Chapter 05 - Trapped

Lyra stormed out of the restroom, her emotions swirling in a chaotic mess. She marched back to the sitting room, her heart heavy with the weight of the betrayal she felt. The moment she stepped inside, her mother’s eyes were on her, filled with worry and regret.

"Lyra, please," her mother’s voice cracked as she stood up, taking a tentative step toward her. "Don’t leave. Just… hear me out."

Lyra crossed her arms, still trembling with frustration. "You’ve already said enough, Mom."

Her mother’s eyes shimmered with tears. "I know I should have told you about the marriage sooner. I was just… scared. Scared that you’d hate me for it. I thought I was protecting you."

"Protecting me?" Lyra let out a dry laugh, her throat tight. "You kept me in the dark, Mom. How is that protection?"

Her mother took a deep breath, wringing her hands. "I didn’t want to overwhelm you. My health, the stress of everything—it clouded my judgment. I thought I was doing what was best, but I see now that I’ve hurt yo