登入Lyra stood quietly in front of the mirror inside the master bedroom, her reflection staring back at her under the soft night light. She was already dressed in the custom-made gown prepared for the gala, an elegant piece that fit her perfectly, as if it had been designed only for her. Her makeup was kept minimal yet refined, highlighting her delicate features without overpowering them, while simple jewelry added just enough sparkle to complete the look. She looked stunning, effortlessly beautiful in a quiet, controlled way that didn’t need attention to be noticed.A few moments earlier, her grandparents had called, reminding her to be careful and to avoid unnecessary risks. Their voices carried the same concern they always had for her, no matter how strong she appeared on the outside.Not long after, a message from Elias arrived as well, informing her that he and his people were already on their way to the venue ahead of her. Lyra understood why, no one outside their trusted circle kne
Then finally…..A small smile appeared on Lyra’s lips. Not warm. Not happy. Just painfully broken, like something inside her had already accepted too much for too long.“I always felt like I killed her.”Elias’ expression changed instantly. The calm he had been holding together shattered: not into anger, but into something far more vulnerable, something deeply human. Without a second thought, he reached for her and pulled her into his arms, holding her like he was afraid she might disappear if he let go.“Lyra…” His voice came out low, steady but strained, like he was forcing every word to stay controlled. “You were just a child back then.”His arms tightened slightly around her, firm and protective, grounding her against him as if trying to pull her out of the memory itself.“And even if you had told anyone,” he continued, his tone darkening with restrained anger at the situation, “they might have come after you too. You would’ve been in danger as well.”He let out a slow breath, tryi
“It was raining that day,” Lyra said quietly, her voice calm in a way that somehow made the memory feel even heavier. “Really hard.”Her eyes remained fixed on the tall windows ahead of them, distant and unfocused, as if she wasn’t seeing the room anymore but the past unfolding right in front of her again.“The kind of rain that makes everything outside look blurred.” A faint pause followed.“It was only around four in the afternoon, but the sky already looked dark because of the storm.”Slowly, she folded her legs closer to herself and rested her chin against her knees, silver hair falling loosely over her shoulder as silence settled around the room. The soft glow from the laptop screen illuminated the side of her pale face, but her expression remained unreadable.“Me and my mom were in the car back then,” she continued softly. “Then my father called.”Elias stayed silent beside her, his attention fully on her now. For the first time, he could clearly see it beneath Lyra’s calm exter
Lyra didn’t notice Elias walking toward her side. She was too lost in her thoughts, too deep in the memories pressing against her mind, that she didn’t even feel his presence until he was already there.Elias sat beside her quietly and pulled her into his arms, holding her gently. His voice came out low, calm, but filled with concern. “Why are you awake so early? Is something bothering you?”He knew her too well.Lyra wouldn’t be sitting like this at this hour unless something was weighing on her.But she only shook her head slightly. “Nothing.”A simple denial.Elias didn’t push further. Instead, his gaze shifted to the laptop on her lap. He wasn’t surprised that she had access to satellite systems he already knew what she was capable of. But his expression subtly changed the moment he saw the open windows on the screen.Beatrice.Serene.And the encrypted messages from Liam…his orders, his instructions to his people, carefully structured and dangerously precise. His eyes dimmed slig
The next morning, Lyra woke up unusually early.The sky outside was still dark, the faintest hint of dawn barely touching the horizon as silence filled the room around her. For a moment, she simply lay there beneath the blankets, staring quietly at the ceiling while a strange restlessness settled heavily in her chest.It was unfamiliar.Lyra was never someone who woke up before sunrise unless necessary. Sleeping was one of the few things she genuinely loved, yet today her body woke on its own as if warning her that something was wrong.Her brows knitted slightly.“…Something bad is going to happen,” she thought quietly.The feeling lingered stubbornly in the back of her mind, difficult to ignore no matter how calm she tried to remain. But after a few seconds, she exhaled softly and closed her eyes again.Maybe it was because of the gala later.The Grande Crow.The danger waiting there.Anyone would feel nervous knowing they were walking into a place filled with enemies pretending to s
On the other side of the city, inside a towering skyscraper that overlooked the busy skyline below, the atmosphere inside the conference room was completely different…cold, sharp, and tense enough to make the air feel heavy. The quiet hum of the city outside contrasted the suffocating silence inside, where no one dared relax under the pressure filling the room.At the head of the long table sat Elias, his expression dark and unreadable as one proposal after another was presented in front of him. The air inside the room felt suffocating, every executive seated around the table remaining painfully stiff under the pressure of his gaze.“This,” Elias said coldly as he closed the file in front of him, “is the best your department could produce?”No one answered.No one dared to.His face looked visibly sullen today, his patience thinner than usual as he continued criticizing the reports and proposals presented before him. Every flaw, every weak point, every unrealistic projection was point
The long dining table had been moved into the garden, lanterns glowing faintly as the last of the daylight faded into dusk. The air was fresh, carrying the faint perfume of flowers mixed with the savory aroma of Celeste’s cooking. The soft clinking of plates and the hum of quiet conversation gave t
Outside, voices broke the hush of the forest path as the car rolled to a stop in front of Lyra’s secluded home. Elias stepped out first, helping Lyra down carefully, his hand steady at her waist. Celeste and Camelle were already marveling at the lake view when a commotion rose from behind. Footstep
Elias pushed the heavy back door open with his shoulder, careful not to spill the paper bag in his hands. The corridor was quiet here….no reporters, no flashing cameras, only the low hum of the hospital lights. He exhaled slowly, with relief loosening his chest. Outside, the media circus still crow
Morning Breaking NewsThe headlines hit like a thunderclap.BREAKING: Moreno heiress and CEO Lyra Moreno targeted in a kidnapping attempt, now recovering in a private hospital. The statement confirms fiancé Elias Vale led the recovery effort. Sources say the attack is linked to internal sabotage.I







