Sheena laughs lightly, encouraging Luna to confess her feelings to Andrew, but Luna resists, explaining that her love for him is one-sided and complicated. She admits to feeling exhausted and confused by Andrew’s distant behavior, fearing rejection and the pain it might bring. Despite her deep care for him, she has stopped understanding him and now sees him as a stranger, which frightens her.
Luna confides in Sheena because she has kept her feelings bottled up for so long and fears that Andrew might be lost forever due to the threat from Mr. Murphy Senior. She wants to express her emotions while there is still a chance, but she refuses to reveal them directly to Andrew, preferring to keep her secret safe and silent. The memory of a brief moment when Andrew helped her years ago still lingers in her heart, fueling her quiet affection.
Sheena admires Luna’s feelings and warns her that if she never tells Andrew, she’ll never know how things could have turned out. Luna, however, chooses not to burden him with her emotions, only wishing for his safety and success. The two share a moment of mutual respect, with Sheena promising to protect Andrew at all costs, even threatening the Murphy family if necessary.
Meanwhile, the tension escalates as Elaine informs Valerie that a deadly fight has already begun in the Martial Tower. Wilder, the head of the Murphy family, is battling Andrew to the death, and the odds of Andrew surviving are grim, signaling a dangerous turning point in the conflict.
Sheena couldn’t suppress a laugh. “Why not? If that kid’s fortunate enough to have you in his corner, that’s a blessing for him. Why don’t you just tell him how you feel?”
Luna’s eyes darkened, and she shook her head slowly. “Because it’s one-sided. I like him, but that doesn’t mean he feels the same. I’ve tried to figure it out, over and over, but lately, I’ve just grown…exhausted. I’ve come to realize I never truly understood Andrew. Gradually, I stopped being able to read him at all.”
She paused, her voice softening. “It’s like he’s become a stranger I know too well. I still care deeply for him, but the more I try to understand him, the more distant he seems, and that frightens me. I’m scared of losing him, scared of rejection, scared of the pain that might come. So please, don’t say anything to him.”
Sheena nodded in quiet agreement, sensing the weight behind Luna’s words. After a moment, she asked gently, “If you’re so afraid of losing him and getting hurt, then why confide in me?”
Luna let out a slow breath, a self-deprecating smile curling at the corners of her lips. “Because I’ve kept it bottled up for so long. I never had the guts to say it aloud. But now, with Mr. Murphy Senior threatening his life, I might never feel Andrew’s warmth again. That terrified me… I just needed to say it while he’s still here, while there’s still a chance.”
Sheena frowned thoughtfully. “Then why not tell him directly instead of hiding it all the time?”
Luna shook her head once more. “I don’t want to. It’s strange… the world outside feels like it’s crumbling, yet this secret in my heart is something I still can’t bring myself to voice. I’d rather keep it safe and quiet, just for myself. Years ago, he helped me once. It was a brief moment, but it left a mark. I’ve held onto that feeling ever since, never sharing it with anyone—not even him.”
Sheena blinked, clearly puzzled. “I’ll never understand you people. But I can tell your feelings for Andrew aren’t ordinary. You’ve got excellent taste, really. That kid is one of a kind—a genuinely good man through and through. But if you never tell him, you’ll never know how it could end.”
Luna’s smile was tinged with bitterness. “For now, I won’t say anything. I don’t want to burden him, and I don’t want to seem insignificant in his eyes. All I want is for him to stay safe and fulfill his dreams.”
Sheena regarded her for a long moment, then spoke with quiet conviction. “General Phelan, you’re the first military person who’s actually impressed me. Honestly, I never liked that old bastard, General Turman. But you’re different. You’ve earned my respect.”
Luna returned a weary smile. “Thank you. Under any other circumstances, I’d be honored to hear that. You’re someone we all admire. But right now, the only thing that matters is whether Andrew is okay in there.”
Sheena nodded firmly. “While I’m around, nothing will happen to him. You love him, and I owe him. Just like you, I won’t let anything happen to Andrew. If Wilder dares lay a hand on him, I’ll tear the entire Murphy family down.”
What none of them knew was that another person was also restless at that very moment: Valerie.
Elaine’s voice was cold and sharp. “The fight’s already started in the Martial Tower. Weren’t you always the one yelling about wanting the family to deal with Andrew? Well, now you don’t have to worry. Someone else has made the move. Wilder, the head of the Murphy family, is fighting him to the death. His chances of surviving? Slim… no, zero.”
Luna’s confession reveals the profound vulnerability beneath her composed exterior, a heart caught between love and fear, hope and despair. Her reluctance to voice her feelings stems not from indifference but from a deep-seated protectiveness—both for Andrew and herself. The chapter delicately explores the complexity of unspoken emotions, the quiet battles we fight within, and the courage it takes to confront the possibility of loss, even when the outcome is uncertain.
Meanwhile, Sheena’s unwavering support embodies loyalty and fierce determination, a promise to shield Andrew from harm amid the chaos surrounding them. Their bond, forged through shared concern and mutual respect, highlights the strength found in solidarity during times of crisis. As the tension escalates beyond their control, the chapter closes on a poignant note of hope mingled with dread, reminding us that love often flourishes most powerfully in the face of adversity.