Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 310: Family Picture Killian stepped forward, his presence a steadying force in the room. "Hey, buddy," he said, his voice unusually soft, almost gentle. "I know yesterday didn't go the way we planned."

Ryker's eyes shifted to him, his expression still clouded.

Killian knelt down beside him, making sure he was at Ryker's eye level. "It was supposed to be a special day for you - your birthday - but things got a little... messy. And I'm really sorry about that."

Ryker tilted his head, his fingers still toying with the edge of his notepad. He was listening, but I could tell he was waiting for more.

Killian's face softened, and for a moment, the guarded mask he usually wore was gone. "I promise we'll make it up to you. We'll do whatever you want-just you and me. How does that sound?"

Ryker's eyes lit up, if only for a second. He scribbled quickly on his notepad before holding it up. "Anything?"

Killian's lips curled into a small smile, a glimmer of relief in his eyes. "Anything," he confirmed. "Just name

it."

Ryker paused, considering the offer carefully. His eyes flicked from Killian to me, as if weighing his options.

he held

and I leaned in closer, our eyes fixed on the notepad as Ryker held it up. Beneath his simple request of *Can we go to the beach?*, he had sketched something in his careful, childlike strokes. The drawing showed three figures: one adult male, one adult female, and a small child between them, holding their hands. The sun shone brightly in the background, and the waves were drawn in soft, blue lines. For a moment, we both stared at the image, trying to decipher its meaning. Killian's brow furrowed as

gentle. "To go to the beach with me... and your mom?" Ryker's eyes lifted to Killian's, and he shook his head. Then, with a determined expression, he reached out and tugged at my shirt, his

Killian, who stared back at me, a

started slowly, as if he couldn't quite believe it. "Do you mean you want to go to the beach

the female figure

realization hit me like a wave, and I felt my chest tighten with

me just

moment, he looked caught off guard. "Astrid?" he repeated, almost as if testing the idea

the surprise evident.

small smile forming on his lips. He reached for the notepad once more, adding another detail to the drawing a smalt heart above the

blink back the emotion welling in my eyes. He still has no

en

about your mom?" I asked him. "Don't you want her to

all fell silent when Ryker's smile disappeared as he shook his head. We all know that Ryker never liked Giselle, but I didn't expect it to be at this

Ryker still thinks that Giselle is his real mother. This made me question what kind of mother Giselle was and how she had been treating