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 being busy. His words were vague, unbothered, like he was

he couldn't see her. After two or three brief exchanges, she cut the call short, not interested in dragging the

and exhaled, feeling neither anger nor disappointment.... only a quiet

call came

Leo.

hesitated for a moment

but carried a sharp undertone. "Guess who I just saw at

before he said

and Linda," Leo continued, his voice laced with irritation. "Hand in

and asked, "Mom, who are you talking to on the

heard Alex's voice and he frowned, "So Arnold is going out on his honeymoon alone with Linda, and got tired of your son getting in the

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

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

stretched between them before Leo sighed heavily. "Fine. But

simply ended the call and turned

few days, their routine

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, Alex would come sit

quiet longing, but

full of easy words and

let the silence settle between them, filling the space with

last day

crossed her mind. This time tomorrow, I'll be

gaze drifted to Alex, who was playing quietly