Luna stood by Arthur's hospital bed, her hands trembling as she gently brushed the hair away from his forehead. Sam and Emily had assured her that Arthur was in good hands, that nothing would happen to him while she was gone. Emily even promised to handle Nexus, her company, until Luna could return with a clearer head.
"You need to rest, Luna," Emily had said softly. "Go home, eat something, take a shower. Arthur will be fine."
Reluctantly, Luna had agreed. She knew she couldn't keep running on empty, but she still wanted to stay by her brother's side. She trusted Sam and Emily, and she headed home, trying to convince herself that Arthur was safe.
The house felt eerily quiet without Arthur's laughter filling the space. It was a silence that echoed painfully in Luna's heart. She showered, letting the warm water run over her, but every thought led back to Arthur—how he would tease her while she cooked, how he would sit at the table, making jokes that lightened her mood.
As she prepared breakfast, the weight of his absence grew heavier. She could barely eat. The house seemed hollow, lacking the life Arthur brought into it. Sitting at the table, she stared at the empty chair across from her. His shoes by the door, the slight mess he always left behind—it all hit her at once. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, trying to stay composed. She had to be strong for Arthur.
After tidying up, Luna grabbed her car keys and headed out. As she drove back to the hospital, she crossed the intersection where Arthur had been hit just the evening before. The memory of the accident flooded back, a sickening dread twisting in her stomach. Something didn't feel right. Arthur was always so careful, so meticulous. How could he have been careless enough to walk into traffic?
Her mind raced, and suddenly, a thought struck her. Luna slammed her foot on the accelerator, her heart pounding as she sped to the hospital. The moment she arrived, she rushed straight to Arthur's room, bursting through the door.
Sam looked up, startled, while a nurse checked Arthur's vitals. "Luna! What's going on?" Sam asked, standing up from his chair.
Luna crossed the room, her voice sharp and urgent. "Uncle, how did Arthur get hit by the car? What exactly happened?"
Sam frowned, confused by her sudden intensity. "He was crossing at the green light when the car came out of nowhere."
Luna shook her head, pacing the room. "That doesn't make sense. Arthur is the most careful person I know. He follows rules to the letter. He always says breaking rules is wrong. He wouldn't just walk into traffic like that."
Sam sighed, "Luna, you're overthinking this. Maybe he was distracted, or something happened."
"No," Luna said firmly, her voice rising. "He wouldn't have crossed without paying attention unless something serious happened."
Sam could see the determination in her eyes. "Fine. I'll get the security footage from around the area. Maybe it'll give us some answers."
Minutes later, Sam sent Luna the footage. She watched the video, seeing Arthur standing on the sidewalk... next to Nora. Arthur looked upset, tears in his eyes. Nora, too, seemed distraught.
Suddenly, it all clicked. Arthur had planned to confess to Nora that evening. He must have been rejected. That's why he was so heartbroken and crossed the street so absentmindedly.
"It's because of a girl," Luna whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. Sam frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Luna nodded, explaining everything she knew about Nora—how she had become close to Arthur, how Luna had come to trust her. But now, as she stared at the footage, doubt clouded her mind. Nora's presence at the scene couldn't be a coincidence. And then, Sam dropped the bombshell.
"Max might be the reason your identity was leaked," Sam said carefully while looking at the video.
Luna's eyes widened in shock. "What? But you told me Max had stopped investigating me after going abroad."
Sam shook his head, regret in his voice. "We underestimated him. I think Max found out about your identity before he left. And Nora—she's Max's younger sister."
Luna's breath caught in her throat. "Nora… lied to us?"
"I think she may have given your information to Max, and somehow, Steven got it too. That's how all of this happened."
Fury ignited in Luna's chest. She grabbed her phone and dialed Emily's number. "Emily, arrange a press conference for this evening," she commanded.
Sam's eyes widened. "What are you doing, Luna?"
"If my identity's already been compromised, it's only a matter of time before the whole world finds out. I'll reveal it on my own terms and start taking control of the situation."
Back at Sunrise High, Arthur's friends—Henry, Richard, and Jane—sat around his empty desk, waiting anxiously for him. None of them knew about the accident yet, and they were more concerned about how things had gone with Nora.
When Nora arrived, they bombarded her with questions. Nervously, she lied. "Nothing happened. I went home early, so I didn't get to see Arthur."
As class began, Miss Grace took attendance, but skipped over Arthur's name. Afterward, she informed the class, "Arthur is on leave today. His sister Luna called in this morning to say he's sick."
Nora's heart sank. Arthur knew about her betrayal, and now he didn't want to see her. She was certain that the wound she had caused ran far deeper than she ever imagined.