Forgotten Luna: I'm Done Playing the Substitute

Chapter 4

Isabella

“You’re still wearing this?” she asked, reaching for his wrist.

My eyes followed the movement and when they landed on William’s watch, my chest tightened.

“It’s old,” she continued, her fingers brushing against it. “Why haven’t you replaced it yet?”

William didn’t pull away. Instead he gave her a smile that was both soft and warm.

“It still works,” he said.

“That’s not the point.” Elisa laughed, shaking her head. “You’ve had it forever.”

“It was the first thing I ever gave you,” she added quietly, her gaze lingering on him.

Something in my chest cracked, and my mind flashed back to a memory I had buried.

The day I broke that watch..It had slipped from my hands, hitting the floor with a sharp, unforgiving

sound and I had panicked.“I’m so sorry,” I had said, my voice trembling. I was flustered , but my apology didn't mean a thing. “I’ll replace it, right away, I promise…”

“No thanks,” he had a deep frown on his face.

“If you don't want a repaired one.” I had let out again desperately. “I'll buy you a new one and give it to you.”

When I insisted, he had only said “This one is different.”

His words hurt, but I smiled bitterly, my heart breaking into a thousand pieces.

The present came crashing back as a salesperson approached them, her cheery voice pulling me back to the present.

“We just received a new collection.” She smiled. “Couple watches—they’re quite popular."

“They’re designed to complement each other,” she continued, placing a pair on the counter. “Perfect for special connections.”

“What do you think?” Elisa glanced at them, then at William as she asked lightly. “I think we should get them.”

“They’re nice,” William didn’t hesitate. Yhat was all it took..“I’ll take them.”

I couldn't believe my ears and eyes. William hadn't even thought about it. He'd simply agreed, because she liked them.

“No.” I muttered underneath my breath as I took a step back, my grip tightening on my cane.

I couldn’t stay, I couldn’t watch this.

Turning quickly, I moved toward the exit, my vision blurring slightly with tears.

Just a few more steps, and I would be out of here. Just…

I never got to finish because my shoulder collided with someone. Hard. The impact threw me off balance before I could react.

My cane slipped, the world tilted, and then I was falling. The ground came up too fast as pain shot through my leg as I hit the floor, a sharp gasp tearing from my throat.

“I’m so sorry…!” a voice exclaimed above me.

But I barely heard it, because everything had gone quiet. Something shifted in the air, and slowly, I lifted my head.

They had turned, both of them. William’s eyes locked onto me, and for the first time that day, his expression changed.

“Bella…” William was already moving before I could react, closing the distance between us in quick strides, but I didn't miss the unease on his face. His hand reached for me, strong and steady, the same hand that had always guided me when I stumbled…

That hand. My stomach turned and a sharp wave of nausea hit me so suddenly I almost recoiled before he even touched me.

That same hand.

The memory from last night crashed into me and all of a sudden, I could hear the sounds, his throaty breaths and her name.

“Elisa…”

“Here,” William said, his voice low, urgent, as his fingers brushed my arm. “Let me help you up.”

The moment his skin made contact with mine, something inside me snapped.

“No.” The word came out sharper than I intended.

I pulled away from him immediately, my movement abrupt,all whilst ignoring the protest in my leg as I shifted my weight away from his reach.

His hand froze mid-air and for a second, neither of us spoke. A flicker of confusion crossed his face. Then something darker. Hurt? irritation?, I couldn’t tell.

“I’m fine,” I added quickly, my voice steadier now, even as my heart pounded violently against my ribs.

I pushed myself up on my own, gripping my cane tightly, refusing to look at him as I steadied my balance.

Tears stung at the back of my eyes and as if this moment could t get any more worse, someone's voice reached my ears immediately.

“Oh.” I would recognize that voice even if I'd just woken up from a coma. Elisa was standing beside him now, her gaze moving over me with quiet interest. She didn't look unkind, but her presence made my skin crawl.

I hated that up close, she was even more striking and effortless in a way I had never been.

She offered a small smile.

“Are you William’s wife?” she asked, her tone polite, almost warm. “I just returned recently and haven’t had the chance to visit you.”

Visit.

The word lingered, and something cold settled in my chest. I met her gaze, forcing my lips into a smile that felt too tight, and too controlled.

“Visiting William is the same thing,” I said calmly. I tilted my head slightly, letting my words land.

“After all,” I continued, my voice soft but deliberate, “we are a couple. A unit, wouldn’t you agree?”

Silence followed after, and it reeked with tension. I didn’t look at William, but I felt it, the shift beside me.

He didn’t answer. Of course he didn’t, because what could he say?

That he had just bought matching watches with another woman? That he had smiled at her in a way he never smiled at me? That last night, while I waited for him… he had been celebrating her return?

My fingers tightened slightly around the handle of my cane.

Elisa’s smile didn’t falter, but something flickered behind her eyes. If I didn't knows better I would have said she was mocking me.

“I see,” she said softly while William cleared his throat.

“Bella,” he said, his voice cold now, almost too cold. “You should go home.”

His words felt like a slap across the cheek. He hadn't asked if I was okay, or if it hurt. Not even “What are you doing here?”

Just, Go home.

“I’m fine,” I replied.

“I’ll call the driver,” he said immediately, already reaching for his phone.

A few seconds passed as he murmured some quiet words into the phone.

“It’s done,” he said shortly after, slipping it back into his pocket. “He’ll be here in a few minutes.”

“Thank you.” I nodded slowly, with the realization that no one could ever come close to Elisa, especially not me.