Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 162

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The refusal was sharp, dismissive. Both Aires and Imema felt the sting of it. their egos bruised.

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afford to offend, and who he could not. He softened his tone slightly.

“However, I am currently preparing to select some promising candidates for my music seminar. Ms. Volkov, if you are confident in your abilities, you can sign up for the competition. If you win a spot in the selection, I would be willing to give you a chance.”

He gave them both a curt nod and walked out of the room, his cane tapping against the floor with each step.

The door closed behind him, and the room fell silent.

Imema stood there, her fists clenched at her sides. She

had come here to be noticed, to be chosen. Instead,

Gerard had spent the entire conversation asking about

Talia.

Aires stared at the closed door, his expression

unreadable. Something churned beneath the surface as Gerard’s words echoed in his head. “Maybe you do not understand your wife as well as you think you do…”

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Chapter 157

Talia’s POV

I sit across from Richard in the cafe he has invited me to, watching his body language carefully. He looks the same as always, refined and composed. But I know better now, appearances can be deceiving.

“Mr. Maddock,” I say, keeping my voice neutral, “why were you in such a rush to meet me? What is so important?”

Last night, he called asking to meet urgently. When I pressed for details, he refused to tell me over the phone and insisted on meeting in person.

I have mixed feelings about him, even though I once thought highly of him. He was the only one who stood up for me when I was wrongfully accused. But since the last time he lied to me about Electra, my opinion has shifted.

I understand he has his own interests, his own principles, but I cannot accept being deceived for my own good

anymore.

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His dean calm voice cute through my thoughts. “Is it true

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“Yes. I have already started the separation process. In thirty days, the divorce will be finalized.”

Richard’s eyes darken.

“Luna, the reason I asked to meet you is that…” He pauses, choosing his words carefully. “You may think divorce with the Alpha is simple, but it will not be that easy. Alpha and Nick are already planning to fight you on

this.”

I furrow my brow, studying him. “You are Aires’s friend, yet you are telling me this.” I let the words hang. “Should I trust you? Or should I be suspicious that you might have some ulterior motive for telling me this?”

A hint of guilt crosses his face. He knows the last incident made me wary. “After I ran into you at the hospital, I asked Alpha about it. At the time, he refused to release Electra, so I thought I could secretly help her escape. By the time I found out where she was, Alpha had let her go. But I did not expect Electra to be caught again.”

He exhales slowly. “That time, it was not Alpha’s doing. I thought maybe she had angered someone, and I didn’t want you to worry, so I told you she was safe. I did not3:01

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expect you to beat me to it and rescue her yourself.”

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< Chapter 157

My expression softens. Electra said Richard was trying to help. Aires had already let her go when Richard went looking. I misunderstood, and thought he was deceiving

But I fix my gaze on him. “You are friends with them. Why are you helping me?”

He does not avoid my gaze. He sighs lightly. “I just do not want Alpha to keep making mistakes. You and Alpha are married. You have a child. I do not want him to go too far and later regret it.”

I lean forward. “What is he planning to do?”

Richard hesitates. Then he takes a deep breath and tells me everything.

I listen. My expression does not change much. Inside, something cold settles in my chest.

He finishes and looks at me. “I know you still do not trust me. You will know soon enough whether I am telling the truth or not. Just think of it as a precaution.”

***

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chin in her hand, her brow furrowed.

“Richard has a great reputation in the industry. He is known for his excellent character. He is probably not the type to lie.” She pauses. “But…”

I raise an eyebrow. “But what?”

She frowns. “Someone like Richard. Polite, refined, gentlemanly… how could he willingly choose to be friends with someone like Nick?”

“I know that he didn’t have a choice in being Aires’s beta, but hanging out with Issac is out of his own willingness, right?”

She shakes her head. “They say birds of a feather flock together.”

I consider this. “You’re right, but because of him being Aires’s beta, Nick and richardhave been friends since childhood. Nick has a skewed moral compass, but he is the kind of guy who will go to great lengths for his friends.”

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Electra scoffs. “He will go to great lengths for his friends but will stab them in the back for a woman.” She rolls her

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I let out a small laugh despite myself. “Fair point.”

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Once I’m alone, I check the date on the calendar and mark it in my planner. Twenty-five days left until my separation period is over, and the divorce is finalized.

It feels like an eternity, and just when I’m thinking about how long the wait will be, my phone rings. It’s Aires, on impeccable timing as always.

“Didn’t you promise me you would give Imema a full round of treatment? Why didn’t you give her the medicine today?”

I know Imema does not want to take the medicine, that is not the issue. But she probably told Aires about this. After all, it makes me look like I want her dead.

My voice stays calm. “I have given you the letter of understanding and the medicine, but you have not done anything. You only completed the separation paperwork, and that is it.”

Aires’s tone turns colder. He catches the hidden meaning 577

13:01 in my words. “You are trying to bargain with me, aren’t

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to end up doing all the work while getting nothing in

return.”

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I pause. “You send a deposit of one hundred million, and I will give Imema the rest of the medicine.”

His voice grows icy. “Talia, being too greedy will leave you with nothing in the end.”

I do not hesitate. “Even in a mall, you have to pay a deposit when you reserve something. This is a life-saving medicine we are talking about, it is made from very rare and expensive herbs. If you suddenly back out, I will suffer a huge loss.”

I let my voice sharpen. “You can spend over a hundred million buying Imema a villa, but when it comes to me asking for a deposit, you call me greedy? Your double standards are impressive.”

Silence stretches on the line. I wait.

Finally, he speaks. “Fine. If you give the medicine to Imema now, I will send the money to you.”

Eglance across the room at Imema, who is grinding herbs,

with an aggrieved look on her face. “You send the money

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<Chapter 157

Author’s POV

Richard went straight to his study when he got home. He pressed the hidden latch behind the bookshelf, and the shelves slid aside to reveal a dark passage.

Inside, the only light came from a single lamp on the desk, casting shadows across the walls. Photographs covered every surface and he picked one up, his fingers tracing the woman’s face.

This was his favorite, although he couldn’t admit to being partial. After all, his muse was so special that she looked absolutely angelic, no matter which angle you click the picture from.

His expression was reverent as he pressed his lips to the image.

And there, behind the cold glass frame, Talia’s warm lips smiled back at him. He had hundreds of her photos, covering the walls, desk and ceiling of this room.

And he wanted more, until she was all he could see.

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