Eryx strode toward them, his sharp gaze locked on Seraphine. His sudden presence sent a wave of murmurs through the studio, the staff exchanging glances filled with speculation.
"Why is he here?" soone whispered.
"Maybe he’s here for Seraphine? Weren’t there rumors about them before?"
The room buzzed with quiet chatter, everyone assuming he had co to support Seraphine’s shoot. anwhile, Lunara stiffened, instinctively stepping back, unsure of what to do.
Seraphine, noticing the shift in atmosphere, slowly lowered her hand, blinking at Eryx in confusion. "Eryx? What are you doing here?"
"For sure it was not for you," He coldly replied, stepping closer to Lunara. His eyes landed on her, "Are you—"
"Ah Mr. Grantham! I heard from Madam that you are coming today to check on my performance, right?" Lunara blinked hard, her voice slightly strained as she quickly cut him off, hoping to divert the attention.
Eryx’s brow arched, clearly unimpressed. "Checking on your performance?" he echoed, his tone laced with amusent. He took a deliberate step closer, tilting his head. "Funny, I don’t rember agreeing to that."
Lunara swallowed hard. "W-well... Madam said—"
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "Are you trying to get rid of ?"
She blinked rapidly, waving her hands and deliberately pushing his head away from hers, "N-no! Of course not!"
Seraphine, who had been silently observing, caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at Eryx’s lips. Her brows furrowed slightly. That was... new.
In all the years she had known him, Eryx never smiled like that, at least, not genuinely. He was always composed, distant, unreadable. Yet here he was, teasing soone so effortlessly, as if it was second nature.
Eryx tilted his head, his smirk fading into sothing more unreadable. "Oh? Since I ca here to check on your performance," he said, his tone cooling with an authoritative edge, "why don’t you show right now?"
Lunara stiffened. "I—I was just—" She glanced at the makeup artist.
The makeup artist quickly caught on and spoke up. "I’m sorry, Mr. Grantham, but I haven’t finished her makeup yet."
"You haven’t?" Eryx raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms before taking a step back. His gaze swept over Lunara carefully. "Then why does she glow so much?"
His words sent a ripple of murmurs through the staff nearby.
Lunara’s panic spiked as she swallowed hard, looking around. "Don’t joke around like that, Mr. Grantham." She laughed awkwardly.
Eryx remained unfazed, his gaze steady as he watched her flustered reaction. "Joke?" he mused, tilting his head slightly. "I don’t recall making one."
The murmurs around them only grew, with staff exchanging curious glances.
Lunara forced another laugh, trying to regain control of the situation. "I-I an, I still need my makeup done. I can’t possibly glow yet," she reasoned, hoping to shift the attention elsewhere.
Eryx humd in response, his expression unreadable. "Is that so?" He took another slow step back, his lips curving slightly. "Then I’ll wait and see if the final result impresses ."
The weight of his words made Lunara feel even more self-conscious as she gulped again, pressing her hands together on her thigh.
"Interesting," Seraphine, who had been watching them, finally spoke, breaking the tension. "I didn’t know Mr. Eryx Cyrus Grantham could joke around after two years of not eting."
Eryx’s eyes shifted instantly to Seraphine, his expression turning cold. "And what does that have to do with you?"
Seraphine scoffed. "Are you still mad at ?"
"And why would I be? Who are you to for that to matter?" he shot back without hesitation.
"Well, I thought you decided to leave the past in the past—"
"Exactly," he interrupted, his tone sharp. "And since you’re part of my past, I suppose we can act like we don’t know each other."
"Ouch, that’s kind of hurt." Seraphine smiled, but her eyes definitely looked hurt. "Then, I won’t take more of your ti, need to do my makeup." She turned away but then paused, "Oh and congratulations on your wedding."
Seraphine’s words instantly made Lunara freeze, her eyes slightly widened.
Eryx’s expression didn’t change, but there was a brief pause before he responded. "You’re mistaken," he said coolly.
Seraphine glanced back over her shoulder, arching a brow. "Oh? Am I?"
Lunara knew it was better this way. She had no reason to feel anything about his imdiate denial. And yet, a strange discomfort settled in her chest, tightening slightly. It was irrational, but for so reason, it still stung.
"Then... the one at the hotel that ti?" Seraphine arched a brow, her curiosity laced with sothing unreadable.
Eryx t her gaze without hesitation. "I don’t think I need to explain further, do I, Miss Wilson?" His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable finality to it.
Lunara lowered her gaze, pressing her lips together. It wasn’t as if she wanted to be acknowledged. But sohow, the way he dismissed it so effortlessly left an odd taste in her mouth.
Seraphine tilted her head slightly, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "I suppose I was mistaken since she called you husband." She let the words linger before casually adding, "By the way, about the offer you made two years ago... is it still available?"
Silence fell over the room.
Eryx’s expression remained unreadable, but sothing in his gaze darkened.
A lot of questions swirled in Lunara’s mind. Soone called him husband? The hotel? And now, the offer he made two years ago?
Unconsciously, she turned to look straight at Eryx, waiting for his answer just like everyone else.
Eryx’s gaze turned ice-cold as he looked at Seraphine. "Even food rots when left out too long," he said, his tone sharp and unyielding. "Did you really think an offer from would still be waiting for you after two years?" He let the words settle before adding with a dismissive glance, "And no, it was never specifically for you."
As his words fell, the air in the studio grew heavy. A tense silence settled over the room, the quiet murmurs from the staff fading as everyone instinctively held their breath. Even Seraphine, who always carried herself with confidence, stood still for a mont.
And just like that, no one dared to speak.
Reviews
All reviews (0)