Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 134

Chapter 131

Imema’s POV

Aires settles into the worn wooden chair across from Jack, loosening his coat with the practiced ease of a man who’s used to being examined, used to being in control. Jack pulls out his stethoscope, pressing it to Aires’s chest, his weathered face impassive.

Nick is looking at Jack like a hawk, ready to pounce and pick his old bones if this old man even hints that Aires has some made–up illness. I can see the gears turning in his mind, trying to come up with a contingency plan; he is ready to call him a fraud, plaster it across every social circle and make sure no one ever takes him seriously again.

Jack shakes his head slowly.

“Ah, I didn’t expect someone so young to have such an incurable illness. What a shame…! What a shame.”

My breath gets stuck in my throat, and Issac has his fists clenched beside it, ready to explode. But Aires speaks first, his voice calm, almost detached.

“Mr. Carter, may I ask what incurable illness I have?”

or the

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Nick bites back his outburst, but barely, just because or

Chapter 131

rising curiosity inside us all.

Jack strokes his graying beard, “Well, your eyes are in serious trouble. If you don’t get them corrected soon, you’ll probably go

blind.”

He leans closer. “And your heart’s no better. It’s not even in the right place. Oh dear, it’s off–center.”

Confusion passes across our faces, almost at the same time. Aires’s heart…?

That doesn’t make sense, he’s the healthiest person I know.

“But the worst part is your brain,” Jack taps Aires’s forehead with one gnarled finger. “Something toxic seems to have gotten into your brain. It’s been deteriorating, it’s almost at jelly consistency now.”

He shakes his head again in mock seriousness. “With all these incurable diseases, what else could he be but terminal?”

Oh.

Shit, I just realised that this old man is mocking us, trying to play games for his amusement.

Aires’s gaze is steady, but a trace of anger passes through his

gary.

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< Chapter 131

“Mr. Carter, you seem to have quite a bit of hostility toward us.”

Jack removes his glasses, folding them slowly. “Hm! Good. It looks like your brain’s not completely gone after all.”

Nick surges forward, ready to shout, but Aires stops him with a glance. He turns back to Jack, his voice calm. “Mr. Carter, may ask why that is?”

I

Jack leans back in his chair, arms crossed, looking at us with undisguised contempt. “Why? It’s simple. You people don’t look like good people. You just rub me the wrong way.”

Nick sputters. “We came for treatment-”

“Treatment.” Jack’s laugh is dry, humorless. “Sure you did.”

Aires doesn’t react to the insult. “So, do you have a solution for the problem we came to discuss?”

Jack’s eyes flick to me, then away. He gives Aires an enigmatic smile. “You’re just here to get medicine for her, right?”

Nick’s brow furrows. “Didn’t you notice she was unwell?”

Jack shrugs. “I didn’t see it, but I could guess that much.”

I keep my face still, but something twists in my chest. He didn’t

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< Chapter 131

see it because there’s nothing to see… he’s fishing, bluffing, trying to see what sticks.

Nick looks like he wants to strangle the old man, but Aires holds Jack’s gaze calmly. “How much time can you buy her?”

Jack glances at me again, and this time his eyes linger. They’re sharp, too sharp, cutting through the careful facade I’ve built. I force myself not to stiffen, not to look away.

He looks away first, but speaks in a confident, almost dismissive voice. “I can cure her.”

The words hang in the air.

“A cure?! No one has ever offered a cure. Not the specialists, not the researchers, not the doctors we have flown in from across the world. At best, they offered time. Months, maybe. A year if they were optimistic…”

୮

Nick rambles on. “And this old man in a cramped, dusty clinic claims he can cure her!”

Aires’s voice is sharp. “You haven’t checked her pulse, haven’t seen her medical records. And yet, you are claiming you can cure her.”

Jack meets his gaze without flinching.

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Chapter 131

“Why do you think they call me a miracle doctor?”

Nick steps forward, his voice rising.

I’ll ruin you.

you. I’ll “If you’re lying, if you’re trying to cheat us, make sure no one ever comes to this clinic again. You won’t get a single penny!”

Jack looks at him, unimpressed. “Were the symptoms I told you wrong?”

Nick’s mouth closes, his silence speaking way too loud. Jack settles back into his chair, “Anyone who comes to me for treatment knows I don’t always charge money.”

He looks at Nick, then at Aires, then finally at me. “As for you, I won’t charge you either.”

“If you don’t want money, then what do you want?”

Jack smiles. “I want…”

Talia’s POV

I put down my coffee mug, dialing Aires’s number again. He doesn’t pick up at first, but I dial again. On the fourth try, the line connects for a second, then disconnects.

He hung up on me?!

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< Chapter 131

I stare at my phone, jaw tightening as my fury rises. Yesterday, he didn’t show up at the courthouse, didn’t call or even text me after.

There have been no apologies, only silence, like I don’t exist and the divorce we agreed upon meant nothing at all.

My thumb hovers over his name, but before I can call again, the screen lights up with a different name. It’s Jack, and I pick up instantly.

“Talia, the clinic is busy lately, and I’m really short–staffed. Can you come help tomorrow?”

I hesitate, and he takes my silence as a no.

“What happened! You don’t need my help anymore, so you won’t even show up-?”

“No, actually… the thing is, I’m taking care of a child right now. His father’s away on a long business trip.”

Jack’s tone softens immediately. “The boy who wants to perform with you?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, just bring him along.”

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< Chapter 131

“Alright. We’ll come tomorrow.”

***

The clinic is empty when Robin and I arrive. Not a single patient. The chairs are lined up neatly against the wall, the counter clean, the silence almost heavy.

Robin looks around, his small face creased with confusion. “Ms. Perseus, are you sure this is the place? Mr. Carter said he was busy but I don’t see anyone at all…”

I nod, equally puzzled. When I used to help here, there were always people waiting. But today, there’s no one.

Jack emerges from the back room, a bundle of herbs in his hands. His eyes land on Robin immediately.

“Here you are.” He sets the herbs on the counter. “This is the child?”

I nod. Robin steps forward before I can introduce him, his voice bright and polite.

“Hello, Mr. Carter. I’m Robin Capaldi, so pleased to finally meet you.”

He raises his eyebrows in amusement, meeting my eyes.

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< Chapter 131

“Finally…?”

“Oh, yes! Miss. Perseus talks about you all the time, she says you taught her all the things she knows.”

first

He holds out a small bag. “We made you snacks. It was my time making them, so they might not be as good as she usually makes. Please don’t mind.”

Jack’s weathered face breaks into a warm smile. He takes the bag, ruffles Robin’s hair. “Good boy! You’re so clever too.”

I glance around the empty clinic again. “Jack, you said you were busy. Where are all the patients?”

He waves a dismissive hand. “Haven’t arrived yet. They’ll be

here soon.‘

11

Just as he finishes speaking, footsteps echo from the doorway. A familiar voice cuts through the quiet.

“Talia? What are you doing here?”

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