Chapter 4

Lyra's POV

I walked out of the house without a word from my mother, who sat under the big oak tree knitting, seemingly less concerned. I offered her a smile and a wave, but she merely glared and returned to her knitting.

Will she ever forgive me?

I wanted to forget everything that happened around me, at least for the moment, and not sulk over Luca who was with the woman of his dreams, or my mom who didn’t seem to care about me.

I need a shoulder to cry on, but that only happens when I get high on alcohol. It’s the only way I’ll feel a little better.

As soon as the security opened the gate, I walked out without a second thought. I heaved a sigh as I stepped outside the compound. It’s not like I know any bar nearby.

But what can I do?

I can’t possibly ask my mother for directions or ask her for one of her cars, not with the way things are between us.

I walked down the estate, wondering how long the walk was going to take since it was hard to find a cab. I heaved a sigh and stopped walking, struggling to catch my breath before proceeding with my search.

I could see cars driving past me now.

Was there a need for me to get a cab when my legs could do the job? I asked myself and began another round of walking.

My thoughts went back to Luca who must be having fun with Selene.

What if they had sex before the day of my rejection?

As I walked along the endless road, it seemed even the heavens wanted to make a mockery of me. Suddenly, it started pouring. I stopped in my tracks; hands on my waist, letting the rain soak me through. At least it did me the favor of washing my tears away.

I can’t believe Selene would do this to me.

That bitch!

That woman was my maid for crying out loud. How did all this happen without me noticing? I began my walk down the road, and although I was lost in thoughts, I managed to walk down and think less about him.

Why did I not think of these all this while? The rain soaked me through, and the path ahead seemed less clear than ever.

It was time to cross to the other side of the lane, and I stopped my movement, confronting the main road of Wall Street.

As I made my way to the other side of the road, I saw two couples holding hands, giggling as they dashed under the rain.

Why did every little thing remind me of Luca?

Can’t I stop thinking about him?

I stopped walking to the other end of the road with thoughts that had I reached, or had not started to walk at all.

Just then, a car screeched to a halt beside me, honking loudly. A woman’s voice from inside the car snapped me back to reality. “If you are done living, go find another place to die!”

What just happened?

I was standing in the middle of the road and almost got hit by a car due to overthinking.

Lost in my world, I walked off the road and apologized to the lady who was looking pissed.

Just then, I sighted one of the many bars in the city.

“Time to drink away my sorrows”

“What do you care for?” the bartender asked as I sat on the barstool.

“Give me a drink,”

“Coming right up,” he said, disappearing behind the counter and returning with a bottle. “Here you go.”

I poured myself a shot, the liquid burning as it made its way down my throat. It was exactly what I needed to escape from my reality

Slowly getting tipsy, I rose from my seat with the bottle of wine clutched to my hand. As I turned to leave, I collided with someone. The bottle slipped off my hand as I slowly watched it shatter on the floor. Ready for a fight, I looked up to know who the hell made my drink spill all over the floor.

“Watch where you are going,” I snapped as I raised my gaze at the imposing handsome figure before me. His dark suit accentuated his broad shoulders and the way his black hair fell in waves around his face. I saw his eyes twinkle as he growled at me like his wolf was near. His eyes changed from blue to gold like the colour of flames.

“You should watch where you are going too,” his voice low and menacing.

“Oh really?” I hit my shoulder on him with more force than I intended. He stumbled backward with wide eyes. I was waiting for him to retaliate but instead, he straightened up, regaining his composure, and walked away.

“Hey, you spilled my drink,” I said ignoring the curious glance from onlookers as I followed him to the Vvip section but was stopped by two hefty men.

“Get back here,” I screamed

“Let her through, she’s wasted,” he commanded, and the two men stepped aside, allowing me to pass.

“Here,” he handed a glass of wine.

Seated opposite him, I accepted the drink and I sniffed before taking a sip.

“I’m sorry for the way I acted earlier,” I said, hoping to get a response from him. Instead, he remained silent, offering me a nod instead of a word.

There was a long pause between us and the tension thickened with each passing moment. Finally unable to bear the silence any longer, I spilled everything to him without being asked.

All these while, I needed someone to talk to and someone to lean on while I cried my eyes out but there was none.

Well, one came by and I didn’t waste such a precious opportunity by not telling my story, so I spilled my story, even though it seemed like he didn’t care or wasn’t even listening. In the course of explaining my predicament, I chipped in the part where my mom made a vow to have nothing to do with me anymore.

“This is pathetic,” he scoffed when I finished. “Your life is miserable,” he added, his words cutting through me like a knife.

“I know right?” I thought bitterly as I took another sip, feeling the weight of his words sinking in.

Sniffing, I took a shot of the drink he left on the table. Everything seemed to spin around me, the effects of the alcohol were starting to blur my senses.

He glanced up from his phone briefly but averted his gaze when he saw me looking at him.

“It was nice talking to you,” he said, standing to leave.

“Thanks for listening,” I muttered, taking another shot as he walked away.

I lingered in the bar till the evening, letting myself get drunk on the drinks the handsome stranger had paid for. As I stumbled out, my vision was hazy. I staggered a few steps and managed to maintain a ladylike posture as I walked out of the bar.

I was grinning widely, happy that I talked to someone today. I’ll come back tomorrow to talk to him again even if he wasn’t listening.

Just when I thought my day was perfect, I suddenly heard someone’s voice from behind me. I couldn’t make up what was happening until everything went dark and the last thing I heard was, “This one should do,”