Abby
The morning after the fated dinner, | find myself wandering through the house, my steps aimless as | try to upy my mind and
distract myself from the events ofst night.
The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife, and | can’t help but rey the argument between Karl and his
brother, Ethan, over and over again in my mind.
It''s bizarre to me how easily Ethan is swayed by Gianna, but it only makes it more clear just how deep her treachery runs. | keep
wondering just how much of this she had nned; was this what she nned from the beginning, or was manipting Ethan a
n B for her?
I''m leaning toward thetter right now, but | wouldn''t be surprised if this was what she had nned all along. It’s obvious that all
she ever had on her mind was bing the Luna, although whether she intended on bing Karl''s Luna or his brother’s
Luna is still up for debate.
Either way, | can’t help but feel a bit like an unwilling participant in all of this. All | ever wanted was happiness and peace in my
life, and yet it seems as though someone always needs to throw a wrench into things.
My marriage with Karl was ruined, my restaurant might get shut down, and the Alpha gathering was a disaster—and all of it,
everyst bit of it, has always been pinned on me. Will it ever get to the point where | don’t have to keep proving my innocence
to everyone, or is this just my fate?
As | meander down the winding hallways, however, something catches my eye; the door to Kar!’s office is open, and he’s not
inside. Actually, he’s been out all morning, which is strange. It’s still very early, and | would normally expect to find him sitting
behind his desk. But when | step into the doorway, his office is empty and the only light is that of the morning sun peeking
through the half-closed blinds.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and | decide to snoop around—well, not really snoop, but rather check it out.
He’s changed the office a bit since | lived here, transforming it from a more modern look to something a bit more vintage. He
switched out the ss-top desk for mahogany, and now bookshelves line the once-bare walls. | like it, though. It suits him better;
it''s more adult.
But as | look around, | can’t help but notice something else. There’s a small picture sitting on his desk. It''sying down t, as
though he pulled it out of somewhere and was looking at it, and forgot to put it away.
| can’t resist the temptation to take a closer look, and when | do, my eyes widen slightly. It''s a photo of Karl and me, taken back
when we were married.
| still remember when we took that picture; it was during a weekend getaway to a cabin in the woods with Marcus and his wife.
Karl and | are both smiling, wrapped in warm nkets, and the happiness in our eyes is undeniable.
| pick up the photo, feeling a rush of emotions as | look at it. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this picture, and it reminds me
of a time when Karl and | were happy together, before everything fell apart.
My fingers trace the edges of the frame as | continue to stare at the image, lost in memories.
Just as I’m lost in thought, the door to the office creaks, and | jump, nearly dropping the photo. Karl steps inside, his expression a
mixture of surprise and curiosity as he sees me holding the picture.
“Abby,” he says, his voice soft, “I didn’t expect to see you in here.”
| quickly set the photo back down on his desk, feeling a flush of embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Karl. | didn’t mean to intrude. | was
just... wandering around.”
He walks over to his desk and picks up the photo, his fingers brushing against the ss. “I took this outst night,” he admits, his
gaze fixed on the picture. “I''ve kept it in my desk drawer all this time.”
| look at him, surprised by his confession. “Why?” | ask, unable to hide the curiosity in my voice.
Karl finally tears his gaze away from the photo and meets my eyes. “To remember,” he says simply. “To remember the good
times, the moments when things were a little bit easier. It’s a reminder that keeps me going when things get rough.”
His words hang in the air, and | can see the vulnerability in his eyes. It’s a side of Karl that | don’t get to see very often, and it
softens my heart. Despite our differences and the pain we’ve caused each other, there’s still a connection between us, a shared
history that can''t be erased.
“I''m sorry for walking into your office like this,” | say, my voice hardly more than a whisper. “I didn’t mean to invade your privacy.”
Karl shakes his head, a faint smile on his lips. “It’s fine, Abby. | meant what | said when | told you that my home—our home—is
always open to you. And that includes all of it.”
| nod, feeling a strange sense of relief. When we were married, Karl was always pretty secretive about his office. Maybe things
really have changed. Maybe he’s growing up.
Karl breaks the silence, his voice taking on a more practical tone. “Abby, | wanted to ask if you’d like to join me for volunteering
today.”
| blink in surprise at his unexpected suggestion. “Volunteering? You?”
Karl chuckles, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Yes, me,” he replies. “Don’t look so surprised.”
| can''t help it; I’m taken aback by his
willingness to volunteer, somethi
that he never showerkaliy Wetelts
wien aelWere married. But then, |
realize that people change, and
maybe he’s trying to make amends in
his own way. Please read the original
content at NovelDrama.Org.
“Well?” he asks. “You wannae?”
| hesitate for a moment, unsure of
how to respond. “I appreciate the
offer, Karl,” | s final tout AAin it''s
bestielstay‘out of the public eye for
a while. People are already starting to
view me as the Luna, and there''s
been some gossip.” Please read the
original content at NovelDrama.Org.
Karl nods in understanding, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah, | see your point,” he says. “You should do what feels right for you.
But, if you change your mind, I''ll be in town. There’s a food and clothing drive today.”
Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.
| watch as he turns to leave the room,
and I''m left feeling surprised by his
reaction. He didn’t pus me to oihl |
is and eian Cet nary or
f Med over my rejection. It’s a
side of him that | haven''t seen before,
one that’s more considerate and
understanding, and it throws me for a
total loop. Please read the original
content at NovelDrama.Org.
As he walks away, though, | can’t help but wonder about his motives for volunteering and what''s going on in his mind.
But for now, I’ll stay in the background and watch from a distance, just like the picture on his desk—reminding me of a time when
things were different, and hoping that maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance for real change.