The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 168

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

**Chapter 168**

A flicker of emotion passed across my face, momentarily revealing the turmoil within. “No,” I replied softly, my voice almost a whisper, “I don’t want him to regret it. Regret only leads to complications and tangled emotions. What I truly desire is for us to drift apart, to fade from each other’s lives, and to never have to think of one another again.”

Deep down, I knew the truth: Steven didn’t love me. So what kind of regret could he possibly feel if I chose to leave?

Horace’s gaze was unwavering, his striking features etched with a seriousness that made my heart race. After a long pause, a playful smile broke through his solemnity, illuminating his handsome face.

“Zephyra, you’ve really grown up,” he said, a hint of admiration in his tone.

“Well, everyone grows up,” I replied, returning his smile, though it felt a bit strained. I busied myself pouring a glass of juice for him and a glass of wine for myself, handing the juice over with a teasing lilt. “You’re the designated driver, so no alcohol for you.”

Horace lowered his head, focusing intently on peeling the crawfish, his movements fluid and practiced. He appeared gentle and serene, yet I sensed an underlying sharpness in him, a keen awareness that belied his calm demeanor.

“You went off the grid for a while,” he began, his voice steady. “You said you wanted to be a full-time housewife, to focus entirely on Steven. Now that you’ve made the decision to leave him, why aren’t you embracing your identity as Somania?”

His words hung in the air, and I felt a pang of regret. “I can still reconnect with our old clients,” he continued, his eyes sparkling with possibilities. “You could take on freelance projects or even start your own studio. Anything would surely be better than your current situation. Or is it that you don’t want to be Somania anymore?”

I blinked, caught off guard. The decision to stop using that name had been a precaution. I wanted to keep my activities hidden from Steven while he was abroad, not wanting to raise any unnecessary concern. I never anticipated that Horace would misinterpret my choice.

“Somania wasn’t just me,” I replied, my voice firm but laced with vulnerability. “It was always about us. I couldn’t just use the name without your blessing. Right now, I’m bound by a contract with Myron, and the terms prevent me from using my old alias for business or even mentioning it. But once the contract is up, if you’re still interested, we could explore it together again.”

I intentionally omitted the part about Steven actively seeking Somania. He wouldn’t believe it was me anyway.

Horace’s eyes brightened, and a genuine smile returned to his handsome face, transforming the atmosphere around us.

“Okay?” he asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.

We clinked our glasses together, the sound resonating like a promise. “Horace,” I said, my heart swelling with sincere hope, “I wish you all the best in love, and I wish for myself to find success in my plans.”

“May he find happiness with the one he loves, and may I escape from Steven and never have to see him again,” he replied, his smile deepening as he echoed my toast.

A wave of disgust washed over me, and I couldn’t help but let out a cold, biting laugh.

“Your little family of three is a perfect match—each one more despicable than the last. Don’t blame me for your getting beaten up. You probably ran your mouth to the wrong person and got exactly what you deserved.”

“Bullshit! The only person I’ve pissed off is you!” Antonia’s voice was shrill with rage, her once-pretty face now a swollen, bruised mess, her eyes ablaze with fury. “Zephyra, you’re disgusting! You don’t even have the guts to admit what you did! Well, I told Steven everything last night—all about you and Horace. I told him where you were meeting, and I even sent him the pictures I took of you two getting cozy.”

My heart sank, and my eyes turned to ice.

“Then you should be grateful you didn’t. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be screaming at me right now; you’d be in the emergency room.”

I didn’t care if my photos were posted anywhere. But Horace would not be dragged down with me. The Lancaster family was far too powerful; they would never allow such a scandal to tarnish their name.

Antonia, however, laughed with a triumphant glee that sent chills down my spine.

“My pictures might not have gotten out, but don’t get too smug. Steven was furious last night. Just wait. He’s not going to let you off the hook today—”