Chapter 7: UNBOTHERED PRINCESS

MORENO ESTATE

GRAND FOYER – EVENING

The grand iron gates creaked open, and a sleek black car pulled up to the Moreno estate. The engine barely purred before the door opened.

Yani, sharp-eyed and calm in a blazer and Docs, stepped out first, holding a tablet in one hand and a small velvet bag in the other.

Yani (to the driver, dryly)

“Next time, avoid the scenic detour. Lyra naps in twenty-minute increments, and you break all of them.”

The driver paled and nodded.

Lyra stepped out next, wrapped in an oversized grey hoodie, sleeves covering her hands, her platinum hair tied in a lazy knot. She was sipping a cup of whipped cream drowned espresso and looked more like a ghost than an heiress.

Lyra (murmuring)

“Did they fix the lock on my room?”

Yani: “Yes. And I replaced the security cam over the east corridor. Just in case your sister decides to ‘accidentally wander’ into your wing again.”

Lyra gave the smallest nod.

They entered the marble foyer.

Silence.

Until...

Serene (from the landing, arms crossed)

“Oh. You’re back.”

Lyra: “Unfortunately.”

Beatrice, Lyra’s stepmother, stepped into view, looking radiant in curated cruel heels, pearls, and the kind of smile that meant trouble.

Beatrice: “After what you pulled, you have the nerve to come here like nothing happened?”

Yani (dryly): “Hi to you too.”

Beatrice (ignoring her)

“Do you realize Serene’s been suspended because of you?”

Lyra didn’t even flinch.

She took another sip of her espresso, gaze distant.

Lyra: “She got herself suspended. Actions have consequences.”

Serene (snapping): “You framed me!”

Yani: “The IT logs say otherwise. Want me to forward them again?”

Beatrice: “Don’t get clever, girl. You’re just the helper.”

Yani raised a brow but said nothing.

Lyra (calmly): “Yani’s more helpful than most people in this house.”

Beatrice took a step forward, jaw clenched.

Eyes full of killing intent.

Beatrice: “We gave you shelter. Fed you. Give you a name..”

Lyra (coldly): “No. My mother gave me a name. You just married into it.”

Serene: “You’re a parasite. You don’t even deserve the Moreno legacy.”

Beatrice nodded.

Beatrice: “Maybe it’s time we discussed transferring your trust.”

Lyra: “Try it. The lawyers like me better.”

Then..just as the tension crested...

The doors opened again.

VOICE (offscreen, sharp and elegant):

“What's happening here?”

Everyone turned.

Elena Moreno, Lyra’s grandmother, stepped in a velvet coat, brooch, and the kind of presence that made the air itself straighten up.

Behind her, Augusto Moreno, stoic and commanding, removed his gloves with practice grace.

Elena (to Beatrice):

“What right do you have to discuss Lyra's trust dear.”

Beatrice's wine glass clinked slightly as she set it down with forced politeness.

Beatrice: “Elena. Augusto. Your back too.”

Augusto (flatly): “We heard Serene got herself suspended. Lovely indeed.”

Senere: “It wasn’t...”

Lyra: “They tried to delete my project. I had four backups. One in Yani’s drive, one in my email, one in my cat’s collar. They didn’t plan ahead. I did.”

Elena (to Lyra, smiling with fondness): “Just like your mother.”

Beatrice (voice sugar-sweet):

“She’s always been a bit... difficult. The teachers say she doesn’t cooperate.”

Yani: “She has the highest GPA in her department.”

Elena (to Beatrice and Serene):

“You may keep playing house. But remember this house has always belonged to the Morenos. And Lyra is Moreno.”

Lyra turned to leave with Yani beside her,

Lyra (to Yani): “I’m hungry.”

Yani: “I’ll prep your usual. And something extra sweet.”

They walked away, porcelain and shadow, as Beatrice seethed and Serene boiled with frustration.

"Mom she's always been the favorite of those two old hugs" Senere said annoyed

"Don't worry I'll do everything to make her disappear like her  mother... your only heir of Moreno's Empire "Beatrice said with a frightening tone..

Late Morning

Lyra pushed open the door of Honeybean Café with the grace of someone who hadn’t slept and didn’t care. She wore a soft ivory knit sweater that slouched off one shoulder and linen pants she hadn't bothered to iron. Sunglasses perched lazily on her head, and her phone was sandwiched between her ear and her cheek.

Yani trailed behind her, arms full of folders, coffee loyalty cards, and one half dead tablet.

“Are we buying caffeine or hiding from people?”

“Both,”

Lyra murmured as she approached the counter.

On the phone, her grandmother’s voice chirped like a delighted crow.

“Elias agreed to the engagement, dear. Isn’t that exciting? The press will eat it up. Moreno - Vale what a match!”

Lyra blinked slowly.

She stirred her iced mocha like it was responsible for her misfortune.

“Did he sign in blood or just moral apathy?”

“Don’t be dramatic. You’re of age. You should be thrilled.”

“I’m thrilled. So thrilled I might spill coffee again.”

Her grandmother didn’t hear or ignored it.

“Anyway, the official date for the media reveal is being drafted. Wear something elegant but not fun. And don’t scowl.”

Click.

Lyra dropped her phone onto the table like it was cursed.

Yani handed her a croissant and sat.

“So… Elias said yes?”

“Apparently.”

Lyra bit into her croissant with the defeated energy of a tired general.

“Against all logic.”

“Maybe he likes you.”

“Worse. Maybe he likes chaos.”

Just then, the café door opened and in strolled chaos itself.

Elias Vale.

Wearing a charcoal grey shirt, sleeves rolled, hair immaculate, carrying a small shopping bag. Behind him, his three friends trailed like an entourage of varying levels of mischief.

Theo, sipping matcha and looking unimpressed by existence.

Kade, loud and laughing, carrying two muffins and no napkins.

Rio, sunglasses indoors, taking selfies with the menu.

Elias spotted her instantly.

Lyra froze mid bite.

He walked straight to her table and placed the bag down in front of her.

“Your coffee casualty,” he said.

She blinked.

“What?”

“The shirt you ruined. Dry cleaned and returned.”

She peeked into the bag.

Inside was a perfectly folded designer tee the one she had accidentally stained during their café collision.

“I owe you a shirt,” she said reluctantly.

Elias raised a brow. “And yet you never paid your debt.”

She sighed dramatically, pushed up her sleeves.

“Fine. Let’s go pick one out. Yani cancel my misery hour. We’re shopping.”

Yani grinned and gave a tiny salute.

Elias looked amused.

“Are you always this casual about impulsive detours?”

“I’m wearing pajama pants and iced mocha confidence. Don’t test me.”

Theo wandered closer.

“Is this a date? Because if it is, you’re both terrible at subtlety.”

Kade grinned.

“Can I come?”

“No,”

Elias and Lyra said at the same time.

Kade looked personally offended.

But Rio clapped.

“Shopping trip! I call documenting everything.”

Elias gave Lyra a sideways look.

“You’re not backing out, are you?”

“Not unless you back out of the engagement.”

“…Tempting.”

They stood, side by side equal parts annoyed and intrigued.

Yani leaned toward Theo.

“Are they always like this?”

Theo shrugged.

“He’s smiling. So… yes.”