LOGINLyra tried to adjust subtly and pull away from him but his hands remained firmly in place. “I mean, after what you did.” She chuckled nervously, trying to seem stable. But it appeared to have the opposite effect. “There's no reason they won't believe.”“Were you shocked?”She laughed again. This time more forced than the first. She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I mean, I understand why you did it, but it was out of nowhere. Your family was there.” Her brain was bouncing around in her head, not knowing how to handle the fact that he was so close to her. The fact that his hands on her waist sent jolts of electricity pulsing up her spine.Tyson didn't speak right away. His eyes just pinned her. Unblinking. Unwavering. Like he could see right past her exterior, to whatever substance made up her soul. And that made the silence even more unnerving. Desperate to break the quiet, her mouth parted again. “You could've warned me.”His gaze dropped to her lips briefly, a flicker of something
Back at the Wilson's estate, the servants cleared the half-eaten meals and untouched full courses. The Wilson family had long dispersed after what happened. Every step Fiona took was laced with rage strong enough to crush the floorboards. After Nadine left, she’d demanded to talk to Alex in his room. As soon as they entered the room, Fiona shut the door behind her. Alex was the first to speak. “That damn Tyson—” She slapped him. He blinked. “Mum—” Fiona bit the inside of her cheek hard, almost as if the word ‘mum’ seemed to bring out all the anger in her. She channeled all that energy and struck him again. Alex's head whipped to the side from the force. His eyes widened with shock and he pressed a palm on his burning face. “What the fuck?!” He fumed. “Why does everyone keep hitting me?” “I've had enough! You keep acting like a damn child!!” Alex recoiled, his face twisting into a scowl. “What?” “You had only one job—get Lyra to marry you. She was already head over heels i
Empty. Blank. That's how her mind felt. She froze, her brain stumbling to catch up. And before she could even process what was happening, Tyson pulled away. The kiss was brief, but it was filled with possession and certainty. Like it was more than just confirming they're married. Like it was real. Tyson's hand behind Lyra shifted lower—to the small of her back and a tingling sensation shot up her spine. She stared at him, sinking into the endless gray of his eyes, unsure of how to react. Butterflies rose violently and attacked her belly like a storm. What was he thinking? He'd just kissed her… Tyson really kissed her. In front of his family. Wow. Nadine's feet were glued on the spot, her face shifting from shock and confusion to anger that made bile climb her throat. Her hands went numb from shock. Her bag slipped from her hand and hit the ground with a light thud. How was this even possible? She had high expectations from Uncle Tyson. Why on earth would he settle for so
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
In Mantha Oil Limited's top floor, Magnus had just entered the biggest office in the building. Patrick, who was resting with both eyes shut, opened an eye and glanced at his assistant lazily. “What is it?”“I have news on EC,” Magnus announced.Patrick leaned forward and raised a brow, curiosity p
“Nadine?” Alex called out, worry etched on his face. Lyra knew that this was just one of Nadine's tricks. She wondered how Alex was always so blind to it. “Lex, please help me. I don't know what's wrong. I can't breat—” Nadine collapsed to the ground. Murmurs swept through the church. Men in
The soft hum of machines and the smell of antiseptic and drugs sifted through the air in Crestmont Medical Center. In Ward 105, Lyra slowly blinked her eyes open. She looked around, trying to take in the unfamiliar surroundings. Then she spotted Alex by her bed, jaw tight, glaring at her. “Alex?”
Moments later, Tyson returned with a nurse in her mid-twenties. She checked Lyra's vitals and said she was fine. The impact from the accident wasn't fatal, and she just had a few bruises.After the nurse left, Tyson sat beside Lyra, an awkward silence stretching in the room. Until he broke it. “Sor







