THE FORGOTTEN LUNA novel Chapter 40

ADESSA.

“I believe Miranda was the one who sold me to Alpha Draco,” I said in a soft voice, but enough for Kael to hear.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and my heart began to thud loudly. I sank deeper into my seat, thinking if this was the part where he would shout at me for trying to smudge his stepmother’s name.

“Listen first. I was inside the van, and they forced me to sign something—a paper. I didn’t even get a glimpse of whatever it was. I just signed because they pointed a gun at me.”

He didn’t say anything or didn’t even look at me, but I could see his expression darken.

“The car drove by to her home, and one of the men inside went out and gave her the paper I signed. I knew it was her. It was her home, and I saw her face. She took the paper from him.”

“Your farewell letter...”

“What?”

“Did you write a farewell letter for me?”

“No. The only things I left on your desk were the credit cards and the wedding ring. But then they put the ring into my pocket when we were in the car. I had no idea why. I had no intention of taking it with me. I know how much you value that family heirloom, and I’m sorry I sold it. I had no choice. I had nothing, and I was terrified they would catch me. I had nothing on me except my clothes.”

“Don’t think about the ring. I got it back.” He cut me off. “So, no farewell letter?”

“Why would I leave you one when I was so upset with you? I hurried to get away from the house. I left at dawn, and I was grabbed almost near the taxi stand. Then, we drove around until I signed that paper, and they gave it to Miranda. After that, we headed out of the territory. So I knew it was her who gave me to Draco. She never liked me from day one.”

Kael’s silence was rattling my confidence.

“I know she’s your stepmother, and you trust her.”

“Not anymore,” he said.

“Do you believe me?” I asked, wanting to be sure.

“If you see her that day, then there’s no other explanation for that. I only need to know if she’s working alone or if more people are in this scheme to remove you from my life.”

It was then that my shoulders relaxed.

“I already have a gut feeling that something was off because some of her words failed to connect with what I was seeing as if she was trying to manipulate the memory I’d lost. My memory of you, or that Desiree and I were still on good terms even when we were married. And things as simple as telling me it was Desiree who maintained these beautiful flowers around me—but the moment you went away, the house became empty of them. She also gave me that letter and told me you took the ring because you wanted the money for all its worth.”

“If that is the case, I should have pawned it at a bigger amount because I could. But I only took a few thousand for it so I could work and get paid and easily buy it back. I had no intention of keeping that ring away from your family.” I chewed my bottom lip before I continued. “You love fresh flowers, so even when you were sleeping, I kept putting them around the house and our bedroom so you’d wake up to them.”

“They’re beautiful and lovely to look at.” He glanced at me, and the smile he gave me made butterflies and ladybugs flutter in my stomach.

Kael really should smile more often.