Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 205

Chapter 200

Talia’s POV

Before I can respond, Aeson rolls his eyes. “Ms. Volkov, my mom does not even speak any foreign languages, let alone

Spanish.”

He says it like it is a fact, like it is the most obvious thing in

the world.

I try not to mind it, but Electra cannot help herself. “Aeson, who told you your mom does not know foreign languages?” She leans forward. “Your mom is actually really good with languages.”

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She is right.

Altheria University had students from all over the world. Without a solid grasp of foreign languages, I could not have followed lectures. Could not have learned. I traveled,

attended exchange programs. Picked up languages along the way. Some obscure, some rare. It was never something to brag about. Just part of my life.

Aeson does not believe her. “Ms. Parker, stop making excuses for my mom.” His chin lifts. “She did not even go to college. How could she know any of this?”

Electra sighs. “Who told you your mom did not go to college?”

“Grandma told me.”

Electra looks at me. At him. At a loss. “Aeson, do not listen to

your grandma. Your mom did go to college.”

Imema lets out a small laugh. Soft. Dismissive. “Ms. Parker,

I get it. Wanting a child to look up to you, to see you as someone impressive is a tempting feeling. For that, maybe

you won’t even hesitate before embellishing a little about

yourself.”

She smiles, pityingly. “But you cannot lie just because you are jealous of others, right?”

“Jealous of others?” Electra’s eyes sweep over Imema, head to toe. Disdain. “Who would I be jealous of? You?” She snorts. “You and Talia are nothing alike. So do not go flattering yourself.”

Imema is not angry. She gives a knowing smile. “Well, if that

is what you want to believe, go ahead.”

She turns to Aeson, voice soft. “Aeson, how about letting Ms. Jackson join you for the parent–child event this time?”

Aeson hesitates. Then he remembers. The way I ignored him.

The way I comforted Robin instead of him. His face hardens.

“I do not want her to!” His chin lifts defiantly. “She does not

even want me anymore. She does not want to be my mom.

So why would I want her to join me for the event?”

His voice cracks on the last words. He got the cup back

from Imema. He brought it to me. And I treated him like a

stranger.

I open my mouth. Close it. What can I say? He is not wrong.

Robin speaks up. “Ms. Jackson, if you are not going to join Aeson for the event, how about coming with me instead?”

I blink. “Robin, are you sure?”

He nods, firm. “Ms. Jackson, I am not overly competitive.

Whether or not I win does not matter.” He smiles. “As long as

someone can join me for the event, I will be happy.”

My chest tightens. “Alright.”

Aeson’s face goes red. “My mom does not even speak any foreign languages.” His voice rises. “Do you want her to go

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with you to the event? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Robin’s eyes are clear. Bright. Steady. “No matter whether we

come in first or last, no matter how Ms. Jackson behaves, I will never think of her as embarrassing.”

Aeson stares at him. The words hit. I see it in the way his fists

clench, the way his jaw works. He wants to say something. He

wants to hurt. But he has nothing.

Imema’s smile tightens. She reaches for Aeson’s hand. “Come

on, Aeson. Let’s go.”

Aeson’s POV

At first, I didn’t mind Talia being my mom, maybe even loved

her a lot.

But ever since I started paying attention to things, I noticed

that she kept making embarrassing mistakes.

The one which made me hate her the most, happened at

my birthday party. She got into a loud argument with one

of Nick’s friends, both of them were at the verge of banging pots and pans while screaming at each other.

The whole pack was invited, and all of them saw the fight. Mom became the center of everyone’s jokes; I heard people

whispering for months about how she was unrefined and

couldn’t be taken anywhere, wondering out loud why Aires always brought Imema to events instead.

At that point, I had not transferred yet. Everyone knew Talia was my mom. The drama from my party spread through

school the next day like fire. The kids laughed at me, called

her embarrassing and said I was the son of a country bumpkin. Even my close friends started avoiding me.

I was left out of every activity.

Then I transferred to a new school, where one knew who my

mom was. I got top grades in every subject, and became

popular with teachers and students. And when Imema

started joining me for parent–child activities, I loved the

envious glances from my classmates.

Their admiration was clear in the whispers about how lucky I

was.

I really liked that feeling.

Lately, mom’s habit of ignoring me has left something strange and tangled in my chest, like a wave of disappointment I cannot shake. If only she could be as outstanding as Imema!

If only she could make me proud instead of embarrassed.

But it is only wishful thinking, nothing else.

Imema smiles down at me, warm and easy. “Aeson, if there is

nothing else to do, shall we head back to practice?”

I nod. “Okay.”

Dad gives mom a strange look, like he does when he is upset with me whenever I don’t finish my homework.

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I glance back at mom. But she is not looking at me at all. Her gaze is on Robin, her hand on his head. A bad feeling twists in my stomach, and I look away.

Imema’s hand finds mine. “Come on,” she says. “We have

work to do.”