Underwater: The Silent Luna novel Chapter 150

Chapter 150

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The girl was sitting at a tucked-away table, dressed in obvious caution. Sunglasses. A scarf. Too much effort to hide in a place where she did not belong. Cynthia noticed that at once and read it exactly for what it was. Ashley did not want to be seen there. She did

not want anyone reporting back that she had met Cynthia. She was ashamed or afraid or both.

Cynthia could understand that. More importantly, she could use that.

Ashley waved when she saw her, and Cynthia moved toward the table with an easy expression. Ashley stood to hug her, all false

warmth and eager nerves.

“How have you been, Luna?”

Cynthia said it a little too loudly on purpose, and Ashley immediately hushed her, glancing around with visible anxiety.

“I do not want Joseph to know I came here.”

There was something pleading in the way she said it. Cynthia pressed her fingers over her lips in an exaggerated zipping motion, mocking and reassuring all at once.

“So, how have you been?”

Ashley nodded too quickly.

“I have been good. Joseph got angry that we hung out the last time, and he threatened so many things. Apparently, your exit did a

number on Ethan.”

“So I heard.”

Cynthia answered simply, but inside she sharpened. There it was again. Ethan still being spoken of in relation to what she had done to him. Ethan still carrying her ghost in the minds of other people. That mattered.

“So, how are Ethan and the mute?”

Ashley rolled her eyes, and Cynthia almost smiled. That contempt was useful too.

“I do not know, and I do not care. I doubt anyone has called them. Ethan said no one should disturb them when they are on their vacation. I think they are trying to get pregnant, as her contract specifies. Since Ethan said they should not do the artificial insemination, I guess he is trying to do it himself.”

Ashley laughed after saying it. The laugh was crude and mean and meant to invite Cynthia into the joke, but Cynthia did not laugh.

She could not.

The words landed in her chest in a way she was not prepared for. Seven years had passed since she left Ethan. Seven years. Plenty of

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Chapter 150

time. Enough time to build a different life, lose a different life, harden, change, fall, return. Yet hearing that he was with someone else in that way, hearing that he might be touching another woman, trying to make a child with her, sleeping beside her with purpose and intimacy, disturbed Cynthia far more than she wanted to show.

It troubled her.

It troubled her wolf too.

That was the worst part. The reaction felt deeper than pride. It felt primal, irritated, possessive in a place she thought time had cooled. She did not like that. It made her feel unsteady.

Ashley noticed the shift in her face and stopped laughing.

“I am sorry, Cynthia. I did not know it would get to you.”

Cynthia made herself breathe.

“It’s okay; he deserves to be happy.”

The words tasted false even though she said them gently. Ashley seemed unsure how to answer. Good. Let her sit in uncertainty. Let her wonder what had touched a nerve and how deeply.

They fell into silence after that, and the silence stretched long enough to become uncomfortable. Ashley had nothing meaningful to offer if she was not gossiping or pretending. Cynthia had no intention of volunteering anything. So the quiet sat between them until Cynthia finally broke it because she wanted the conversation moving again, and more importantly, she wanted Ashley off-balance.

“So, how do you carry out your Luna duties?”

Ashley smiled at once and rubbed her flat belly.

“Luna Amber says I should rest because of the baby.”

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Underwater: The Silent Luna