The Rejected Luna (Avery and Kaden) novel Chapter 194

**Between the Wings of Twilight Lies the Memory of You**

What was I truly thinking?

I pondered over that question, my expression a mere mask, devoid of emotion.

“Right now, you’re a walking contradiction,” I finally said, my voice steady but laced with disbelief. “Once, you were so distant, so frigid, your boundaries like walls made of steel. Yet here we are, and you’re suddenly all up in my business, meddling in every little aspect of my life.”

“It’s almost as if you have feelings for me, yet you fear losing me,” I continued, my voice rising slightly with indignation. “But let’s be real—Verna will always take precedence. With her in the picture, I will always be the one left behind. So, it can’t be that your feelings for me surpass your attachment to her. You’re simply accustomed to my presence, aren’t you? I was your beast of burden for a whole year, cooking and cleaning for you day in and day out. Now that I’ve stepped back, you’re struggling to cope, and that’s why you resist the idea of divorce. Am I wrong?”

Steven’s eyes bore into mine, his throat working as he swallowed hard, his expression unreadable. His voice emerged as a low, chilling whisper. “You could say that.”

My heart tightened in my chest. I hadn’t anticipated him to respond, let alone concede to my accusation.

I blinked, my surprise evident. “So you can’t live without me? You’ve grown dependent on my presence?”

A cold, steely look settled on his striking face, his lips drawn into a thin line that spoke volumes. “You seem rather pleased with yourself.”

A laugh escaped me, not a joyous one, but a burst of disbelief. I clenched my fists, the laughter bubbling up from deep within me, erupting until I doubled over, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Pleased? Oh, you bet I was. Even if the reason was as trivial as him missing my cooking or not wanting to lose his live-in maid, that realization filled me with a giddy sort of joy.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get even a taste of revenge against Steven in this new life. It felt as if the universe had conspired to show me that what goes around truly comes around. I had endured so much in my past; now it was his turn to feel the weight of his choices.

“Zephyra, habits can be altered. Love can be transferred. No one is irreplaceable. Your cooking is decent, but I’m tired of it. A change is good for the soul. Your only redeeming quality is your obedience. Sign the papers and spare yourself the humiliation. If you push me, you won’t like what follows.”

I could still hear his words echoing in my mind, sharp and clear, like a haunting melody that refused to fade.

Those words had become the poison that tormented my thoughts for years, a grim reminder that kept me from ever looking back in this life.

Love and hate may be forgotten, but the lessons they impart should never be ignored.

I ceased my laughter and straightened my posture, locking eyes with Steven. The same scene played out before us, the same characters, yet this time it was my gaze that burned with cold disdain, my voice tinged with annoyance. “Steven, habits can indeed be changed. Love can be transferred, but you lack any love to transfer. No one is irreplaceable. You may be wealthy and handsome, but I can carve my own path to financial independence. Even your looks will fade with time. A change is beneficial for a person; it’s liberating for me to explore new connections with different affluent men, to appreciate a variety of handsome faces. Your only redeeming quality is your wealth. Sign the papers and stop prolonging this charade. It’s futile. All you’re doing is filling me with disgust. You’re making me… regret ever crossing paths with you.”