Crippled Luna's Farewell Half A Life Without My Alpha's Deadly Deception novel Chapter 169

Sarah glanced at him and said lightly, “A friend.”

But Alex’s frown deepened.

A strange feeling bubbled in his chest.... an odd, uncomfortable kind of panic. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t like it.

Didn’t like that his mom was talking to another man.

Didn’t like that she was smiling.... not the polite, distant smile she always had for him, but something else.

He stepped closer, tugging at her sleeve. “Mom, stop talking on the phone,” he said, his voice small but firm. “Play with me.”

Sarah blinked, surprised by his sudden demand.

.

Alex’s small hands clenched slightly when his mother dismissed him. His eager expression faltered, and his lips pressed into a thin line.

“Go play by yourself for a while,” Sarah said, her tone light but firm. She didn’t even look up from her laptop, fingers continuing to tap against the keys.

Alex stood there for a moment, his heart sinking.

He had been excited to spend time with her, thinking she would finally give him her attention. But instead, she was busy. Again.

“But, Mom.... ”

“I’m on the phone, Alex.” Her voice was calm, final.

Alex felt something twist in his chest.... something that made his throat feel tight and his eyes burn. He turned on his heel and stomped away, going back to his room without another word.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Leo continued their conversation late into the night. It wasn’t anything particularly important.... just small talk, light complaints about work, and the occasional teasing. But to Sarah, it was a welcome distraction.

By the time she hung up, the clock read past ten.

She rubbed her temples, exhaling softly.

The next morning, Sarah stepped into STARLINE Studios, greeted by the hum of activity.

The company was in the middle of a staff expansion, and she had been swamped with additional responsibilities. Meetings, interviews, and paperwork piled onto her already heavy workload.

Somewhere between sorting through files and finalizing reports, she checked her phone. Arnold had responded to her message from days ago.

“Soon.”

That had been his answer.

But “soon” stretched into days.

Three. Then four.

And all the while, the tension between Sarah and Alex lingered.

Alex spoke less, barely responding when she tried to ask about his day. He ate quietly, finished his homework without complaint, and even stopped asking her to play with him.

Sarah noticed it.

And yet, with so much work pressing on her, she did nothing about it.

Until one afternoon, when her phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID.... Alex.

“Mom,” his voice came through, hesitant but with a forced cheerfulness. “Dad sent someone to pick me up.”

Meanwhile, in the car, Alex sat quietly, his small hands gripping his book bag.

When they arrived, his mood lifted. The moment he saw Arnold and Linda waiting inside the hotel box, he ran toward them.

“Daddy! Aunt Linda!”

Arnold chuckled, reaching out to ruffle his son’s hair. “Hey, kiddo.”

Linda smiled, taking his bag from his shoulders. “You’ve grown taller, Alex. Did you miss us?”

Alex nodded enthusiastically, his earlier unhappiness fading. He finally felt… wanted.

Inside the private box, Cole, Charles, and Flora were already seated. The atmosphere was warm, filled with laughter and conversation.

Charles observed Alex clinging to Arnold and Linda and smirked.

“Seems like Alex missed you guys a lot,” Charles remarked. He leaned back in his chair, watching the scene with amusement. “Honestly, Arnold, you should’ve taken him with you. Look at him.... it’s only been a few days, and he’s already this excited to see you. If you had come back even later, the poor kid might’ve cried.”

His words were lighthearted, almost teasing, but there was an undertone that suggested something else.

As if Alex had been suffering while staying with Sarah.

As if his time with her had been lacking, insufficient.

Alex, oblivious to the implication, only smiled, unaware of the subtle shift in conversation.

Hearing this, Cole’s hand gave a lurch to his drink, and he took the initiative to move away from the subject, turning toward Alex with a casual smile.

“Alex, have you been out much these past few days?”