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. “I want to sleep”

He stood. “Goodnight.”

also replied softly with her

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

relief. Though her fever had broken, Hailey’s nose was now a faucet, her throat raw from coughing. She barely made it through breakfast before surrendering to a pile of soggy

diagnosed, handing her

last night,” she rasped, wiping her streaming eyes. “I shouldn’t have

a resigned nurse. Hailey swallowed them obediently before

a video call from her screenwriting team. Her assistant had delivered her laptop earlier, and soon Hailey

4 Apr

Chapter 109

was especially engrossed in her creation and could not sense her surroundings at all.

notes while Raphael, seeing himself superfluous, dipped out to prepare a proper meal. He believed that his own cooking was much

between the two men crackled with unspoken tension,

reached his arm and blocked his path. “Mr. Calhoun,” he said in a friendly tone, “Hailey’s occupied at the moment.

voice was

smile never wavering, “And

together? Owen suddenly asked.

do you think? Last night, when Halley was so down, who stayed with her?

color back in her cheeks. The sight struck him

of her, Owen muttered at

your reminders. I’ll

one last look at the ward, Owen left without another word, his footsteps echoing hollowly down the corridor. From his back, Raphael felt an intuition that there must be