, but it hurt her more than it could possibly have him.

In trying to find him, help him, she’d done nothing but damn him.

She was aware, now more than ever, that she couldn’t even go near him without making Sergio suspicious.

What was I thinking,she asked herself. Yet the answer was clear. She hadn’t been thinking. Rafaelo meant too much for her to be able to think things through. From the beginning, her only purpose had been to get him back, to save him from whatever hell he’d been sold into.

And she’d managed that. But in doing so, she’d pulled him into another hell. One that was quite possibly more dangerous, for now she had plenty of enemies, all waiting for the moment she slipped up.

Noelle had been selfish.

As she continued to stare at the drops of blood on the ground—hisblood—she admitted to herself that she’d let her dreams cloud her judgment, just as she’d allowed her feelings to make her feel as if she were invincible.

She wasn’t.

She might have gained some power, but it could always be taken away from her. And as she sneaked a glance at Sergio’s smug face, she knew he was lying in wait for her to make a mistake.

I can’t put Blue in danger. I can’t put a target on his back.

She needed to regroup—and fast. Sergio might think he had one upped her, but it was time she proved him wrong. It was time she showed him that she could beworsethan him—in every aspect.

Noelle smiled sweetly at the other attendants as the music started playing again and the food was finally brought in.

Don’t hate me too much, Blue. One way or another, I’ll get you out of here. I’ll get us out of here. You have my promise.

Yet even as she made that vow to herself, she knew she needed to tread carefully. And unfortunately, that meant letting him think the worst of her.

The banquet passed in a blur as Noelle acted as if nothing happened. Luckily for her, it was only a few hours before Sergio dismissed everyone to see to his own business—clearly indicating that the banquet itself had been nothing but a smokescreen to test Noelle’s reaction.

She could barely stand the sight of his smug face as he gave her a satisfied look when she took her leave. So it was only in the privacy of her own room that she could finally break her silence.

“What have I done, Lulu?” She whispered as she paced around her suite.

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