Chapter 9
My heart skipped a beat, but quickly returned to calm.
Nathan’s warm hand covered mine, looking at me gently.[]
“…Do you need me to contact a colleague?”
The phone stayed quiet for a long time.
He’d probably been arrested.[]
I thought about it.
“No need.”
Nathan raised an eyebrow
“I thought you might soften.“]
I shook my head.
“When I took that knife for him and was lying in the operating room… he texted Luna first to report he was safe, then waited ten minutes before thinking to notify my family.
“He has parents and friends. It’s not my turn to worry about him.”
The next morning, I got a call from Javier.
e.”
“Kieran’s been arrested for disturbing the peace and assaulting art officer. He might get jail time.
“Could you go see him? He keeps calling your name.”
“No matter what, he went in there because of you.”]
I refused directly.
“Forget it. Don’t contact me again. it’s better for everyone.“]
He was quiet for a moment, then hung up awkwardly.]
In the detention center, Luna came to see him with some clean clothes, but she only stood outside the visiting window with evasive eyes.
Kieran looked terrible, but still managed a smile when he saw her.
“Luna, you came…”
Luna fidgeted with her clothes, her voice barely audible.]
“Kieran, I… I’m going abroad soon…“]
Kieran’s smile froze.
“Abroad? When?”
Luna blinked innocently, with a hint of relief in her eyes.[]
“Next week’s flight. My boyfriend doesn’t like me being so close to… to people like you.”
Kieran’s heart sank. He’d never understood whether his feelings for Luna were responsibility or something else.
He’d always wanted to protect her because her fragility satisfied his pitiful protective instincts.
Quinn was too
so strong she seemed like she didn’t need him at all.
No, that’s not right. When she was hurt, she needed him too.
Kieran’s heart trembled as the memory came back.
Luna sighed beside him []
Kieran, the lawyer says your situation is serious this time. You might be in prison for several years… I need someone who can take care of me, not someone like you.“]
Luna stood up as if trying to escape something.
“But we’ve always been good friends, right?”
Images flashed through Kieran’s mind–selling the wedding house, buying that three–million–dollar bag, repeatedly neglecting Quinn for Luna’s sake.[]
Looking at his cuffed hands, he suddenly smiled bitterly.
“Karma… this is all karina.“]
Luna opened the visiting room door.]]
“Kieran, take care of yourself in there… let’s not see each other anymore.”
“Get out.”
Luna’s eyes reddened.]
“Don’t be like this… I have no choice.”
Kieran grabbed the water cup from the table and hurled it at her.]
“I told you to get out!“]
The cup shattered on the ground. Luna screamed and ran without looking back.
Kieran’s tears fell as he banged his head against the cold glass.
-0
Two years later, I was with Nathan getting our child’s birth certificate when I caught sight of a familiar figure leaving the prison. He was much thinner, his hair had gone gray, and when he saw me, he instinctively hid, not wanting me to see him like.
this.
He dejectedly hid in the shadows.
He knew that the woman who had once desperately loved him was now completely beyond his reach.
Om
