Chapter six

THE GAME BEGINS

Lyra barely slept.

The pressure from the night before weighed on her heavily, and whenever she closed her eyes, she saw Ryker’s harsh stare.

She woke up to sunlight coming through the curtains, but it brought no warmth. Instead, it reminded her that she was stuck in this trap of deceit.

Her plan was simple: stay in her room and avoid him for as long as possible.

She thought she might at least have the morning to herself, but fate—or Ryker—had other ideas. A sharp knock at her door interrupted her thoughts, followed by a maid’s voice.

“Mrs. Blackwoods, Mr. Blackwoods requests your presence at breakfast.”

Lyra froze. Her stomach churned at the thought of facing him again so soon. “I… I’ll be down in a moment,” she called out, her voice steadier than she felt.

She threw on a simple dress Jane had packed for her, opting for something understated that wouldn’t draw too much attention.

After a glance in the mirror, she forced herself to leave the safety of her room and head to the dining room.

*******************

Ryker was already there, seated at the head of the table, a newspaper in one hand and a steaming cup of coffee in the other.

He looked perfectly composed, as though their tense exchange the night before had left no mark on him.

Lyra’s footsteps faltered as she entered the room, but Ryker didn’t even glance up. “Good morning,” he said, his tone polite but distant.

“Good morning,” she replied, taking the seat across from him.

The table was loaded with a variety of breakfast items—fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, and more. The sheer extravagance made her feel small and out of place.

She hesitated, unsure of where to start, but Ryker didn’t seem to notice.

“Tea or coffee?” he asked, finally looking at her.

Lyra blinked. “Tea, please.”

Ryker’s lips curved into the faintest smirk. “Tea, is it? Funny, I don’t recall you ever drinking it before.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Was this another test? She scrambled for a response, her hands gripping the edge of her chair. “Oh… well, I’ve been trying new things lately,” she said, forcing a smile.

“Hmm,” Ryker murmured, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary before he turned back to his newspaper.

The rest of breakfast was a minefield. Ryker asked seemingly innocent questions—about her preferences, her hobbies, her thoughts on the estate—but each one felt like a trap.

Lyra did her best to steer the conversation, relying on the notes Jane had left her, but the pressure was suffocating.

By the time the meal ended, her nerves were frayed, and she felt as though she’d been interrogated rather than fed.

Lyra had barely escaped the dining room when Ryker appeared in the hallway, blocking her path.

“Walk with me,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

She hesitated, but there was no point in refusing. She nodded and followed him outside, where the crisp morning air offered a small saving from the suffocating atmosphere of the estate.

The gardens were very neat and clean. They showed the wealth and careful attention to detail that defined Ryker’s life. Lyra walked beside him in silence, her heart pounding with every step.

“This mansion has been in my family for generations,” Ryker said, breaking the quiet. His tone was conversational, but Lyra could feel the weight behind his words.

“It’s a legacy. One I take very seriously.”

Lyra nodded, unsure of how to respond. “It’s… beautiful.”

“Indeed.” He glanced at her, his dark eyes sharp and calculating. “Do you feel at home here?”

The question caught her off guard. She hesitated, searching for the right words. “It’s an adjustment,” she admitted carefully. “But I’m trying to get used to it.”

Ryker stopped walking and turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “Trying to get used to it,” he repeated. “Interesting choice of words.”

Lyra felt the weight of his gaze and resisted the urge to look away. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice steadier than she expected.

“For someone who volunteered for this arrangement, you seem… hesitant,” he said, his tone cold and deliberate. “One might even say reluctant.”

Her stomach dropped. “I—I don’t know what you mean,” she stammered.

Ryker’s lips curved into a faint smile that sent chills down her spine. “Don’t you?”

The air between them was thick with tension.

Lyra struggled to maintain her calm, knowing that any misstep could crack the fragile façade she’d worked so hard to maintain.

“Marriage is a partnership,” Ryker said, his tone softening slightly, though his gaze remained intense. “It requires trust, understanding, and honesty. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Lyra nodded quickly. “Of course.”

“Good,” he said, resuming their walk as though nothing had happened. “I hope we can embody those principles in our partnership.”

By the time they returned to the estate, Lyra felt like she’d run a marathon. Every word, every glance, had been a test, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep up the charade.

As Ryker disappeared into his office, she escaped to her room and collapsed onto the bed. Her hands were trembling, and her mind raced with the drifts of their conversation.

“He knows. He’s testing me. But how much does he suspect?”

The pressure was tormenting. She thought back to Jane’s assurances that Ryker wouldn’t care enough to investigate her.

But this man—this enigmatic, calculating man—was nothing like the uninterested figure Jane had described.

He was watching her, studying her, and she had no idea how to fool him.

For the first time since arriving at the estate, Lyra felt truly trapped.

Ryker stands by the window of his office, the faint glint of a knowing smile tugging at his lips. His eyes follow Lyra’s fleeing figure as she disappears into the shadows of the mansion.

“She plays her part well,” he murmured, his tone laced with quiet amusement. “But not well enough.”

The hunt had begun, and Ryker Blackwoods never let his prey escape.