Hidden Desires - Family Secrets-Chapter 170 Can you try to forgive her just this once? Part 2

"Ah... I’m so tired..." Luna exclaimed without a hint of surprise.

She rose from the bed, stretching languidly, her curves distinctly outlined even through her pajamas.

Her face wore a look of fatigue, while my emotions were a tangled mess.

I had been intimate with a woman other than Betty, and though it wasn’t by choice—I had been drugged—it still felt like a betrayal, intentional or not.

Luna’s alluring face and voluptuous body caught my eye, stirring a twinge of regret within me.

The deed was done, yet it had occurred without my conscious participation, leaving no time to savor the moment, which was a pity.

"Was this all your doing?" I pondered, recalling how I had been stunned with a stun gun, surely the work of Luna’s underlings.

Now, here I was, having slept with Luna, and I could only conclude that this was all her orchestration.

"Sort of," Luna replied, lifting her chin with a haughty tilt.

"After all, your wife doesn’t really stand up for herself in front of me, and I’m not one to be manipulated by others..."

Despite her arrogance, it was hard to deny that she had the right to be so.

"What’s this all about? Am I just a toy to be passed around by you two?" I felt a surge of helplessness, as if I were a puppet being toyed with by two women.

My stubborn nature only made things worse, leaving me feeling more suffocated and frustrated, as if a fire was burning inside me with no outlet.

"No, Justin... listen, I don’t want you to be unhappy, but we couldn’t think of any other way..." Luna seemed to sense my mood and quickly got out of bed to come closer, her voice tinged with fear.

"Did you two strike some kind of deal? Tell me everything..." At that moment, I felt like a bird trapped in a cage, unable to escape the confines of this small villa.

Honestly, I felt traumatized, always fearful of another stun gun attack—the memory of being incapacitated was painfully fresh.

"Okay... well... how should I put this?" For the first time, Luna seemed unsure of herself, a stark contrast to her usual icy demeanor.

"Let me start from the beginning... After you left last night, I talked a lot with Betty. I learned about her thoughts and struggles.

Like you, I believe that having thoughts and struggles doesn’t automatically forgive everything.

But what convinced me to help her was because of you, all because of you..." Luna spoke earnestly, her eyes locked on mine, her voice anxious yet sincere.

"Because of me?" I was genuinely puzzled.

"Yes, honestly, people are selfish, and I’m no exception.

I felt sorry for you when I knew about the troubles between you and your wife, but a part of me hoped you would divorce, giving me a chance.

However, seeing how down you were, and hearing about your shared history and your wife’s honesty and efforts, my heart softened.

I realized that without your wife, your spirit would die too.

From what your wife knows about you, at best, you’d live a life of despair; at worst, you might end it all.

I also realized that you love your wife, deeply.

When you saw her on the screen, there was no hatred in your eyes, only concern and longing...

Although you won’t admit it, I saw it then.

Only your wife can revive you, give you a reason to live...

And when you look at me, all I see is indifference.

It hurts, Justin.

Every time I see how you look at your wife, I’m jealous, but I have to accept it.

After failing to persuade you in the office yesterday, I had no choice but to have my men take you down.

I wasn’t sure if you’d come back if you walked out that door.

My men were following you, protecting you, but accidents can happen.

For your sake, I couldn’t risk even a slight chance of danger..." After saying this, Luna lowered her head.

"You sacrificed your own body just to make me feel less wronged, huh? Betty cheated, I cheated, and now we’re even, so we can just move on, right?" I said with a laugh, but deep down, I was bitter.

I hated being manipulated, and I despised being forced into this situation.

"Yes, maybe... This might just be a one-night thing between us... I don’t expect anything more, I just hope you can be happy. Nothing else matters," Luna said, slowly moving to embrace me.

"You’ve thought this through, perfectly.

But did you consider what happens if Betty and I get back together?

What about Michael?

Should he just keep living with us?

Do you think I can still get along with him, or should we just kick him out?

Of course, that’s just one aspect, there’s so much more to consider.

Things can’t just go back to how they were," I said, my smile mocking.

"I have a way to handle these issues..." Luna’s response surprised me.

She didn’t hesitate or show any shock at my questions; it was as if she had been prepared all along.

Hearing Luna so confident, I was stunned.

She had a plan for Michael?

I wasn’t entirely against reconciling with Betty, but Michael was like a chasm between us, making it impossible for me to see a solution.

It was a conflict between my lingering love and my commitment to Laura.

This conflict was crushing me, leaving me without options.

"What’s your plan? I don’t have feelings for Michael, but I don’t want him to get hurt because I owe someone a promise," I said to Luna, my voice charged with emotion.

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If Michael could be properly taken care of, did I still have a chance?

"I can send him to a private boarding school abroad.

He’ll get the best education and living conditions.

Wouldn’t that be better for him?

And without him around, couldn’t your family possibly be mended?" Luna suggested, leaving me in silence.

Honestly, if Michael were my own child, I’d want him to receive a Western education, to adapt to Western life, so he could integrate quickly with the world as he grew up.

But my financial situation limited me; I couldn’t afford it.

Now, with this opportunity for Michael, it couldn’t be better for him.

It would fulfill Laura’s last wishes and keep him away from my home, allowing Betty and me to start anew.

However, this would undoubtedly put me in great debt to Luna, as the tuition and living expenses abroad aren’t cheap, and I can’t afford them right now.

"Think it over yourself.

If you insist on this path, then I’ll have to take control.

Don’t blame me, because I don’t want you to despair and do something drastic.

I’ve been watching over you for years, saving you many times.

So, whether you blame me or not, I can’t let anything happen to you," Luna said, her eyes firm yet showing a hint of reluctance and a flash of resentment.

Hearing Luna’s words, I shivered.

Knowing her capabilities, I knew she wouldn’t hurt me, but I also knew she could follow through on her threats.

"Are you forcing me now?

Luna, I never had much regard for you, and now, any last bit of respect has vanished.

You don’t cherish your own body for some ulterior motive.

You change your attitude towards things so easily, there’s no need to force me anymore.

I’d rather face Betty than deal with you..." Luna’s words had completely stripped away my dignity.

Her pressure was just her way of making me willingly stay by her side.

You want me to stay?

Well, I refuse.

After saying that, I put on my clothes and walked out of the room.

During this, Luna didn’t say a word but just stared blankly at me, perhaps caught off guard by my firm stance.