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.

I whispered, my voice barely audible.

I took a small step

he grows fond you. It wouldn't be long, you already managed

them back. "I've waited for so long, Killian," I said, my voice cracking. "It feels like every day I lose

his expression filled with a mix of understanding and regret. "I know. But you're not losing him, Astrid. You're doing this to protect him, to make sure that when he

the frustration and sadness well up inside me. I wanted

was right. And that knowledge, as much as

murmured. "I'll wait... for the meantime, we'll use the time to

a moment, the silence between us felt heavy, filled with all the

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

chance - a chance to build the bridge we needed to cross,

a bittersweet realization settle over

who had lived his life believing Giselle was his mother, but I didn't know

didn't know what

upset or how he liked to spend his mornings. And he didn't know me either - I was just another face, another presence

he asked, his

I would do things the way he wanted, he still felt the pain

forced a bitter smile.