Chapter ChapterContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


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    "I hope you''re enjoying the luncheon, Felicia," I said pleasantly, raising my ss to her. "Is your family here?"


    Felicia visibly nched a bit. I''m afraid they didn''te."


    "At all?"


    She shook her head, her gaze falling to herp. She pushed her sses up onto her nose, and I saw her lower lip quiver slightly. "No. They assumed I would lose." I felt my chest clench at those words. "Why would they assume that?" I asked. "Your speech was phenomenal, and you answered every question with grace. Your charity work overseas was incredibly impressive, and your work as a local school teacher for inner city kids ismendable."


    Felicia paused, drawing in a breath through her teeth. She opened and closed her mouth once as though struggling with how to respond before she finally turned to me with a sad smile on her face. "I''m not... pretty," she said softly. "Felicia-"


    "I mean, look at me," she cut me off, gesturing to herself. "I''m short and a bit chubby, and I wear sses. My hair is frizzy and my nose is too big and I have a bit of a lisp. It''s okay; I''m not upset about it. It''s just.. one would typically assume that I wouldn''t be the type to win apetition like this."


    My mouth tugged into a deep frown despite myself. "None of those things make someone unattractive, Felicia," I said gently, cing my hand over top of hers "I see a bright, beautiful young woman with a kind heart. And frankly..."


    I lowered my voice, leaning in a bit closer so no one else could hear.


    "I think you have a gorgeous body. I wish I was as curvy as you. Your hair is beautiful and vibrant, and I''d love to see how wild it is when you let it down. Your sses are cute and your nose speaks to your heritage and your lisp makes you stand out. Who told you that any of that isn''t beautiful?"


    Felicia flushed deeply and bit her lower lip, looking away. "A lot of people," she admitted with a wryugh. "But... That means a lot to hear from you, Luna Hannah. Thank you."


    I offered her a grin and patted her hand. "Besides," I said, "I know you''ll use that reward money well."


    She nodded vehemently. "Oh, yes. I already have ns to use the funds to buy new equipment for my school''s ssrooms, and..."


    Over the next half hour, Felicia and I chatted nonstop; she really was a sweet and intelligent young woman, and I was d that she had won the majority vote.


    Although, I couldn''t help but be curious as to who Noah voted for. Did he vote for Felicia, or someone else? I wanted to ask, but I still hadn''t seen him.


    In fact,e to think of it... I was curious who Zoe voted for, but I hadn''t seen her in a while either. Only Drake remained, chatting animatedly with one of the stage crew in the corner,


    Frowning. I began wandering through the event to see if I could at least find my husband. When I didn''t


    find him in the crowd, I rounded the corner to the bathrooms, wondering if he was there.


    And that was when I saw it: Noah and Zoe, huddled at the end of the hallway.... Their heads bent close, their hands gesturing wildly.


    "She... I don''t... I know...."


    I could only make out tidbits of what they were saying, but something about it made me ufortable. Pressing myself close to the corner, I carefully peered around to watch, pricking my ears in an attempt to make out their conversation. But it was then that Zoe''s head suddenly snapped up, her nostrils ring dangerously.


    "Quiet, Noah," shemanded, raising her hand to stop him mid-sentence. "We''re being watched."