2

Lyra returned to her room with slow steps. Even now, she still could not believe that she had truly returned. The moment Lyra opened the door to her room, the soft scent of white tea and vanilla immediately greeted her.

A scent so familiar.

She stood silently in the doorway for a moment, letting the scent fill her chest. She did not know how long it had been since she had last smelled this fragrance. For a moment, Lyra simply stood there. Then she began to glance around the room. Everything was still the same; nothing had changed.

During the one year she was married to Damien, she had continued trying to make the man see the sincerity of her love. She always thought that as long as she was patient enough, Damien would one day realize that she was the one who truly loved him. Unfortunately, all she had gone through was filled with emptiness.

Damien had never seen her. His eyes were always fixed on Ciara. Their marriage had been built entirely on one-sided love. Damien agreed to marry her only to fulfill their childhood promise and repay all of Lyra's kindness over the years.

Nothing more.

Lyra's gaze stopped on a ceramic figurine on the table. A figurine she had made together with Damien ten years ago. Back then, the object had meant so much to her. Now, looking at it only made Lyra feel how pathetic she had been.

It turned out that all this time, she had been the only one who considered those memories precious.

Lyra touched its surface for a moment, then placed it back. She would not waste this second chance. Without realizing it, tears fell from her eyes.

“I'll let you go, Damien.” She smiled faintly through her tears. “I hope you'll be happy.”

A knock sounded at the door.

“Miss Lyra?”

Miss Viona entered after receiving permission. “We should leave soon. Today is your wedding dress fitting.”

Lyra nodded. However, before they left, she suddenly hugged Viona tightly.

Viona was startled. “Miss Lyra?”

Lyra only shook her head. She did not know how to explain that she had met again the person who had always been by her side.

“It's nothing,” she whispered.

Viona gently rubbed her back before they finally left the room. However, after only a few steps, Lyra saw Damien standing at the end of the corridor.

And of course, Ciara was with him.

Damien had not even come looking for her. His gaze was instead fixed on Ciara, who stood beside him while holding his wrist.

“Lyra,” Damien called.

Lyra stopped.

“You don't mind driving yourself, right?” he asked. “Ciara's hand is still hurting. If you hadn't forced her to practice archery yesterday, her hand wouldn't have been injured like this.”

Lyra looked at Ciara's hand.

She still remembered what had happened. Ciara had been the one to ask her to practice archery. Even when her hand began to hurt, the girl still insisted on continuing the practice. As a result, Ciara's hand was sprained, and Damien arrived at the same time. Because of Ciara's condition as well, Lyra was once again blamed for it.

In the past, she would have certainly explained everything, but this time, Lyra only nodded. “All right.”

Damien frowned.

Was that all?

“You don't want to say anything?”

Lyra looked at him in confusion. “About what?”

“You're usually not like this.” Damien found Lyra's attitude today strange.

Before Lyra could answer, Ciara hurriedly pulled Damien's arm. “That's enough, Damien.” Her voice was gentle, as if she were calming someone who was too angry.

“Don't blame Lyra. I was the one who asked her to teach me. I was also the one who kept forcing myself even though my hand was already hurting. As a result, my hand got sprained.”

Ciara then gave Lyra a small smile. “Don't worry, Lyra. I don't blame you.”

The words sounded like a defense. Yet that was precisely why Lyra knew Ciara was playing her part well. Lyra should have realized the way Ciara played her role long ago.

Not only in front of Damien, but also in front of both of their parents. Ciara always knew when to appear weak, when to give in, and when to make others feel guilty without ever saying a single word that truly put them at fault.

And sure enough, Damien immediately looked at Lyra. “Hear that? Ciara doesn't even blame you.”

Lyra almost wanted to laugh at the attitude of the man she had loved all this time. How foolish.

Ciara lowered her head, then said softly, “I just don't want you two to fight because of me.”

Her eyes began to glisten with tears. “If my presence is making everything complicated, maybe I should just go home by myself.”

Damien immediately changed. “Ciara.” He gently rubbed Ciara's shoulder. “Don't say that. Your hand is still hurting. I'll take you.”

Ciara shook her head slightly. “There's no need. I don't want to trouble you.” Yet her hand only gripped the hem of Damien's shirt more tightly.

Damien, of course, did not notice. “It's all right, I'll take you.”

Ciara finally nodded slowly. “Thank you.”

Before leaving, Ciara looked at Lyra with teary eyes and a remorseful expression. “Lyra, I'm sorry that because of me, you have to go by yourself.”

Not a single word sounded harsh or accusatory. Yet Lyra knew exactly what Ciara was doing. She was making sure Damien saw her as the older sister who was never jealous, while Lyra appeared to be someone who was angry because Damien had chosen her.

Lyra smiled faintly at that.

“Let's go, Miss Viona.” Lyra turned and left them.

However, after only a few steps, Damien's voice sounded again. “Lyra.”

Lyra stopped, but did not turn around.

“Don't cause trouble just because you're angry.”

Lyra was silent for a few moments before answering calmly, “I'm not angry. Be careful driving. Make sure Ciara is all right, Damien.”

After saying that, Lyra did not wait for his answer. She immediately walked away with Miss Viona.

Damien simply stood there in silence.

For some reason, something felt strange.

Usually, Lyra would ask why he always defended Ciara. She would explain that she was not at fault, then ask him not to always take Ciara's side. Sometimes, they would even argue over little things like this.

But not this time. Lyra did not even try to defend herself.

Damien watched her back as she walked farther away. Lyra's steps looked calm, without the slightest hesitation to leave him. For the first time, Damien felt as though something had changed.

But what?