Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 143

Chapter 143

RILEY

I nodded eagerly, scooting over to make room for him to sit on the edge of my mattress instead. The book was about a brave little wolf who went on adventures and learned important lessons about friendship and courage. Mr. Xenois had read it with different voices for each character, making me giggle despite the heaviness in my chest.

When he’d finished the story and closed the book, I’d looked at him carefully in the soft light from my lamp.

“Mr. Xenois?” I asked quietly.

“Yes?”

“Are you sad that I replaced Ollie?”

Mr. Xenois had looked confused, his eyebrows drawing together. “What do you mean, replace him?”

“I know you’re my father,” I’d said, the words coming out in a rush before the magic could stop me. Maybe because I was talking to him instead of trying to tell someone about Mommy, the necklace wasn’t preventing me from saying this part. “I figured it out, and I want to know if you hate me for that.”

“Riley,” Mr. Xenois had said softly, reaching out to touch my face. “I could never hate you. You’re just a little boy. Nothing that’s happened is your fault.”

“But I took Ollie’s place,” I’d insisted. “I made your real family leave.”

“No,” Mr. Xenois had said firmly. “That’s not what happened. And even if it was, you didn’t choose any of this. You’re not responsible for grown-up problems and grown-up mistakes.”

Relief had flooded through me at his words. I’d been so afraid he blamed me for everything that had gone wrong.

‘Can I have a hug?” I’d asked, needing to feel his arms around me one more time before tomorrow.

“Of course,” he’d said, pulling me close against his chest.

I’d wrapped my arms around his neck, breathing in his familiar scent and memorizing the feeling of being held by him. And while

a simple chain with a small he’d been distracted by the hug, I’d carefully reached up and worked at the clasp of the necklace he wore pendant that looked almost identical to mine.

I’d learned about the necklaces from overhearing Mommy’s phone conversation. She’d said the magic prevented the wearer from removing it themselves, but someone else without an evil heart could take it off. The necklace on Mr. Xenois was making him confused and forgetful, making him doubt his feelings for his real family.

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Chapter 143

With careful fingers, I’d managed to unhook the clasp and slip the chain free from his neck. Mr. Xenois hadn’t even noticed, too

focused on the hug and the conversation.

“Everything’s going to be okay, I’d whispered against his shoulder, tucking his necklace under my pillow where he wouldn’t see it.

“Soon everything will go back to normal.”

“I hope so, he’d murmured back.

“I’m feeling sleepy now,” I’d said, pulling back and settling down into my covers.

Mr. Xenois had stood up, smoothing my blankets around me. He’d started to leave, then hesitated at my door.

“Riley?” he’d said quietly.

“Yes, sir?”

“If you want to… you can call me Dad. If that feels right to you.”

68

I’d looked at him for a long moment, this man who’d been kind to me even when he was confused and hurting. This man who was my real father but didn’t know it, who’d tried his best to care for me even though he’d thought I belonged to someone else.

“Maybe next time,” I’d said finally. “But for now, Mr. Xenois is good.”

I’d seen disappointment flicker across his face, but he’d nodded understanding. “Goodnight, Riley. Sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, Mr. Xenois.”

After he’d left, closing my door softly behind him, I’d allowed myself to cry. Silent tears that I’d wiped away with my pillowcase so no

one would know.

I’d tried tugging at my own necklace, hoping that maybe removing Mr. Xenois’s had somehow broken the spell on mine too. But it wouldn’t budge. The magic was still there, still controlling what I could and couldn’t say, still preventing me from asking for help.

I couldn’t tell anyone about Mommy’s plans. I couldn’t ask someone to remove my necklace, I couldn’t even hint that I was in danger without the spell twisting my words into praise for Mommy or expressions of how much I loved her.

But at least I’d been able to free Mr. Xenois. At least now he’d be able to think clearly, to remember how much he loved his real family. Maybe he’d even be able to go get them and bring them home where they belonged.

I pulled Mr. Xenois’s necklace out from under my pillow and held it up in the dim light filtering through my curtains. It looked so innocent, just a simple chain with a small stone pendant. It was hard to believe something so ordinary could hold such terrible magic.

Tomorrow, when Mommy took me on our “adventure,” Mr. Xenois would start wondering where we’d gone. Without the necklace clouding his judgment, he’d probably realize pretty quickly that something was wrong. And when he couldn’t find us, maybe he’d finally

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Chapter 143

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understand what kind of person Mommy really was.

I tucked the necklace back under my pillow and closed my eyes, trying to imagine Mr. Xenois going to get Lumina and Ollie, bringing them home to this house where they belonged. I pictured Ollie playing with toys in the living room, running around the backyard, being read bedtime stories by his real father who could think clearly again.

It was a good picture. It made the scared, hollow feeling in my chest a little smaller.

I’d done something important tonight. I’d helped save the family that belonged together, even if I couldn’t save myself. And maybe,

somehow, that was enough.

Maybe being able to help them was worth whatever was going to happen to me tomorrow.

The grandfather clock chimed again, marking another hour closer to dawn. I pulled my blankets up to my chin and tried to sleep, holding tight to the image of Mr. Xenois reunited with his real family.

At least they would be happy. At least they would be together.

And maybe that was the best ending I could hope for.

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19:52 Mon, Jan 26

Reborn From Regret A Second Chance at Luna’s Heart