Chapter 345

Hannah

“How did the meeting go?”

Noah pulled out of the driveway leading to Luna Alanna’s vast estate, the car tires crunching on the gravel. He turned onto the main road, which wound through rolling hills, their peaks crowned with dense pine forests.

Luna Alanna’s words echoed in my mind—“In the event of a divorce, I will vouch for you”—and for a moment, I considered telling him only that the meeting was fine. There was no need to detail my private conversation with the Luna Queen.

But then I remembered my promise. We both had—for our child's sake. No more lies. No more secrets.

I took a deep breath. “It went… surprisingly well,” I began, recounting the meeting’s details. I told him about the other Lunas’ reactions to the forum scandal—their unexpected support and understanding. I described my presentation and how my pen pal program would launch in the children’s summer program in a few weeks.

Reaching the part about my private conversation with Alanna, I hesitated, my fingers fidgeting with my blouse’s hem.

“There’s something else,” I said slowly. “Luna Alanna… she realized we’re going to get a divorce. And she said she would vouch for me when it happens!”

Not if, as she’d actually said. When. Because, even though I had fallen for him, I still planned to divorce him.

Noah was silent, his expression unreadable as he drove. Only the engine’s soft hum and the occasional turn signal click broke the silence—the only indication he’d heard me being a slight tightening of his grip on the steering wheel.

My stomach clenched; I worried I’d hurt or upset him. The silence stretched, becoming unbearable.

But, to my surprise, he pulled off the main road into a parking lot. A restaurant sign appeared, its aroma already making my mouth water.

“Noah?” I asked, confused by his lack of response and the unexpected detour.

“Come on. Let’s eat,” was all he said.

Inside, we sat in a booth near the back. The waitress took our drink orders, leaving us to choose our meals, but the menu’s words swam before my eyes. Nothing. He’d said… nothing. He hadn’t even gotten angry. Somehow, this was worse.

Finally, unable to bear it, I said, “What’s this for?” gesturing to the restaurant.

Noah set down his menu, his eyes meeting mine for the first time since we arrived. “It’s congratulatory,” he said matter-of-factly. “Clearly, your Luna Council meeting went very well. I’m happy for you, Hannah.”

An unexpected warmth spread through my chest, a flutter in my stomach unrelated to hunger. This man, so different from the cold, distant husband I’d known for years, was increasingly difficult to reconcile with the idea of divorce. I had indeed fallen for him, hard, and moments like these only made it harder to remember why we needed to end our marriage.

“You’re not… upset?” I asked.

He cocked his head. “Why would I be upset?”

“Because Luna Alanna promised to vouch for me in the divorce.”

He shrugged and said nothing.

Blissfully soon, our meals arrived. I ordered a pasta dish with alfredo sauce and golden shrimp; its aroma made my mouth water. I hadn’t realized how hungry I’d become during the meeting.