Chapter 17

Turning back, she found Michael-Lucas's beta-staring at her with shock etched across his face, his

dropped briefcase scattered across the hospital floor.

“L... Luna?” he stammered, face draining of color. "Is that really you?"

Escape, it seemed, wouldn't be so simple. Michael recovered quickly, positioning himself between

Aria and the exit with newfound determination.

"Please," he implored, lowering his voice. "You can't just disappear again. You have no idea what Alpha has been through since the fire. He hasn't slept through a single night in a year. Even if you want nothing to do with him now, at least stay until he's out of surgery. He literally just took a car impact for you."

Aria regarded him coolly, her expression betraying nothing of the calculations happening behind it.

"First," she stated with clinical precision, "I am not your Luna. That person died in a fire last year-a fact your Alpha publicly confirmed."

"Second, I'll stay until he's stable, but I'm leaving immediately. My company has a performance

tomorrow."

"Third, I have zero interest in rekindling any connection with your Alpha. Our relationship ended the moment he orchestrated my death."

With each statement, Michael's professional facade cracked further, revealing genuine distress, but he eventually nodded in reluctant agreement to her terms.

They settled into the antiseptic waiting room chairs, silence stretching between them as surgery continued behind closed doors.

her phone for the twenty-first time-nearly three hours had elapsed-the operating room doors

but surprisingly conscious. His unfocused gaze swept

"Aria!"

16:40

99

Chapter 17

and internal bleeding, Lucas reached for her the

intensity.

breaking. “I was sure I'd hallucinated you. I kept telling them to make sure

expecting her to evaporate at

remained perfectly still within his grasp, her

Confusion clouded his

his grip, stepping back with

died." Her tone was conversational, as if discussing the

contact as she continued. "Not many people could experience ninety-eight calculated humiliations from the person they trusted most and still remain standing in the same

precision. Lucas's face drained of color as the

along, she had

upright, nearly tearing

he begged, reaching for her. "It

performance

can't lose you

go of me." Her voice

head frantically, his grip

16:40

Billionairo ALIN.

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