Nobela ni Lady Chids

♠ Gabriel's pov ♠ Something was wrong. I realized it the moment Lyra walked away from the dining room. It wasn't the first time she'd been angry with me. It wasn't even the first time she'd refused to continue a conversation. But this felt different. Usually, there was emotion behind it. Frustration. Disappointment. Hope. Always hope. No matter how angry she became, there was always a part of her that still expected something from me. An explanation. An apology. A reaction. Tonight, there had been nothing. Just exhaustion.And somehow that unsettled me more than her anger ever had. I remained seated long after she'd disappeared upstairs. The dining room had emptied.The staff had cleared the table. Even the sound of the twins laughing somewhere in the west wing had faded. Yet I still sat there. Thinking. The problem was that I didn't understand why I was thinking about it. For years, distance between us had been normal. Expected. Necessary. Our marriage wasn't built on affectio

♥ Lyra's pov♥ I woke up with a headache. Not the sharp, dizzying pain from yesterday. This one was dull. Persistent. A reminder. The kind that lingered just beneath the surface no matter how hard you tried to ignore it. For a few seconds, I stared at the ceiling. The events of yesterday crashed into me all at once. Victoria. The staircase. Gabriel. The accusation. The look in his eyes. I squeezed my eyes shut. Big mistake. The movement sent another pulse of pain through my skull. "Wonderful," I muttered. A knock sounded at the door. Before I could answer, Mrs. Dalton entered carrying a tray. Tea. Toast. Medicine. The holy trinity of recovery. "You look terrible," she announced. "Good morning to you too." The older woman snorted. I almost smiled. Almost. Mrs. Dalton set the tray down. "Your painkillers." I obediently reached for them. The fact that I obeyed immediately made her narrow her eyes suspiciously. "You must really be hurting." "I got sti

♥ Gabriel's pov♥Victoria was asleep. At least, that was what the nurse claimed. I stood near the hospital window, staring at the city lights below. My reflection stared back. Tired. Irritated.Restless. The feeling had followed me ever since I left the house. I told myself it was because of the incident.Because of the accusation. Because another problem landed on my desk when I already had too many. But that wasn't entirely true. Something else was bothering me. Something I couldn't quite name.The hospital room door opened quietly. A nurse stepped inside. "Mr. Kane."I turned. "Yes?""Mrs. Sterling's test results came back."I nodded. "And?""Everything looks normal. The wrist isn't fractured. Just a mild sprain."I wasn't surprised. Victoria had never looked seriously injured. The nurse smiled politely before leaving. The room became quiet again. A mild sprain. I glanced toward the sleeping woman in the bed.Then, unexpectedly, another image appeared in my mind.Lyra. Standing at

♥Lyra's pov♥ The first thing I became aware of was the blood. Warm and Sticky. Running down the side of my face. For a moment, I just sat there on the staircase floor, staring at the crimson staining my fingers. The front door slammed somewhere in the distance. Gabriel was gone. The realization landed harder than the fall itself. Gone. He hadn't looked back. Not once. Not when I called his name. Not when I stumbled. Not when my head struck the railing. Gone. "Mrs. Kane!" Mrs. Dalton's voice broke through the ringing in my ears. The older woman rushed forward, her sensible shoes clicking sharply against the floor. She dropped beside me immediately. "Oh, heavens." Her eyes widened at the sight of the blood. "I'm fine," I said automatically. The lie sounded ridiculous even to me. Mrs. Dalton gave me a look that clearly said she wasn't fooled. "You are bleeding all over Mr. Kane's staircase." A humorless laugh escaped me. "Then he'll probably be upset about the carpet." The olde

♣ Victoria Sterling's pov♣They always remembered me as elegant.Soft.Controlled.The kind of woman who smiled instead of fought.It was useful.People rarely fear what they believe they understand.I adjusted the sleeve of my coat as I walked through Kane Manor’s upper hallway, listening to the quiet hum of servants pretending not to notice me.Two days.That’s what Gabriel had said.Only two days.I almost smiled at that.He still believed in temporary solutions.Still believed things could be neatly contained.Like me.A door opened ahead.And Lyra Olson stepped out.We stopped at the same time.For a second, neither of us spoke.She was… different in person.Less polished than the women Gabriel usually entertained in elite circles.But not weak.That was the interesting part.Her eyes held something stubborn.Something that didn’t belong in a world like this.“Victoria,” she said cautiously.I smiled politely. “Lyra.”Awkward silence stretched between us.I studied her quietly.S

Chapter 44Lyra’s POVSienna had insisted I leave the house.“Fresh air,” she’d said firmly, tugging me toward the car like I was a patient recovering from something I refused to name.Honestly, I didn’t argue.Kane Manor had started feeling like it was shrinking around me lately.Like the walls were quietly learning my name.So I went.We spent most of the afternoon in a quiet café downtown, far enough from the mansion that my shoulders finally relaxed for the first time in days.Sienna talked about something funny Lucas had done at a charity event.I tried to laugh.And I did.A little.But even then, my mind kept drifting.To Victoria.To Gabriel.To that smile she gave him.Like she still knew him in a way I didn’t.By the time I returned home, the sun was already dipping low behind the estate gardens.The house was unusually quiet.Too quiet.Mrs. Dalton greeted me politely. “Mr. Kane is in the study with a guest.”My chest tightened slightly.A guest.I nodded slowly. “Who?”She

