Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Skye

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Cassandra is relentless.

Every activity becomes an opportunity for her to paint the perfect family picture. She encourages Liam to show Jaxon the snowman they built, to ask him to help build a fort by the pool, to climb on his shoulders for a better view. 1

“Cole, could you take a photo?” she asks on the fourth day, positioning Jaxon and Liam by the frozen waterfall This light is just perfect.”

Cole obliges, and Cassandra beams at the image on his phone. “Oh, Jaxon, you two look so handsome together. Liam, look-you have your father’s eyes.”

She doesn’t ask for pictures of me and Jaxon. Or me and Liam. Just them.

I watch from the sidelines, my hands shoved in my pockets, trying to ignore the hollow ache in my chest.

“Skye, come look!” Jaxon calls out, his voice carrying that forced enthusiasm I’ve come to recognize. “You should see this.”

I trudge over to where he and Liam are examining something in the snow. Cassandra stands close to Jaxon’s other side, already in position like she belongs there.

“It’s a bird’s nest,” Jaxon explains, pointing. “Liam spotted it.”

“That’s… great,” I say, and even I can hear how flat my voice sounds.

Jaxon’s jaw tightens. “Liam worked hard to find it. You could try to sound interested.”

The reprimand stings, especially delivered in front of Cassandra, who’s watching with that carefully sympathetic expression that makes my skin crawl.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” I crouch down to Liam’s level, forcing warmth into my voice. “That’s really impressive, Liam. You have sharp eyes.”

The boy beams, and for a moment, I feel something genuine-he’s just a child, innocent in all of this. But then Cassandra’s hand settles on Jaxon’s shoulder, and I watch his body angle toward her automatically, and the moment shatters.

I’m trying so hard. But every effort feels like pushing against a door that’s already been barred from the other side.

On the fifth day, I make the mistake of trying to engage.

Cassandra is sitting on one of the lounge chairs by the indoor pool, reading a magazine while Liam plays in the shallow end with foam toys. I settle into the chair beside her, searching for something-anything-to say.

“He seems to be feeling better,” I offer, nodding toward Liam. “The treatments must be working.”

She looks up, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she smiles. “They are. This place has been a miracle for him.”

“That’s good. I’m glad.”

Silence stretches between us. I’m about to try again when Jaxon appears from the changing room, his hair still damp from the shower.

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Chapter 10

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“Cassandra, I was thinking we could-” He stops when he sees me. His expression shifts, becomes guarded. ” Skye. I didn’t realize you were here.”

“I was just talking to Cassandra about Liam’s progress.”

“Right.” He glances between us, then focuses on my sister. “I wanted to ask about that specialist you mentioned. The one in the eastern territory.”

Just like that, I’m dismissed. Cassandra launches into an explanation about treatment options, and Jaxon listens with the kind of focused attention he’s never given me.

I get up and leave without either of them noticing.

Later that same day, I find Liam alone in the lobby, building something with a set of wooden blocks. Jaxon and Cassandra are nowhere in sight.

“That’s a nice tower,” I say, crouching down beside him.

He looks up, his gray eyes-so like his father’s-assessing me carefully. “It’s not a tower. It’s a castle.”

“My mistake.” I smile. “It’s a very nice castle.”

He considers this, then goes back to his building. For a moment, I think he’s going to ignore me completely. Then: “Mama says you don’t like us very much.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. “That’s not true.”

“Then how come you’re always sad when we’re around?”

I don’t have an answer for that. How do you explain to a four-year-old that you’re sad because his existence represents everything you’re losing? That watching him with Jaxon is a reminder that you’ll never have that easy affection, that uncomplicated love?

“I’m not sad because of you,” I say carefully. “Sometimes adults just have a lot on their minds.”

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