Chapter 2

A flicker of joy crossed Theron's eyes. He immediately held Kaelis' hand. "I'll handle the divorce arrangements." She shook her head. "No. I don't want him to come after you. I can handle it. In the meantime, stay in the villa and wait for me." He frowned and was about to argue, but her resolve was unshakable. In the end, he could only compromise and leave. After a day of rest, Kaelis was discharged from the hospital. She then headed to a law firm. "Mrs. Ironvale, the breakdown of your marriage is clear based on the evidence provided. The hearing will be in a month, and the likelihood of divorce being granted is very high," the lawyer said, adjusting his glasses. Kaelis nodded gratefully and walked out of the law firm. The sunlight was so bright that it stung her eyes. Her footsteps faltered at the scene before her when she returned home and opened the door. Garrick and Lyra were having a candlelit dinner. The table was filled with Lyra's favourite dishes. He was peeling shrimps for her, and every movement of his was as tender as if handling a priceless treasure. He fed the shrimp to her himself after dipping it in sauce before gently wiping the oil from the corners of her lips with a napkin. Kaelis hadn't seen that tenderness in a very long time. "You're back?" Garrick didn't even look up at her. "Feeling better?" "Yeah." She walked straight to the kitchen and couldn't look at the scene any longer. She made a pot of broth and brought it out. Lyra suddenly got up. "Ms. Windryn, isn't that hot? Let me help you." She had already snatched the pot before Kaelis could react. "Ah!" Scalding broth splashed all over Kaelis, and a searing pain instantly shot through her arm and chest. Lyra caught only a few drops, yet her eyes immediately brimmed with tears. "It hurts…" Garrick shot to his feet and shoved Kaelis. "Kaelis, what are you doing?" She stumbled backward, slamming her lower back into the table corner and hitting her forehead against the cabinet. Warm blood trickled down her cheeks, mixing with the broth and leaving her in a wretched state. "Open your eyes and look." Kaelis' voice trembled. "She's the one who spilled it on me…" "That's enough!" Garrick cut her off coldly. "Lyra's kind and innocent. She would never do such a thing!" He looked down to check Lyra's hand. His voice was unbelievably gentle. "Does it hurt? I'll take you to the hospital." Lyra leaned into his arms with teary eyes. "Garrick, will it leave a scar?" "No, it won't," he reassured gently, sweeping her up in his arms. "We'll find the best doctor for you." He shot Kaelis an icy look before leaving. "Find a man of your own if you can't stand Lyra. There's no need to play these petty tricks at home." Kaelis collapsed onto the floor the moment the door was shut. The burns on her skin throbbed with pain, and blood from her forehead dripped onto the floor. She recalled a time when Garrick used to be so worried when she had only nicked her finger. He had even insisted on taking her to the hospital for a bandage. Now, she was injured, yet he walked away with another woman in his arms without glancing back. She returned to her room and gritted her teeth as she tended to her injuries. The cotton swab was soaked in liquid medicine, and she felt unbearable pain each time it touched her skin. … Garrick never returned for several days in a row. Lyra's social media posts were like blades, stabbing straight through her heart every day. "It's 4:00 am. He drove me to the beach to watch the sunrise." Attached was a photo of Garrick's silhouette. "I offhandedly said I wanted a cake from West City, so he drove two hours to get it for me." Attached was a photo of a delicate strawberry cake. Kaelis scrolled through them numbly and quietly packed her luggage. One day, she saw a pair of rings in an auction catalog. The design was minimalist and elegant, with vines engraved along the inner band. It was like her and Theron, saving each other in the darkness. Since she had promised to give him a name, there should be a token. Therefore, Kaelis picked up her car keys and drove to the auction. The moment she sat down, she saw Garrick and Lyra walk in. Lyra wrapped her hands around Garrick's arms and whispered something to him. The corners of his lips curved into a smile, and his eyes carried a hint of tenderness. Once the auction began, Garrick bought every piece of jewelry that Lyra fancied without hesitation. "Mr. Ironvale, you and your wife must have a wonderful relationship. You still love her as much as ever after all these years," someone gushed. Garrick didn't deny it. Instead, he wrapped an arm around Lyra's waist. "Yes, I love her very much."