The Luna Who Paid to Live in Her Own Home Chapter 08

The Luna Who Paid to Live in Her Own Home Chapter 08

After spending several months in the UK, I gradually adjusted to life there.

My days ran between classrooms, the lab, the library, and Mrs. Hadley’s apartment.

I stopped counting every dollar just to survive.

I stopped wondering if I could afford to eat.

I stopped watching a fiye–minute countdown tick down while I showered.

I threw myself into studying, and my grades showed it. Top of nearly every class.

One evening, I finally solved a problem that had me stumped for weeks.

I rubbed my aching neck and looked up, only to see a coin on the desk.

I stared at it, and my mind drifted.

I hadn’t thought about any of it in a long time.

I once believed that those scars would follow me for the rest of my life.

But now I realized my life was too full to leave any room for the past.

I thought this life would continue forever.

That belief lasted until the day I returned home after class.

The second I reached the building, a familiar scent hit me.

I stopped walking.

Deep in my mind, my wolf’s eyes snapped open.

Three familiar people were standing outside my building.

They were Mom, Dad, and Della.

Mom saw me first.

She immediately walked toward me with an anxious, pleading smile.

“Rhea.” Her voice wavered. “How are you, sweetheart?”

Dad stood beside her with a stiff expression.

“Your term break is coming soon, right?”

“We came to pick you up and take you home with us.”

My voice was calm.

“That place isn’t my home. I’m not going back.”

Mom’s face instantly turned pale.

Della stood to the side and sneered.

“Rhea, you won.”

“Walking away was a clever way to get what you wanted.”

“Now Mom and Dad can only see and think about you. Are you satisfied?”

I looked at her, and my voice turned cold.

“Believe what you want.”

Then I looked at Mom and Dad.

“You should go. Don’t come looking for me again.”

I turned to leave, but Mom caught my arm.

“Rhea, don’t say that.”

Her eyes were red, panicked.

“We’re a family. Can’t we just sit down and talk about this?”

“We spoiled Della. Don’t hold it against her.”

Dad frowned and glared at Della. “Apologize to Rhea.”

Della stared at him in disbelief.

“Why should I? What do I have to apologize for?”

“She was the one who abandoned this family. Why are you still taking her side?”

“Della!”

Mom gave her a warning glare.

Then she looked at me and softened her voice.

“Rhea, we know that we treated you badly before.”

“We only wanted to come and see you.”

“Everything before is in the past. From now on, I promise I’ll learn how to be a real mother to you.”

Areal mother?

I had waited eighteen years to hear those words.

I’d waited for them when they locked me on the porch as a kid.

I’d waited when toast was all I was allowed to eat.

I’d waited when my trophy lay shattered on the floor.

I’d waited long enough. I didn’t want it anymore.

I looked her dead in the eye.

“My name was pulled from the Mercer registry a long time ago. I don’t even share your last name.”

“At most, we’re only relatives.”

“So we were never really family.”

Mom’s face crumpled. The tears came fast…

Fdidn’t look back. I walked into the building and let the door close behind me.

I thought they had already left.

But a few days later, I saw them outside again.