"Are you crazy?" Lunara’s words were muffled against her palm as she covered her mouth. "Move." She shoved Eryx away as he leaned in closer. Ignoring him, she walked past him, quickening her pace toward Naomi’s room.
"A’ah, I told you—you’re sleeping in my room starting today." Eryx grabbed her arm and pulled her back into his embrace.
"Mr. Eryx Cyrus Grantham!" she huffed, glaring up at him. "I’d prefer the cold, distant you, so please... just store away your flirty, perverted behavior." A shudder ran through her as she looked at him.
But Eryx only grinned, finding her reaction far too adorable to stop.
"Move your hand, Mr. Grantham," she demanded, trying to pry his grip off her arm, but he remained unfazed.
"Promise , just for tonight. Tomorrow, you’ll sleep in my room." His tone was firm, his grip refusing to loosen until she answered.
"Why... why, why?!" She stomped her foot in frustration. "You were doing just fine without all this ti, so why do you need now?"
Eryx smirked. "It would be a waste... knowing I have such a beautiful wife, yet sleeping alone would be far too lonely."
She held in her annoyance for a few seconds before huffing, "Okay, fine! I agree. Now, can you let go?"
Eryx finally released her, and the mont he did, she bolted toward Naomi’s room without a single glance back. A loud slam echoed through the hall as she shut the door behind her.
Eryx chuckled, shaking his head in amusent. But just as he turned, his smile vanished.
Regina stood in front of her study, watching him.
Without sparing a glance at Regina, he walked straight to his room.
Regina remained standing in the hallway, her eyes lingering on where her son had just been.
It had been so long since she last saw that expression on his face, that wide, genuine smile. For years, his face had been cold and unreadable, his emotions locked away. But just now, she had caught it.
A real smile.
Her heart swelled with quiet happiness. "I think I did it, Lilith," she muttered under her breath.
Just then, her phone rang, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen.
Her breath hitched.
Mother-in-law.
The very person who had turned their family into this cold, distant ss.
Regina clenched her jaw before answering. "Hello, Mother."
She stared at the phone screen for a mont, already dreading what was coming. Now, she had to deliver the news her children hated the most—a family gathering.
Inside Naomi’s room, Lunara sat cross-legged on the bed, arms folded as she groaned in frustration. "I need a plan. A real plan. He’s acting way too... ugh."
Naomi, lying on her stomach with her chin resting on her palm, raised a brow. "Way too what?"
"Pervert? Or do we call it flirty?" Lunara threw her hands up. "I need to make him lose interest. Fast."
Naomi humd, tapping her fingers against the mattress. "Alright. What’s the strategy? You could cut your hair super short."
Lunara gasped, gripping a strand of her long hair as if Naomi had just suggested she commit a cri. "I’m desperate, but not that desperate."
Naomi laughed. "Fine. What about the thick glasses? The ones that made your eyes look huge?"
Lunara frowned, deep in thought. "That did work before... but what if he sees through it?"
"Then go all in," Naomi said with a mischievous smirk. "Heavy makeup, big glasses, and... oh! Bring back those neon outfits you used to love."
Lunara groaned dramatically, flopping onto her back. "Ugh, those outfits should have been burned."
Naomi grinned. "Exactly. He’ll run in the opposite direction."
Lunara suddenly sat up, gathering her long hair and twisting it into a ssy bun. "What if I just... look really plain?" She turned to Naomi. "Is this ugly enough?"
Naomi blinked, her smirk vanishing. Instead of laughing, she tilted her head, inspecting Lunara closely.
"Well?" Lunara asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
Naomi exhaled. "Yeah, no. This is a terrible idea."
Lunara frowned. "What? Why?"
Naomi narrowed her eyes. "Because instead of looking ugly, you look way too adorable." Her gaze flickered down, and she groaned. "And your neckline... even I can see Eryx drooling over it. It’s kind of sexy, Lunara."
Lunara gasped, imdiately yanking her bun loose, letting her hair fall back down. "Absolutely not!"
Naomi sighed. "Looks like we’re back to the neon disaster plan."
Lunara rubbed her temples. "I can’t believe I have to do this all over again."
Naomi patted her shoulder sympathetically. "At least you have experience."
Lunara threw a pillow at her.
"Oh," Naomi suddenly rembered, "What’s the reason mom called for you?"
"Ah yes." Lunara rushed down the bed and took the contract file she put away earlier, "Tadaa...she offered a contract!" Her eyes sparkled as she put the file in front of her chest.
Naomi sat up, grabbing the file with interest. "A contract? For what?"
Lunara grinned. "Rember, the modelling job that I was rejected for, the campaign model for makeup, what’s the company’s na again—"
"Auréa Costics?"
"Yes! That one," She smiled, the thought of making her own money gave a fluttery vibe in her heart.
Naomi flipped through the pages, her brows knitting together, "And you don’t find that weird?"
Lunara hesitated. "Well... I an, she said I have potential."
Naomi snorted. "Right. Because Mom’s just overflowing with complints."
Lunara huffed. "Why can’t you just be happy for ?"
"I am!" Naomi waved the file. "But I just feel like it’s kind of strange. You might have already noticed, but Mom controls everything in this house. I don’t know why, but she always makes sure everything goes exactly as she plans."
"Including Eryx’s ex-wife?" Lunara asked. She had been waiting to bring it up since the thought had been bugging her ever since she saw Mila, Eryx’s daughter.
"Eryx’s ex-wife? You’re his wife. Since when did he have an ex-wife?" Naomi tilted her head before the thought finally ca into her mind, "Ah...are you referring to Mila?"
Lunara nodded instantly.
"That’s my late brother’s daughter," She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Lunara froze. "Your late brother?"
Naomi nodded, gripping the file a little tighter. "Mila is my second brother’s daughter... not Eryx’s."
Lunara’s breath caught. "Then why does she call him Daddy?"
Naomi hesitated before saying, "Because after my brother died, Eryx—"
A loud knock interrupted them.
Both won turned toward the door.
"Lunara." A familiar voice called from the other side. Deep, firm. Eryx.
Lunara’s heart skipped.
"Open the door."
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