A few days later, Lyra was sitting next to her office desk, immersed in her work and sketching up something as usual, when her phone buzzed vibrantly on her desk. She glanced at the screen and saw James's name flashing on it. With a mix of surprise and bubbling excitement, she grabbed the phone to answer."Dad!""Eleanor, sweetheart, we've just arrived in your city a few minutes ago. We are at the airport now. Emily is with me too."Her heart leaped. "I'm screaming right now. Finally! This is so great!" Lyra exclaimed getting up at once."You saw the address I texted to you earlier right? I'll be heading home right away. I can't wait to see you both." She babbled further."Oh dear, we can't wait too." Janes cheered back happily."But one more thing though." He added."What?""We might join you a few minutes late. There's someone we need to see quickly before coming over.""Oh that's fine...that's fine," Lyra repeated happily packing up her things at the same thing as she started t
"Dad?" Lyra whispered, nonplussed by Dante's reaction. Slowly she turned back to face James face who was now wearing a sympathetic look. Emily was also nodding steadily in the same manner beside him making pleading gestures to Dante who now had a reddened glare on his own face."How?" She mumbled."I said what are you both doing here!" Dante suddenly raised his voice again, startling every one of them.“Don't tell me you followed back from there.” he continued.Then he paused to glance at Lyra before looking at his father again."Wait, you are the one who saved Lyra?"James took a deep sigh, shifted forward to the edge of his chair, and jammed his hands together before he began to speak."Son....."(FLASHBACK TO FEW HOURS AGO)After the call with Lyra, James and Emily had boarded a cab to the old Cooper's mansion.As soon as they drove passed the huge gate and spaced out walls of the estate they could immediately see his mother; grandmother Alessandra, Dante, and Mirabel waiting for
"I am talking about this dirty stinking opportunist you guys picked from the gutters or wherever you found her. She might think herself a queen now but that doesn't change the fact that she is and will always be the wretched low life, your foolish son Dante decided to help with our money." Mirabel continued even more harshly, pointing at Lyra with disdain."What?" James and Emily exchanged glances looking horrified by Mirabel's words.Dante immediately gestured at Lyra in a way that said she should remain calm before turning angrily to face Mirabel."Now shut that hole of yours Mirabel, Lyra is my fiancée and you will show respect when you address her." He declared."Fian...what?" Mirabel burst out laughing derisively."You're just one big stubborn buffalo, Dante. You don't learn from your mistakes...I mean didn't you learn anything from the last time? What if you discover she has twenty kids this time? Trust me this whore certainly has more skeletons in her cupboard.""I said ke
James, Emily alongside Dante, and Lyra returned to the old Cooper's mansion later that evening. Grandma Alessandra was sitting on her favorite armchair in the living room, poring over a newspaper when they arrived.The collective sounds of their footsteps as they made their way into the large room made the older lady stop halfway, looking up steadily to find them approaching. Grandma looked up steadily her frail eyes scanning each of their faces. "You are back?" she asked, setting her newspaper aside, readjusting on the seat, and keeping her focus on Dante. She had been waiting for them."Are you still mad my boy? And James what is it you were saying over the phone?" She queried further now looking at her son.James took a deep breath, stepping forward with his arms crossed as he glanced at both Dante and Lyra who were already beaming with smiles. "Mother we're good now, we came back here because there's something important the kids want to let you know."He said signalling
Back at the Thompson's headquarters, Felix was in his office, throwing things about in a fit of rage and frustration. Papers flew, and a glass shattered against the wall. He was beyond pissed. Just then his phone started to tremble on the executive desk to a call. He suspended his display, thinking it was Lyra but it was Aria calling when he checked. He ground his teeth and grabbed the phone swiftly, picking it up with a forceful tap."Felix I saw the news," Aria said."Yeah right? Felix, I saw the news." He mimicked angrily."Isn't that all you do? Seeing the news? After leading me straight into a deep dark hole with your half-baked plan. You know what? I ain't dead yet if that's what you came to find out....""Felix?""Don't you dare call me!" He bawled."I should have known. I should have been smart enough to notice. I mean why did I even bother contacting you in the first place? You never do things properly... never. That was the same reason I picked Lyra over you in the past. Ju
The following day was a Saturday, Dante was with Lyra in his apartment. He was standing by the window of his large sitting room, the morning lights filtering through the gauzy curtains. He was watching Lyra with a warm smile and his arms were casually folded. He felt too fortunate gazing straight at the same woman he has been having sleepless nights about for the past few years now. It was too good to be true and yet it was true. Thinking about how happy he was now compared to those times he could not help but feel utterly grateful and indebted to her. He was determined to make every little minute count for something."How about we take a little trip, just the two of us?" He suggested now placing his hands on his waist.Lyra held his gaze from her slanted position on the couch her legs crossed and a smile was playing on her lips. "Where to?"“City Skape Villa,” He quipped with his dreamy eyes beaming."It's a huge vacation home for lovers in the city. It's perfect for such outings
Felix took a quick sip from his glass of soda, sitting at one of the dimmest corners of the old club.He was sitting at the same spot where he and Aria had linked up a few weeks ago.He looked up now and again, his patience wearing out as he scanned the entrance for Aria."What is she still waiting for? It's over an hour already."He had mumbled, glancing at the watch in his hand quickly, before taking another sip.It took about ten more minutes before Aria finally appeared at the doorpost. And for the first few seconds of her arrival, she stood near the doorway, looking as visibly annoyed as ever.She did not waste too much time before she spotted Felix. After all, she already knew where to look, and when their eyes met, she clenched her fist and ground her teeth, shaking her head faintly before she began to match his direction. All through this time, Felix wore a sly smile."What did you mean by what you said on the phone?" Aria snapped as soon as she was within hearing distance.H
It was a typical workday, and Dante was sitting in his spacious office. At the other end of the chair was Marcus, drawn to the edge of his seat as usual as he furnished his boss with updates on recent happenings at the company.Dante leaned forward with a pen in hand, signing the final pages of an important contract.He tried reviewing a new document that had unexpectedly landed on their desks."So, Marcus," Dante looked up from his table to say, with a hint of amusement on his face.“Did Anthony really submit a proposal to Memphis Corporation as well?"Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. "It seems like he did, boss. It looks like our new partner wasn't that impressed."Dante raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips. "Well, well. Anthony always did have a knack for failure.”Their laughter filled the room briefly, a welcome break from the usual seriousness of their business discussions. As soon as quietness returned, Dante shifted gears."Speaking of surprises," Dante mumbled tho