Underwater: The Silent Luna novel Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Ashley realised that almost at once. They had just returned from the clinic to get Amber’s medication refilled. Levi had wanted Amber to remain in the hospital until she got better. Amber, stubborn as ever, had chosen to come home instead. So Ashley’s fear had made her lash out at the wrong person. Levi had not neglected Amber. He had done what he could and was still doing it.

That realisation made Ashley feel smaller.

Amber spared her from having to apologise immediately by speaking first.

“What do you want to discuss with me?”

And just like that, the reason Ashley had come there rushed back into the room, but now it felt impossible to say.

She looked from Amber to Levi and felt the words die before they formed. She could not speak of Cynthia now. Not with Levi right there. Not with Amber visibly unwell. Not with everything feeling too raw and badly timed. The fear she had carried up to the room was still there, but now it was tangled with guilt too. Trouble the Luna with her own mess while the woman sat sick on the couch? Say aloud that she had been sneaking around with Cynthia after Joseph’s warning? Admit she had played stupid games and now feared the consequences? Ashley could not do it.

Not then.

So she lied.

“I just wanted to check on you.”

She stood as she said it, as though movement could make the lie more believable. It did not. Amber knew at once that Ashley was not telling the truth. Ashley could see that knowledge in her eyes. This was not in Ashley’s nature. She was not the sort who came just to check on people with no selfish reason underneath. Amber knew that as surely as Ashley knew it.

But Amber did not push.

Maybe because she was tired. Maybe because she was too unwell to want the argument. Maybe because she had already guessed enough of the problem without needing details. Instead of pressing, Amber chose to warn her.

“You will mess yourself up following that wicked girl about the place. She is selfish and self-serving. Do not think you can use her to create problems for Meadow. You will end up hurting yourself.”

The words landed heavily because Ashley believed them now.

She really did.

Only hours earlier she might have rolled her eyes internally, assumed Amber was exaggerating, assumed everybody simply hated Cynthia because of old loyalties and old hurt. But now? Now Amber’s warning sounded less like bias and more like truth. Cynthia had already shown her enough for Ashley to feel it. The outing that was supposed to be some sly, friendly nonsense had turned into

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Chapter 154

threats before lunch was over. Cynthia had smiled while twisting the knife. Cynthia had lied with ease, manipulated with ease,

frightened her with ease.

Ashley wanted, suddenly and badly, to tell Amber everything. To say you’re right. To say I made a mess. To say I think she is plänning something and I do not know what to do. But shame blocked her. Shame and fear and the knowledge that once she

confessed, she would lose all control over whatever came next.

So instead Ashley only smiled weakly and nodded.

Then she got up to leave.

The moment she stepped out of Amber’s room, the feeling hit her hard and fully. Alone. That was what she felt. Not just worried.

Alone.

The corridor seemed too quiet. Too long. Too empty around her. She stood there for a second with the door closed behind her and realised no one actually felt safe to go to. She was scared of Joseph and could not tell him what had happened. Not because she doubted he could handle it, but because she knew he would handle it brutally. He would not sort through her feelings first. He would not comfort her before dealing with the threat. He would see only the risk she had brought near his family and react from there. Ashley was not ready for that. She was not ready for the disgust she might see in his face.

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Wed, Jun 17

Underwater: The Silent Luna