Chapter 20 Wanna Copy?
She was hurt. She was furious.
She thought about Leo's birthday. The sister she'd seen that day.
Same age. But Luna lived in luxury. Every inch of her was raised on money.
Not fair.
Not fair.
Tears fell one by one. Chloe wiped them with the back of her hand. Stubborn.
Her phone buzzed. She opened it.
A message from someone she'd saved as "Top Donor."
Top Donor: [Sorry haha! I was out fishing with a friend and didn't check my phone. The islands here in Italy are beautiful. You should visit sometime.]
Chloe bit her lip. Sent a crying kitten meme.
Top Donor: [What's wrong? CeCe, did homework tire you out?]
Top Donor: [Gift.]
Chloe blinked.
SleepyCeCe: [Why did you send me money?]
Top Donor: [For replying late.]
For replying late?
Chloe stared at the message for a long time.
Was this the appeal of older men? The Daddy type from novels.
Chloe's cheeks went pink just thinking about it.
Her parents might not be rich. But she could find someone who was.
She wasn't worse than anyone else.
Compared to a gentle, wealthy older man like this? Leo and Ethan, the class president, were nothing.
Chloe typed, shy. [You're so nice.]
Top Donor: [Just 'you're so nice'?]
Chloe flopped onto the princess bed. Feet in the air. She scrambled for a cute meme.
SleepyCeCe: [What do you want then?]
Top Donor: [Can you call me something different?]
SleepyCeCe: [Sure. I'll call you bro.]
Top Donor: [Not 'bro.' Say 'babe.']
Oh my.
Chloe's face went red. She hugged the pillow. Her toes curled from the shyness.
She bit her lip. Typed carefully.
SleepyCeCe: [...babe.]
Top Donor: [Mm.]
Chloe hesitated a few seconds. Then she started venting.
SleepyCeCe: [Babe, I was just crying. I'm really sad right now.]
Top Donor: [What happened? Why were you crying? Tell me everything.]
Since she'd gotten some internet fame, teachers, classmates, neighbors. Everyone praised her. Nonstop.
She had a belly full of grievances. No one to tell.
This time, she let it all out to the Top Donor.
The Top Donor was gentle the whole time.
Top Donor: [CeCe, you're already doing great.]
Top Donor: [Other kids your age spend their parents' money. You earn money for your parents. That's incredible.]
Top Donor: [Your parents don't have much education or skills. Stop letting them drain you. Study hard. Make money. Don't let them hold you back.]
Chloe was a mess. In the best way.
Especially when the Top Donor sent her money. For snacks, he said. Sweet. A note: "Voluntary gift, 3,000."
Chloe took it.
SleepyCeCe: [Babe, thanks for comforting me.]
Top Donor: [No worries haha! I'm older. It's my job to comfort you.]
Chloe asked, careful. [How old are you?]
Top Donor: [28. Getting old. Don't judge.]
Twenty-eight wasn't bad. Only a ten-year gap.
Not bad. Not bad.
Chloe let out a full breath.
She typed: [Not old. Very young.]
Top Donor: [Haha, okay. As long as you don't mind. I'm in Italy for a few more days, then heading to Iceland. After I meet some old friends, I'll head back. We could meet up then.]
Chloe: [Yes! That'd be fun!]
Chat over.
Chloe's mood lifted. She closed the chat, hesitated, then opened Leo's profile.
She chewed her nail.
SleepyCeCe: [Leo, how are you?]
Villa 11, Crescent Bay.
Leo had a cotton swab clamped in his teeth, dabbing bruise cream on his waist. His face was clean. But his waist was a mess of purple and blue.
He saw Chloe's message. Blinked. Grabbed a tissue, wiped his fingers, and typed.
Leo: [Home.]
Leo replied instantly. Chloe's heart settled.
She kept going.
SleepyCeCe: [Good, good. Are you hurt?]
Leo: [No.]
Chloe let out a full breath. When she'd heard Leo got into a fight with those guys, she'd been terrified. Scared he'd be in trouble.
SleepyCeCe: [Leo, don't be so reckless next time.]
Leo: [Didn't you say he made dirty comments about you?]
Chloe choked on that.
SleepyCeCe: [But you shouldn't have hit him.]
Leo: [He made dirty comments about you. You think talking nicely to a guy like that would work?]
SleepyCeCe: [I know. But you're not a kid anymore. Be more mature.]
Chloe couldn't help comparing Leo to the Top Donor.
Both had money. Leo was younger. But he was too reckless.
Leo: [Fine.]
Chloe was about to close the chat. Then she remembered the birthday banquet at the Grand Star. The look Luna had given her.
She typed before she could stop herself: [If someone made dirty comments about your sister, would you do what you did today? End up at the precinct?]
She'd known Leo for almost a year. He'd never mentioned having a sister. Clearly, they weren't close.
The phone buzzed.
Leo was dabbing the last bruise. He checked his phone.
If someone made dirty comments about his sister...
It wouldn't end at the precinct. It'd be the hospital.
Leo typed one-handed: [No.]
Chloe read his reply. The corner of her mouth curved up.
Oh. So I matter more than your sister.
SleepyCeCe: [Got it.]
SleepyCeCe: [Hehe, I'll let you go then.]
Leo typed one-handed: [Yeah.]
-
Luna came out of the shower. Stretched. Comfortable.
Hair dry. Clean pajamas on. Skincare done. Homework done.
The room wasn't too dry or too damp. Perfect temperature.
When had life ever been this good?
Never.
She flopped onto the bed, happy. About to play a game. Then she saw a message from X.
X: [Wanna copy?]
At first Luna thought Jax's brain was short-circuiting. He'd already sent her the answers. Why ask again? Then she opened the message. Saw the pitch-black profile pic. Realized this was Hayes.
She curled her lip.
SadSweetie: [No thanks.]
X: [?]
Luna stared at the question mark. In her past life, she'd be panicking by now.
She hated people who just sent a lone question mark.
So Luna didn't reply.
Meanwhile, Hayes sat at his desk. Waited half a minute. No reply from Luna.