Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 98

Chapter 96

Talia’s POV

The lounge door bursts open, and Raymond, Robin, and

Electra crowd around me, having already heard the news.

Electra’s eyes narrow at the coffee stain spreading across my

white dress like a brown bruise.

“That woman is pure evil.” Electra’s voice shakes with fury. “She saw you looked more beautiful and couldn’t handle it.

So she ruined your dress on purpose.”

She paces, unable to contain herself. “Can’t compete fairly, so she plays dirty. Is she really that terrified of being

overshadowed-”

Nick’s voice cuts through like a rusty blade. “Terrified? Of a

housewife? That’s hilarious!” He appears behind us, arms

crossed, sneer firmly in place. “Imema graduated from Altheria University’s Institute of Musical Art. And you have the audacity to suggest she’s intimidated by someone who’s spent years cooking and cleaning?”

Electra spins to face him, eyes blazing. “So what if she graduated from Altheria? I graduated from Altheria too.“14:44

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Altheria University. The most prestigious royal art institution

in Maynard. Top five globally. They don’t produce celebrities

-they produce artists, musicians, creators. Electra

worked her way in through sheer determination, choosing brokerage management when her musical talents couldn’t

quite reach the stratospheric levels required for performance

majors.

But Talia? Talia was something else entirely.

Electra remembers. She was there. She saw.

If Talia had stayed in Maynard, pursued her career instead

of marrying Aires, she’d be as legendary as her mother by now. Bernard, despite his current fame, would be

overshadowed. Because Talia isn’t just talented–she’s a

prodigy. The kind that makes one percent inspiration look like

overkill.

The worst part? She’s also diligent. Gifted and hardworking.

The combination that produced the youngest inductee into Altheria’s Hall of Fame during her very first semester.

Nick’s laugh is ugly, mocking. “You graduated from Altheria?

Sure, and I’m a genius in their Hall of Fame. Anyone can

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claim anything.”

Electra stares at him like he’s grown a second head. “Are you

mentally unwell? When did I brag?”

Nick turns to Imema with theatrical confidence. “Imema, did

you ever see this woman at Altheria?”

Imema shakes her head, all innocence. “No, I never did.”

Nick’s smirk widens. “See? Imema said she never saw you. Caught red–handed.”

Electra rolls her eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t get

stuck. “You absolute simp. Imema not seeing me doesn’t prove anything. Were we in the same classes? Same years? You don’t even know basic facts, yet you’re running your

mouth like an expert.”

Imema sighs, the picture of wounded patience. “Ms. Parker,

I’m only a year younger than Ms. Perseus. We’re both from Zenithara. Even if we weren’t in the same classes, it’s strange

that I never heard of either of you. The Zenithara community

at Altheria isn’t that large.”

“You never heard of me, and I never heard of you.” Electra’s 3/7

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voice drips with disdain. “But Talia? Talia skipped grades. By the time you enrolled, she’d probably already graduated. You wouldn’t know her because she was gone–having already

accomplished more than most students do in four years.”

Nick doubles over, clutching his stomach, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. “Oh, this keeps getting better! Keep going! Bragging isn’t a crime, right? I could claim I’m the Moon Goddess and you’d probably believe yourself!”

Electra’s face flushes crimson. She lunges toward him-

I catch her arm. “Electra. Robin’s performance matters more

than this fool.”

She stops, breathing hard, but nods. “Fine. You’re right.” She turns back to Nick with cold contempt. “Whether Imema graduated from Altheria is irrelevant. What matters is she deliberately ruined Talia’s dress. We’ve already found a

solution–Imema and Talia have similar builds. Imema can

remove her dress and let Talia wear it. Problem solved.”

Nick’s eyes go wide. Then something clicks behind them.

“OH!” He points at me, voice rising with manufactured

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revelation. “I get it now! This is your scheme! You’re trying to

frame Imema, keep her from competing!”

His voice echoes off the walls, drawing attention.

“Talia, you’re despicable! You know you can’t compare to

Imema, so you resort to tricks! You want her to drop out, don’t

you? Well, it won’t work! Not while I’m here!”

The door swings open. Diana storms in, Aeson trailing behind

her, face pale. She catches the tail end of Nick’s outburst and

her expression turns thunderous.

“Talia!” Her voice could shatter glass. “You treacherous,

two–faced creature! You’re sabotaging your own son to help a stranger’s child?”

Aeson’s eyes glisten with confusion and hurt. “Mom… why

would you do this? Why would you try to hurt my chances?”

Nick piles on, gleeful. “Obviously she’s terrified of embarrassing herself! So she manufactured this whole

scene!”

I rub my ears, the noise overwhelming. Diana’s screeching,

Nick’s accusations, Aeson’s wounded questions, it’s a 5/7

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symphony of blame, all directed at me.

When the noise finally pauses for breath, I speak.

“Whose mad dog is barking in here?”

Silence. Shocked, outraged silence.

Diana’s face purples. Nick’s jaw drops. Aeson stares.

I meet each of their gazes in turn, calm as still water.

“Imema spilled coffee on me. Deliberately. Multiple witnesses saw it. And now you’re blaming me for her

actions?” I shake my head slowly. “The mental gymnastics required to reach that conclusion are truly impressive.”

I gesture to my stained dress. “I have no backup outfit. Imema does. The solution is simple, she gives me hers. But apparently, that’s unacceptable because it might affect her performance. My performance, my preparation, my hours of practice with a child who isn’t mine but who trusts me… none

of that matters.”

I look at Aeson last, holding his eyes.

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“I didn’t do this to hurt you. I didn’t do this at all, Imema did.

And the people who claim to love you are more concerned

with protecting her than with finding out the truth.”

B

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