Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 267

Killian’s POV

I stood in the Pack garden, surveying the scene Ryder had arranged. The twinkling lights, the candles, and the soft, romantic music of violins floating in the air.

I exhaled slowly, feeling a mixture of discomfort and obligation tightening in my chest. This was supposed to be simple — a casual dinner to get Giselle’s DNA sample. But Ryder whom I placed in charge of the arrangements, had gone overboard.

‘Overly romantic,’ I thought, resisting the urge to grimace. I had only asked Ryder to make some basic arrangements. I didn’t expect this.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Giselle approaching, her face lighting up the moment she saw the garden transformed into what could only be described as a romantic haven.

She smiled brightly when the musicians appeared seemingly out of nowhere, playing their violins in a melody so delicate it almost made me wince.

I tried to push down the discomfort as I pulled out the chair for her, forcing a polite smile as she settled into the seat. Her smile was wide, too wide, and her eyes shone as if she were on the verge of tears. This wasn’t what I intended.

“Thank you, Killian,” she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion as she looked up at me. Her gratitude was clear, but it was laced with something deeper—hope, something I didn’t want to give.

“This is our first date,” she added, as if the realization had just struck her.

I clenched my jaw, nodding but staying silent. ‘First date.’ The words hung heavily in the air between us.

Astrid and I never had that chance. How I wish that Astrid is the person in front of me now.

Giselle continued, her voice growing more emotional. “I honestly thought you didn’t care about me. Ever since we got married, you’ve been so distant. I thought I wasn’t important to you.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she smiled again, this time more fragile. “But... this—this shows me that you do care. That I mean something to you.”

Her words sank into me like lead, heavy and unwanted. I could feel her hope swelling, her belief in this false idea that tonight was about her, about us.

I hadn’t planned for it to go this way. I needed her to feel comfortable, sure, but this—her believing in some grand romantic gesture from me—was never part of the plan. I just needed the damn DNA sample.

She was so thankful, so filled with relief that I almost felt guilty. Almost. But as she looked up at me, expecting something, I felt the familiar pang of responsibility.

Giselle was my wife now. This was our life, whether I liked it or not.

I forced a tight smile and sat down across from her. She reached across the table and lightly touched my hand, her fingers trembling. “Thank you, Killian. This means so much more than you know.”

I swallowed the growing knot in my throat and nodded, my mind already working on how to get through the rest of the evening. The sooner this was over, the better.