Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 47

Chapter 46

Talia’s POV

Aeson’s face crumples, something raw and wounded flickering in his eyes. He

knows. He knows it’s been weeks since I last packed his lunch, since I last sat with him while he did homework, since I last existed in his world as anything more than a ghost.

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Raymond’s voice cuts through the tension, smooth and deliberate. “Caring for someone else’s child pays well, and the children actually appreciate it. Caring

for

my own son earns me nothing but disrespect. I’m just the help.” His gaze

slides to Aeson, to Aires, lingering. “The

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nanny.”

The words hit like stones. I feel my throat tighten, my eyes burn.

The nanny. That’s all I’ve ever been to them. The woman who cooked and

cleaned and served, who existed in the background of their lives, who was never truly seen.

Raymond continues, his tone deceptively mild. “Neither of you treats her like a wife or a mother. You haven’t fulfilled your duties as husband or son. So why do you expect her to perform those roles?”

Something inside me cracks. The tears I’ve been holding back for weeks–for 16:17

Chapter 46

months, for years–threaten to spill. I bite my lip, hard.

Aires’s expression darkens, his voice dropping to ice. “This is a family matter. You’re an outsider. You have no right to

interfere.”

Raymond raises an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “A family matter? Then why is Ms. Volkov always involved? Is she family

too?”

Aires’s jaw tightens. He ignores Raymond, turning his cold gaze on me. “You’re coming home. Aeson needs you.”

My voice is flat, empty. “I already told

you. I’m not going back.”

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I take Robin’s hand. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get that scrape cleaned.”

He nods, trusting, obedient.

Aeson moves. Blocks the door. His small

face is set in that stubborn expression I know so well–the one he inherited from

his father.

“You can’t leave!”

I look down at him. This child I carried, birthed, nursed through fevers and nightmares. This child who looks at me now like I’m the enemy.

For so long, I wondered if I’d failed. If my

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parenting was somehow lacking, if I’d done something wrong to push him into another woman’s arms. Maybe I had. Maybe everything I thought was love was just… assumption. Control. Need.

But why her? Why Imema?

I keep my voice calm. “Are you going to apologize to Robin for pushing him?”

His chin lifts, defiant. “No!”

I don’t argue. I don’t plead. “Then move.”

Something shifts in his expression. Confusion, maybe. He’s not used to this- to me not chasing him, not begging, not crumbling at his disapproval.

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“I won’t let you take care of him!” The words are a child’s tantrum, raw and desperate.

“Why should I listen to you?”

“Because you’re my mom!”

A small, humorless smile touches my lips. “Am I? I thought I was just the nanny.”

He freezes. For once, the clever words fail

him.

Imema’s voice cuts in, soft and reproachful. “Ms. Perseus, he’s just a child. Why argue with a child?”

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I turn to her. “Ms. Volkov, this is a family

matter. You’re an outsider. You have no

right to interfere.”

Her eyes fill with tears–on cue, always on cue. “I’m sorry, I just thought—as his mother–you shouldn’t speak to him that way—”

“How I speak to my son is my business. I don’t need lessons from you.”

Nick explodes. “Talia! How dare you talk to Imema like that! Just because you have someone backing you up today-”

I smile, thin and cold. “Yes. Usually I have no one, so I can’t talk this way. It’s exhausting, fighting four against one

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every time.” I turn back to Aeson, still blocking the door. “We’re leaving. Step

aside.”

His jaw sets. “If you leave today, I won’t call you Mom anymore! You have to choose–me or him!”

I’ve heard this before. So many times.

Each time, it carved another piece from my heart.

Now?

I’m numb.

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“Fine.” My voice doesn’t waver. “I choose

Robin.”

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Chapter 46

I step around him, open the door, and walk through.

Behind me, there is absolute silence.

I don’t look back. I have spent years looking back, and now, it’s time to look

forward.

Aeson’s POV

I can’t move or speak anything, just watching the door close behind her.

She’s gone. Mom is really gone.

My chest feels tight, like someone’s squeezing my heart. She chose him?! That strange boy… she chose him over me.. 16:17

Chapter 46

“Dad…” My voice comes out small, wobbly. I hate that it sounds like that. I’m not a baby anymore. “Dad, is it true? Did Mom… did she really not want me?”

I blink hard. My eyes are wet. I don’t know when that happened.

Before Dad can answer, Mr. Thorne laughs. It’s not a nice laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous, Aeson. She’s just trying to make you and your dad jealous. It’s a trick. Remember when she faked” being sick? When she pretended to be kidnapped? Same thing.”

I want to believe him. I really do.

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“But… she looked serious. She said she

chose him.”

“Of course she did!” Mr. Thorne grins, leaning down. “Have I ever lied to you? Women who’ve had babies always

come back. They’re obsessed with their families. I have a friend–his wife tried to leave once. Begged for divorce. But after the baby? Stuck like glue. Wouldn’t go anywhere.”

He winks. “You and your dad just have to hold out. Don’t give in. She’ll crawl back

on her own.”

I glance at Dad. His face is hard to read, like always.

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Chapter 46

“She will?” I whisper.

“Guaranteed.”

I nod slowly, pushing the shaky feeling

down.

Mr. Throne is right. Mom is just doing this for attention. She’ll come back, like

she always does.

B

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