The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 176

**Between the Wings of Twilight Lies the Memory of You**
**by Liren Ava Roen**
**Chapter 176**

I couldn’t catch Steven’s response; it was swallowed by the heavy silence that hung between us. His expression was unreadable, a cold mask that offered no hint of his thoughts. He simply regarded me with an icy stare that sent a shiver down my spine.

“You have three days to do whatever you want. After that, I expect to see you at the villa,” he stated, his voice devoid of warmth.

In that moment, the truth struck me like a lightning bolt. This was the underlying motive for his insistence on my presence here. He was issuing a warning, a clear message that his patience was wearing thin.

A rebellious smile, tinged with bitterness, crept onto my lips. I chose silence as my companion, straightening my blouse with a sense of defiance before turning to leave his office. The buttons of my blouse were damaged, a testament to the earlier chaos, but thankfully, my coat concealed the evidence of my disarray.

Yet, I couldn’t ignore the state of my hair, the swelling of my lips, or the faint smudges of Steven’s blood that marked my cheek. It was as if the universe conspired to reveal that something had transpired between us, something that could not be easily brushed off.

As I stepped into the hallway, I caught sight of Gordon. His expression was remarkably composed, as if he had anticipated this very moment. However, the instant he noticed my unharmed state, a flicker of realization crossed his face, and he rushed back into the office.

Even from a distance, I could hear his voice, tinged with urgency. “Mr. Lancaster, your head… I’ll call an ambulance!”

“Weren’t you just discussing the collaboration with Mrs. Lancaster? How did you get so badly injured? We need to get you to a hospital. You have that international trip coming up…” His words trailed off, but they echoed in my mind.

So, he was preparing to leave the country once more.

In my previous life, this was a familiar pattern; he had embarked on two lengthy trips around this same time. The first had lasted two weeks, during which he had come to the realization that he was in love with Verna. The second marked the beginning of his relentless pursuit of her.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Bastard.”

In this life, he was already ensnared by his obsession with Verna, yet he still attempted to pull me back into his orbit. He was even more unbearable than he had been before. He deserved nothing less than a fate that mirrored his cruelty.

The following day, I met Noah as we had arranged. To my astonishment, he actually appeared. It seemed he had no fear of Steven’s wrath.

He was strikingly handsome, with deep-set features that hinted at mixed heritage. Tall and slender, he carried himself with the grace of a noble prince.

However, my mood was too dark to appreciate his good looks. I cut straight to the chase.

“Show me the evidence,” Noah requested, his tone calm and collected. All I could offer were the carefully angled photographs I had taken of the supposed “affair.” It was hardly a compelling case.

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