Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 103

Imema’s POV

My fingers instinctively touch the pendant at my throat, the necklace I’ve worn since Aeson gave it to me. Serena Jackson’s necklace. Talia’s mother’s

necklace.

Even knowing its origin, I can’t connect Talia to Serena. They exist in separate worlds in my mind—Serena the legend, Talia the nobody. The necklace was always just a tool to me, a way to wound Talia, to claim something of hers.

Nick’s voice cuts through my thoughts, dripping with mockery. “Oh, so now you

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Chapter 101

want the necklace? The one Aires gave Imema? I thought you didn’t care about

him!”

Electra’s response is immediate and sharp. “Are you deaf? She said it’s her mother’s necklace.” Her gaze slides to Aires with pure contempt. “Someone thought it was appropriate to give away a family heirloom as a gift. And someone else thought it was fine to accept stolen property. I never understood before, but now it’s clear–shameless people gravitate

toward each other.”

Nick lunges forward, face purple with rage. I catch his arm, holding him back. This isn’t the time for brawling.

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But inside, I’m seething. The necklace. The dress. The constant undermining. Talia has pushed me too far.

“Ms. Perseus.” My voice is calm, controlled, though fury simmers beneath. “I accept your terms. But if we’re wagering, I want something of yours as well.”

She meets my eyes steadily. “Name it.”

I hold her gaze, letting each word land with precision. “If you lose, you give me

Di Lian.”

Electra explodes. “You’ve already stolen her mother’s necklace, and now you want her piano too? Have you no shame?” 14:23

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She’s right–Di Lian is priceless, a true treasure, while the necklace is merely sentimental. If I lose, I return what was never mine. If I win, I gain something of incalculable value.

I ignore Electra, keeping my eyes locked on Talia. “Well? Do you accept?”

Talia doesn’t hesitate. “Of course.” She

places a calming hand on Electra’s arm. “With so many witnesses, we don’t need contracts, do we?”

୮

Nick jumps in eagerly. “You’d better not back out!”

Talia glances at the clock. “We’ll use the

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judges‘ scores. Agreed?”

I smile, supremely confident. “Agreed.”

Diana’s cold voice cuts through. “Talia is signing her own death warrant.

Athena looks at Talia with something almost like pity.

Talia nods, then adds, “One more thing-”

I interrupt quickly, not wanting her to find an escape route. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you, Ms. Perseus?”

My heart races with triumph. This is perfect–I’ll humiliate her and gain Di Lian. Two birds, one stone. I can barely 4:23

< Chapter 101

contain my satisfaction.

Talia’s voice pulls me from my gleeful thoughts. “Of course not.” Her eyes drop to my dress. “But you still owe me a replacement for ruining mine. Are you going to give it to me?”

I blink, thrown. We’ve moved past this. Aires offered compensation. Why is she-

“Ms. Perseus, our body types are

different. This dress was custom–made

for me. It wouldn’t fit you properly. And I’ve already worn it…” I force a reasonable tone. “Aires offered to have his assistant bring you a new dress–better quality, more beautiful than mine. Why not choose something fresh instead?”

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Talia studies me for a long moment. “So despite everything you’ve said, you still won’t exchange dresses.”

I start to protest. “It’s not that I won’t, it’s just—”

She cuts me off. “Never mind. It’s late.

Let’s not waste more time.”

She turns to her group–Electra,

Raymond, Robin–and gestures toward

the door.

r

Relief floods through me. She’s backing down. I got away with it. The dress, the competition, everything—

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A glass of juice slams into my face.

The shock is absolute. Cold liquid cascades down my carefully styled hair, my perfectly made–up face, my pristine white dress. Orange pulp clings to my eyelashes, drips from my chin, stains the delicate fabric a sickly yellow.

I stand frozen, sputtering, unable to process what just happened.

The room goes silent.

Talia sets down the empty glass with casual precision. “You ruined my dress, so I ruined yours. Fair’s fair. Since you won’t exchange, you can just wear that.”

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She turns and walks away.

“Talia!” Aires’s voice cracks like ice. He’s grabbed her wrist. “Imema apologized. She explained it was an accident. Why must you be so relentless?”

She shakes him off without looking

back. “I don’t care if it was intentional.

She made my dress unwearable, so hers

shouldn’t be wearable either. Adults face

consequences. Apologies don’t erase actions.”

୮

Her voice drops, dangerous and cold.

“I’m not her mother. I don’t have to

tolerate her. If you don’t want her hurt, keep her away from me. Otherwise, I can’t

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promise what I’ll do next.”

She leaves.

Nick starts after her, but Aires holds him back. Nick’s face is twisted with rage. “She’s insane! Imema accidentally spilled coffee, and she throws juice in her face? Now Imema can’t even compete—her dress is ruined, her makeup destroyed!”

He’s right. The juice is everywhere. I can’t wipe this off–I need a full shower, a complete redo. It took three hours to achieve this look. Three hours of preparation, now wasted.

Even if a stylist could come immediately— and they can’t, not with the competition4:23

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about to start–there’s no time for proper reconstruction. Aires might buy us half an hour, but an hour? Impossible.

Nick’s voice rises with conviction. “This was her plan all along! She wanted to delay you, to force disqualification! Then she’ll claim the competition was unfair and have you removed!”

My whole body trembles with rage.

This dress cost far more than Talia’s. And my hair, my makeup–hours of painstaking work, gone in an instant.

I clench my teeth so hard my jaw aches.

Talia will pay for this. On that stage, in 14:23

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front of everyone, I’ll destroy her. I’ll play so beautifully that she’ll never recover

from the humiliation.

She wants a competition? Fine.

She’s about to learn what real talent looks

like.

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