Chapter 285 Prison Shadows

    “Mom… when did you find out?” Alyssa asked softly.

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    Elena gave a faint smile. “A long time ago. The first time, I chose to forgive him. But that just led to morepromises. Over and over.”

    She paused. “I thought about taking you and leaving. But… I figured you’d be happier as the little princess of the Graves family. So, Ipromised with myself.”

    But those days ofpromise were behind her now.

    Without thinking, Alyssa stepped forward and hugged her mother. For the first time, she noticed a single silver strand in

    her hair.

    Her eyes stung.

    The mother who once argued with her like a rival… was getting older.

    “I’m sorry, Mom…” she whispered.

    “No need to apologize,” Elena said softly. “These were my choices.”

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    She shared all of this now. hoping that if Alvssa ever found

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    herself in a simr ce, she’de to her–not shut her out

    like before.

    “Landon’s good to you,” Elena added after a pause. “I can see it. He really cares about you.”

    Alyssa’s cheeks flushed. “I know.”

    “Just… keep that temper of yours under control. It’s okay to act a little spoiled,” Elena said with a small smile, “but don’t push it too far.”

    XXXXX

    After Alyssa’s call, Kaia sat there, mouth agape, unable to

    process.

    Two out of the three Graves brothers, besides Lucien, had cheated.

    iWould /iiLucien /iibe /inexti? /i

    “Kaia, don’t overthink it. Uncle Lucien would never cheat,” Alyssa said, defending him.

    “Not now, maybe, but their family’s got bad genes.”

    Alyssa gave an awkward chuckle. “Hey, that’s kinda throwing 42

    shade at me too.”

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    Chapter 285 Prison Shadows

    *****

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    When Lucien got home from work, he could tell Kaia was giving him the cold shoulder.

    “Honey, how is work today? Case going smoothly?” he asked.

    “What case? I told you, I’m only handling non–litigation stufftely!” Kaia snapped.

    To keep her pregnancy stress–free, she’d decided to avoid litigation work this year.

    Court cases were too emotionally draining, so Kaia steered clear.

    Lucien, unfazed by her outburst, stayed calm. “My bad, honey, I forgot. So, is work keeping you busy? Any tricky issues?”

    “No! I’m handling everything just fine!” Kaia shot back, her tone sharp.

    Lucien was puzzled.

    He wondered if Joanne had been stirring up trouble with Kaia again.

    Byg Joanne had been too busy dealing with Zane’s mistress to

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    Chapter 285 Prison Shadows

    care about much else.

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    “Honey, did I do something to upset you? Cool off a bit and talk to me, okay?” Lucien asked, his voice soft and earnest.

    Kaia huffed, “Did you know your second brother cheated, too? And not just once!”

    Lucien looked utterly baffled.

    What did that have to do with him?

    “No, I didn’t know.”

    Kaia crossed her arms, eyes sharp. “Both your brothers cheated. Are you next?b” /b

    Lucien blinked, looking genuinely offended.

    “Honey,e on. I’d never cheat. I swear.” He held up both hands.

    “If I were that kind of guy, would I have stayed single for thirty–three years? I promise you–that’s not who I am.”

    Kaia’s anger started to fade, though she wasn’t even sure why she’d gotten that worked up.

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    “Fine,” she muttered. “But I’m watching you, Lucien. If you

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    cheat, I’m taking our daughter and finding her a new dad.”

    Lucien’s jaw tightened. “No stepdad. Not happening.”

    He stepped closer, then leaned in and kissed her–slow and deep–silencing whatever heat she had left.

    *****

    In the dim, echoing cellblock, a guard barked, “3387! This is your cell.”

    Luna, dressed in a stiff prison uniform, was shoved inside.

    She never thought her life would end up here.

    Her entrance drew stares.

    With her delicate features and quiet, soft demeanor, she looked like easy prey.

    “Well, well… what’d you do tond yourself here?” a gruff woman taunted.

    Luna said nothing, shrinking back into a corner,

    “Hey, newbie! You deaf or what?” another inmate snapped.

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    Lúna nced toward the bunk assigned to her, only to find it

    Chapter 285 Prison Shadows

    stacked high with someone else’s belongings.

    Biting her lip, she asked carefully, “Whose stuff is this?b” /b

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    The woman nearest to her smirked. “Mine. You got a problem with that?b” /b

    Luna’s knuckles tightened. “Move it.”

    She’d had enough already.

    But before she could react, a sharp p cracked across her cheek. Then another. And another.

    Medea–the woman who’d imed the bunk–sneered down at her. “I’m not moving. What are you gonna do about it?”

    She stepped closer, daring her. “Go on. Hit me.”

    Tears welled up in Luna’s eyes and slid down her cheeks.

    She couldn’t imagine surviving five years trapped in this nightmare.

    Later, during a work break in the prison yard, Luna caught sight of someone–and froze.

    “Sally! It’s me… Luna!”

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    Sally’s dull, lifeless eyes blinked. For a moment, a spark of recognition flickered.

    “Luna? What… what are you doing here?”

    iWasn’t /iLuna married ito /iAldeni? /i

    iHow /iidid /ishend iin /iprison?

    During a short rest break, they found a moment to talk in whispers.

    “Kaia… she’s vicious! I… I couldn’t beat her. She set me up!” Luna’s voice cracked as she broke down, tears running down her face.

    Sally listened, struggling to piece it all together. There were still gaps in the story, but one thing was clear—Kaia had something to do with why Luna was here.

    Sally gritted her teeth. She only had a few months left on her own sentence, thanks to good behavior and time reductions. She just needed to hold on.

    “How’s Kimberly doing out there?” Sally asked carefully. “She hasn’t visited in over a year.”

    Luna’s

    ga’s face froze. Her eyes went wide.

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    Chapter 285 Prison Shadows

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    Sally’s dull, lifeless eyes blinked. For a moment, a spark of recognition flickered.

    “Luna? What… what are you doing here?”

    Wasn’t Luna imarried /iito /iAlden?

    iHow /idid shend iin /iprison?

    During a short rest break, they found a moment to talk in whispers.

    “Kaia… she’s vicious! I… I couldn’t beat her. She set me up!” Luna’s voice cracked as she broke down, tears running down her face.

    Sally listened, struggling to piece it all together. There were still gaps in the story, but one thing was clear—Kaia had something to do with why Luna was here.

    Sally gritted her teeth. She only had a few months left on her own sentence, thanks to good behavior and time reductions. She just needed to hold on.

    “How’s Kimberly doing out there?” Sally asked carefully. “She hasn’t visited in over a year.”

    Lyga’s face froze. Her eyes went wide.

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    Chapter 285 Prison Shadows

    “You… you don’t know?”

    A cold dread crept over Sally. “Know what?”

    Luna hesitated, her voice barely audible.

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    “Kimberly… she’s gone. Kaia drove her to it. She… she jumped off a building.”

    Coin Packageb: /bEarn up bto 1200 /bbonus

    bfor /bbfree/bb. /b

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    bget /bit

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