Novel-novel oleh Ray Michael

As they walked back, Tyson was still holding on to Lyra.She pretended her hair needed adjusting, and pulled her hand away from his. He glanced at her briefly, but didn't say a word.They reached their seats, and Tyson pulled out Lyra's chair.“Thanks,” she murmured, lowering herself quickly, so as not to draw any more attention towards them. Alex's grip tightened around his cutlery. While Fiona still had her suspicious look.Tyson sat too.Dinner felt a tiny bit less tense. But only for Lyra. “My dear, how's working at Helixion? I hope it's not too demanding?” Grandpa asked Lyra. He peeked at his son. “He's a bit thorough, isn't he?”“He is.” Lyra laughed and Tyson raised a brow at her. “But he's nice.”Grandpa Wilson glanced at Tyson again. Something flashed in his eyes for half a second before he nodded. “I see…” After a moment, he deboned a piece of fish and placed it on Tyson's plate. “You used to like when I did this for you.”Tyson shrugged and picked it up with his cutlery.

As they walked back, Tyson was still holding on to Lyra.She pretended her hair needed adjusting, and pulled her hand away from his. He glanced at her briefly, but didn't say a word.They reached their seats, and Tyson pulled out Lyra's chair.“Thanks,” she murmured, lowering herself quickly, so as not to draw any more attention towards them. Alex's grip tightened around his cutlery. While Fiona still had her suspicious look.Tyson sat too.Dinner felt a tiny bit less tense. But only for Lyra. “My dear, how's working at Helixion? I hope it's not too demanding?” Grandpa asked Lyra. He peeked at his son. “He's a bit thorough, isn't he?”“He is.” Lyra laughed and Tyson raised a brow at her. “But he's nice.”Grandpa Wilson glanced at Tyson again. Something flashed in his eyes for half a second before he nodded. “I see…” After a moment, he deboned a piece of fish and placed it on Tyson's plate. “You used to like when I did this for you.”Tyson shrugged and picked it up with his cutlery.

As they walked back, Tyson was still holding on to Lyra. She pretended her hair needed adjusting, and pulled her hand away from his. He glanced at her briefly, but didn't say a word. They reached their seats, and Tyson pulled out Lyra's chair. “Thanks,” she murmured, lowering herself quickly, so as not to draw any more attention towards them. Alex's grip tightened around his cutlery. While Fiona still had her suspicious look. Tyson sat too. Dinner felt a tiny bit less tense. But only for Lyra. “My dear, how's working at Helixion? I hope it's not too demanding?” Grandpa asked Lyra. He peeked at his son. “He's a bit thorough, isn't he?” “He is.” Lyra laughed and Tyson raised a brow at her. “But he's nice.” Grandpa Wilson glanced at Tyson again. Something flashed in his eyes for half a second before he nodded. “I see…” After a moment, he deboned a piece of fish and placed it on Tyson's plate. “You used to like when I did this for you.” Tyson shrugged and picked it up

Grandpa Wilson just exhaled but his eyes remained on his son. The fact that Tyson was here was more than enough for him. Across him, Nadine was watching, holding her wine glass with more force than necessary. Why was everyone choosing to sit beside that brat? “Uncle Tyson… Welcome.” But Tyson's attention was still on his woman. Drea just watched with fascination. Lyra sat up straighter than usual, trying to pretend unfazed with all the attention on her. “I'm fine,” she murmured. “Let's eat.” Grandpa Wilson finally removed his endearing eyes from Tyson and clicked his glass. “A blessed evening it is for this family! My son is dining with us today!” He turned to one of the servants behind him. “Bring more food.” The cheering that followed was expectedly dull. Despite the sound of cutlery against plates that filled the air as they ate, everyone acted too careful. As though if they moved too quickly, too recklessly, the fragile thread holding everything together would shat

The terrace was already full when Lyra and Fiona arrived. Hanging lights that bathed the area in warmth. A long table with polished wine glasses reflected the flames of the candles arranged down the center. On it was a feast—roasted meats, grilled vegetables, fresh bread, and steaming dishes prepared by their Michelin-starred chefs. Nothing short of the usual Wilson family dinner. Yet the atmosphere was so stiff, the tension could be cut with a saw. At the head of the table sat Grandpa Wilson, wearing his usual navy blazer with gold cufflinks that caught the light. Fiona and Lyra went over there to say their hellos before grabbing seats. “Hey, Lyra,” Drea, who was seated on Grandpa Wilson's right side, greeted. Then she giggled at the phone where her full attention was directed. Drea was Alex's teenage sister. She was at that age where they hated anything and anyone, and family gatherings like this felt like a death sentence for them. “Hey, Drea,” Lyra responded, quietly taking

The study smelled faintly of old paper and polished wood. It was just as Lyra remembered it. Dark walnut bookshelves stretched from top to bottom, every shelf lined with leather-bound books and framed family photographs. Through the floor-to-ceiling, one could have a clear view of the garden. But Lyra wasn't bothered about the drama probably going on there. Instead, her eyes moved to the crackling fireplace that warmed the room.Once, when she'd visited with her mother, she'd wandered here. That's when she met Tyson for the first time. He’d been sitting exactly where Fiona was now, a book resting on one knee, listening far more seriously than any adult should have listened to a sixteen-year-old complain about her first heartbreak—Dylan.He was like this wise older guy back then. Yet for a moment, she wondered if things would've been different if Tyson hadn't disappeared when she was grieving. If he was the one who'd comforted her instead of Alex.Fiona gestured to the chair opposi

