Underwater: The Silent Luna novel Chapter 237

Chapter 237

Meanwhile, Ashley was preparing to leave when flowers were delivered to her hospital room. She looked at them for a moment, surprised. It was not a romantic selection, so whoever sent it did not have romance in mind. The flowers were beautiful fresh, simple in a way that felt more like sympathy than desire. Still, her foolish heart hoped they were from Joseph. He had not come to see her since he left her hospital room, and she doubted she would ever be that close to him again.

Her game was up, and it was best she picked up the pieces and moved on. It was tedious while it lasted. All the pretending. All the plotting. All the trying to become Luna by force of ambition instead of by love or right. Thinking of everything, Ashley felt a bit lighter and freer now that all her secrets had been exposed and the punishment had been dished out. It hurt, yes. It hurt badly. But there was also relief in no longer hiding inside a lie. She cared for Joseph, but he did not see her that way. He had tried to. Maybe in his own way, he had wanted to care for her deeply enough. But the feeling was not the same, and she accepted it now because she

had no other choice.

Ashley knew she would be okay. She felt it somewhere under the heartbreak. Even though her heart was still breaking when she thought of the life she would have had with Joseph, she was happy to be alive. That mattered more than it would have two days ago. The attack had brought things into focus in a way ambition never had. Being Luna was more than wearing fancy clothes, attending occasions, receiving respect, and being rich. It was also risky. It meant standing in the middle of danger. It meant fighting. It meant keeping things in order when enemies came with poisoned blades and wolves ready to kill.

The cons outweighed the pros. Ashley figured she was not cut out for that responsibility. Not really. She had liked the image of it more than the truth. The throne, not the burden. The title, not the blood. She would settle for a rich guy who did not own a pack. It was definitely going to be less tedious than being Luna. Still, she would have had that life with Joseph, thinking of it all. The man did not want to be Alpha. He wanted a quiet life. Maybe if things had been different, he would have been the kind of man she could settle beside without being swallowed by pack politics.

But Ethan’s misfortune had forced Joseph to step up. Everything had shifted because one man was broken, and everyone around him

had been made to live around the damage.

She wished the brothers the best.

Ashley reached for the bouquet of flowers and found a card in it.

“I am sorry. I hope you feel better now,” it read.

No name but hers was on the card, and she wondered who had sent the flowers. She thought it might be Joseph, but she doubted Joseph had anything to be sorry about apart from not being the man for her. And perhaps even that was not something to apologise for. People could not force themselves to love properly. She had tried to force enough things to understand that now.

She picked up the flowers, and their scent was fresh. She was grateful. It was a beautiful way to start her new life without Joseph. A small kindness. A soft beginning after an ugly end. Maybe that was enough for now.

Victoria finally returned to Luna Amber’s room and found only Ethan and Meadow. She glanced around, immediately noticing Joseph’s absence. She wondered what had happened to him and asked Meadow.

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Chapter 237

“He had something important to attend to at home,” Meadow signed.

Victoria nodded, though curiosity remained in her eyes. Meadow’s face was calm enough, but Victoria knew there was more

happening than anyone was saying. There was always more now. Every quiet exchange carried hidden meaning. Every absence

meant something.

Ethan felt the need to go to the mansion. The feeling grew inside him until sitting still became almost unbearable. He was not

comfortable with Joseph facing that bitch alone. Cynthia was dangerous in the way desperate, ambitious people could be dangerous.

She would not come with warriors unless she believed she had power behind her. And Levi being called too made things worse.

Ethan did not trust Levi. Not yet. Not after the man had disappeared for almost twenty-four hours and still had not explained

himself.

But Ethan was also worried that Meadow would not allow him. She was protective of his healing in a way that could become

stubborn, and she had every reason to be. His surgery was meant to remain a secret. If he went home and Cynthia irritated him enough, he could lose control. His authority might rise. Echo might push forward. He might reveal too much. Yet staying behind

while Joseph walked into that mess felt wrong.

Knowing Meadow could hold her own against any wolf except an Alpha, he linked his wife.

“Do you mind if I go to the mansion? I am not comfortable with Joseph handling this on his own,” he linked her.

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