The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 164

**Between the Wings of Twilight Lies the Memory of You**
by Liren Ava Roen

“I see him. Who’s that with him? Did he mention her?”

Horace cast his gaze down at me, his expression a curious mix of surprise and intrigue.

“I can’t say I know her,” he replied, his brow furrowing slightly. “But she’s undeniably beautiful. The connection with Uncle Julian seems rather complex. She entered the room, and before anyone could say a word, she just broke down in tears. Then, without a moment’s hesitation, she marched right up to him and slapped him across the face.”

My mouth fell open in disbelief. “That intense? What did he do next? How did Uncle Julian handle it?”

“With that thick beard of his, it was hard to decipher his thoughts. But it’s clear they share a history. Uncle Julian remained composed throughout the entire scene. He simply told me to stay put while he took her outside to talk.”

I found myself captivated by the sight of the man and woman standing beneath the lamppost, my mind racing with possibilities. Who could she be? The fact that Uncle Julian didn’t retaliate was telling. Could this be my long-lost aunt? But how would she have known which hospital he was in? I had gone to great lengths to keep his whereabouts a secret from my grandfather’s side of the family. Had Uncle Julian reached out to her?

But then again, it didn’t really matter. The most important thing was Uncle Julian’s happiness. As for me, I felt like I was drowning in my own misery. The thought of a divorce loomed over me like a dark cloud, and my financial situation was a dismal one.

A deep sigh escaped my lips, and Horace’s keen eyes locked onto me immediately. “What’s troubling you? Something on your mind?”

I nodded, my honesty pouring out. “Yeah, there’s definitely something weighing on me. But I’ll sort it out soon enough.”

I didn’t want to delve into the complexities of my situation with Steven. It was better for both of them to remain out of each other’s lives this time. I couldn’t bear the thought of Horace getting pulled into danger again because of me.

Horace narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing my hesitation, but he didn’t push further. “Zephyra, how about we go for a ride?”

I turned to him, curiosity piqued as he pulled a key from his pocket, a wide grin spreading across his face. “You haven’t had dinner yet, right? Come on, I’ll treat you to your favorite spicy crawfish.”

Autumn had arrived, the perfect season for indulging in crawfish.

My eyes sparkled with excitement, and my mood lifted instantly. The mere thought of it made my mouth water. “Deal! You have no idea how much I’ve been craving them!”

In my previous life, Steven had never been a fan of such cuisine, so I had never tried it either. Later, when I battled stomach cancer, spicy and greasy foods were strictly off-limits. Just thinking about those crawfish now made my stomach grumble with hunger.

Horace handed me a helmet and helped me fit it securely. “Just got it recently.”

I was taken aback. That meant he had purchased it in the last few weeks. In my previous life, I had no memory of him owning a bike like this. Was it just my imagination, or had Horace transformed as well? He seemed lighter, more spontaneous.

Could my rebirth have influenced him, too?

As I watched Horace put on his own helmet, it obscured most of his face, giving him a sharp, edgy appearance that was undeniably cool. It was a side of him I had never witnessed before, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“You know, if you threw on a leather jacket or something, you’d look absolutely badass.”

He raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer, his voice dropping to a low, teasing murmur.

“Not badass enough now?”