**Third person** Valerie dragged her heavy eyes open. She blinked a couple of times to clear her vision. The smell of drugs and antiseptic and hospital filled her nose. Beside her, Lucas sat with his eyes closed. Almost immediately she jumped up on the bed. “Let me go,” she shouted, startling Lucas. He climbed the bed and pulled her into his arms. “It's okay, you're safe now,” he whispered softly, planting kiss after kiss on her hair and forehead. Valerie relaxed into his embrace, her racing heart finally calm. A tear slipped from his eyes and he wiped it. He'd thought he'd lost her. “I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe. I should have anticipated it, I should—” “It's not your fault,” she cut him off gently. “It's not.” Tears trailed down her own cheeks and she sniffed. “What happened to Matthew?” A muscle ticked in Lucas's jaw, he felt Matt had an easy fate after everything he did. "Dead." Valerie let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, her body shaking with relieve

**Third person**“Let's move, slowly,” Matt murmured in Valerie's ears, his hot breath fanning against her skin. His eyes were still locked onto Lucas—who was practically shooting daggers at Matt with his eyes."Matthew, please," Valerie whispered back, her voice trembling. "You don't have to do this. You can still let me go."Matt's jaw tightened, his chest heaving with desperation and anger. "Do you really think I'm stupid?" he hissed. "You want me to let you go? I should just allow you to run into his arms?" He questioned in a mocking tone.“Drop your weapon and surrender,” the police announced again but neither Valerie nor Matt paid any attention. “Best believe that if I do that, then I'll shoot you from behind before you get to him,” Matt added. The chilling sensation in his voice sent a shiver down Valerie's spine.“Man to man,” Lucas began, his voice almost a growl. “What would it take for you to let her go? Anything at all… name it. Even if you don't want to spend a single da

**Third person**It took Matthew half the time it would normally take to get to the bunker. He parked his car at a safe distance before running over to the location. And with each step he took, his mind raced, his heart pounded with anxiety. He couldn't afford to lose her now that he was so close. They'd literally be leaving the country today. Valerie please be there, please be there, Matt murmured, his legs moving faster.A half-relieved sigh left his lips when he reached the entrance and saw that the door was still locked—She was still here. His trembling fingers sifted through his bunch of keys, his breath gaspy and he wiped the sweat on his forehead with the back of his palm.Matt unlocked the door and then pushed it open forcefully. His eyes blazing with anger and anxiety found Valerie immediately. She was curled up at a corner, her cheeks stained with tears and her hands and feet shaking."What have you done??!" he growled, his voice venomous.She frowned in confusion, even th

**Third person**Matt seemed to ponder for a moment before he exhaled deeply. Then he moved over to the table and picked up a small knife. He began cutting the ropes. His jaw clenched at the red mark the ropes left on her skin, a pang of guilt coursing through him. He'd done this to her, he thought. “Do you need me to get you anything from the store?”Finally untied, Valerie examined her free hands and legs, a sense of relief and determination washing over her. “No, thanks.”“I'll be back soon.” He gave her a warning look. “Don't try anything stupid.”She nodded vigorously. “I wouldn't dare.”Satisfied, Matthew turned around and headed out. Valerie had her timid and innocent mask on, until the moment Matthew was out of view.She squeezed her eyes shut and then began counting from one to fifty in her head, giving Matthew enough time to leave the premises. Even with her eyes closed, she could hear the locks click behind him.When she was done, she sprang to her feet, her eyes desperat

**Third person**Eighteen hours had passed since Valerie's disappearance.Lucas stood in the center of his living room, surrounded by computers and anxious faces. His team of experts, handpicked from the best in the business, worked tirelessly to track down any lead on his woman.But so far, neither his team nor the police have been able to come up with anything tangible. There was also no signal from the tracker in Valerie's necklace. Either her kidnapper knew that the necklace was bugged and got rid of it, or they were under water, in a bunker, or somewhere that'll block the signal.One thing for sure; he'd find Valerie and he'd find her soon. Even if it meant turning the planet upside down. She'd be found.News about her and disappearance was all over the media and there was a huge cash prize for whoever brought relevant information on her whereabouts. Lucas ran a palm across his exhausted face. Deep lines creased his forehead, and his jaw was set in a rigid clench. "Broaden the

**Third person** It was almost as if Valerie disappeared just when Elliot blinked. After dismissing the woman who'd come to talk to him, he looked up but he didn't find his boss. Damnit! He'd clenched his jaw and quickened his pace, his hand instinctively resting on the gun holstered at his hip as he rushed outside. Eyes scanned everywhere around but there was no trace of her. "Miss Thorne?" he called out, his mind racing. “Ashley?” He called louder. “Valerie?” There was no response. Immediately, he dialed her number… once, twice, thrice… until it was unreachable. He'd rushed over to some passersby to ask if they'd seen her… There was nothing. Shit! Just then, his phone started ringing. Elliot pulled the device out and stared at the screen, his throat suddenly feeling dry as he registered the caller ID—Mr. Stone. He took a deep breath and then pressed the answer button. ***************************** Valerie's eyes fluttered open, her gaze was blurry and unfocused. She tri