Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 142

Chapter 142

RILEY

The grandfather clock in the dining room chimed at midnight, its deep, resonant tones echoing through the quiet house. I’d been lying in bed since dinner, staring at the ceiling and thinking about everything that had happened today and everything that was going

to happen tomorrow.

–

(69)

Dinner was different tonight. Mr. Xenois had come home just as we were sitting down to eat, which surprised both me and Mommy. He’d been staying away from the house ever since he got out of the hospital, and I’d started to think he might never come back.

But tonight he’d sat across from me at the big dining table, asking me questions about how I was doing, what I’d been playing with, if I was sleeping okay. His attention felt warm and genuine, not like the distracted way he sometimes looked at me when Mommy was

around.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been here more,” he’d said, cutting his food but watching my face carefully. “I know I should have been spending time with you, especially after everything that happened.”

“It’s okay, Mr. Xenois,” I replied, meaning it. “I understand why you’ve been busy.”

That’s when I’d asked the question that had been burning in my chest all day. “Do you miss your wife and son?”

Mr. Xenois had stopped eating completely, his fork halfway to his mouth. For a long moment, he’d just stared at me with an expression I couldn’t read. Then, very quietly, he said, “Yes. I miss them very much.”

“Riley,” Mommy had snapped from her seat beside me, her voice sharp with warning. “You shouldn’t bring them up during dinner

conversation.”

–

I’d started to apologize the words forming automatically in my mouth like they always did when Mommy got that tone – but Mr.

Xenois had surprised me.

‘He didn’t do anything wrong, Sophia, he’d said firmly, his voice carrying the kind of authority that made even Mommy sit back in her chair. “Riley can ask me questions. That’s what children do.”

The way he’d defended me had made my chest feel warm and tight at the same time. No one had ever stood up to Mommy for me before. No one had ever said I had a right to ask questions or express curiosity about things that mattered to me.

After dinner, Mr. Xenois had gone to his study to work on pack business, and I’d pretended to play quietly in the living room while Mommy cleaned up. But I’d really been listening to her muttering to herself as she moved around the kitchen.

‘Need to quicken the timeline,” she’d whispered, probably thinking I couldn’t hear her. “Remove Riley from the picture tomorrow.

Can’t wait any longer.”

The words had confirmed what I’d already known, but hearing them said out loud still made my stomach feel sick and empty.

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Chapter 142

Tomorrow was the day. Tomorrow, Mommy was going to take me on that “special adventure she’d mentioned, and I wasn’t going to come back.

I’d put on my best fake smile when she’d come to get me ready for bed. I’d been practicing that smile for years the one that made grown-ups think I was happy and content when really I was scared or hurt or confused.

“Come on, sweetheart,” she’d said, taking my hand and leading me upstairs. “Time to get cleaned up for bed.”

I’d let her run my bath and help me brush my teeth, even though I was old enough to do both things by myself. She’d been gentle with me, washing my hair carefully and making sure the water wasn’t too hot or too cold. When she’d tucked me into bed and kissed my forehead, her lips felt warm and soft against my skin.

“Mommy?” I’d asked as she’d started to turn off my bedside lamp.

“Yes, baby?”

“Do you love me?”

She turned back to me immediately, her face soft in the dim light. “Of course I love you, Riley. I love you most of all, because I’m your mother and you’re the most important thing in my life.”

Her words had broken something inside me. Even knowing what I knew, even understanding what she was planning to do, hearing her say she loved me had hurt worse than any of the mean things she’d ever said when she was angry.

‘I love you too, Mommy,” I’d whispered back, and it hadn’t been a lie. Despite everything, despite the terrible truth I’d learned, part of me still loved the woman who’d raised me.

“Tomorrow we’re going to go on that special adventure I mentioned,” she’d said, smoothing my hair back from my forehead. “Just you

and me, out in the woods. Won’t that be fun?”

“Yes, Mommy,” I’d said, forcing excitement into my voice. “I can’t wait.”

She’d smiled at me then, but there had been something sad about it. Something that made me think maybe part of her didn’t really

want to do what she was planning.

bed.

I’d been lying there thinking about all of this when I’d heard footsteps in the hallway. A soft knock on my door had made me sit up in

‘Riley?” Mr. Xenois’s voice had called gently. “Are you still awake?”

“Yes, sir, I called back.

The door had opened, and Mr. Xenois had peeked his head in. “Would you like me to read a bedtime story?”

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Chapter 142

…

I’d heard Mommy’s voice from somewhere behind him, probably from her bedroom across the hall. “Xenois, he needs to sleep. It’s already past his bedtime.”

But Mr. Xenois had stepped into my room anyway, closing the door partway behind him. “Riley is my son, he’d said, his voice carrying through the partially open door. “And I’ve neglected him long enough. One story won’t hurt anything.”

My heart had done a little flip when he’d called me his son. Even though I knew the truth about who my real parents were, hearing

him claim me like that had made me feel warm and wanted.

68

“I brought one of Ollie’s favorite books,” Mr. Xenois had said, settling into the chair beside my bed. “I thought you might like it too.”

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Reborn From Regret A Second Chance at Luna’s Heart