Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 307: Pretense Astrid's POV

"What is it?" I asked, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach as I braced myself.

Killian drew in a deep breath, his eyes locking onto mine. "It's about Ryker. I don't think we should tell him the truth yet."

I frowned, a sinking feeling settling in my chest. "Why not?"

His gaze softened, but his voice remained firm. "You know Ryker's condition-he's not like other children, Astrid. We don't know how he'll react to this."

"Are you asking me to wait again?" I said, my voice trembling. "I've already waited three years, Killian." My lips quivered as I spoke, the frustration and longing I'd held onto for so long threatening to spill over. Killian's expression became grave, his eyes filled with genuine concern. "Astrid, you haven't seen how Ryker responds when even the smallest change disrupts his routine. It overwhelms him. Sometimes, it takes hours - sometimes an entire day - just to calm him down."

He paused, his voice gentling but carrying the weight of his words. "Now imagine what would happen if we told him that everything he's believed about his life, about his mother, wasn't true. That the woman he's trusted and loved isn't really his mother. It would be too much for him to handle right now. It could shatter his sense of security."

My heart clenched as his words sank in. I knew he was right. As much as I longed for Ryker to know the truth, I also understood how fragile his world was.

I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar weight of disappointment settle over me, pressing down like a stone.

Killian's voice was soft but steady. "Astrid, please... just give it more time. I know it's hard, but we need to be sure Ryker is ready. We can't risk turning his world upside down before he's prepared for it. Let's not put him in a difficult situation."

His words were like a knife twisting in my chest. I had already waited so long, now that we could finally reunite again, I still couldn't tell Ryker the truth. The thought of waiting even longer felt unbearable.

to steady the emotions rising in my throat. "How much more time?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "How long do I have to

reached out as if to comfort me, but I took a small step back, not wanting the touch to soften the ache I

wait until he grows fond you. It wouldn't be long, you

my eyes, but I forced myself to hold them back. "I've waited for so long, Killian," I said, my

doing this to protect him, to make sure that when he

the frustration and sadness well up inside me. I wanted to argue, to tell him that I couldn't stand the thought of waiting

was right. And that knowledge, as much

a shaky breath. "Okay," I murmured. "I'll wait... for the meantime, we'll use the time to get to know

and for a moment, the silence between us felt heavy,

the weight of the choice we were making, the fragility of the situation, and how much was at

that this was our chance - a chance to build the bridge we needed

felt a bittersweet realization settle over me. I didn't know my own son. Not

lived his life believing Giselle was

what calmed him

And he didn't know me either - I was just another face, another presence he hadn't learned

he asked, his voice

okay, that I would do things the

a bitter smile. "I'm