Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 80

Chapter 78

Talia’s POV

Aeson’s small face twists with indignation. “Of course you’re

wrong! Ms. Volkov is just worried about me! Mom, you can’t

be so controlling that you won’t let anyone else care about

me.”

I look at my son–this child I carried, birthed, nursed through

countless fevers. “So I should become someone else’s mother

instead? Give my care to another child?”

His face darkens instantly. “No! You can’t be that brat’s mom!”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re MY mom!”

I tilt my head, curious. “But you just said I was being controlling. You want freedom and respect. Shouldn’t you be happy to share?”

Aeson sputters, unable to form words. “That’s… that’s

different…”

1/8

14:38

< Chapter 78

Imema glides in smoothly, ever the peacemaker. “Ms.

Perseus, why argue with a child? He’s just young. Let him have his way.”

I turn to her, my gaze flat. “He was just lecturing me about freedom, equality, and respect. If we’re all equal, why should I yield to him? He demands tolerance from others while pursuing his own freedom.” I pause, letting the words land. “Is that the philosophy you’ve been teaching him, Ms.

Volkov?”

Her face flushes. The child couldn’t have constructed that

argument alone—the language, the concepts, the framing. All

her work.

She recovers quickly, offering a conciliatory smile. “You’ve been here all night. You must be exhausted. Why don’t you go home and rest? I can stay with Aeson during the day.”

The irony is almost too much. Last night, after Aeson emerged from surgery, Imema claimed dizziness and

had Aires escort her home. Even Diana left, citing her own exhaustion. I stayed. Alone. All night.

Now they’re not worried about my ability to care for him.

2/8

14:38

< Chapter 78

I ignore her, focusing on Aeson. “What would you like to eat?

I’ll get something.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Imema’s voice is bright, helpful.

She opens her thermos, releasing the smell of soup. “I made this myself, Aeson. Would you like to try?”

Aeson hesitates. I’ve seen him eat her cooking before–he

never finishes. But he glances at me, then back at her, and

nods. “Okay.”

She lifts a spoon, blowing gently to cool it. “Let me feed you,

sweetheart.”

The scent reaches me–and my blood runs cold.

I slap the spoon from her hand.

Hot soup splashes everywhere–across Imema’s arm, her

dress, the floor. She screams, a genuine sound of pain.

The door opens. Aires strides in.

He takes in the scene in an instant–Imema’s scalded hand, me standing over her, Aeson watching with wide eyes. He

3/8

14:38

< Chapter 78

moves without thinking, pushing me aside to reach her.

“Are you alright?”

The shove catches me off guard. I stumble backward, my hip catching the corner of the table. Pain explodes through my side. I grab the edge to keep from falling.

Imema’s hand is blistering. For once, her tears are real.

“Aires, I don’t know what I did–Ms. Perseus just threw the

soup at me…”

Aires looks at me. My face is pale, dark circles bruising

my eyes, exhaustion written in every line. I probably look

half–dead.

He hesitates–a second, maybe two–then his expression

hardens.

“Eleanor. What nonsense are you causing now?”

The pain in my hip is so sharp I can’t speak. Can’t defend

myself. Can’t explain.

Imema sobs, playing her role perfectly. “Maybe Ms. Perseus is still angry about yesterday… I understand. I almost hurt 4/8

14:38

< Chapter 78

Aeson. I thought she wouldn’t order food he couldn’t eat, but I

didn’t realize-”

She reaches for my arm, trying to pull my hand toward her.

“Ms. Perseus, hit me if you need to. I’ll accept it. Whatever

helps.”

Aires holds her back, voice ice. “Stop that.”

Aeson shouts from the bed. “Ms. Volkov, it’s not your fault! We

ordered the same food as Mom–she’s the one who ordered

the nut cake! If she hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten sick!”

The words hit me like physical blows.

I turn to stare at my son. The child I’ve watched over all night. The child I love more than my own life.

His eyes are fixed on Imema, full of worry. For her.

Aires frowns at Imema, his expression stern–concerned. For

her.

No one looks at me. No one asks if I’m hurt. No one noticed

me stumble, hit the table, almost fall.

5/8

! 14:38

< Chapter 78

No one cares.

I smile. My eyes burn, but the tears won’t come anymore. I’m

too empty for tears.

What a fool I’ve been.

I walk toward the door.

Aires’s hand closes around my wrist. “Where are you going? Imema didn’t mean any harm yesterday. Must you punish her for everything?”

My voice comes from somewhere deep and frozen. “Let go.”

“You can’t blame her entirely. She didn’t know what was on

your table.”

Aeson chimes in, eager to defend his favorite. “If anyone’s at fault, it’s you, Mom! You knew I couldn’t eat nuts and you still ordered that cake! You’re the one who did something wrong!”

I stop. Turn. Look at my son.

“So my allergic reaction was my fault?”

6/8

14:38

< Chapter 78

He won’t meet my eyes. “Anyway… it wasn’t Ms. Volkov’s

fault.”

I look at Aires. “Do you agree?”

Silence. Then: “With so many cakes to choose from, why did

you specifically order the nut cake?”

I search his face. “You think I tried to hurt Aeson on purpose?”

“You wouldn’t order that cake.” His eyes are dark, calculating.

“Robin ordered it, didn’t he?”

Understanding dawns–ugly and complete. “Robin saved

your son’s life yesterday. Today you’re accusing him of

attempted murder?” I laugh, the sound hollow. “Aires. Are you

serious?”

His jaw tightens. “People aren’t always what they seem. He’s

bullied Aeson before. My son has suffered because of him.”

I stare at this man–my husband, Aeson’s father–and feel

something inside me finally shatter.

“So Imema is innocent. A victim. But a five–year–old child is more cunning and calculating than a grown woman?” My 7/8

14:38

< Chapter 78

voice rises. “Aires, would you say that in public? To strangers?

Would you actually hear yourself?”

He doesn’t answer.

I look at Aeson, still staring at Imema with those worshipful

eyes. I look at Imema, weeping prettily in Aires’s arms.

I’m so done with this.

B

Write your comment

1 Gifts

Similar stories

THE UGLY WIFE

BECOMES THE BILLIONLA RE’S SWEETHEAR

Froun

BEST FRIEND TO FIANCE

More

PAGE HUNTER

4 ALPHA’S