Scarred by Love, Healed by Fate

Deborah went quiet for a few seconds before saying, "Alright. Tomorrow, your dad and I will discuss the marriage with the Windsors."Lyra didn't sleep all night.The next morning, Joel still hadn't come back. Just one message:[Lyra, there's an issue at the company. I'm going on a business trip for three days.]She didn't bother replying. Instead, she booked a flight to Emmerica for a week later.Packing up felt like ripping out roots. Years of living with Joel had piled up way too much stuff. Since the Lebeaus were strapped for cash, she listed anything valuable online.By evening, a notification popped up—a message from an unfamiliar account:[Hi, Lyra.]She tapped it open. The profile pic was a positive pregnancy test, and the username read 'ReeRee Bliss.'Of course. Renee made a new, private account just to mess with her. Not brave enough to go public yet.A minute later, a social media post from Renee appeared—a photo of Joel at a prenatal checkup, captioned:[Hehe, gen

"I'm not saying I don't believe you, but I've known Renee for sixteen years and seven months—she's never lied to anyone."Joel paused, frowning hard as if deciding to end the matter."You made Renee cry. Fix it."Right then, Renee—still fake sobbing—chucked the ring into the pool, gasping dramatically."Joel! The ring you gave me... it accidentally fell into the pool!"She shot Lyra a smug little smile."Fine—no apology needed. Just fish it out, and I'll forgive you for everything."The pool water was freezing—it was early winter, and Lyra's head was still messed up. She glanced at Joel. He just sat there, tapping his fingers, not even looking her way.It felt like something sharp stabbed right through her heart, splintering into a million tiny aches.She remembered that night—six months after Joel was diagnosed. Dominic showed up at the hospital, heard Joel might never recover, and started eyeing other successors.That night, Joel vanished. Lyra found him wheeling himself to

Before Lyra could wrap her head around it, people started flocking to Renee, drinks in hand, piling on the compliments."Renee, Joel's so good to you—just handing over a supercar like it's nothing.""That white dress is gorgeous—you look like a princess.""Heard you're killer at racing—sweet and fierce. You and Joel are perfect together!"The crowd around Renee kept growing, completely forgetting the party was supposed to be for Lyra.An hour later, the place was buzzing—singing, games, people having a blast. Joel stayed glued to Renee's side, eyes never leaving her. When Renee reached for some crab, he stopped her, his voice low and gentle."Be good. You're pregnant—you can't eat that. Once the baby's born, I'll get it for you."Renee pouted like she was about to throw a fit, so Joel sighed and pulled out an Amex Black Card, pressing it into her hand. The move sent another wave of whispers through the room."He's still stuck on Renee, huh?""Yeah... guess no one tops the firs

The next day, Joel barely left Renee's hospital room. He coaxed her into tests and meds like it was his full-time job. Lyra's room was just one floor down, but he never showed.By evening, Renee was done playing patient and demanded to be discharged. Joel took her back to the villa, stuck around till she fell asleep, then finally headed downstairs. Colin was waiting, looking weirdly hesitant, holding a gray gift box."Ms. Lebeau came back yesterday and asked me to give this to you," Colin said, shifting uncomfortably.Joel snatched the box, his mood instantly souring. "She was discharged? Didn't I tell her to stay at the hospital and rest? What's she doing here—stirring up trouble again? I already explained—Renee and I aren't like that. I just see her as a sister..."He opened the gray gift box, and the engagement ring stared back at him, throwing him off.Colin cleared his throat. "Ms. Lebeau also said she left a letter for you in the study on the second floor."Joel yanked at h

Lyra checked her phone—yep, Weston had sent the villa address and gate code. Of course, he'd thought of everything, even letting her crash at her parents' place first. The guy was way more considerate than she'd expected.She glanced over at him—tall, calm, ridiculously handsome. Maybe this whole spontaneous marriage thing wasn't such a bad call after all.Lunch with both families was actually pretty chill—laughs, good food, no awkward tension. They finally wrapped it up in the afternoon.That night, Lorenzo and Deborah went all out with dinner—table loaded with dishes. Felt like forever since they'd just sat down and eaten together. Lorenzo was extra chatty, a little buzzed from the drinks."You know, we really owe the Windsors," he said, sounding kinda sentimental. "Didn't know them well at first, but they've been helping us out for years—sometimes out in the open, sometimes on the down-low. If it wasn't for them, our company would've tanked."Lyra blinked. The Windsors had been