Counterback of the Despised Luna by Diana West

Chapter 368 Forgiveness The sterile silence of the VII' ward pressed in around u Caden and I eased Mr. Richard into the bed, each movement deliberate, ensuring he was comfortable.

"Grandpa, jusi rest, Caden's voice broke through the stillness. His face, usually so tight with control. softened at the edges as he spoke. The lines of strain around his eyes relaxed, just for a moment.

Richard reached out, his hand firm on Caden's, the strength in his grip a quiet defiance to his fragile state. "Caden, I'm fine," he said, his voice low but steady.

I stood silently beside them, watching as Richard settle back into the pillows. I tucked the blankets: carefully around him, my hands moving with practice precision. Then I looked him squarely in the eye "Mr. Richard, I know this has shaken you. But you need to stay calm. Your body is still recovering. No anger, no stress, no worries. It could trigger another incident.

That ordeal was too close for comfort.

I had kept a watchful eye on the players in this twisted game-Heidi, Eleanor, Queenie. It was clear they had set their sights on the Alpha. Their intentions? Dangerous. Treacherous.

Caden and I had been ahead of them, though. I'd followed the plan to the letter. I'd stabilized Richard the operating room just in time. The poison Queenie had slipped into his IV was swapped out by Caden. who had been like a shadow in the background. He had been waiting.

The 'incident' in the operating room had been staged. The fallout we'd shown to the staff? It was all part of the act.

No one, except Caden, Mr. Richard, and I, knew the truth.

Though Richard could barely move, his mind was sharp.

He heard everything.

It had been a flawless plan. A perfect ruse-if only Heid had shown up.

But in hindsight, she must've backed out when she realized Richard got in trouble.

"Don't worry, Rosie," Richard said, his voice steady and calm despite the weight of everything. "I'm not stranger to close calls. I've survived worse, and now.... now I see everything clearly. There's nothing left to fear." His words were quiet, but there was a strength in them. He still had years ahead of him, years to be with his grandson, to watch over the Eclipse Pack.

That, however, was the true concern-passing it on to Caden. Safely. Surely.

Richard's gaze shifted to Caden, who stood still by the bed, his expression unreadable. The weight of the world was on his shoulders.

I could feel the unspoken words between them. The burden of legacy. The sense of duty.

I reached out and quietly squeezed Caden's hand, offering a silent moment of support.

1/3 +8 Pearls Queenie was one thing, but Eleanor-his mother-was another. Betrayal from her, it cut deeper than any of them could know.

Richard's thoughts returned to the present, and he looked back at me. “Rosie, I owe you. Without you. Caden and I would still be blind to everything happening around us." I gave him a soft smile, a touch of ruefulness in my expression. "Mr. Richard, you've always been so kind to me. I did what anyone would have done. As for... everything else, I shouldn't have acted so rashly. I should've handled things better-shouldn't have let my temper get the best ofat the banquet.” I glanced at Caden out of the corner of my eye, the weight of my words lingering between us.

The atmosphere was thick, the air heavy with things left unsaid. Whether Queenie had poisoned Richard or not no longer mattered. My actions had already set everything in motion. The Eclipse Pack had been humiliated. Richard's nwas dragged through the mud. And I had pushed him to the brink. The last thing I needed was for him to collapse again, but I could feel the tension coiling under his calm facade..

"Enough, Rosie, Richard's voice softened, his hand warm as it patted mine. His gaze turned to Caden. steady and firm. "Caden, you and Rosie should go now I'm fine here. Leslie will look after me." Caden's expression barely shifted. "Alright, Grandpa," he said, his voice flat, the weariness in his eyes betraying his composure. He turned, his broad shoulders rigid, like a man carrying a burden no one else could see. "Get srest." I'll cby tomorrow, Mr. Richard," I said, matching his stride as we moved toward the door.

Caden walked ahead, his figure tall and unwavering, a silent tower in the dim light.

He wore his usual mask-impossible to read. But I knew him. Beneath that cold exterior, the hurt was there. I could feel it.

I cleared my throat, ready to speak, but then Caden stopped. He spun around, hands pressingagainst the wall.

His eyes, dark and stormy, locked onto mine with a weight I hadn't expected. "Are you still angry with me?" His voice was low, a thread of tension curling through the words.

I knew what he meant. The lies, the betrayal. It was all there, written in his eyes.

"You know how much I hate being lied to," I snapped, though the anger had faded long ago. "What you did... it madefeel like you didn't trust me. Like I was nothing" My voice was sharp, but inside, I wasn't angry anymore I just needed to remind him No more games.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, his gaze darkened, the weight of his own pain filling the space between us. I've just been betrayed by everyone I trusted. And you won't forgive me? You won't even comfort me?" His words hung in the air, thick with hurt Fblinked, caught off guard. Caden-so cold, so controlled-was suddenly showing his raw vulnerable side.

The mask cracked, and for a moment, I saw the real him. The one who was breaking inside.

2/3 95% Chapter 368 Forgiveness +8 Pearis

I couldn't hold it in. My heart softened. "Alright,, alright! said with a sigh, though my lips curled into a reluctant smile. TII forgive you. But only because you look so miserable."

I crossed my arms, pretending to be annoyed. "But dont lie toagain. Not about anything. Understand?" "If I find out you've been hiding anything fromBefore I could finish, his lips crashed onto mine, cutting off whatever I might have said.

The kiss was sudden, intense, like a storm that had been building for too n long. And just like that, everything else melted away. 0 916 O mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1