The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 184

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

With a resounding thud, the car door slammed shut behind him, and in an instant, he was settled into the driver’s seat. The vehicle surged forward, tires screeching against the asphalt, as if eager to escape the tension that hung heavy in the air.

The light taps against my lips were far from painful; they were gentle, almost playful, like the brush of a feather. Yet, an overwhelming sense of injustice washed over me, stirring a storm of emotions within. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass of the window, my heart aching as I gazed longingly at the lamppost that stood like a sentinel in the night.

“Why did you hit me?” I asked, my voice a mix of confusion and hurt. “I was going to pole dance for you. On that big, thick pole. You have no idea how liberating that would have been…” My words hung in the air, a stark contrast to the biting chill that filled the car, transforming it into a frigid icebox.

But I barely noticed the cold. The city lights flickered past my window, a dazzling blur of colors that sparkled like scattered jewels. “Horace, look,” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper, captivated by the beauty surrounding us. “It’s so beautiful.”

He glanced at me, a hint of annoyance shadowing his features. “It’s even more beautiful than Somania’s work. What if… what if we make ‘Sunset’ the theme for our next jewelry collection?” The excitement in my voice was palpable, a flicker of inspiration igniting within me.

Steven’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Your work isn’t in the same league as Somania’s. There’s no need to compare yourself to him.”

What?

Confusion washed over me, and I turned to him, my mind swirling. “Why… why do you sound just like Steven? How is my work not in the same league as Somania’s? It totally is!” My heart raced, a mixture of indignation and disbelief coursing through me.

“Are you drunk? You, of all people, should know Somania’s work. You’re his agent, after all.”

At that moment, a flicker of realization crossed Steven’s face, his pupils contracting sharply. “Horace is Somania’s agent? How do you know that?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his bewilderment. “How could I not know, you silly goose?” Horace had always been my steadfast agent, the one who orchestrated every collaboration I embarked upon. My head felt heavier with each passing moment, my eyelids growing increasingly droopy. I rubbed my eyes, a wave of sleepiness washing over me, and finally surrendered to the pull of slumber. “I’m so sleepy, Horace. Wake me when we get there.”

“Of course I do. How could I not?” I pulled my hand back, the memory of that horrific car crash crashing over me like a tidal wave. If Horace hadn’t shielded me, I would have been the one left with a shattered leg. My eyes began to sting, a wave of emotion threatening to spill over. I wanted to cry, but the tears remained stubbornly lodged within me.

“If your leg hadn’t been injured, maybe… maybe I never would have married Steven…” The words slipped out before I could stop them, heavy with the weight of truth. If Horace hadn’t been hurt, perhaps I wouldn’t have been consumed by guilt. Maybe I wouldn’t have caused such a scene, wouldn’t have caught the eye of Mr. Lancaster Sr., and wouldn’t have become Steven’s bride in a loveless merger.

Then there would have been no five years of mutual torment in our past, and no inescapable, damn marriage in this lifetime.

Steven stood there, frozen in place, an aura of icy detachment surrounding him like a barrier. His voice, when it came, was chillingly faint. “It sounds like you regret marrying him—a great deal.”

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Chapter 185