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.

Arnold responded in his usual indifferent tone, something about Alex, something about being busy. His words were vague, unbothered, like he was merely

her. After 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

call came

Leo.

for a

voice was casual but carried a sharp undertone. "Guess who I just saw

already knew before he

irritation. "Hand in

moment, Alex came over and asked, "Mom, who are you talking to on the phone? Let's go

and he frowned, "So Arnold is going out on his honeymoon alone with Linda, and got tired of your son getting in the way, so he

Leo. It doesn't matter anymore." But Leo was not convinced. “It should

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

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

simply ended

few days, their

gliding over the keyboard as she revised her research papers. Occasionally, Alex would come sit beside her, watching her type with mild curiosity before

quiet longing, but

of easy

settle between them, filling the space with

that, the last

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

drifted to Alex, who was playing quietly with his toy soldiers, lost in his own