Crippled Luna's Farewell: Half A Life Without My Alpha's Deadly Deception

Chapter 51

“Mom,” Alex chirped, breaking Arnold’s train of thought. “Can you cook dinner for me tonight? Like you used to?”

Sarah opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the shrill ring of Arnold’s phone cut through the moment,

All eyes turned to him as he pulled the device from his pocket. He glanced at the screen, his face tightening ever so slightly.

The name **Linda** flashed on the caller ID.

Sarah’s expression didn’t change, but the silence that followed was telling,

Alex’s excitement dimmed as he noticed the shift in the atmosphere.

Arnold hesitated before answering,

“Excuse me,” he muttered, pushing his chair back and stepping out of the room.

Arnold’s voice, though muffled, carried from the hallway.

Sarah couldn’t make out the words, but the tone was unmistakable–soft, attentive.

It didn’t bother her the way it might have before. Instead, it was as if a wall separated her from the emotions she used to feel about Arnold.

Alex tugged on her sleeve.

“You’ll still cook, at night, right?”

Sarah smiled down at him, pushing her own thoughts aside.

“Of course. We’ll make something delicious together.”

His grin returned, and Sarah couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief.

In Alex’s innocent joy, she found a semblance of peace, even if the rest of the house felt like a storm waiting to break.

Arnold picked up the phone and answered with a soft, almost tender tone.

his voice a stark contrast to the silence that had

froze mid–reach for her glass of

ache in her chest

expression unreadable but unmistakably focused.

intimacy in his tone

had spent years loving this man, defending their bond, and yet here she was, feeling like a spectator in

and again not to let it get

the mantra, the hurt was always there, lurking

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Chapter 51

exterior.

the phone into his

didn’t meet her gaze

he said briskly, his

neutral even though a knot was tightening in her

said, her voice calm, almost too calm.

leave, Alex’s small voice broke the silence. “Dad, was that

glancing back

“Yes,” he admitted.

asked, his bright eyes flickering

briefly before

need to discuss

for further questions, he exited the room, leaving an awkward tension hanging in

his mother, his young face

go with Dad to

smile, though her heart sank at

him, sweetheart,”

his

I don’t want you to be mad at me if