“Mommy, are you leaving again?” Elena asked, tears streaming down her face.


    “I missed you so much.


    Now that you’re finally back, I don’t want you to go.


    Mommy, please stay, okay?”


    Dn’s eyes were filled with tears too.


    He looked at me, pleading, “Mommy, can’t you stay?”


    I felt like crying.


    With this situation unfolding, I didn’t know how to exin it to the kids.


    After a moment of hesitation, I said helplessly, “I came at a bad time today.


    I promise I’lle see you again.


    Alright?”


    The children shook their heads immediately, refusing to let go of my hands.


    “Mommy, please don’t go.


    ”


    Debra’s POV:


    I found myself torn.


    Leaving the children was thest thing I wanted, yet the current situation left me at a loss.


    Suddenly, the echo of hurried footsteps filled the air.


    Before I could react, a firm grip seized my hand, rendering me immobile.


    I pivoted to face Caleb, his expression wrought with anxiety.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    “Debra,” Caleb began, his breaths quick and urgent.


    “It’s not what it seems.


    I need to exin.


    ”


    Speech eluded me.


    I took in his disheveled appearance, recalling thepromising scene of him and Alexandria together.


    A nagging familiarity stirred within me.


    Was Caleb truly a yboy?


    The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.


    No wonder he hadn’t seemed distraught after I disappeared, or ted upon my return.


    It all made sense now.


    With a steely resolve, I cut him off.


    “Save your breath.


    I don’t want to hear it.


    ”


    I made a move to depart, but Caleb persisted, seizing my hand in a frantic plea.


    “Debra, please listen.


    It’s not what you think—”


    I cut him off with a cold demeanor, a hint of sarcasm tainting my words.


    “And what else could it possibly be, Caleb? I saw it with my own eyes.


    How can you deny it so confidently? Cheating on me and then lying without a flinch.


    ”


    “You misunderstood me.


    I didn’t cheat on you…” Caleb attempted to defend himself.


    As I struggled to break free, Alexandria, now dressed, descended the stairs.


    Despite her outwardposure, there was an air of difort about her.


    She approached, her voice soft with sincerity.


    “Luna, it’s not what you believe.


    Last night was an ident.


    Please, trust Alpha.


    ”


    Her words rang sincere.


    However, the sight of her disheveled appearance, coupled with the telltale marks on her chest, shattered thest remnants of trust I held for Caleb.