Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 41

Imema’s POV

The weekend arrives, and I arrive at the kindergarten early. Aeson’s parent–child activity. The perfect opportunity to show everyone what a devoted, caring presence

I am.

Aires’s swift action has silenced the online

chaos. Every post, every comment, every shred of evidence scrubbed within hours. The internet is quiet now, a freshly swept crime scene with all the blood washed

away.

But the silence doesn’t mean the slate has

been wiped clean.

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The moment I step through the kindergarten gates, I feel the eyes on me. Too many pairs of eyes at once, lingering too long, sliding away when I look back. Whispers that start and stop like faulty engines.

I ignore them, hold my head high and just

smile.

Just then, a scalding heat explodes across my chest.

I scream as I register what has happened: burning hot coffee soaks into my dress, searing my skin. I clutch at myself,

gasping.

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Chapter 41

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” The woman holding the empty cup doesn’t sound sorry at all.

Her smile is sharp as glass. “My hand just slipped.”

་་

“You did that on purpose—”

“Everyone!” She cuts me off, voice rising to carry. “Look who’s here! Our headline star, Imema Volkov!”

Heads turn. Parents, teachers, bystanders –all focusing on me with expressions

I know too well. I’ve seen them in the

mirror when I practice victimhood. But this isn’t sympathy. This is contempt.

“Can’t stand women like her.” A woman’s voice, loud and unashamed. “Playing 16:14

Chapter 41

innocent, acting pitiful. Disgusting.”

“She’s the one who faked that car

accident, right? Tried to blame the real wife?”

“And bribed witnesses! Who even does

that?”

“Oh, and the terminal illness act–using that to steal someone’s husband. Is she even really sick?”

The words hit like stones. I open my mouth to defend, to explain, to cry, but something hard strikes my forehead.

A

cup, thrown from somewhere in the crowd. Pain explodes behind my eyes. I stagger, vision blurring.

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Chapter 41

“Nice shot!” Someone claps. Others join

1. in.

I’m surrounded. Trapped. Faces I can’t escape, insults I can’t counter. No cameras, no controlled narrative, no Aires to step in and silence them all. Just me, alone, drowning in their hatred.

Security finally pushes through. They escort me away, professional but cold. Their eyes hold the same contempt as the crowd–they’re just paid to hide it better.

I stumble into a quiet corner near the classrooms, shaking, dress ruined, head throbbing. My reflection in a window shows a stranger–disheveled, terrified,

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Chapter 41

pathetic.

This isn’t one of my scenes. This is real.

And it’s all her fault.

My hands clench into fists. The hatred I’ve been pretending to feel for Talia crystallizes into something genuine, burning, real.

She did this. That video… she has turned

them all against me.

I’ll make her pay. I don’t know how yet, I

don’t know when. But I will.

No one humiliates Imema Volkov and

walks away clean.

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Chapter 41

I smooth my ruined dress, straighten my spine, and paste on a smile. The parent–child activity starts soon… Aires will be here. Aeson will be here, and I’ll show them what Talia’s goons have done

to me.

Talia’s POV

I hadn’t planned to come. Robin’s school is hosting a parent–child activity, and I have no place there. But Robin looked up at me with those big, pleading eyes, and something in my chest softened against my will.

“Miss. Jackson,” he said, his small voice tugging at places I thought had gone

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Chapter 41

numb. “We don’t have to join the games.

Just come with me to ask for leave?

Please? All the other kids have their

parents there. My dad is too busy, and I don’t… I don’t want them to think I have nobody.”

His mother is gone. His father is always working. And he’s just a little boy who wants to feel like he belongs somewhere.

I couldn’t say no.

So now I stand at the edge of the kindergarten grounds, watching Robin dart toward the playground where laughter and cheers echo through the afternoon air. The activity is in full swing 8712timed it this way deliberately. Avoid 6:14

Chapter 41

the crowds. Avoid the people I don’t want

to see.

Robin stops at the edge of the field, peeking through the fence like a small bird afraid to fly too close. I wait under the shade of a tree, arms crossed, pretending this doesn’t ache in ways I

can’t name.

He’s back within minutes, his face lit

up

like sunrise.

୮

“Miss. Jackson! Miss. Jackson!” He’s

practically bouncing. “Aeson’s parents are amazing! They’re winning everything— they’re in first place right now!”

The words hit me like a physical blow. I6:14

Chapter 41

feel my expression freeze, my chest constricting around something sharp and

cold.

“Aeson’s parents?” The question comes out before I can stop it.

Robin nods eagerly, too young to read the pain flickering across my face. “Yeah! Aeson always talks about them at school. He says his dad is the most incredible person in the world, and his mom is the prettiest and most beautiful. He says they’re the best parents ever.” His voice drops, tinged with that familiar childhood envy. “A lot of kids didn’t believe him at first. But Aeson promised he’d bring them to prove it. And now everyone can see- they really are amazing.”

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Chapter 41

He sighs, a small, wistful sound. “I wish my dad could come to things like this.”

I force myself to breathe. To nod. To be the adult Robin needs right now.

But inside, something is crumbling.

The prettiest and most beautiful. Aeson said that about her. About the woman

who orchestrated my public destruction. About the woman my son chose over me.

I look toward the playground, where laughter rises like music. I can almost picture Aeson, standing between them with a grin, proud of the family he finally

has.

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Chapter 41

The family he wanted all along.

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