Temporary Luna, Permanent Heartbreak - Chapter 78: Chapter 78

After speaking, Robert casually flicked his sleeve, "Zara, if you think you can win back Sterling with this move, you're overestimating yourself. However, if you just want to trouble us, well, I must admit you've succeeded in doing so."
Though Robert lowered his head, I could still see that his eyes held a hint of disdain for me, as if I were some filthy, despicable thing that wasn't worthy of seeing the moonlight.
I'd just happened to glance at Sterling and Celeste by accident, without having any other thoughts in my mind at all. But hearing Robert's offensive words, I couldn't help but subtly furrow my brows.
"Zara is just..." Jagger tried to explain on my behalf.
I quickly pulled him back, stopping him from saying anything more.
Without even bothering to look at Robert, I calmly said, "The world is so vast, and if all of you can come here, why can't I? Is there any pack law that says I'm not allowed to be here?"
I paused for a moment and then went on, "Also, I don't go around troubling people without a good reason. Before you jump to conclusions, you should think about whether you actually have the right to give me a hard time!"
"You!" Robert's face froze with rage. His complexion went from red to white in an instant, and the lines on his face hardened!
My merciless words must have hit him like a ton of bricks, leaving him completely stunned.
This Robert, who was always treated with respect and admiration outside the pack, had probably never been spoken to like that before!
He was so angry that he clenched his fists tightly.
I didn't care whether he was angry or not. After I said what I had to say, I looked at Jagger and asked, "Are you heading back? Why don't you give me a ride?"
Jagger's face lit up with joy when I took the initiative to ask for a ride in his car. "Sure, of course," he said.
With that, he quickly went to open the passenger door for me, gesturing for me to get in. That seat, I'd heard, was usually reserved for the people closest to him.
I didn't say anything and just lowered my head as I got into the car.
The car started up and drove away.
Throughout the whole process, I didn't look back even once, not sparing another glance at the three people behind me.
"This Zara, damn it!" I heard Robert still fuming as he kicked a stone hard from the roadside.
Celeste was carefully looking at Sterling, and when she saw his gloomy expression, her heart skipped a beat.
But she managed to stay calm and said with a smile, "It's clear that Zara is ready to start a new life. This man comes from a wealthy pack and is the richest in this territory. Zara won't lose out by being with him."
I don't know how she knew Jagger was the richest, but I'm sure there were a lot of things she wouldn't tell others.
"Shameless!" In Robert's eyes, I was just a gold digger, always trying to get close to wealthy alphas whenever I had the chance. He muttered those words in disapproval.
"What's so good to see in this godforsaken place? Let's go back," he said.
Celeste seemed desperate to leave. She'd come to see Sterling, and since he hadn't said anything, she suggested, "Sterling, let's settle down first."
Finally, Sterling moved and lowered his head as he got into the car. Celeste followed him in.
As the car started moving, she still had that uneasy feeling in her chest because she couldn't help but look at Sterling and asked, "Sterling, why did you come to this place for no reason?"
Sterling had told her to accompany him to a place, and Celeste must have thought it would be somewhere near Aquoria City. Little did she know they'd end up here.
When the car entered the small pack hospital, her face turned pale.
This was clearly the place she least wanted to visit!
Sterling turned to look at her. His gaze was deep, and a hint of confusion under his eyebrows. "Don't you like it here?"
Celeste took a deep breath, probably reminding herself that she needed to play her cards right if she wanted to win back his affection. So she quickly changed her tune, "How could that be?"
But her forced response didn't escape Sterling's notice. He could see the uneasiness in her eyes.
In his memory, whenever I talked about this place, my eyes would light up with excitement.
I sat in Jagger's car and after driving for a while, I asked him to stop near my home.
Jagger was really enthusiastic. "Zara, how about visiting my pack house tomorrow? My mother really likes you."
He paused for a moment and then continued, "If you feel uncomfortable, we can visit my territory."
Looking at me, he said, "By the way, I heard you singing just now, and it was beautiful."
The tenderness in his voice and the way he looked at me showed just how much he cared for me. He was hinting that his pack would accept me even though I had my bond dissolved, and that he had the means to take care of me.
I knew Jagger was sincere, but I still smiled and shook my head. "No, thank you."
I turned to face him seriously. "Jagger, you're a good man, and you deserve a good she-wolf's love."
"You're a good she-wolf too, really!" Jagger thought I might be feeling insecure and quickly tried to reassure me.
I pursed my lips. Insecurity wasn't the issue for me.
Despite my situation, I'd always been humble when I was at the Ashford pack because I loved them.
"What I mean is that right now, I only want to live a peaceful life with my pup. I have no plans to find a mate. Don't waste your time on me, it's not necessary."
The smile disappeared from Jagger's face in an instant, leaving only a sense of loss that seemed to go on forever.
I apologized with a slight nod and then quickly opened the car door and walked away.
Fortunately, Jagger wasn't the type to be overly pushy and didn't come after me.
I felt relieved about that.
When I got home, I found the door locked.
I took out my phone and saw a voice message from Lyra saying that they'd gone to the mountains to watch birds.
That little pup was always curious about everything in the countryside.
Since I couldn't get inside, I just wandered aimlessly down the path.
Before I knew it, I found myself standing in front of the pack hospital.
The pack hospital had changed a lot over the years. The buildings were bigger now, and they'd even installed elevators.
But the large yard behind it was still the same as before.
I couldn't resist the pull of the place and started walking towards it.
As I looked at the yard, I could smell the fresh scent of pine needles mixed with the earthy aroma of the potted plants.
I wasn't sure if the trees just hadn't grown much taller or if they'd been replanted after dying, but they still looked the same as before, just a bit taller.
In this small world, those potted plants and small pine trees brought back so many beautiful memories for me.
Maybe it was because I'd seen Sterling just now that my emotions started to feel heavy again.
As I walked under the tree, it was like I could see two teenagers huddled together.
Two young souls weighed down by guilt, seeking warmth from each other.
When I first met Sterling, I was going through a really tough time too.
I was just a teenager when I learned the heartbreaking truth that my mother had died giving birth to me.
That feeling was just as bad as if I'd killed her with my own hands.
Even though dad never blamed me, the looks of resentment from the pack members around me were like knives cutting into me.
Especially my deranged grandmother, who would try to choke my neck every time she saw me and call me a murderer.
And then, tragically, my grandmother died after falling while trying to catch me.
All that guilt just piled up on me, making me feel like I was a sinner.
And Sterling...
"Big Eyes?"
Suddenly, I heard someone call out from behind me.
That voice was like a magical spell, snapping me right out of my thoughts.
I couldn't believe it and quickly turned around to see Sterling standing there, looking at me with such deep affection in his eyes!
He called me "Big Eyes"!
He... recognized me?
My heart started pounding like crazy, as if there were drums beating inside my chest.
My eyes filled up with tears before I even realized it.