All Chapters of Ex-Husbands, I'm Back: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Two months laterAmara was in the kitchen, standing at the center of the room with impatient body language. She was shouting Lyra's name repeatedly and with an air of authority."Where is this girl? Where is she always dallying to?" She murmured when she didn't immediately get a response from her. She took a quick look around at the pile of foodstuff on the kitchen table and the large stainless steel pot next to it, filled with water. She was wondering why Lyra had yet to begin the cooking.After a little suspense, she raised her voice again to call on Lyra."Yes! Miss," Lyra's voice finally echoed back at that point, followed by the sound of her approaching footsteps."Did you go deaf before now?" She queried with her pair of contemptuous eyes when Lyra finally joined her in that kitchen."I'm… I'm sorry. I was locked up inside the restroom when you called." Lyra stuttered."Restroom?" Amara stressed with a grimace."Restroom my foot. Please finish up with what you were doing; as you

"What? What is she doing here? And why are the Thompsons also here?" Lyra kept questioning herself, stealing quick glances at the familiar figures like a thief. Dante, who could sense Lyra's sudden stiffness and funny body language, steadied her hand with his own for the second time and continued heading toward the seat directed to them by the usher. When they were just in front of the central circle of seats with the exquisite wine bottles gently placed on top of the middle table, Dante halted and moved to the group of seats next to theirs as he exchanged pleasantries with a group of business associates familiar to him. Lyra was already beginning to feel left alone and exposed. She cowered on her seat, with sweat lines dripping slowly down her temples. To calm herself and keep her throat from constantly running dry, she gestured to one of the attending waitresses for a glass to sip one of the wine bottles on the table; it was provided in a matter of seconds. Lyra still did not see

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains themes of depression and suicide. Reader discretion is advised. ~~~Lyra started to cry when she got back to her room. She knew Dante's anger was justified and that he had every right to be angry, but she had no choice but to react the way she did. She slumped on the bed and brought out her phone to dial Aria's number, but her number was not reachable. After that, she did not bother to dial it anymore. The last time she spoke with her friend, Aria had made a series of complaints about her mother's failing health. Perhaps that was why she had been reclusive for some time; it was better to let her be instead of plaguing her with her problems.Later that night, Lyra lay curled up on her bed with the screen of her phone to her face. She spent a long number of minutes scrolling through many familiar pages on social media. But she stopped when the picture of Felix and his fiance popped up on the screen; it kept her glued to one spot. The caption on t

Dante woke up the following morning and dressed to prepare for work. He straightened his tie and grabbed his suitcase, hurrying down the stairs the moment he was set.Downstairs, when he walked past the dining area with the door that opened into the kitchen right behind it, he bowed his head as the space suddenly evoked memories of Lyra.He could not help but remember the vivid routines of the recent past—how Lyra would always pack and set his lunch bag aside before his office time. How she would greet and differ from him, her little innocent smile, and her naive gestures.Dante exhaled. He did not need anyone to tell him that he had begun to miss Lyra, but then again, one had to consider why she had to leave. Her lies—there was no way one could trust someone like that."Never." He thought aloud, shaking his head repeatedly, as he finally made his way to leave.Dante arrived at his office less than an hour later. As soon as he erupted from the private elevator that opened directly i

"Good morning to you Mr Dante." Felix greeted cheerfully, flashing an even more happy smile as he turned around to face Dante."Morning Mr. Felix please have a seat." Dante gestured as he tried to maintain his composure and keep a straight face, choosing to momentarily ignore the weight of the discovery he just made about the face standing before him."Thank you," Felix responded in the same jovial manner before stooping to take his seat.“So nice to meet up with you this early, at your office...I heard it's always so tight." Felix remarked, still sounding quite light-hearted. His energy was intrusively and unapologetically jocular so Dante knew he would have to employ double effort in keeping his calm and staying professional. In the preceding minutes, their conversation took on a more formal tone as they delved into the contract negotiations immediately. A large chunk of the first few minutes was spent by Dante questioning Felix's trustworthiness and experience.From questions l