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.

other end, Arnold responded in his usual indifferent tone, something about Alex, something about being busy. His words were vague,

two or three brief exchanges, she cut the call short, not interested in dragging the

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

call came

Leo.

hesitated for a moment before answering.

a sharp undertone. "Guess who I just saw at the

before he

laced with irritation. "Hand in hand, looking very much like a

asked, "Mom, who are you talking to

honeymoon alone with Linda, and got tired of your son getting in the way,

faintly, her voice calm. “It's fine, Leo. It doesn't matter anymore." But Leo was not convinced. “It should matter, Sarah. He's walking

who was now rummaging through his book bag for something. Lowering her

brief silence stretched between them before Leo sighed heavily. "Fine. But you deserve

she simply ended the call and

next few days, their

always around, yet Sarah barely spent time with him. Most of her hours were spent in front of her laptop, fingers gliding over the keyboard as she revised her research papers. Occasionally,

could feel his quiet longing, but

like Arnold.... full of easy words

she let the silence settle between them, filling the space with work,

just like that, the last

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

drifted to Alex, who was playing quietly with his