right?”
Lyra didn’t let them keep talking—she shoved the door open and cleared her throat, making them both shut up immediately.
That evening, the doctor gave the all-clear for discharge.
Back home, Lyra got a friend request—Weston Windsor.
Must be the guy she was supposed to marry. She hit accept, and almost instantly, he sent over a gift list.
The document was packed—line after line of meticulous details. Just skimming made her head spin.
Two more messages popped up.
[Here’s the wedding gift list. Let me know if it’s satisfactory.]
[Mrs. Lebeau said your flight is the day after tomorrow, and you’ll arrive the morning after that. I’ll be at the airport with her to pick you up.]
Lyra thought for a second before typing back.
[The gifts are enough. Thank you.]
He didn’t respond, and she didn’t bother checking again.
That night, Joel kept trying to chat her up, but Lyra barely gave him the time of day. Figuring she was still mad about earlier, he decided to fix it by planning a pre-wedding bachelor party. He had his assistant spread the word, and by evening, the place was packed.
As soon as Lyra showed up, Joel wrapped his arm around her waist and handed her a car purchase contract, his eyes fixed on hers.
“I kept thinking that last supercar didn’t really suit you, so I ordered a new one.”
Then he hesitated, shooting a quick glance at Renee, who looked all delicate and pitiful by the sidelines. Reluctantly, he handed her the original Lamborghini contract.
“Renee, this car was originally for Lyra, but since she’s got a new one now, you can have it. Sorry if it’s a bit lacking.”
Renee’s face lit up; she was trying to play humble.
“It’s okay—today’s all about Lyra.”
But anyone could tell she was thrilled. The Lamborghini was a limited edition from Khelmark, while Lyra’s new car was just a regular, though pricey, model.
Guests nearby couldn’t help but whisper.
“Is Joel really marrying Lyra? This is supposed to be their bachelor party, but he’s giving gifts to Renee?”
“Yeah, right. Just an excuse to hand that limited edition car to Renee.”
“Everyone knows Lyra’s obsessed with cars. Total slap in the face.”
“Shh, I heard Renee’s some kind of racing prodigy. Rumor has it she’s Vesper—saved Joel’s life on the track. That’s how he fell for her in the first place…”
Lyra, sitting in the corner, frowned.
Vesper?
Wasn’t that… her?
