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.

said, his voice a stark contrast to the silence that had blanketed the

froze mid–reach for her

a dull ache in her chest as she

turned slightly away, his expression

in his tone

spent years loving this man, defending their bond, and yet

not to let it get to her, that she

the hurt was always there, lurking beneath her carefully

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Farewell, Half A Life Without My

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Chapter 51

exterior.

the call, slipping the phone into his

didn’t meet her gaze as

have to go,” he said briskly, his tone reverting to its usual detached coolness.

though a

she said, her voice calm,

voice broke the

glancing

“Yes,” he admitted.

asked, his bright

briefly before nodding.

I need to discuss some things with

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

mother, his

can I go with Dad to see Aunt Linda?”

forced a smile, though her heart sank at the

can ask him, sweetheart,” she said gently.

door his father had just

be mad at me