"Why will you do that? How desperate can you be?" His judgmental voice was getting even more intense.Lyra, who was still coming to terms with the shock, fiddled with her bag nervously at the same spot. She decided it was better to come out clean at this point; maybe he would judge her less harshly if he knew why she did what she did."I…I was married. I'm sorry, Iied." She stuttered to begin."I didn't do it to get the money for myself. I did....""Enough of that this minute!" Dante raised his voice, cutting her off. He uncrossed his legs and stood up slowly from the couch to face her directly."Now tell me, did you also lie about the ring? Did you want to sell it off? Didn't you? Was that why you were checking through that merchant site to know how much the cost was? How about your shopping today? I saw how you spent a fortune buying heaven and earth just because I told you to sort your wants with it." He scoffed and murmured to himself."So much for someone who claims not to have
The following day, Lyra awoke from sleep quite late; the pillow next to her head was wet with tears, and her eyes were red and swollen due to all-night crying.She sat up slowly on the bed and picked up her phone to call Felix's number again, but it didn't ring at all this time; his phone was no longer reachable.Her head was pounding vigorously; she was in a struggle not to read meaning into Felix's sudden unavailability after yesterday's call."His line hardly ever shuts down,” she reasoned with questioning eyes.When no clear explanation seemed to be forthcoming, she finally rolled down from the bed lazily, lacking the willpower nor strength to begin the new day. However, she still had to try; she had to push herself, knowing the kind of boss she was working under. Secondly, it was obvious her days in Dante's house were already numbered, and she was aware that her only means of subsistence should the worst come to worst would be her job; Felix wasn't exactly working at the moment
Lyra maintained her perplexed expression, taking some steps back as the gray-haired, familiar face of the visitor advanced closer from the entrance. It was the same face of the man who had asked Dante some questions about his son's contract on his last visit to his grandmother; it was Edward Cooper, Luca's father."Good evening, sir." She greeted him when he finally reached the center of the living room; he had both hands tucked into his suit pockets, keeping his gaze on her."Dante is not at home," Lyra said again, clearing her throat awkwardly when she saw that the man was still silent.After a few more seconds of unease, Edward opened his mouth to speak for the first time."Well, I'm not here for Dante. I know he is not at home. I'm actually here to see you.""Me?" Lyra rumpled her face to ask."Wh..why?" She stuttered.Edward did not answer at once; instead, he gently flipped his jacket up and took a seat on the couch. He then proceeded with his speech again."I know you want mone
Two months laterAmara was in the kitchen, standing at the center of the room with impatient body language. She was shouting Lyra's name repeatedly and with an air of authority."Where is this girl? Where is she always dallying to?" She murmured when she didn't immediately get a response from her. She took a quick look around at the pile of foodstuff on the kitchen table and the large stainless steel pot next to it, filled with water. She was wondering why Lyra had yet to begin the cooking.After a little suspense, she raised her voice again to call on Lyra."Yes! Miss," Lyra's voice finally echoed back at that point, followed by the sound of her approaching footsteps."Did you go deaf before now?" She queried with her pair of contemptuous eyes when Lyra finally joined her in that kitchen."I'm… I'm sorry. I was locked up inside the restroom when you called." Lyra stuttered."Restroom?" Amara stressed with a grimace."Restroom my foot. Please finish up with what you were doing; as you
Dante woke up the next day, sitting up and blankly looking at Amara, who was still lying beside him on the bed. He yawned and forced himself out of the bed, making his way to the bathroom. Within a few minutes, he was done with taking his bath and brushing his teeth. Today was one of those Saturdays where some outstanding deals he couldn't conclude with during the workdays would be attended to. In less than 30 minutes, he is expected to be meeting with one of such clients.After dressing up completely, he stood for a moment to observe the bed once more. Amara was still fast asleep, breathing hard, and hardly even moving a bone. Dante shook his head and turned to leave the room.When he climbed down the stairs, the first thing he noticed at the base where the dining room area was located was the set table. His food flask had been packaged into a bag with a bottle of water placed beside it.He fixed his hands uniformly on his waist."This was the handwork of Lyra." He reasoned with a k
"What? What is she doing here? And why are the Thompsons also here?" Lyra kept questioning herself, stealing quick glances at the familiar figures like a thief. Dante, who could sense Lyra's sudden stiffness and funny body language, steadied her hand with his own for the second time and continued heading toward the seat directed to them by the usher. When they were just in front of the central circle of seats with the exquisite wine bottles gently placed on top of the middle table, Dante halted and moved to the group of seats next to theirs as he exchanged pleasantries with a group of business associates familiar to him. Lyra was already beginning to feel left alone and exposed. She cowered on her seat, with sweat lines dripping slowly down her temples. To calm herself and keep her throat from constantly running dry, she gestured to one of the attending waitresses for a glass to sip one of the wine bottles on the table; it was provided in a matter of seconds. Lyra still did not see
A YEAR AND HALF LATERAt the old Cooper's mansion, the family building had been decorated inside and out with balloons. It was grandmother Cooper’s birthday, and all members of the family were present.The event was already a few hours in, and Edward stood at the center of the room to announce that it was time for the toast. He urged everyone standing to take their seats again. It was at this point that Lyra rushed into the room from the backdoor. She was all sweaty, and from the matching uniform she was putting on, it was obvious she had just arrived from work. She would have been there earlier if not for her boss, who declined when she tried to get permission the previous day. She knew she needed to be in Kennedy's good books since she was still planning to continue working there even after the marriage contract was over.At the point when Lyra was sneaking in, Mirabel, who was just standing next to the door and handling out instructions to one of the maids, had made her out at onc
Trigger Warning: This chapter contains themes of depression and suicide. Reader discretion is advised. ~~~Lyra started to cry when she got back to her room. She knew Dante's anger was justified and that he had every right to be angry, but she had no choice but to react the way she did. She slumped on the bed and brought out her phone to dial Aria's number, but her number was not reachable. After that, she did not bother to dial it anymore. The last time she spoke with her friend, Aria had made a series of complaints about her mother's failing health. Perhaps that was why she had been reclusive for some time; it was better to let her be instead of plaguing her with her problems.Later that night, Lyra lay curled up on her bed with the screen of her phone to her face. She spent a long number of minutes scrolling through many familiar pages on social media. But she stopped when the picture of Felix and his fiance popped up on the screen; it kept her glued to one spot. The caption on t