He shook her off—hard—and she stumbled backward, falling to the floor as he stord out of the room.
By the ti she pulled herself up, he was already downstairs, the front door slamming behind him, the sound of his car engine roaring to life and fading into the night.
She stood there frozen, biting her trembling lips until they nearly bled. Her tears flowed freely now. She wanted to chase after him—but her legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed again.
Her sobs filled the empty room.
Why… why did it all turn out this way?
Everything changed after Clarissa hit her head. It was like the world had started spinning around her.
Clarissa—always Clarissa. Everyone doted on her. Everyone loved her.
What would beco of her now? Would she be discarded?
She knelt on the floor, hollow-eyed, lost—like the light inside her had been extinguished.
Just then, her phone rang on the nightstand.
Lyra blinked, dazed, and stumbled over to check it. Her fingers trembled as she answered. “Hello…”
“Lyra,” ca a deep, familiar voice. “How have you been?”
“I’m fine…” she said quickly, forcing composure. “And you? Have you gotten used to life abroad?”
“Completely. But that’s not important. I’m coming back.”
“You’re… coming back?” Her voice wavered. “When? Do you want to pick you up at the airport?”
She tried to sound normal—but her nasal tone couldn’t be hidden.
The voice on the other end imdiately sharpened. “Lyra, did soone hurt you?”
That simple question shattered her last bit of restraint.
She began to cry again, openly, pouring out years of suppressed resentnt, especially the heartbreak of the past few days. She couldn’t stop talking—like a dam had finally burst.
“I don’t know what to do… Dorian—he might leave . He would marry Clarissa. But I love him. I love him so much…”
The person on the other end let out a low, dark chuckle. “Don’t worry, Lyra. I’m here now. I won’t let that bitch Clarissa take anything from you.”
“You… really think so?”
“Of course I do,” the voice said smoothly. “Dorian loves you. If he’s acting out, it must be because that woman is manipulating things behind the scenes.”
“Then… then what should I do?” Her voice trembled.
“Listen to ,” the voice said, hardening. “I’ll tell you exactly what to do. We won’t let that bitch win.”
.......
The next morning, Dominic and his wife sat nervously in the living room, their eyes drifting upstairs every few seconds.
Just as they were about to call Lyra down for breakfast, the sound of footsteps ca from the staircase.
Lyra appeared.
“Lyra, you…” Sadie started hesitantly.
Lyra smiled softly, her expression calm and composed. “What’s wrong, Mom? Dad? Why are you both looking at like that?”
Sadie exchanged a glance with Dominic, then couldn’t help but speak up. “Lyra, about yesterday… you and Mr. Dorian…”
Before she could finish, Dominic nudged her gently, signaling her to stop.
“Just had a little misunderstanding. I’ll go back and talk it out with him.”
Seeing her composed deanor and gentle tone, the two visibly relaxed.
“That’s good,” Dominic said with a sigh. “Don’t let a small fight co between you.”
Lyra’s fingers tightened ever so slightly around her chopsticks. But she kept her head down and nodded. “I won’t. I promise.”
After breakfast, Lyra returned to Dorian’s company that afternoon.
She stood at the foot of the towering office building, staring up at its sleek glass facade, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.
She couldn’t afford to lose him. As long as Dorian still had a shred of love for her… she’d win him back.
She took a breath and walked into his office.
Inside, Dorian sat behind his desk, his tone laced with angry as he barked toward the door without even looking up. “Get out! You trying to get fired?”
But when he looked up and saw it was her, the anger faltered.
“You…” He frowned and turned away. “Why are you here?”
His coldness pierced her like a blade. Lyra’s heart twisted.
She strode forward, grabbed the lapels of his suit jacket, and looked up at him with glistening eyes.
“Dorian, I’m sorry,” she said, her voice trembling. “I went too far yesterday. I shouldn’t have said those things about Clarissa. I do care about her. I do…”
“Care?” Dorian echoed. “You call that care? Watching her fall into the hands of soone like Atticus?”
Lyra froze. Her words caught in her throat, then broke into sobs.
Tears spilled down her cheeks like raindrops on glass.
Dorian groaned and rubbed his temples, clearly agitated. “Why are you crying again?”
Looking at Lyra's tears, he felt distressed and inexplicably irritated. He closed his eyes, rubbed his brow
Lyra noticed. He wasn’t looking at her with tenderness anymore—only irritation.
It hurt more than anything. She rembered the voice on the phone.
So she stepped closer, clutching his suit tighter. Her voice was choked.
“Dorian… I’m sorry. I was wrong. I know I was wrong. I just—I love you too much. That’s why I panicked when I saw you caring so much about her. I know I’m not as beautiful as she is. I can’t compete with her. I’m not as perfect. But I—I only have you…”
Her tears soaked the fabric of his shirt as she leaned into him, trembling.
Dorian looked down at her—small, fragile, pleading.
It stirred sothing in him. Clarissa would never beg. She held her head high, proud and self-assured. She never changed herself for anyone.
His chest tightened with the realization. Why was he thinking about Clarissa again?
He swallowed the thought and took a breath. Then, reluctantly, he reached down and lifted Lyra off the ground.
“Get up. Stop crying,” he murmured, brushing the tears from her cheeks.
Lyra threw her arms around his waist, clinging to him.
“Dorian, please don’t leave ,” she whispered against his chest. “I really, truly love you. I’ll never say anything like that again. I’ll be better—I swear…”
Dorian sighed softly and stroked the back of her head, his voice low.
“...Yeah. I love you too.”
..........
Three days later, after Lyra’s emotions had finally settled, Dorian brought her back to the Lancaster family estate.
They had barely taken their seats in the grand sitting room when a familiar voice drifted in from the hallway.
“Clarissa, Atticus, you’re here. Co on in, dinner will be ready soon…”
Ophelia’s cheerful voice rang out, shattering the fragile calm between Lyra and Dorian.
Lyra’s entire body stiffened at the sound of her sister’s na. Her face paled.
Why was Clarissa here tonight? Did she know Dorian would be coming?
Before she could calm her nerves, footsteps echoed behind her.
Lyra and Dorian instinctively turned toward the sound—only to see Clarissa and Atticus walking in behind Ophelia.
The two stood side by side, and for a mont, the room seed to fade. Every sound, every object dimd into the background, as if they alone were cast in focus.
Ophelia, smiling, guided Clarissa and Atticus to sit just beside Lyra and Dorian before she excused herself to the kitchen, leaving the four of them alone in the room.
An uneasy silence hung thick in the air.
Clarissa hadn’t expected to see them here. If she had known Dorian and Lyra would be present, she would never have co.
Of the four, only Atticus seed unfazed—his deanor light, almost mischievous.
Seeing that Clarissa didn’t glance at Dorian, he smiled with satisfaction. He reached over to the fruit bowl, peeled a juicy segnt, and held it up to her lips.
“Co on, sis. Try this one,” he coaxed gently.
It was sothing he did often, so Clarissa reacted out of habit. Her mind elsewhere, she opened her mouth and took the fruit.
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