The Luna Never Heard novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Honestly, Adeline, I sometimes wish you’d just died when you were nine and never been saved.”

The moment Caden uttered those words, the private room erupted.

“Damn, Caden! That’s a sick burn!” someone roared with laughter.

“Wait ‘til Adeline’s hearing is fixed. Say that right to her face. I wonder if she’ll cry. That ‘good girl‘ act of hers

is so fake,” another voice chimed in, dripping with mockery.

“What could she even do if she heard? Look at her. Who’d bother with her? Caden’s basically doing her a

charity by putting up with her,” a third person sneered.

I stood frozen, the discharge papers from the hospital crumpled tightly in my hand. It felt like a vise was squeezing my heart, the pain so sharp I could barely breathe.

After high school, my parents took me to a specialist out of state. They fixed my hearing. I didn’t need the

hearing aids anymore.

Today was my birthday party.

I had planned to surprise Caden, to tell him my ears were healed, that I wasn’t something he had to worry

about anymore.

I never imagined my carefully planned surprise would let me overhear such a cruel truth.

Caden’s words were like a razor–sharp blade plunged straight into my heart. The agony was so intense l

almost lost my balance.

I bit down hard on my lower lip, lifting my gaze to him, wanting to demand why.

But he didn’t even seem to notice me. He was looking down, idly playing with my old white hearing aid, a

scornful smirk twisting his lips.

“Alright, knock it off,” he said, his tone casual, almost bored. “Adeline saved my life when we were kids. Watch what you say. Don’t let her catch on,” he added casually.

The meaning was instantly clear to everyone.

“Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with us.”

“Tch. Adeline’s hitting way above her weight with Caden. Even if she stayed deaf forever, it’d be worth it.”

A wave of raucous laughter followed.

Chapter 1

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“Okay, okay, that’s enough. Adeline’s still a sensitive girl, not easy–going like me. Don’t be too harsh,” Selene Rivers said, laughing as she walked over. She announced with pretended seriousness, “Caden, you passed

my test.”

“Now I believe you really don’t have feelings for Adeline. So, we can go on that date tomorrow.”

Caden gave a soft laugh, his eyes turning warm enough to melt butter. “Sure,” he murmured.

I just stood there, my mind completely blank. The surrounding jeers and cheers faded into a dull, buzzing

static until I couldn’t hear anything at all.

“Hey, sweetheart? You spacing out on me?”

“I rejected Selene. She’s cool with it. She’s not my mate anymore. So, that means you and me… we’re official.”

I was still reeling when Caden gently placed the hearing aid back in my ear. He smiled down at me, a teasing glint in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Happy shock?”

I should have been happy.

My eighteenth birthday. A confession from the guy I loved. Making things official in front of all our friends. It should have been the sweetest moment of my life.

But now, I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My throat was as dry and gritty as sand.

The others chimed in excitedly, “Adeline, Caden just took your hearing aid out and whispered the sweetest things! It was so corny, we got secondhand chills!”

“Ugh, I wish I had a childhood friend like that.”

“Way to go, Caden,” Selene laughed, slinging an arm around his shoulder. “You reject me and still land such a pretty girlfriend.”

Did they really think I was that stupid?