4

The next day, Lyra had just finished washing her face when there was a knock on her bedroom door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Damien.”

Lyra fell silent for a moment. She had not expected the man to come looking for her after what had happened yesterday. But before she could say anything, Viona’s voice came from outside.

“Young Master Damien, Miss Lyra is resting.”

“I just want to give her something.”

Lyra heard Viona’s footsteps approaching the door. “What did you bring?”

“Medicine and a new wedding dress,” Damien said plainly.

Viona immediately fell silent. She could already guess what was inside the box Damien had brought. “There’s no need, Mr. Damien. Miss Lyra already said that she doesn’t need a new dress.”

“I know.”

“Then it would be better if you took it back.”

Damien did not answer immediately. His gaze fell on the large box carried by one of his servants. Since last night, he had continued to feel uneasy whenever he thought about what had happened at the boutique. He knew Lyra was angry, but what bothered him more was how completely different Lyra had been from usual.

Usually, Lyra would try to persuade him to listen to all her explanations. She would be busy defending herself and blaming Ciara for what she had done. But last night, Lyra had instead seemed like she did not care.

And for some reason, that made Damien feel uncomfortable.

“Just bring it inside,” he said.

Viona shook her head. “No.”

Damien looked at her.

“Miss Lyra has already given in,” Viona continued calmly. “Miss Ciara asked for her custom-designed dress. Then when the dress was ruined, she still did not blame anyone. But in the end, Miss Lyra was the one who got blamed.”

Viona tried to remain calm even though she was actually angry. How could they treat Lyra so badly?

“Now Young Master Damien comes carrying a new dress and expects her to simply accept it?”

Viona’s voice was not loud, but her dissatisfaction was clear.

Damien fell silent. He could not refute Viona’s words.

Yesterday, he had indeed not defended Lyra. Even when Sofi slapped her, his thoughts were still focused on the crying Ciara. At the time, he had simply assumed that Lyra was angry and disappointed because her dress had been ruined.

However, after thinking about it all night, he began to realize that Lyra was not trying to get the dress back.

“Just give it to her,” Damien continued as he handed the box to Viona. “I don’t want her to keep sulking over a dress.”

Viona accepted the box with mixed feelings. “I think ... Miss Lyra may not want it.”

“Keep it until she changes her mind.” Damien handed the box to Viona along with a small bag containing medicine. “And take care of her wound.”

Viona looked at the medicine.

“Make sure the wound on her cheek doesn’t leave a scar.”

Damien’s voice sounded more serious this time. He did not want Lyra’s face to be left scarred just because of what happened yesterday. Although he had not said anything when Sofi slapped her, that did not mean he had not noticed it at all.

Viona accepted the medicine silently. “I understand.”

Damien still felt dissatisfied because he could not speak to Lyra directly. Usually, the girl would come to see him no matter what happened. Was she really angry just because her dress was ruined? How childish.

“Lyra,” Damien said again. This time, he deliberately raised his voice. “I know you can hear me.”

“Mr. Damien,” Viona looked startled by Damien’s rather loud voice. She warned him. “You shouldn’t—”

“Come out and get your dress. I’ve already chosen the latest design for you,” Damien said again, ignoring Viona’s warning. “Stop acting childish.”

Lyra still did not respond at all, and that made Damien even more annoyed. “You’re really going to act like this?”

“Mr. Damien—” Viona was becoming increasingly frightened. She hoped this argument over the dress would not cause another mess.

“Fine, if you still want to act like this. Go ahead until you’re satisfied!”

Damien felt as though he had already spent too much time on Lyra. Why was he still standing here, as if hoping Lyra would change her mind and come out to see him? It was completely pointless.

Getting no response at all from inside the room, he finally left.

Damien remained standing in front of the door for a while, as though hoping Lyra would change her mind and come out to meet him. But after receiving no response from inside the room, he finally left.

Viona let out a quiet sigh. She had just been about to open the door when the sound of someone’s footsteps made her turn.

“Viona.”

Ciara stood a few steps behind her. The girl’s gaze immediately fell on the box in Viona’s hands. “What is that?”

“This...” Viona hesitated for a moment. “The dress Young Master Damien brought for Miss Lyra.”

“Give it to me.”

Viona frowned. “Miss Ciara, this belongs to Miss Lyra.”

“I know.” Ciara held out her hand. “Give it to me.”

Viona did not move. “I’m sorry, Miss. But Young Master Damien asked me to give it directly to Miss Lyra.”

Ciara’s expression changed. “Why do you always interfere?” she asked in a slightly raised voice. “I just want to look at it. Hand it over!”

Viona continued to hold the box tightly. “But—”

“Ciara?”

Sofi’s voice came from the end of the hallway.

Ciara immediately fell silent. She turned around, and her expression changed instantly. The eyes that had looked annoyed moments ago slowly filled with tears. “Mom...”

Sofi immediately approached. “What’s wrong?”

Ciara looked at the box in Viona’s hands, then turned her gaze back to her mother. “It’s nothing.”

“If it’s nothing, why are you crying?”

Ciara slowly shook her head. “I ... just want to make up for the guilt I feel toward Lyra.”

Viona fell silent.

“Damien gave Lyra a new dress.” Ciara’s voice grew softer. “I still feel so guilty because Lyra’s dress was ruined while I was wearing it. So I thought maybe I could add some beads to her new dress to make it look more beautiful. I want Lyra to still have a beautiful wedding dress.”

Tears fell down her cheeks again. “I don’t want her to be sad because she still remembers that ruined dress.”

Sofi immediately looked at Viona. “You don’t want to give it to her?”

Viona opened her mouth, but did not know what to say.

Ciara quickly interrupted, “It’s okay, Mom. Maybe Miss Viona is just afraid I’ll ruin it again.” She smiled faintly through her tears. “I always make things difficult for Lyra.”

That only made Sofi even more displeased. “Viona, give the box to Ciara.”

Viona gripped the box more tightly. But in the end, she had no reason to refuse. “All right, ma’am.”

The box changed hands to Ciara. “Thank you,” Ciara said softly. A faint smile appeared on her face before she turned and walked away with Sofi.

Viona could only let out a long sigh before going inside and telling Lyra everything.

“Ciara took it?”

“Yes, Miss. I tried to stop her, but she still took it.”

Lyra looked at her reflection in the mirror. The wound on her cheek still left a mark. She touched it briefly before lowering her hand.

“It’s okay.”

“But that’s the new dress Mr. Damien gave you,” Viona protested.

“Does it matter?”

Viona fell silent.

Lyra smiled faintly. “What’s already broken can no longer be repaired.”

She did not even feel disappointed when she learned that the replacement dress Damien had brought had been taken by Ciara again. Perhaps to Damien, replacing something that was broken really was as easy as buying a new one.

“If Ciara wants it, just let her have it.”

That night, Lyra prepared to go to bed early. But when her phone vibrated, she saw a message from Damien.

“I’ve already sent a new dress. Don’t be angry with Ciara anymore.”

A few seconds later, another message came in.

“Our pre-wedding photoshoot is tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

Lyra stared at her phone screen for quite some time before smiling bitterly.

“A pre-wedding photoshoot?” she asked bitterly. “What’s the point of a pre-wedding photoshoot when you spend more time taking pictures with Ciara?”