The Broken Luna, Now His Regret novel Chapter 8

8 Chapter 8 The Dark, Empty House

8 Chapter 8 The Dark, Empty House

Kieran barely heard the presentation his finance director was giving. His mind kept circling back to the text he’d sent Mira that morning: Parent–Child Day at Everwood tomorrow. 1 PM. Don’t forget.

No response. But that was typical lately. She’d been ignoring his messages for months.

His phone rang, shattering his distraction. The caller ID read: Everwood Academy.

Kieran frowned and stepped out of the conference room. “Yes?”

“Mr. Ravencrest?” The teacher’s voice was strained. “I’m calling about Brielle. It’s Parent–Child Day, and she’s the only child without a parent present. She’s very upset.”

His stomach dropped. “What? I sent her mother a reminder—”

“Sir, it’s been over an hour. Brielle is crying. The other children are starting to

notice.”

Kieran was already moving toward the elevator. “I’m coming. Tell her I’m on

my way.”

He made it to the kindergarten in twenty minutes, breaking at least three traffic laws. Inside, the classroom was decorated with hand–drawn family portraits and paper chains. Parents sat at tiny tables with their children, laughing over craft projects.

Brielle sat alone in the corner, her face blotchy and red. When she saw him, she burst into fresh tears.

“Daddy!”

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8 Chapter 8 The Dark, Empty House

Kieran dropped to his knees and pulled her close. “I’m here, sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”

“Where’s Mommy?” Her voice was small and broken. “Everyone else has their mommy.”

Kieran’s jaw tightened. Where the hell was Mira? “Mommy’s… she’s preparing something special for Grandpa’s birthday dinner tonight. She wanted to be here, but she had to get everything ready.”

It was a lie, but Brielle’s tears slowed.

“Really?”

“Really. Now come on, let’s make Grandpa a birthday card together.”

That evening, Kieran drove to the Ravencrest estate with Brielle and his mother Selene. The traditional birthday eve dinner for his father, Elder Caspian Ravencrest, was the most important event of the season.

But as they pulled up to the manor, Kieran’s unease crystallized into dread.

The house was completely dark.

No lights in the windows. No cars in the drive. No warmth spilling from the doorway.

“What on earth?” Selene’s voice was ice.

Kieran carried Brielle inside and flipped on the lights. The dining room table was bare–no place settings, no centerpiece, no food. The kitchen was cold, the counters empty.

Mira hadn’t prepared anything. She hadn’t come at all.

“This is unacceptable!” Selene’s face was white with fury. She yanked out her phone and dialed Mira’s number, pacing the empty dining room like a caged animal. “Pick up. Pick up, you irresponsible-”

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8 Chapter 8 The Dark, Empty House

The call went to voicemail.

She tried again. And again. Each time, the same automated message.

On the fourth attempt, Selene hurled her phone across the room. It shattered against the stone fireplace, pieces scattering across the floor.

“Five years,” she hissed. “Five years I’ve tolerated her incompetence, her distance, her complete inability to fulfill even the most basic duties. And now this? Now she can’t even be bothered to show up for her own father–in–law’s birthday eve?”

Kieran stood frozen, Brielle clinging to his neck. This wasn’t like Mira. For all her recent coldness, she’d never simply… not shown up. She’d been at every pack event, every family dinner, every obligation for their entire marriage. Resentful, perhaps. Withdrawn, certainly. But always present.

“We’ll go to a restaurant,” he said finally. “I’ll handle this.”

But as he made the reservation, doubt gnawed at him. Where was she? Why hadn’t she answered? The Mira he knew would have at least sent a message,

an excuse, something.

Brielle’s small voice cut through his thoughts. “Daddy? Did Mommy forget

about us?”

“No, sweetheart. Mommy just… got confused about the day.”

But Brielle’s eyes–too knowing for a four–year–old–filled with tears. “She deliberately embarrassed me. Everyone saw I was alone.” Her little jaw set in an expression he recognized from his own mother. “I don’t want her anymore. I want Aunt Astrid. She never forgets me.”

Kieran should have corrected her. Should have defended Mira.

He didn’t.

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