5

Before heading to the photo venue, Lyra was asked to meet with her parents first. Sofi and Paul were already waiting for her in the study. As soon as Lyra entered, Paul immediately asked her to sit down.

“The wedding will still go ahead as you want,” he said. “But we want to make sure one more time. Are you really certain about this decision?”

Lyra nodded. “I am.”

Sofi looked at her for quite some time. “Lyra, we just don’t want you to change your mind on your wedding day. Don’t cause trouble or do something that embarrasses Ciara. If you really intend to do that, we will not forgive you.”

“I won’t.” Lyra’s answer was so calm that Sofi fell slightly silent. “This is what I want,” Lyra continued.

“But ... didn’t you love Damien very much?” Paul asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.

Lyra smiled faintly. “You’re right, Dad. I love him. I love him so much that I think this is the right decision.” She looked intently at both of them. “Besides, I feel that you already had your own plans if I hadn’t asked for this bride swap, didn’t you?”

Sofi looked slightly surprised, but quickly averted her gaze.

“We only want what’s best for Ciara,” she said. “She only returned to us three years ago. She is our biological daughter. Making her happy is the only thing we can do to make up for all the time we lost.”

Lyra did not argue.

Sofi continued in a softer voice, “Meanwhile, you had already lived with us for seventeen years before Ciara returned. So... it’s only natural that this time, you should give in.”

Lyra only gave a small nod. She did not want to prolong the conversation. “Then, as I said before, don’t tell Ciara or Damien about this exchange.”

Paul nodded.

“Let them find out on the wedding day.”

Sofi and Paul exchanged a glance before finally nodding in agreement. Lyra then left the study and headed straight to the photo venue.

When she arrived, the place was already quite crowded. The photographer and several assistants were busy arranging the lighting, while Ciara and Damien were standing in front of the camera.

They had already changed clothes and seemed to be taking pictures together.

Lyra paused for a moment near the door. One of the photographer’s assistants who noticed her arrival immediately approached her.

“Miss Lyra, you’re finally here. Please get ready. We’ll be taking your photos with Mr. Damien shortly.”

He pointed toward the changing room. “You brought your dress, right? Mr. Damien said you were bringing your own dress.”

Lyra smiled faintly. “There’s no need to hurry.”

The assistant looked confused. “But—”

“They look so good together.” Lyra pointed at Damien and Ciara, who were still standing in front of the camera. “Let them finish their photo session.”

Ciara, who heard those words, immediately turned around. “Lyra, don’t be like that.”

She quickly walked over with an uneasy expression. “I really didn’t mean to take your place. If you’re uncomfortable, I can leave right away and not disturb your photo session.”

Damien approached with a displeased look. “You’re late, Lyra.” His gaze then fell to the things Lyra had brought. “You didn’t bring anything? Where’s the dress I gave you yesterday?”

“I had something to take care of,” Lyra replied calmly.

Damien looked at her for a moment. He had gone to the trouble of choosing a new dress for Lyra and had even asked Viona to make sure the wound on her cheek would not leave a scar. Yet now Lyra had arrived without the dress and seemed completely uninterested in today’s photo session.

Before Damien could say anything, Ciara linked her arm with his again.

“Then I’ll go home.” She looked at Lyra with a small smile. “Your bridegroom has arrived. Make sure you take some good pictures together.”

“Ciara.” Damien stopped her hand. “There’s no need to leave. I only need to take a few pictures.”

Ciara slowly shook her head. “I don’t want to make Lyra uncomfortable.”

“I said there’s no need.” Damien’s voice sounded firmer. He then looked back at Lyra. “And you,” he said coldly, “what do you mean by coming here without bringing your dress?”

Lyra did not answer.

“I already sent you a new dress yesterday. Are you still angry with Ciara?”

“I know,” Lyra replied softly.

“If you know, why didn’t you bring it?”

Lyra only looked at him.

Damien grew increasingly impatient at her calmness. “I did that for you, Lyra. Can’t you appreciate my good intentions even a little?”

Lyra fell silent for a few moments. If she said that she did not have the dress because Ciara had asked for it, would Damien even believe her?

Meanwhile, Ciara was still standing beside Damien with a guilty expression. “Damien, don’t be angry with Lyra. Maybe she really doesn’t want to wear the dress.”

“Ciara, you don’t need to defend her.”

“But I don’t want the two of you to fight because of me,” Ciara said with tears in her eyes. “Or ... you can use my dress first?” Ciara offered.

Ciara’s offer only made Damien even more annoyed. Compared to that, Lyra’s attitude seemed even more like disregard in Damien’s eyes. Since yesterday, he had been holding himself back from getting angry, but it seemed he could no longer hold himself back.

He stepped closer and grabbed Lyra’s arm.

“You’re the one who asked for this marriage, right? You’re also the one who wanted to marry me. Now you come without a dress and act as if none of this matters.”

His grip made Lyra wince slightly. “Damien, it hurts,” she said, struggling. “Let go of my arm.”

“Where’s your dress?” Damien asked without any intention of loosening his grip.

“What?”

“Your wedding dress. You don’t even want to wear it?”

Damien’s gaze grew sharper. “This marriage is what you wanted, right?”

Lyra remained silent.

“Then hurry up and finish this ridiculous request of yours.”

He released his grip roughly, causing Lyra to be pushed slightly backward until her back hit the edge of the table.

Lyra hissed in pain.

“I’m sick of your behavior, Lyra,” Damien said coldly, showing absolutely no remorse.