Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 384

Chapter 384

As Thorne pulled out his phone to make calls, I turned back to the foyer, really looking at it for the first time.

Photographs. Everywhere.

The walls were covered with them-a shrine to Ollie’s childhood. Baby pictures from every week of his first year. His first birthday party with a cake shaped like a wolf. His first day of kindergarten. Zoo trips and quarium visits and mountain climbing adventures. Camping in the woods. Beach vacations. Holiday celebrations.

Every significant moment of my son’s life, documented and displayed with obvious love and pride.

My mother had always been meticulous about photographs. She’d done the same thing with me and Xena growing up-walls covered with our achievements and adventures, physical proof of a childhood filled with love and attention.

Looking at Ollie’s pictures now, seeing the care that had gone into displaying them, I felt something crack in my

chest.

Because this wasn’t the home of people who’d stopped caring. This was the home of grandparents who adored their grandson, who’d made

him the center of their world after losing their daughter.

So why had they left him?

“Daddy?” Ollie’s small voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “Why did they leave all my pictures but not take me with them?”

I turned to find my oldest son standing in the middle of the foyer, staring up at the walls with an expression that shattered what was left of my composure. His face was blotchy from crying, his eyes red and swollen, his whole body radiating confusion and hurt.

Ollie had never been rejected before. Not by family, not by the people who were supposed to love him unconditionally. He’d been the golden child, the perfect grandson, the source of joy and hope after Xena’s death.

And now he was learning what it felt like to be left behind.

“I don’t know, buddy,” I said, kneeling down to his level. “But we’re going to figure it out. I promise.”

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“Did I do something wrong?” Ollie asked, his voice breaking. “Is it because I was spending more time with Riley and Lake? Is it because I didn’t call them enough? I tried to ask, but you and Mom were so busy, and I was trying to be good and adjust and be a good brother, and maybe they thought I forgot about them? Maybe if I’d called more, if I’d asked to visit, they wouldn’t have left?”

“No,” I said firmly, pulling him into my arms. “Listen to me, Ollie. Thi is not your fault. None of it. You did nothing wrong. Your grandparents love you-I know they do. Whatever reason they had for leaving, it had nothing to do with you not being good enough or not calling enough. Do you understand?”

But even as I said it, I wondered if I was lying. Because maybe it was out Ollie-or rather, about the fact that Ollie now had brothers. That our family had expanded in ways my parents couldn’t accept.

Maybe they’d looked at Riley and Lake and seen threats to Ollie’s position, to his inheritance, to the carefully planned future they’d

envisioned for him.

Maybe they’d chosen to leave rather than watch their perfect grandso share attention and love with children they deemed unworthy.

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The thought made me sick.

“I want to talk to them,” Ollie said, pulling back from the hug. Please Daddy. I need to talk to Grandma. I need to tell her to come back.”

“Ollie-

‘Please!” His voice rose, desperate and pleading. “Just let me leave them a message. Maybe if they hear me, if they know I miss them,

they’ll come home. Please!”

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