Temporary Luna, Permanent Heartbreak - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Kai secretly arranged for people to partner with Zara, giving her five percent of his pack company's annual profits to fund her projects.
Since he didn't dare bother Zara anymore, this was his way of protecting her from the shadows.
When the pack elders found out about this, they came to make trouble again.
Kai threw the betting agreement in their faces, shutting them up.
He'd signed an indefinite contract with Zara—as long as she continued developing poor packs, his company would keep sending the money.
Every day, Kai received updates about Zara and videos of her. She was becoming more and more confident, more and more radiant.
Zara became his reason for living, the light that kept his heart beating.
One late night, Kai got up from his office desk and suddenly everything went black as he collapsed to the floor.
When he woke up, he saw his mother's tear-streaked face.
The multiple head injuries Kai had sustained had caused blood clots in his brain that were pressing on his nerves. Due to their location, they couldn't be removed.
He could go blind or lose consciousness at any time, and might even die.
When Kai learned this news, his first thought was fear that he wouldn't be able to protect Zara anymore.
"Thank the Moon Goddess I signed that contract. At least I'm part of her future somehow."
"Mom, I'm so sorry. I woke up way too late—I didn't just hurt Zara, I broke your heart too. If I don't make it, please protect Zara for me."
"If I could have a second chance, I swear I wouldn't be such a bastard."
After that, Kai fell into a coma, with no answer when he might wake up.
Crying her eyes out, his mother went to find Zara.
Zara had just thrown away the flowers Kai had sent. She was wearing a crisp white business suit and was slightly startled when she saw his mother.
Kai's mother had always been good to her. So she smiled and walked over. "Luna Blackthorn, what brings you here?"
"Zara, Kai fell into a coma. The healers said that if someone he cares about talks to him, there might still be a chance to stimulate him to wake up. Please, I'm begging you—could you go see him?" His mother sobbed uncontrollably. "I know I shouldn't bother you, but I..."
Zara's expression changed slightly as she heard the news.
She supported the older woman. "I'm sorry, Luna Blackthorn, but I can't go."
"I don't want any more connections with him. I know you'll blame me for this. I'm sorry." Zara took a deep breath.
"You have no idea—you're never gonna be completely done with him. He's always been giving you..." His mother wanted to say something but stopped, remembering Kai's previous instructions, and swallowed the rest of her words.
Kai was afraid that if Zara knew the truth about their business partnership, she'd cancel the contract unilaterally.
It was the only connection left between them.
Zara didn't understand what she meant. She bowed to his mother. "He and I have nothing to do anymore. I'm sorry."
Zara left without hesitation. His mother covered her mouth and cried but didn't chase after her.
As Zara walked out of the office building, Sterling got out of his car and smiled at her. "Zara, I've made the restaurant reservation. We can head straight there."
"Thanks, Sterling. We absolutely have to discuss the medical resource for those poor packs." Zara smiled, shaking off the gloom that Kai's mother had brought her.
"With Alpha Ashford's help, there's no difficulty we can't overcome."
After all, the Ashford Pack was the most powerful Pack in this territory.
Five years flew by.
Zara helped more and more poor packs escape poverty, became one of the territory's top ten entrepreneurs.
As for Kai Blackthorn, he was still in a vegetative state, and healers said he might never wake up.
At the same time, Zara and Sterling finally welcomed their mating ceremony.
At that night, Zara gazed into Sterling's loving eyes, her heart brimming with hope for their future.