Chapter 8

Garrick's pupils contracted sharply before returning to normal. He extended his hand to rub his forehead. "Stop causing trouble." He turned around and waved at the bodyguards behind him. "Send Ms. Fenvale home." Lyra bit her lip in protest. "Garrick…" "Listen to me." His tone softened. "It's getting late." He stepped up to Kaelis and grabbed her shoulder once Lyra left. "I know you're jealous." His voice carried a hint of helplessness and indulgence, as though comforting a stubborn child. "She's just a fling. I'll come back to you in the end—you're my wife." She moved aside to dodge his touch. "I'm not jealous. I truly mean to let go." His expression shifted before he regained his usual composure. He chuckled, dismissing her words as a tantrum. "Alright, I'll take you shopping tomorrow. You can buy whatever you want." Garrick was waiting in the living room the next morning. He was dressed in a casual shirt, and his striking features glowed in the morning light. For a moment, it almost resembled the boy who had once looked at her with nothing but devotion. "Let's go." He extended his hand toward her. "Let's get some fresh air." Kaelis stood still. "I don't want to go." "Don't be childish." He grabbed her wrist without her consent. It wasn't forceful, but the way he did it left no room for refusal. "Just humor me." He walked with her hand in his amid the bustling crowd at the mall and patiently asked what she wanted. She remained listless until a familiar voice called out from behind them. "Garrick!" Lyra came running over, latching onto his other arm with a radiant smile. "What a coincidence! Cavora's new limited-edition bags just arrived. Come with me to take a look, will you?" Garrick glanced instinctively at Kaelis before Lyra quickly tugged him away. "Just for a moment. It won't take long." Kaelis stood where she was. She watched as they left together and suddenly found it amusing. She turned around and was about to leave when Lyra called out to her, "Ms. Windryn, aren't you coming?" "No." "Oh, don't be such a killjoy." Lyra blinked playfully as she stepped forward to pull at her arm. "Garrick said he wanted to buy you something. How could you leave empty-handed?" "I don't want anything." She frowned and wanted to shake her off. As the two women tugged at each other, a deafening crash erupted overhead. A massive advertising board came loose and plummeted toward them. Garrick quickly yanked Lyra into his arms, shielding her tightly with his body. "Ah!" The board slammed against Kaelis' back. The sharp metal edges tore through her fabric, and fresh blood gushed instantly. "Lyra! Are you okay?" Garrick checked Lyra nervously. His voice was even trembling. "Where does it hurt?" Lyra's wrist bore nothing more than a shallow scrape, while Kaelis lay in a pool of blood with her consciousness slipping away. She suddenly laughed at the sight of him carrying Lyra away in a panic with his back turned to her. Was this what he called just a fling? Was this his promise to return to her side? She got up with all her strength as blood dripped down her arm and spattered on the floor. The onlookers whispered and pointed at her, but no one stepped forward to help. She staggered to the roadside and waved down a cab. "To the hospital." Her voice was extremely hoarse. … The smell of antiseptic at the hospital stung Kaelis' nose. She bit her lip hard and refused to let a single tear escape as a nurse cleaned her wound. Garrick never came home in the following days. He only sent her a few messages. "I won't be going back home. I need to take care of Lyra." "I saved her because she was closer to me at the time." "I'll buy you a gift next time." She stared at those three messages for a long time, her fingers hovering over the screen. In the end, she didn't reply to any of them. Her lawyer called the day before the divorce hearing. "Ms. Windryn, the hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning at nine. But we haven't been able to reach Mr. Ironvale at all. Could you try contacting him?"