Rejected Luna Returns with Secret Twins (Lysandra) novel Chapter 82

The whispers followed me down the marble corridor of Ravencroft Enterprises, each step punctuated by the click of my heels against the polished floor. I’d expected confusion at my appointment- maybe even some resistance–but the undercurrent of open hostility caught me off guard.

Kieran walked beside me, his presence steady and reassuring. As we approached my new office, a junior assistant rushed toward us, her eyes wide with barely contained panic.

“Ms. Ravencroft,” she stammered, “there’s a situation–the board has called an emergency meeting. They’re in the main conference room right now.”

“Already plotting against me?” I raised an eyebrow, more amused than concerned.

“I can go with you,” Kieran said quietly, “but you’ll need to handle this yourself.”

I nodded, squaring my shoulders. “Then let’s not keep them waiting.”

As we neared the conference room, fragments of heated conversation leaked through the heavy wooden doors.

“-can’t possibly expect us to accept this. The bastard daughter showing up out of nowhere-

“-taking everything from the rightful heir–her own brother! Alpha Alaric should be running this

company, not-”

I paused outside the door, letting their words wash over me. Five years ago, their dismissal would

have crushed me. Today, it merely stoked the fire in my veins. Astrid growled low in my

consciousness, urging me forward.

“Ready?” Kieran’s hand hovered at the small of my back, not quite touching.

I didn’t answer, just pushed the door open and strode in.

The conversation died instantly. Eight pairs of eyes snapped toward me, widening with shock before

darting to Kieran. His Beta energy rolled through the room like a physical force, and several board members instinctively lowered their gazes.

I let the silence stretch, taking my time to study each face around the table.

“I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation,” I finally said, my voice deceptively light. “Sorry to interrupt.”

Their collective discomfort thickened the air. One man, I remembered from the files–cleared his

throat.

1/3

Chapter 82

“Miss Lysandra, we were simply discussing transition concerns. Nothing personal.”

“Nothing personal?” I repeated, letting a slight laugh escape. “Calling me the bastard daughter and questioning my right to be here seems quite personal.”

His eyes widened, flicking nervously toward Kieran, who watched the proceedings with barely concealed enjoyment.

“We apologize if our voices carried,” an older woman said stiffly. “We didn’t intend for you to hear that.”

Her non–apology hung in the air between us. She wasn’t sorry for what they’d said–only that I’d heard it.

I moved to the head of the table and rested my palms flat against its polished surface. “Let me reintroduce myself, since there seems to be some confusion. I’m your new CEO. However, I regret to inform you that I am not, as you put it, ‘the bastard daughter.“”