Semua Bab The Alpha's Unworthy Luna : Bab 51 - Bab 60

ELENA’S POV,When I returned to the Presidential palace, Ryan was already outside, waiting for me. He was still wearing his white button-down and navy blue trousers from earlier, but the jacket had been discarded. Seeing him there, I assumed the security team had informed him about what happened in the mall.He was leaning casually against the marble showpiece in front of the entrance, on a call with someone. But his eyes turned sharp the moment he saw the car passing through the main gate. He ended the call and stood up straight as the car stopped right where he was standing.I took a deep breath before climbing out, with the shopping bags in my hand.“What are you doing outside, Ryan?” I asked, walking closer to him. “And where is Molly?”“What did Lauren want?” he inquired without wasting a single breath. It was so sudden and to the point, it made me wonder if he’d been rehearsing the question in his mind ever since he got the call. “Why was she even there? And why did you not leav

ELENA’S POV,The taste of freedom touched my lips when Ryan started laying out photographs on the glass table.It wasn’t sweet, like I hoped it would be. It was sharp, like the cold breeze after a heavy storm—filled with the memory of rain, but light enough not to feel suffocating. The longer I looked at the photos, the worse they got, and the final blow came when I saw them in the restaurant.It was our spot, our little corner within a bustling environment, the place where we had our first date. And he tainted whatever specialness was about that place by inviting an outsider. I didn't expect to be hurt by the pictures, but seeing him share what was supposed to be only ours with his secretary shattered the few good memories I had of him.After that, I couldn't bring myself to look at the flash drive Ryan placed on the table. I was afraid I might find something way worse, something I couldn't unsee for the rest of my life. Hence, I chose my mental peace over curiosity. I trusted Ryan,

ELENA’S POV,I stared at Ryan for a minute, stunned by the conviction in his voice.He would dissolve the Council… for me? Fight the very system we were sitting under? I didn’t know how to carry the responsibility of such loyalty. My chest was ready to burst out, but before that could have happened, my eyes did, and warm tears rolled down my face.“Elena... you don't have to—”He started speaking, but I couldn't control myself and hugged him without thinking about how it would look to the Council. Both of my arms tightened around his body, and I placed my head against his chest. He tensed up at first, taken by surprise, but then he relaxed. Fortunately, it was just us and my representative in the room, and he seemed busy with his work.I wanted to thank him, but the words got stuck at the back of my throat. Thank you felt too small and meaningless compared to what he had just promised me. No amount of gratitude I could have offered him would have ever balanced the scales between us. S

ELENA’S POV,The air in the lobby had a distinct taste—clean, light, and sweet.The light felt welcoming, in contrast to the coldness I felt in the morning. Even though I knew I was going to win the case, there was a little bit of uncertainty in my heart that was impossible to shake off. Now, it felt like I finally woke up from a nightmare I had been in for the last few years. Everything felt brighter, beautiful, and I had no intention of falling back to sleep.When Julian fell, clutching his chest, I feared he wasn't going to make it. Thankfully, I felt no pain when it happened, but it wasn't the same for him. He looked like he was on the verge of death and was begging the Goddess to let him live. His eyes were blood red, ready to pop out of his head, and his screams filled the room.There was no helping him; everyone in the room knew that, and the Council members didn't seem to be fazed at all. Just when I was about to apologize for making him suffer like that, the priestess told us

LAUREN’S POV,The hospital room from back then still haunted me.And for some reason, talking to Elena about Julian and our shared pains at the hands of men took me back there. While I stared at her, trying to calm myself down, I was back in that small hospital room smelling the antiseptic and hearing the frantic shuffle of nurses outside. The image of Molly’s pale face under the dim light was right in front of my eyes.That day, jealousy made me cruel, and no matter how much I wanted to forget it, to leave it in the past, I simply couldn't. I tried lying to myself, again and again, but I couldn't make peace with what I did to her daughter. A girl younger than my own, one who was yet to see the world.I lied to Julian and asked him to let Dr. Jenna look after Lucy because she needed her attention more than Molly. I thought I was in the right for doing that, even clever for protecting my own daughter, while making sure Elena would feel the weight of helplessness I had once felt.But cl