Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 85

< Alpha’s Discarded Luna

Chapter 83

Talia’s POV

Robin’s eyes shimmer with unshed tears, his small voice

cracking as he continues.

“I don’t have a mom. Dad is always working. No one ever

comes to my school things.” He sniffs, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. “Whenever there was a parent event, I’d

pretend to be sick so I could stay home.”

My heart clenches.

“I used to imagine… if I had a mom, I’d be so good. I’d listen

to her and never make her mad. We’d go to the park on

weekends. She’d help me with crafts and read me bedtime

stories. She’d come to all my school stuff.” His voice wobbles.

“She wouldn’t have to be pretty or smart or anything. She could mess up sometimes. I wouldn’t care. Just… just as long

as she was there.”

A tear escapes, rolling down his cheek.

“But some kids have amazing moms and they don’t even core. They don’t know that the mom they think is annoying is

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the one I pray for every night. They don’t know how lucky they

are.”

The words hit me like physical blows. The scenario he

describes–it’s everything I ever wanted. Everything I tried to

give Aeson. Everything he threw away.

Robin never had it. I had it and couldn’t keep it. Which of us is

more pitiful?

I pull him into my arms, holding him close. “I’ll always be here

for you,” I whisper into his hair. “Always.”

He pulls back just enough to look at me, his small face

serious. “I’ll always be here for you too, Ms. Perseus. Forever.”

I smile through the burning in my eyes. “Then let’s show them

what we can do this weekend. First place. Deal?”

His face lights up like sunrise. “Deal!”

Aeson’s POV

The moment Ms. Chen announces the talent show, my mind

jumps straight to Imema. She plays the piano like an angel. I’ve seen her in that white dress, fingers dancing across the 2/8

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< Chapter 83

strings, looking like something from a fairy tale. That’s when everything changed… when I realized how amazing she really is.

We’d win first place for sure. Everyone would see how lucky I

am to have her.

But thinking about Imema makes my stomach feel weird lately. She came to the hospital every day, yeah. But she

never stayed. Always had an excuse.

“Aeson, I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well. I need to rest.”

“Aeson, I have tests today. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Aeson, your mom doesn’t like me. If she sees me here, she

might stop me from visiting altogether…”

Grandma and Aunt Athena visited twice. They said the hospital was too uncomfortable and left. Dad had a

business trip. It was important, he said. So it was just the

housekeepers, Susan and Kelly, taking turns.

Mom never came back. Not once. Not even a phone call.

Imema said it’s because Mom hates her, and since I’m 3/8

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< Chapter 83

always with Imema, Mom hates me too. Maybe she’s right.

Mom got so mad about me eating that cake. It was just a tiny bite. An accident. Why is she being so dramatic?

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

“Does everyone have their performance sheets ready?” Ms. Chen’s voice pulls me back.

“Yes!” everyone choruses.

“Good. I’ll collect them now. Remember, if you need to make changes, let me know by Friday.”

The sheets have everything–what we’re performing, what our parents are doing, all the details. Professional judges will

score us live. It’s intense, but that’s just how this school works.

Everything is competition.

After class, I spot Robin at his desk. Perfect.

I swagger over, chest puffed out. “Hey, orphan. Gonna fake sick again so you don’t have to compete?”

I’ve hated him ever since he stole my mom. He acts all innocent, but I know the truth. He whispers things when no 4/8

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one’s listening, makes fun of me, then plays nice when teachers are around. Imema told me he even stopped that

doctor from saving me–deliberately. He wanted me to die so

he could have my mom forever.

And now Mom won’t even look at me. He must have said

something to her. Brainwashed her or something.

Robin keeps drawing like I’m not there.

“Didn’t you see Ms. Chen take my form?” he says quietly. “Ms.

Perseus is doing the competition with me.”

I freeze. “No way. She’s not going with you.”

He puts down his pencil. Looks up at me with this smile that

makes my skin crawl.

“Maybe Ms. Perseus thinks of me as her son now.” He leans

closer, lowering his voice so only I can hear. “Starting today,

I’m her son. You’re just the little orphan she doesn’t want

anymore.”

Something explodes inside me.

“What did you say?” My voice comes out wrong–too loud, too 5/8

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< Chapter 83

high. “Say that again!”

He jumps back, eyes going wide, face shifting to that fake scared look he does so well. “Aeson? What’s wrong? Why are

you so upset?”

I grab his sleeve. “Mom would never leave me for you! You’re

the one nobody wants! Your own mom died because even

she didn’t want you!”

The other kids are staring now. Teachers are running over.

“What’s happening here?” Ms. Chen grabs my arm, trying to pull me off.

Robin’s eyes fill with tears- fake tears! I know they’re fake!

His voice wobbles. “I know I don’t have a mom. I know my dad is always working. That’s why I asked Ms. Perseus to

come with me. I didn’t mean to make Aeson mad. I’m sorry.”

“NO!” I’m screaming now, I can’t help it. “She’s MY mom! Give

her back! GIVE HER BACK!”

It takes two teachers to pry us apart. I’m still struggling, still yelling, still trying to get to him. He just stands there crying, 6/8

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looking pathetic, and everyone’s staring at me like I’m the

bad guy.

Like always.

Ms. Chen exchanges a look with Mr. Park. I’ve seen that look

before—it’s their “here we go again” face. Ever since Robin showed up, we’ve been fighting constantly. They’re probably so tired of us.

“I’m calling both your parents,” Ms. Chen says, pulling out her phone. “This has gone on long enough.”

Robin sniffles. “My dad is out of town. Can you call Ms.

Perseus instead? She’s the only one who can come.”

Ms. Chen nods, already dialing.

My heart stops.

Mom is coming? For him.

She’ll walk through that door, and she won’t even look at me. She’ll go straight to Robin, ask if he’s okay, probably hug him. Like she used to do with me.

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I want to scream. I want to cry. I want to tell her I’m sorry,

even though I don’t know what I did wrong.

But when the door opens, it’s not Mom.

It’s Imema.

Imema rushes to my side, speaking softly. “Aeson, baby, are

you okay? What happened?”

I should feel relieved. Dad’s going to be here, and Imema’s already here.

But all I can think about is Mom–and the fact that she’s

coming here for someone else.

Not for me.

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