Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna

I rose slowly to my feet, my entire body trembling with barely contained rage. Roland Warner's dying words echoed in my mind: "Victoria didn't want to save her own daughter... She wanted Lily dead!"

"You have no right to speak her name," I said, my voice dangerously quiet.

Victoria stepped closer, emboldened by my restraint. "It's almost poetic, isn't it? You lose your daughter, while

Emma thrives under Ethan's protection. The daughter he actually loves."

The slap echoed through the garden like a thunderclap, the force of it snapping Victoria's head to the side.

Her perfectly manicured hand flew to her reddening cheek, shock written across her features.

"You" she gasped, but I cut her off by stepping closer, my emerald eyes cold as ice.

"This is just the beginning!" I warned, my voice barely above a whisper,

I turned and walked away, leaving her stunned in the garden. My hand stung from the impact, but satisfaction coursed through my veins. It was a small victory, but it tasted sweet nonetheless.

Behind me, I heard small footsteps running toward Victoria.

"Mommy! What happened?" Emma's childish voice called out.

I didn't turn back, but I could imagine Victoria gathering Emma into her arms, using the child as both shield

and weapon.

"It's nothing, sweetheart, Victoria soothed, but her voice carried to me on the evening breeze. "That mean lady hurt Mommy, but don't worry. We'll make her sorry"

Emma's response was too quiet for me to hear, but I felt a chill run down my spine nonetheless. Victoria was dangerous enough, but I'd learned that her daughter could be equally manipulative.

(Emma's POV)

I watched the mean lady walk away from my mommy. Her red handprint was stillnoveldrama

on Mommy's cheek, and it made my tummy feel all twisted and hot.

Nobody was allowed to hurt my mommy. Not ever.

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Chapter 32 A tanker

Thate her," I whispered, hugging Mommy tight. Til make her cry like she made you cry."

Mommy stroked my hair, her fingers gentle. "Emma, darling, you shouldn't say such things"

But I could tell she didn't really mean it. Her eyes looked different-the same way they did when she told me to practice my sad face for Daddy.

"I know what to do," I said, pulling away from her embrace. Til go now."

Mommy grabbed my arm, her eyes suddenly worried. "Emma, what are you planning?"

I gave her my sweetest smile, the one that always made Daddy give me anything

I wanted. "Nothing bad, Mommy, I promise."

She hesitated, then released my arm. "Be careful, sweetheart."

I nodded and skipped away, following the path that the mean lady had taken. I knew exactly where she was going to the Moonlit Reflection Pool where she often sat alone.

Sure enough, I found her standing by the water's edge, staring at her reflection. She looked sad, which made me happy. She deserved to be sad after hurting my mommy.

I approached quietly, putting on my best nice-girl face. "Auntie Olivia," I called, my voice high and sweet.

She turned, her body stiffening at the sight of me. I could see she didn't like me calling her "Auntie," and that

made me want to say it even more.

"Emma," she replied, her voice careful. "You shouldn't be out here alone."

I stepped closer, my smile widening. "I wanted to see you, Auntie."

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took in my expression. She was smart-she could tell I was pretending. But it didn't matter. Adults always believed children in the end.

"Where's your mother?" she asked, glancing behind me as if expecting Victoria to appear.

"With Daddy," I answered, watching her face closely to see if that hurt her. It did. Her eyes got darker, like when Mommy mentioned her dead daughter.

I moved to stand right at the edge of the reflection pool, my small shoes inches from the water. The pool was deep in the middle-deep enough that if I fell in, everyone would come running,

"You should step back from the edge," she warned, taking a step toward me.

I widened my eyes, making them look scared. "Are you going to push me like you pushed my mommy?"

She froze, confusion crossing her features. "I didn't-"

That was all I needed. With a perfectly timed movement, I threw myself backward

into the reflection pool, my small body creating a dramatic splash,

The cold water enveloped me as I let out a piercing scream that would surely bring the entire household

running.