Underwater: The Silent Luna novel Chapter 110

Chapter 110

Joseph set the paper down. Folded his hands on the desk. Looked at her properly.

“You could ask for good health because you look like shit right now.”

The teasing was deliberate. A softer way in. Amber laughed, but Joseph heard it immediately. The faint wheezing tucked into the sound.

Small, but unmistakable. His expression changed at once.

“Come on out with it.”

Amber smiled again. Too easily.

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“I think I have the flu. I called Dr Rosenberg, and he prescribed some drugs. I have sent the chauffeur to help get the items on the

prescription list so I can start treating the flu.”

It was a lie. Clean enough on the surface, but still a lie. Amber delivered it smoothly, and Joseph, wanting to believe something simple,

nodded.

“I know you like being a busy mother and are still young, but it is time you start taking care of yourself.”

His tone shifted then, more earnest, more pleading than teasing. Amber looked at him and for a moment did not see the grown man

sitting behind that desk. She saw the little boy he had been. The one who used to run through the place with too much energy and not enough patience. The one Cain used to complain was not Alpha material. She remembered defending him then, telling Cain to leave the

child alone, telling him Joseph could become whatever he wanted when he grew up.

Now he was grown.

A man.

One about to be a father.

One about to marry his mate.

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She looked at him and felt that painful blend of pride and sorrow mothers sometimes do when they realise childhood is not just over but

far behind.

To shift the weight of the moment, Amber changed the subject. She asked about the papers. About the investigation. About whether he had made any headway regarding the death of the eyewitness. Joseph gave her the truth because there was no point dressing it up for her. He explained the situation as it stood, and Amber’s sadness deepened. If the person who killed Wilde was also the person behind Cain’s

death, then catching him mattered more than ever,

“If no one would come forward for Cain’s death, at least someone would come forward for the Wilde guy.”

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Chapter 110

Joseph understood exactly what she meant. A fresh murder should loosen someone’s tongue if an old one would not.

“I understand what you are saying, mother, but there is no one still. We have put a reward out for anyone that saw anything about Mr

Wilde. Hopefully, it would yield results.”

Amber nodded, though disappointment sat heavily behind her eyes. She knew as well as he did that it might yield nothing. Fear was a

strong silencer.

“Do you know how long your brother would stay at the cabin? I thought to ask you since he tells you everything.”

Joseph let out a small breath through his nose.

“This was one thing he did not tell me, motherchat, ur

• Amber nodded again. That did not surprise her. Ethanga warg

he decided otherwise.

had always been secretive. Even with Joseph, there were doors he kept shut unless

Then there was a pause.

Awkward.

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Not hostile, just one of those silences that open up between people when something else is waiting behind it. During that silence,

something flashed through Amber’s mind. She remembered what the staff had reported to her about the morning. About Ashley. About

Cynthia. And immediately she knew she could not keep quiet about it after all.

She did not trust Ashley.

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Not anymore.

Maybe she never should have. Since Amber chose Meadow to be Luna, Ashley had been acting strange. Restless. Too interested in the wrong things. Amber had tried to ignore it at first. Tried to believe the woman would not dare much. But Ethan and Meadow’s relationship was still new, still fragile in some ways even if it was growing beautifully. The last thing Amber wanted was Ashley dragging

Cynthia into the middle of it because she fancied herself future Luna.

“Joseph, I do not know what Ashley is playing at, but the staff said she gave Cynthia a lift this morning, and they went to the café.”

Joseph’s head came up sharply.

Amber did not soften.

“I do not care if she is carrying your child, but she better not try to create problems for Meadow with Cynthia because she wants to be Luna, It is wicked and inconsiderate of Ashley to even lift Cynthia in our car. I would have scolded her myself, but I will leave you to deal

with it.”

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Chapter 110

Joseph stared at her, shocked first, then angry.

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He knew Ashley admired Cynthia. That much had been clear enough before. But admiration was one t thing. This was something else.

Cynthia was not welcomed in their family. Ashley knew that. She should have respected it. Stayed away. Instead she had gone behind

everyone’s back and driven off with her like it meant nothing.

Joseph’s mouth hardened.

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”

He knew instantly nothing good would come of whatever Ashley was doing. He had seen enough of her ambition to know it could turn

mean in quiet ways. He also knew his mother was right. This was not harmless. Not with Meadow and Ethan where they were. Not with

Cynthia back in the picture.

He promised Amber he would deal with it when Ashley returned.

Amber thanked him, but that was not all she did.

When she left his office and returned toward the mansion, she made a decision of her own. Because of what Ashley had done, Amber gave an order. No one was to offer Ashley any service without running it by her first. Especially not the drivers. She would not have the woman using their resources to entertain Cynthia again. She was done underestimating the danger of little acts that pretended to be innocent.

Amber was determined on one thing now.

Cynthia would never be allowed into that mansion again.

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Underwater: The Silent Luna