Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 76

Chapter 74

Imema’s POV

I stand frozen, watching them walk away.

Aires, Talia and that boy Robin. The three of them moving toward the ambulance together, united by crisis, bound by

something I can’t touch.

No one looks back at me.

The crowd’s whispers start low, then grow.

“Who is that woman? The one who kept saying the mother

was after money?”

“She’s the one who blocked the rescue–offered rewards

to hold the mother back. If that child had died, we’d all be

accomplices.”

“The mother had medicine ready. She knew what to do. But

this woman–she’s always around the boy, acting like she

cares, yet she didn’t know the first thing about saving him.”

My face burns. I want to disappear, to melt into the floor and

< Chapter 74

escape their stares.

“I was at the next table. The father stepped away to take a

call, and this woman was feeding the boy. Minutes later, he

collapsed. Makes you think, doesn’t it?”

Gasps. More whispers. The speculation grows wilder, more damning.

“Only a fool would trust a woman like that. The husband must

be blind.”

“She’s probably the mistress. The other woman. They always play innocent while destroying families.”

The words are knives, each one finding its mark. I’ve spent years crafting my image as someone delicate, vulnerable,

and deserving of protection. In minutes, they’ve shredded it.

I can’t stay here, I can’t face another second of their

contempt.

I stumble toward the ambulance, desperate to escape, to find Aires, to reclaim my place at his side. The medical staff barely glance at me as I climb in. They’re focused on Aeson,

on monitors and medications.

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Aeson. If he dies-

No. He won’t die. He can’t. I need him. He’s my anchor to Aires, my guarantee of access, my proof of devotion.

The ambulance doors close, muffling the crowd’s whispers

but not silencing them in my head.

Scheming woman. Mistress. Liar.

I press my hands together to stop their trembling. My face is

hot with humiliation, my mind racing for damage control.

Talia’s POV

The ambulance siren wails as we race toward the hospital.

The confined space hums with tension, monitors beeping,

medical staff working silently around Aeson’s still form.

I focus on Robin. His small arm is scraped and bleeding

from Imema’s shove, and the sight of it makes something

protective roar inside me. I reach for the first aid kit, pulling

out antiseptic wipes and bandages.

“Let me see, sweetheart.”

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He flinches as I dab at the wound, sucking in a sharp breath.

“It hurts.”

I pause, meeting his eyes. “Do you want me to stop?”

He looks at my concerned face, then steels himself, thrusting

his arm back toward me with determined bravery. “No. Keep

going, Ms. Perseus. I’m okay.”

One of the nurses watching us smiles warmly. “Is this your

son? He’s absolutely precious–so well–mannered and brave.”

I open my mouth to correct her, to explain that Robin isn’t

mine, that I’m just hired help, that I have no claim to this

extraordinary child.

But I see his face. The tension. The hope. The fear that I’ll

push him away.

I smile instead. Say nothing.

“You’re so lucky,” the nurse continues. “What a wonderful

boy.”

Before I can respond, a familiar voice cuts through like a

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blade.

“Ms. Perseus, don’t you think this is rather inappropriate?”

I look up. Imema sits across from us, her expression carefully

calibrated–concern mixed with reproach.

“Aeson is fighting for his life,” she continues, “and you’re over

there treating the child who bullies him like your own son. Doesn’t that seem wrong to you?”

I meet her gaze without flinching. “Robin didn’t bully Aeson.

In fact, Robin just saved Aeson’s life.” I let the words land,

watching her flinch. “Unlike you. You almost became the

woman who killed him. You blocked me repeatedly. You

incited strangers to hold me down. You trusted a greedy stranger over the child’s own mother.”

Her face pales. She drops her head, shoulders shaking with

practiced remorse. “That man was a doctor. I thought he

knew what he was doing. I was terrified–I didn’t want to

delay treatment.” Tears spill down her cheeks as she turns to

Aires. “Aires, I’m so sorry. I almost hurt Aeson. I was just so

scared-”

Aires’s voice is steady, reassuring. “It’s not your fault. You 5/8

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were panicked. Anyone would be.”

I bite back the bitter laugh threatening to escape. Of course. Of course he defends her. Every time. No matter what.

I turn away from them both, focusing on Aeson’s peaceful face. The fear still hasn’t left me–the memory of his blue lips, his still chest, the stranger’s hands descending. Jack’s

emergency spray saved him. The medicine I carried. If I

hadn’t had it…

A thought strikes me. I look at Aires.

“Aeson carries emergency medication every day. A small

spray bottle in his pocket. When I told that man to check,

it wasn’t there.” I study his face. “Did you take it? Throw it

away?”

Aires frowns. “No. Aeson dresses himself. Kelly handles laundry. Maybe she removed it.”

“Impossible.” My voice is flat. “I’ve told Kelly repeatedly about the medicine. She’s been with us for years–she wouldn’t

make that mistake.”

Imema shifts beside Aires, a tiny movement I almost miss. 6/8

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“Maybe Aeson lost it,” Aires suggests.

I press my temples, exhaustion crashing over me. “I’ve

told him a hundred times–that medicine saves his life. He

knows better than to misplace it.” I sigh. “I’ll ask him when he

wakes.”

The truth is, our relationship has crumbled so completely that I wouldn’t be surprised if he threw it away in anger. Another

casualty of Imema’s careful poisoning.

I look at Aires, then at Imema. “How did this happen? What

caused the reaction?”

Aires turns to Imema. “What did you order?”

Panic flickers across her face–quickly masked, but I catch it.

“I… I’m not entirely sure.”

My eyes narrow. “You gave him nuts, didn’t you?”

Aeson’s only allergy. Nuts. Aires knows this–he’s been told a

hundred times.

Aires shakes his head immediately. “I checked every dish

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Imema ordered. No nuts. You’re mistaken.”

The irony burns like acid. His son nearly dies because of her

carelessness, and he still defends her. Still trusts her. Still

doubts me.

Robin’s small voice breaks through. “Ms. Perseus, we ordered

a nut cake today. At the restaurant.”

I look at him, confused.

He continues, earnest and clear. “I checked. Mr. Perseus

ordered the same dishes we did. And we definitely ordered

the cake with nuts. You told me Aeson was allergic, and I

remembered because I was worried.”

I turn back to Imema, my gaze freezing. “Explain, now!”

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