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

Chapter 168

Alex's excitement returned as he searched, but the deeper he dug, the more frustrated he became. His small fingers rifled through every compartment, pulling out stray papers and forgotten trinkets. But the silk scarf he had picked out for his mother was nowhere to be found.

"I..." Alex's voice wavered, his confidence shrinking as he realized his mistake. "I think... I forgot to pack it."

For the first time that night, he looked embarrassed.

Sarah, however, remained calm. She reached out and ruffled his hair lightly. "It's okay," she said simply.

It had been a long time since Alex had been close enough to Linda that he forgot to get her a gift. This time, at least he had remembered.

That, in itself, was enough.

The next morning, as the scent of breakfast filled the house, Sarah sipped her coffee and glanced over at Alex. He was sitting on the couch, phone in hand, his small legs swinging as he chatted animatedly.

She didn't need to ask who he was talking to.

A moment later, Alex glanced up, noticing her presence. His expression brightened, and he quickly got up, walking over with the phone still in his hand.

"Mom, Dad wants to talk to you," he said, extending the device toward her.

Sarah took a slow breath before reaching for the phone.

Sarah picked up the phone with deliberate slowness, her fingers tightening slightly around the device as she put it to her ear.

"What is it?" Her voice was cool, detached.

the other end, Arnold responded in his usual indifferent tone, something about Alex, something about

without much reaction, nodding occasionally though he couldn't see her. After two or three brief exchanges, she cut the call short, not interested in dragging

phone down and exhaled, feeling neither anger nor disappointment.... only a quiet numbness that had settled long

call

Leo.

for a moment

carried a sharp undertone. "Guess who I just saw

before

"Hand in hand, looking very much like a couple going

came over and asked, "Mom, who are you talking to on

is going out on his honeymoon alone with Linda, and

doesn't matter anymore." But Leo was not

was now rummaging through his book bag for something. Lowering her voice, she said, "Leo,

stretched between them before Leo sighed

that. Instead, she simply ended the

few days,

the keyboard as she revised her research papers. Occasionally, Alex would come sit beside her,

quiet longing, but she

Arnold.... full of easy words

settle between them, filling the space with

just like that, the last day of the vacation

laptop, stretching slightly, a thought crossed her mind. This time tomorrow, I'll be back at

Alex, who was playing quietly with his toy soldiers, lost