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

Chapter 169

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Sarah glanced at him and said lightly, "A friend."

But Alex's frown deepened.

A strange feeling bubbled in his chest.... an odd, uncomfortable kind of panic. He didn't know why, but he didn't like it.

Didn't like that his mom was talking to another man.

Didn't like that she was smiling.... not the polite, distant smile she always had for him, but something else.

He stepped closer, tugging at her sleeve. "Mom, stop talking on the phone," he said, his voice small but firm. "Play with me."

Sarah blinked, surprised by his sudden demand.

Alex's small hands clenched slightly when his mother dismissed him. His eager expression faltered, and his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Go play by yourself for a while," Sarah said, her tone light but firm. She didn't even look up from her laptop, fingers continuing to tap against the keys.

Alex stood there for a moment, his heart sinking.

He had been excited to spend time with her, thinking she would finally give him her attention. But instead, she was busy. Again.

"But, Mom...."

"I'm on the phone, Alex." Her voice was calm, final.

Alex felt something twist in his chest.... something that made his throat feel tight and his eyes burn. He turned on his heel and stomped away, going back to his room without another word.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Leo continued their conversation late into the night. It wasn't anything particularly important.... just small talk, light complaints about work, and the occasional teasing. But to Sarah, it was a welcome distraction.

By the time she hung up, the clock read past ten.

She rubbed her temples, exhaling softly.

The next morning, Sarah stepped into STARLINE Studios, greeted by the hum of activity.

company was in the middle of a staff expansion, and she had been swamped with additional responsibilities.

between sorting through files and finalizing reports, she checked her phone.

"Soon."

had been

"soon" stretched

Three. Then four.

while, the tension between

tried to ask about his day. He ate quietly, finished his homework without complaint, and

Sarah noticed it.

yet, with so much work pressing on her, she did nothing

one afternoon, when her phone

the caller ID....

through, hesitant but with a forced cheerfulness. "Dad sent someone to pick me

slightly in her

"Yeah... They're waiting outside."

tapped lightly against the desk. She had deadlines to

She could refuse.

She wanted to refuse.

then, a pang of guilt

lately. She had ignored him when he

chance to make up for

after a pause. "Mom

surprised but

him. "Wait

she gathered her things to

message from the

has already picked

at the

fingers curled slowly around the

hadn't waited after

quietly, his small

moment he saw Arnold

"Daddy! Aunt Linda!"