All Chapters of The Stranger At The Altar : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The Meridian Hotel ballroom shimmered with gold accents and soft candlelight, casting a warm glow over the gathered elite. The air smelled of expensive perfume, champagne, and power. Waiters in crisp white jackets moved swiftly between guests, offering flutes of sparkling wine and delicate hors d'oeuvres. Everything sparkled—but Luna felt like she was wearing a mask.She adjusted the emerald necklace around her neck, a gift from Grayson for tonight—trying to calm her nerves. The necklace was exquisite, its deep green stone catching the light perfectly, but it felt heavy tonight. Heavy with responsibility. Heavy with secrets.Her mother had opened her eyes that afternoon. For a moment—just a brief one—Elise’s gaze had locked with Luna’s. She hadn’t spoken, hadn’t moved again since, but the doctors said it was a good sign. Luna had wanted to stay by her bedside, to hold her hand and wait. But Grayson had gently insisted she come to the gala. They needed every appearance of strength toni

The private wing of Mercy General was quieter at night, with only the soft hum of machines and the gentle footsteps of night-shift nurses. Luna and Grayson hurried down the familiar hallway, still in their formal attire from the gala. Luna's heels clicked against the polished floor, a sound that seemed too loud in the peaceful space. Dr. Martinez met them outside Elise's room, his expression cautiously optimistic. "She's been drifting in and out of consciousness," he explained in a low voice. "But when she's awake, she's remarkably lucid for someone who's been in a coma for fifteen years. Her first word was 'Luna,' and she's repeated it several times since." Luna's hands shook as she smoothed down her evening dress. She felt overdressed and unprepared for this moment she'd dreamed about for so long. "Is she... is she going to be okay?" Luna asked. "It's too early to tell the extent of her recovery," Dr. Martinez said gently. "But the fact that she's conscious and speaking is ver

Luna sat in the passenger seat of Grayson's car, watching the city blur past through tear-stained windows. The joy of seeing her mother awake still pulsed through her heart, but Helena's threat cast a dark shadow over everything. She pressed her phone against her palm, the weight of unspoken truths heavy in her chest. "The board meeting is in three hours," Grayson said, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. "Marcus says the leaked documents are already trending on financial news sites. Twenty years of my father's deals are being dissected." Luna turned to study his profile. Even in crisis, he maintained that controlled exterior she'd first fallen for. But she could see the tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders carried the burden of an empire built on stolen dreams. "Grayson," she began, then stopped. How could she tell him that Helena—her newly discovered half-sister—was part of the orchestrated attack? That she'd been given an ultimatum that could destroy everyth

The boardroom at Vaughn Industries hummed with tension as members filed in for the emergency meeting. Luna sat beside Grayson at the polished mahogany table, her hands folded carefully in her lap to hide their trembling. Across the room, she spotted Victoria Kross entering with her legal team, dressed in an impeccable navy suit that screamed confidence. Victoria's eyes found Luna's and she smiled—a cold, triumphant expression that made Luna's skin crawl. Helena had played her part perfectly that morning, reporting that Luna was devastated by the leaked documents and questioning her loyalty to Grayson. Victoria believed she had won before the meeting even began. "Ladies and gentlemen," Chairman Morrison began, "we're here to address serious allegations regarding the foundation of Vaughn Industries and the legitimacy of several patents that form the backbone of our technology division." Grayson's jaw tightened, but he remained composed. "I welcome this discussion. Transparency has a

The drive to Eleanor's mysterious property took them through winding back roads Luna had never seen before, despite living in New York her entire life. The city lights faded behind them until only darkness stretched ahead, broken occasionally by the glow of their headlights catching road signs she couldn't quite read. Grayson sat beside her in the backseat of Marcus's SUV, his hand finding hers in the darkness. Neither of them spoke, but she could feel the tension radiating from him. The FBI warrant was probably being processed right now. By morning, his face would be on every news channel in the country. Helena and Grace rode in the second vehicle with Eleanor, following close behind. Luna kept glancing back to make sure they were still there, as if the shadows might swallow them whole. "Turn here," Eleanor's voice crackled through the radio. "There's a gate about a mile up." Marcus slowed the SUV as they approached what looked like an abandoned entrance, overgrown with ivy and