The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 143

Chapter 143

I had barely lifted an eyebrow in surprise that they had recognized my alias when a low, husky chuckle came from beside me.

Turning toward Steven, I found his handsome face marked by a faint expression of disdain. “What’s so funny?” I asked, curiosity mingling with irritation.

His dark eyes locked onto mine, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“You, Somania? Do you even know what Somania’s very first creation was? A butterfly brooch, crafted with such intricate detail that it seemed three-dimensional from every angle—as if it had just emerged from its chrysalis, ready to take flight,” he said, voice dripping with condescension. “That’s the work of someone passionate and free-spirited, not someone who would willingly trap herself in an arranged marriage.”

His words hit me harder than I expected. Yes, I was free-spirited by nature, but blinded by love and ensnared by circumstance, I had ended up marrying him.

I hadn’t intended to admit it aloud, but his patronizing certainty sparked a rebellious flame inside me. Someone once asked what hurts more: never having something, or having it and losing it. I think the most painful is almost having it—just missing the mark by the smallest margin. Like needing a sixty to pass and scoring fifty-nine.

Steven claimed I couldn’t be Somania, so I resolved that I must be. The person he was searching for was me, and I was certain his own bias would blind him to the truth, causing him to miss me forever.

I didn’t want to take him down in a grand way, nor did I need to. But this small, satisfying victory? This was deliciously sweet.

I instructed the translator to say, “Yes, I am Somania.”

The translator hesitated, glancing between Steven and me before nodding and relaying the message to the partners.

Steven let out a soft chuckle, his usual tone laced with heavy disdain.

“Zephyra, you’ve always loved to lie,” he said.

I don’t always lie, I thought bitterly. He didn’t know me at all. After a year of marriage, he had remained distant and cold. What gave him the right to judge me?

I caught the deep-seated mockery in his eyes and simply didn’t care, releasing a soft, dismissive breath.

“What’s it to you? When you’re out in the world, you create your own identity. I say I’m Somania, and as long as someone believes it, that’s all that matters. Besides, this is a one-time thing. I won’t be back, so who’s going to know the difference?”

Steven shot me a sharp look but said nothing more. Meanwhile, the partners began buzzing with excitement, especially the balding project director, who couldn’t stop showering me with praise.

10:35 AM

“The jewelry you design is so light, so full of life! Even the coldest materials feel soft in your hands. It’s not just brilliance—it’s a powerful vitality. It’s truly extraordinary!” the project director exclaimed.

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