The Forgotten Luna by Cassandra M

Hailey drew a steadying breath, forcing her voice to remain cảm. “I won’t adunk to vanething I didn’t do if Alice weste so come after me, let her try, though I doubt she will: Her lips curled in marthless side. “Attar all, for oxble Mice Giffe would never stoop to petty revenge against someone like me?

She turned and froze, Raphael stood a few paces behind her, his gaze fackering, blty to Owen before setting on her Without a word, Hailey brushed past him and urode down the contido

Raphael followed silently,

Back in her ward, Hailey collapsed onto the bed, her shoulders saying, as the adrenaline drited away, Raphael cloxed the door and pulled up a chair beside her, “I trust you, he said simply

Hailey let out a hollow laugh. “Trust what?”

He looked deep into her eyes. “That you wouldn’t hurt anyone like that?

“But you barely know me, she countered, swiping at her damp lashes. “How can you be so sure after just a few meetings?

“Anyway, you’re definitely not the type to scheme behind someone’s back His certainty was unshakable.

She was deeply touched by the kindness carried in his voice. A tear streamed down, then another. “You believe me, she whispered, “but after all that time together, he didn’t. How pathetic is that?”

Raphael said nothing, just handed her a tissue. When her tears only fell faster, he stopped trying to stem them and let her cry herself out.

Hailey hated the way her face burned with humiliation. She pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes until the tears stopped flowing.

Raphael studied her tear–streaked face and grinned. “Hey, look at your face. It looks really bad”

Hailey glared at him angrily. “Shut up!”

“Alright, alright.” His tone softened. “Tired now? Want some water?

her head, sniffling.

He stood. “Goodnight.”

also replied softly with her eyes closed, “Goodnight.”

switched off, Hailey surrendered to exhaustion soon. Across the room, Raphael lay awake in the other bed, staring

nose was now a faucet, her throat raw from coughing. She barely made it through breakfast before surrendering to a pile

Raphael diagnosed, handing her

her streaming eyes. “I shouldn’t have gone

out pills and water like a resigned nurse.

screenwriting team. Her assistant had delivered her laptop earlier, and soon Hailey was immersed in script revisions, her earlier distress forgotten in the creative whirlwind.

4 Apr

Chapter 109

engrossed in her creation and could not sense her

dipped out to prepare a proper meal. He believed that his own cooking was

moment he stepped out of the ward, he nearly collided with Owen striding down the hallway. The air between the two men crackled with unspoken tension, one icy and unreadable, the other deceptively calm. Neither yielded an inch as

weighted silence, Owen moved to bypass him. Raphael smoothly reached his arm and blocked his path. “Mr. Calhoun,” he said in a friendly tone, “Hailey’s occupied at the

Owen’s voice was

smile never wavering,

you two together?

“What do you think? Last night, when Halley was so down, who stayed with her? When she collapsed from fever, who brought her here? What exactly have you done to deserve an audience

the door’s window, he glimpsed Hailey, who looked vigorous and engaged with her laptop, color back in her cheeks. The

of her, Owen

your reminders. I’ll do far better than you ever did.”

corridor. From his back, Raphael felt an intuition that there must be something else behind it. But he didn’t bother to know more. After all, the less he knew about that man, the