The Luna Is Gone

Chapter 120

Diana’s pov

I looked at William. In my memories, his eyes were always slightly squinted, warm and affectionate like gentle sunlight. But now, they were filled with calculation and cunning. Why didn’t I notice this before? Disappointment flooded my heart like a tide. I curved my lips into a faint smile.

“Don’t joke,” I said. “I will never help you.”

“Diana, you’re a smart kid. Don’t always make foolish decisions,” William’s tone turned dangerous, but I remained unfazed. Meeting his intense gaze, I spoke calmly,

“Foolish? It’s better than losing one’s conscience. Besides, I never thought you would win.”

“Are you going to oppose me to the end?” William’s eyes shot icy coldness, piercing through me. Bitterness spread in my mouth. I gritted my teeth.

“I never wanted to oppose you…” my voice softened, “If you choose to turn back, you’ll still be Uncle Reed, whom I respected. But…”

I clenched my fist, determination in my eyes.

“If you insist on going down the wrong path, you will be my enemy.”

I stared at William. At some point, I even felt like all the surrounding sounds had quieted down. I tried to capture all the emotions in William’s eyes. I hoped for regret, softness, kindness… because that was the Uncle Reed I knew. But there was nothing. His gaze grew colder, more unfamiliar. I knew he was evaluating my remaining value and whether to give up on me. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“What about you?” After a while, William suddenly spoke, looking at Moss. “Are you betraying me too?”

Moss smiled casually. “Using the term ‘betrayal‘ is a bit inappropriate. I’ve never truly submitted to you.”

“I thought you agreeing to restart the research project meant you were willing to obey me.”

“No, you’re wrong. All along, I’ve only followed those who could lead me to complete the experimental project, and that person is Healer. Unfortunately, you’ve lost Healer.”

“But I have endless money!” William emphasized. “As long as you stay with me, you’ll have wealth like you’ve never seen in your life.”

I observed Moss’s expression. William did propose a very tempting condition. However, Moss just smirked, lowering his eyes.

“Look at yourself…” Moss’s laughter was trembling, “Mr. Reed, you already have endless money. Do you even need more? Are you capable of spending it all?”

“You would dislike having too much money?” William retorted.

“I don’t mind. But I’m afraid…” Moss shrugged, raising his eyebrows, “Of course, I’m not afraid of not being able to spend all that money. I’m afraid of spending it and losing my life. So, you don’t need to try to recruit me further.”

William seemed surprised by Moss’s straightforward refusal, muscles twitching in his face.

“One day, you’ll regret this decision,” he said before turning and leaving.

Moss withdrew his gaze, looking at me, raising an eyebrow.

“Do I have something on my face?” he asked.

“Ah… no, I…” I just realized I had been staring at him since a while ago. But before I could say anything, the lights in the entire hall dimmed once again.

In the darkness, the emcee announced loudly, “Next, let’s invite Alpha Nathan and his fiancée Avia to perform today’s opening dance!”

A sharp sound echoed. A soft blue light illuminated a man and a woman in the center

of the stage. The man was Nathan, and the woman was Avia.

Soon, a beautiful piano melody started playing. I saw Nathan’s hand around Avia’s waist and another holding her hand. Avia had a sweet smile on her face. They danced gracefully, like two meteors converging in the night sky, dazzling and mesmerizing.

To the point that my eyes were slightly stinging, as if something was about to surge in the bitterness. From the moment Nathan and I first met, to the banquet a year ago where we severed the mate bond, to repeating it a year later, his repeated approaches, shielding me from a knife, confessing to me, kissing on the Ferris wheel…

And then, at that moment when the lights in the entire hall lit up again, the moment when Nathan and I passed each other back to back, all the memories, whether beautiful or painful, shattered into pieces.

A warm tear slid down my cheek, and I closed my eyes. I thought, finally, I can completely let go of Nathan.

After the dance, it was dinner time, and we moved to another hall. Moss sat on my left, Nora on my right. Nora was openly appraising Moss, a sly smile on her face. I knew exactly what she was thinking.

1

Sure enough, in just a moment, Nora leaned over to my ear, grinning, “Your male companion is quite good!”

“Do you

like him?” I teased. “I can introduce you.”

Nora clicked her tongue, frowned, “You know what I mean! Do you have any feelings

for that handsome guy?”

I shrugged.

Moss was indeed excellent, whether in looks, talent, or personality… but I currently had no intention of starting a new relationship. There were many more important things waiting for me.

“Ah! I’m sorry…”

At this moment, a blonde girl sitting on Nora’s right apologized hurriedly. It turned out that she accidentally knocked over Nora’s glass just now. Liquid spilled all over the table, soaking the tablecloth, and some of it stained Nora’s dress.

nothing, this engagement banquet would undoubtedly be a unilateral insult to me.

“Diana.”

11

Lost in thought, Moss nudged me with his elbow, gesturing for me to look to the left. William was approaching with a glass of champagne.

I turned around, wanting to leave, but William stopped me.

“Diana, your good friend, Nora–I mean, I just greeted her.”

I looked at William coldly. “Are you trying to threaten me with Nora?”

William chuckled, walking up to me.

“You’re thinking too much. You’re my treasure; why would I threaten you?” William raised an eyebrow, then asked, “How do you feel about this engagement ceremony?”

I pursed my lips, not answering.

William took it upon himself to answer his own question.

“I think it’s just average. When it’s your engagement ceremony, I promise I’ll make it a hundred times, a thousand times grander!”

I responded with an impatient frown.

“What do you want to say?” I asked.

“Nothing.” William continued to smile amicably, as if he had never torn off that layer of false skin in front of me. “I just want to tell my darling not to oppose me.”

I scoffed at that.

William didn’t mind my indifferent attitude. He patted my shoulder and leaned in.

“Diana, come back to me and continue to help me. I promise I’ll pamper you to be the happiest girl in the world. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you!”

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice.

“Look at Avia. Designed and framed you several times. Baby, as long as you behave, I have a hundred ways to make her disappear from your world, never to dirty your eyes again.”

Nora nodded obediently.

However, when I came back with the water, Nora was already asleep, and the flush on her face had faded a bit.

I touched her forehead, making sure she was fine, and sighed in relief.

It seemed that it wasn’t an allergy but just drunkenness.

Nora’s alcohol tolerance was indeed getting worse.

I shook my head, placed the water glass on the bedside table, covered Nora with a blanket, and left the room.

However, when I reached the stairs, I saw a tall and broad figure leaning against the railing.

Hearing my footsteps, that person turned his head leisurely, and his deep gaze met

Hearing my footsteps, that person turned his head leisurely, and his deep gaze me mine.