Counterback of the Despised Luna by Diana West

Chapter 368 Forgiveness

The sterile silence of the VII‘ ward pressed in around u

Caden and I eased Mr. Richard into the bed, each movement deliberate, ensuring he was comfortable.

“Grandpa, jusi rest, Caden’s voice broke through the stillness. His face, usually so tight with control. softened at the edges as he spoke. The lines of strain around his eyes relaxed, just for a moment.

Richard reached out, his hand firm on Caden’s, the strength in his grip a quiet defiance to his fragile state. “Caden, I’m fine,” he said, his voice low but steady.

I stood silently beside them, watching as Richard settle back into the pillows. I tucked the blankets: carefully around him, my hands moving with practice precision. Then I looked him squarely in the eye “Mr. Richard, I know this has shaken you. But you need to stay calm. Your body is still recovering. No anger, no stress, no worries. It could trigger another incident.

That ordeal was too close for comfort.

I had kept a watchful eye on the players in this twisted game–Heidi, Eleanor, Queenie. It was clear they had set their sights on the Alpha. Their intentions? Dangerous. Treacherous.

Caden and I had been ahead of them, though. I’d followed the plan to the letter. I’d stabilized Richard the operating room just in time. The poison Queenie had slipped into his IV was swapped out by Caden. who had been like a shadow in the background. He had been waiting.

The ‘incident‘ in the operating room had been staged. The fallout we’d shown to the staff? It was all part of the act.

No one, except Caden, Mr. Richard, and I, knew the truth.

Though Richard could barely move, his mind was sharp.

He heard everything.

It had been a flawless plan. A perfect ruse–if only Heid had shown up.

But in hindsight, she must’ve backed out when she realized Richard got in trouble.

“Don’t worry, Rosie,” Richard said, his voice steady and calm despite the weight of everything. “I’m not stranger to close calls. I’ve survived worse, and now…. now I see everything clearly. There’s nothing left to

fear.”

He still had years ahead of him, years

the true concern–passing it on to Caden. Safely.

to Caden, who stood still by the bed, his expression unreadable. The weight of the world was

between them. The burden of legacy. The

quietly squeezed Caden’s hand, offering a

1/3

+8 Pearls

Betrayal from her, it cut deeper than

could

“Rosie, I owe you. Without you. Caden and I would still be blind to everything happening around

Richard, you’ve always been so kind to me. I did what anyone would have done. As for… everything else, I shouldn’t have acted so rashly. I should’ve handled

glanced at Caden out of the corner of my eye, the weight

longer mattered. My actions had already set everything in motion. The Eclipse Pack had been humiliated. Richard’s name was dragged through the mud. And I had pushed him to the brink. The last thing I needed was for him to collapse again, but I

softened, his hand warm as it patted mine. His gaze turned to Caden. steady and firm. “Caden, you

composure. He turned, his broad shoulders rigid, like a

come by tomorrow, Mr. Richard,” I said, matching his stride as we

ahead, his figure tall and unwavering, a silent tower

his usual mask–impossible to read. But I knew him. Beneath that cold exterior, the hurt was there. I could feel it.

but then Caden stopped. He spun

hadn’t expected. “Are you still angry with me?” His voice was low, a thread

the betrayal. It

being lied to,” I snapped, though the anger had faded long ago. “What you did… it made me feel like you didn’t

was sharp, but inside, I

just needed to remind him

No more games.

gaze darkened, the weight of his own pain filling the space between us. I’ve just been betrayed by everyone I trusted. And you