Mason came home the next morning.I heard the front door open. His footsteps in the foyer. The sound of him setting down his bag.I was in the living room, waiting. He walked in. Took one look at me and stopped "Lucy.""Mason."He looked tired. Dark circles under his eyes. His jaw was tight. "We need to talk," he said.I felt my stomach drop. He sat down across from me. Rubbed his hands over his face."I've been thinking," he said. "About everything. Vincent. The danger. The way my life has been putting you at risk.""Mason—""Let me finish." He looked at me. "I can't do this anymore."I stared at him. "Do what?""Us." His voice was flat. "I can't be with you."I felt like I'd been punched. "What are you talking about?""Vincent was just the beginning. There's always going to be someone. My family. My business. My enemies." He shook his head. "I can't protect you from all of it.""You don't have to protect me from all of it.""Yes, I do." His voice cracked. "That's the problem. I can'

Mason and I couldn't talk because the following day, he was out of town. Some business thing he hadn't bothered to explain. And I was tired of waiting. Tired of hiding. Tired of being the damsel in distress Then a tip came through Sloane. A man named Silas. He'd been Vincent's associate once. Now he was willing to talk. For a price. "He says Vincent has been staying at an old warehouse on the east side," Sloane told me over the phone. "Silas can get us in. But he wants protection." "Protection from what?" "From Vincent. He's scared." I was quiet for a moment. "It could be a trap," I said. "It probably is." Sloane's voice was steady. "But it's the only lead we have." I thought about it. Vincent had been quiet for days. No texts. No threats. Nothing. It was too calm. "Okay," I said. "I'll meet Silas. Alone." "Lucy—" "He won't talk if there are other people. You know that." Sloane was silent for a long moment. "Fine," she said finally. "But I'm going to be nearby. With Liam

It was my day off.No work. No Mason hovering. No security detail following my every move. Just me, alone, finally breathing.I needed toothpaste. A new toothbrush. Maybe some real food that wasn't delivered by Mason's chef.I walked to the corner store three blocks from the house. It was a nice day. Sunny. Warm. The kind of day that made you forget everything terrible in the world.I was halfway back when a black car pulled up beside me."Need a ride?"I froze. The window rolled down. Vincent's face smiled back at me."Vincent.""Lucy." He opened the door. "Get in.""No.""I wasn't asking." His voice was calm. Pleasant. "Get in. Or I'll make you."I looked around. The street was empty. No cars. No pedestrians. No one to help me.I got in.The car was clean. Expensive. Leather seats. The smell of cologne. Vincent drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on his thigh."You know," he said, "I've been watching you for a long time. Longer than you know.""I figured tha

The invitation came on a Thursday. A real invitation. Cream-colored paper. Gold embossed lettering. Hand-delivered to the bookstore while I was at lunch.I found it on the counter when I got back. My name written across the front in elegant script.Inside was a single line.You're invited to the Russo Gallery Opening. Friday, 8 PM. I'll be waiting.I felt sick.I called Mason immediately."He sent me an invitation," I said. "To a gallery opening. He's not hiding anymore.""Don't go.""I'm not going to.""Good.""But—""Lucy. Don't."I took a breath. "I'm not going. But this changes things. He's not just lurking anymore. He's putting himself out there. He wants to be seen.""I know." His voice was tight. "I'll have someone there. Watching.""Okay."We hung up. I stared at the invitation.Vincent was escalating. And this time, he wasn't hiding.Sloane called later. "Liam showed me the invitation," she said. "Did you tell Mason?""Yes. And he said I shouldn't go""Good." She paused. "But

Sloane dragged me out of the house the next morning before I could even finish my coffee."Up. Now. We're going.""Going where?""To get your mind off everything." She grabbed my arm. "You've been cooped up in this house for weeks. You need air. You need fun. You need to remember you're a person.""I am a person.""Then act like one."I let her pull me out the door.She drove us to a farmer's market downtown. Rows of colorful stalls. Fresh produce. Homemade bread. The smell of flowers and coffee and something sweet."This is nice," I admitted."I know. I'm brilliant."I laughed. For the first time in weeks, I actually laughed.We walked through the market, Sloane buying anything that caught her eye. A jar of honey. A bundle of lavender. A loaf of sourdough that she insisted was "life-changing.""You're going to eat all of this yourself?" I asked."No. I'm going to share with you." She shoved the bread into my hands. "Consider it a gift. An apology for being a terrible friend.""You're

We set the trap that night.Mason's security team surrounded the warehouse on 5th. Four men. Two cars. Cameras on every corner.I wasn't supposed to be there.But I'd insisted."I'm the bait," I told Mason. "If I'm not there, he won't show.""I don't care. You're staying here.""No.""Lucy—""I'm not going to let you do this alone." I met his eyes. "We're in this together. Remember?"He stared at me for a long moment. Then he swore under his breath."Fine. But you stay behind me. You don't move. You don't speak. You don't even breathe.""Deal."The warehouse was cold. Dark. Empty. I stood in the center of the room, heart pounding, waiting.Mason was hidden behind a stack of crates. His security team was scattered throughout the building.I tried to breathe. Tried to stay calm.Then I heard footsteps. "Lucy."Vincent's voice. Smooth. Confident.I turned. He was standing in the doorway. Dark jacket. Hood down. His face was exactly like the photo Mason had shown me. Hard eyes. Cruel smil