The Rise Of The Betrayed Luna (Amorah and Holmes) novel Chapter 171

Chapter 171

Amorah POV

For the first time in what felt like forever, the estate was quiet. There were still guards stationed throughout the territory and investigators occasionally delivering updates, but the constant stream of revelations had finally slowed.

Instead of discussing conspiracies and betrayals over breakfast, we were arguing about baby blankets.

“That one is ugly,” Kyra announced confidently.

I looked down at the pale yellow blanket in my lap and frowned. “It’s a blanket.”

“It’s a sad blanket.”

Zane barely looked up from his tablet. “Blankets don’t have emotions.”

“They do if they’re ugly.”

I laughed despite myself. The baby immediately kicked as if joining the conversation, and I rested a hand against my stomach while Kyra gasped dramatically.

“The baby agrees with me.”

“The baby hasn’t even been born yet,” Zane replied.

“Exactly. That’s why it still has good taste.”

Their argument continued through most of breakfast. Normally would have stepped in, but lately I found myself enjoying the noise.

Conrad entered the dining room carrying a stack of reports he clearly had no intention of reading immediately. His eyes found me first, as they always did, before he leaned down and pressed a kiss against my forehead.

“Good morning.”

“Your children are fighting with blankets.”

“They’ve fought over worse.”

Kyra pointed accusingly at him. “Tell Amorah that yellow is a terrible color.”

Conrad glanced at the blanket. “I think that’s a trap.”

“Correct answer,” I agreed.

The twins groaned while Conrad took the seat beside me. His hand settled against my lower back automatically, and I leaned slightly into him before realizing I was doing it,

The morning passed peacefully until one of the guards entered the room and approached Conrad quietly. Something about the expression on his face made my attention sharpen immediately.

Conrad looked up. “What is it?”

The guard hesitated.

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Chapter 171-

There’s someone at the front gate requesting permission to enter.”

Conrad’s expression hardened instantly. “Who?”

The guard glanced toward me “Lyra.”

The room went dead silent.

Kyra looked between all of us in confusion. Zane immediately recognized the tension and sat up straighter.

Conrad’s eyes moved to mine.

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The decision was mine. After everything that had happened, nobody else could make it. I considered it for several seconds before finally nodding.

“Let her in.”

An hour later, Lyra sat across from me in one of the smaller sitting rooms.

The difference between the woman in front of me and the woman who had left the estate weeks ago was impossible to miss. She looked exhausted, thinner than before, and far less confident.

For once, she seemed nervous. Neither of us spoke immediately.

Eventually, Lyra broke the silence. “I almost didn’t come.”

I folded my hands over my stomach. “Then why did you?”

She looked down. “Because I owed you an apology.”

The answer surprised me slightly. Not because she was apologizing. Because she sounded sincere.

Lyra drew a slow breath. “I was jealous.”

There was no excuse attached to the statement. No attempt to shift blame or justify her actions.

Just honesty.

“I saw everything you had with Conrad,” she continued. “The family. The children. The future. I wanted it.”

I remained silent.

She swallowed hard. “At first I convinced myself that I deserved it more because I knew him longer. Then I convinced myself that if you weren’t around, maybe things would somehow change.”

A bitter smile crossed her face. “They didn’t.”

“No,” I said quietly. “They didn’t.”

Lyra nodded. “I know.”

The room fell silent again. For a moment, she looked strangely vulnerable.

“I hurt you.

“Yes.”

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Chapter 171

+hurt Conrad

“Yes”

“I made a fool of myself.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

She laughed softly at her own expense. “At least we’re being honest.“,

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Part of me wanted to forgive her immediately. Another part remembered standing in that room and hearing her deliberately create a misunderstanding.

Trust didn’t disappear overnight.

It didn’t return overnight either.

“I appreciate the apology,” I said eventually.

Relief flickered across her face. Then I continued.

“But that’s all I can offer right

now.

Her shoulders dropped slightly.

I kept going.

“I don’t hate you, Lyra. But trust is difficult for me.”

Her expression softened. “I understand.”

“No, I don’t think you do.”

The words came out gentler than I expected.

“I spent years trusting people who betrayed me. Some of them claimed to love me. Some claimed to be my friends.”

Lyra looked away. “I know.”

“Maybe.”

She met my gaze again. “I’ll earn it.”

(*

I didn’t promise anything. That seemed to be answer enough. The rest of the afternoon passed surprisingly well.

Lyra didn’t push. She didn’t force conversations. She didn’t hover around Conrad.

Instead, she quietly helped when needed and kept her distance when appropriate.

That alone earned more respect from me than any apology could.

Unfortunately, Kyra immediately adopted her. “You’re helping with the welcome basket.”

Lyra blinked. “The what?”

“The welcome basket.”

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What’s inside it?

Kyra looked offended.

“Everything.”

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The basket eventually contained three blankets, four stuffed animals, two children’s books, a toy wolf, six snacks, and a handwritten list of rules.

Zane spent an hour removing items. Kyra spent an hour putting them back. By dinner, the basket was larger than the baby.

Conrad nearly choked laughing when he saw it. “What exactly is that?”

“Our gift.”

“It weighs more than the child.”

“You’re welcome.”

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