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.

of a staff expansion, and she had been

she checked her phone. Arnold

"Soon."

had been his

"soon" stretched into

Three. Then four.

tension between Sarah

barely responding when she tried to ask about his day. He ate quietly, finished his homework without complaint,

Sarah noticed it.

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

one afternoon, when her phone

glanced at the caller ID....

but with a forced

straightened slightly in her seat.

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

fingers tapped lightly against the desk. She had deadlines to meet,

She could refuse.

She wanted to refuse.

a pang

him when he asked for attention. She

chance to make up for it,

said after a pause. "Mom will come back

surprised but

him.

as she gathered her things to leave, her phone buzzed

from

car has already

at the

around the device before

hadn't waited

the car, Alex sat quietly, his small hands gripping

The moment he saw Arnold

"Daddy! Aunt Linda!"