Abandoned Luna: Now Untouchable-Chapter 348 Telltale Signs

Cecilia’s pov

A few minutes later, Yulia returned with two visitors in tow.

One looked about my grandma’s age, maybe a little older. The other seemed closer to my mom’s.

One of them was an older woman in a sage-green silk dress, stitched with elegant patterns that looked like they came straight out of a vintage designer catalog.

She moved with quiet confidence. Her back was straight, her steps steady, like age had never touched her.

Her silver hair was pulled into a perfect bun. Her makeup was minimal but flawless, the kind you’d expect from someone who used to host fundraisers or sit on the board of an art museum.

Even in the summer heat, she looked completely composed. Every part of her appearance felt deliberate.

When she walked into the room, the light scent of sandalwood came with her. It was clean and expensive, the kind of smell that lingered without trying.

Her face was calm. Her eyes were soft. Just being near her made me feel strangely at ease.

I couldn’t explain it. There was something familiar about her, like I’d seen her before. Maybe in an old photo. Maybe in a dream.

The older woman looked at me. She stopped cold.

For a moment, something flashed in her eyes. Was it recognition? Shock? Pain?

Her breath caught, and her eyes filled with tears.

"Everyone’s having lunch. Maybe we should sit in the parlor for a bit," the younger woman said gently, clearly noticing the older woman’s reaction.

"Yes... that might be best," the older one murmured, letting her companion guide her toward the sitting room next door.

The shift in atmosphere was impossible to miss.

Everyone at the table had seen the moment pass between us, and confused glances started to fly.

I was just as puzzled as the rest.

Yulia looked toward the parlor, but the younger woman gave her a subtle shake of the head and quietly shut the door behind them.

Yulia turned back to us with a smile and handed Levi a small basket wrapped in cloth.

"Her son just dropped these off. They’re fresh morel mushrooms. They had too many, so she gave us some. Take them to the kitchen. We’ll use them in the stew tonight."

Levi took the basket and disappeared into the kitchen. Yulia returned to the table, still wearing that easy smile.

"Yulia," Harper whispered, leaning in. "That woman... does she live in the big house up the hill?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"Just a hunch," Harper replied with a knowing smile.

Pretty easy to figure out. The quiet money, the way she carried herself—it matched the house we saw earlier.

I leaned in too, curiosity getting the better of me. "Does she live there alone?"

Since Yulia had mentioned mushrooms from her son, I figured he didn’t live with her.

Yulia chuckled softly. "You guessed right again."

I nodded, leaving it at that.

I’d already asked more than I probably should have.Any more and it’d start feeling like small-town gossip.

Author’s pov

In the adjoining parlor, the Locke matriarch struggled to compose herself.

Her breath was shallow, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached for the armrest.

"Fiona... that girl..." she whispered, her voice nearly inaudible.

Fiona bent closer, already anticipating the question. "The resemblance is there," she said gently. "But lookalikes aren’t uncommon. I’m sure she’s just as kind-hearted and sincere as Rebecca was."

The matriarch let out a sharp breath and slapped her knee in frustration. "Kind-hearted? What good did it do her? When the world turns cruel, kindness alone is a liability."

Fiona quickly reached over and patted her hand. "I’m sorry, I said that wrong. Please don’t upset yourself."

A shadow passed over the matriarch’s face. Regret, deep and long-buried, stirred in her eyes.

She had failed to protect Rebecca. And perhaps, deep down, she blamed Rebecca’s own gentle nature for sealing her fate.

After a moment, she exhaled slowly, collecting herself.

"If that girl truly is the one Cassian has chosen... she must be more than gentle. She must be unbreakable."

--

Back at the table, the meal was winding down.

Tang had devoured nearly all the meat dishes and the rest of the platters were picked clean.

Everyone leaned back in their chairs, satisfied and full.

As Levi and Yulia began clearing the dishes, the Locke matriarch reappeared from the parlor.

The guests rose politely to greet her and introduced themselves one by one.

"Please, call me Martha," she said with a warm smile.

"This is Fiona, our housekeeper. We live just up the hill. Come by sometime. I’ll make you something sweet. Maybe my old family shortbread recipe."

"Thank you, Mrs. Martha," they said together, clearly charmed.

In the kitchen, Levi came back with a big bowl of freshly cut fruit.

Bright fruit, bold colors. Melon, pineapple, strawberries. No one waited.

Cecilia grabbed a slice and popped it into her mouth.

She stopped chewing. Her face twisted in shock.

The fruit tasted awful. Like it had been sitting next to raw fish and chopped onions. It was sharp, sour, and weirdly greasy.

Her stomach, which had finally settled, lurched violently.

"Urgh..."

She clamped a hand over her mouth and bolted from the room.She barely made it to the doorway before her stomach gave up. Everything she’d eaten came right back up.

"Cece!"

Harper and Tang were on their feet instantly, rushing after her.

They steadied her by the shoulders as she doubled over.

At the far end of the room, Martha and Fiona stood frozen.

Their eyes locked. A knowing look passed between them. It was part shock, part realization.

[ Could it be?

Was she pregnant...?

Of course.

No wonder Cassian had hidden her away in the mountains.

Cassian Locke had an heir on the way. ]