I lost my will to speak the next day. I stayed inside my room, crying over everything that happened last night.
I felt bruised. A part of me wanted to look back on what we had and consider it. But another part of me didn’t. That part was afraid.
None of this is easy. My mind kept asking why the life we once dreamed of for each other had to end like this.
“Rose, please eat. You’ve already skipped both breakfast and lunch,” Erik called from outside the door.
I didn’t respond. I pretended to be asleep. The truth is, I was ashamed. Ashamed that he got involved just because I still couldn’t face my own marital issues.
I should be brave by now. I should stop hiding. I should be helping myself get out of this. But what am I doing instead? Running away. Hiding. Just like now.
“Rose, I’ll leave your food here. Take it when you’re ready, if you don’t want me to see you,” he said. “But you need to put something in your stomach.”
I pulled the blanket over my head even tighter and let myself sulk when I heard him leave. The hallway went silent. Liza had been asking what happened. Some readers apparently saw the scene. I even saw it in a tabloid earlier. It had already been posted.
They recognized Darius. He was trending, and my name was dragged along with his as a writer.
That made me cry even harder. I never wanted any of this to go public, but Darius couldn’t help himself even after I begged him.
He really won’t stop bothering me. I guess I have to stand up for myself. If he won’t sign the divorce papers, then I’ll do something about it. I’ll take it to court, if that’s what it takes to end it.
I didn’t want to destroy his image. I wanted our story to end between just the two of us. But this is what he wanted. He’s trying to provoke me.
I wanted a clean separation. But he’s the one who forced me to use Sasha’s pregnancy and their affair against him. Fine.
That night, I cleaned myself up. I posted a request asking for the articles about my private life to be taken down and for people to allow me to deal with it on my own. I even replied to some messages from concerned readers.
After that, I messaged Liza and told her I was okay. I stepped outside to get the food, only to find Erik quietly replacing it with a fresh one.
He was surprised to see me. His eyes looked hopeful.
“Finally, you’re going to eat, right?”
I was too shy to respond, so I pressed my lips together and just nodded faintly.
“I’ll eat in the kitchen instead. Can I sit with you?” I asked.
“NE satima “ka mudablu asid mulling the fand ant Than ha offarnd ma hin hand “I
Chapter 23
14:31 Sun, 1 Jun
“Of course,” he quickly said, pulling the food cart. Then he offered me his hand. “Let’s go. You look pale and clearly exhausted.”
He was right. I had no strength left, but I was full of resolve.
“Eat well and regain your strength. Don’t let his actions affect you too much,” Erik said, even though he saw me only picking dessert.
I gave him a small smile, but I still felt so lost.
“I’m going back to the U.S., Erik,” I said quietly, dropping the news like a bomb.
His lips parted in shock. His eyes were filled with doubt and concern.
“Rose, why? Are you giving him another chance?” He swallowed hard twice, like he was bracing himself for my answer.
I blinked, surprised that was what came to his mind.
“No, Erik. I’m going back because I want to face this now,” I said. “I want to finally end this and stop running away.”
He let out a breath of relief and even placed his hand on his chest as if a weight had been lifted.
“Are you sure? Can you really face him, even after he tried forcing his own way of fixing. your marriage?”
I nodded with honesty. “I have to. I’d only be more miserable if I keep running. If he won’t. give me the divorce I asked for peacefully, then I’ll use the only card I have left. The adultery he committed.”
Erik looked at me as if he was seeing someone he didn’t recognize. Someone who amazed
him.
“Can you really go through with it? What if it becomes too much?”
“I can,” I said firmly. “Because I want freedom. I’ll return to the U.S. Even if I’m alone. My attorney will guide me through it all. I’m sure I’ll win, I even think Sasha will help me,
I because she’s desperate to have my husband to herself.”
He still looked unsure, so I let out a soft laugh.
“I’m a big g
girl now. I’ll survive. Didn’t I tell you I don’t love him anymore? That means I can stand up for myself.”
“Then I’ll stand with you,” he said, and my eyes widened at his words. “I’ll come with you, Rosella. I’ll make sure you get what you truly deserve.”
I looked at him and blinked. Something in his voice sounded too final. Too certain.
“Thank you.”
He caught my hand and gently caressed it with a soft reassuring smile on his lips.
“Anything for you.”
My chest felt a little giddy with that. Anything for me? What does it mean?
The Alpha’s Discarded Luna
