Chapter 8
The next day, Joel barely left Renee’s hospital room. He coaxed her into tests and meds like it was his full–time job. Lyra’s room was just one floor down, but he never showed.
By evening, Renee was done playing patient and demanded to be discharged. Joel took her back to the villa, stuck around till she fell asleep, then finally headed downstairs. Colin was waiting, looking weirdly hesitant, holding a gray gift box.
“Ms. Lebeau came back yesterday and asked me to give this to you,” Colin said, shifting uncomfortably.
Joel snatched the box, his mood instantly souring. “She was discharged? Didn’t I tell her to stay at the hospital and rest? What’s she doing here–stirring up trouble again? I already explained–Renee and I aren’t like that. I just see her as a sister…”
He opened the gray gift box, and the engagement ring stared back at him, throwing him off.
Colin cleared his throat. “Ms. Lebeau also said she left a letter for you in the study on the second floor.”
Joel yanked at his tie, suddenly restless, and headed upstairs. Sure enough, a letter sat on the desk. The envelope read ‘Farewell Letter‘, and his stomach twisted.
He tore it open and read every word, his mind going blank as pure panic clawed at his chest.
. It was over.
That day at Silvercrest Hospital–Evelyn’s whole conversation with him–Lyra had heard it all… The lie was blown wide open.
Frantic, he fumbled for his phone, but his eyes landed on a photo on the desk instead.
It was of a young woman in a red racing suit, chilling in a race car with her mask pulled down, flashing a peace sign and grinning.
Wait–Vesper’s face.
No way. Lyra was Vesper? The one who saved his life on the racetrack–the “Vesper” he’d been dying to repay? Impossible.
Hands shaking, Joel dialed Lyra’s number, but a cold automated voice cut in: “The number you have dialed has been deactivated.”
He tried messaging her through every chat app he could think of–nothing. Every account was deactivated. Desperation gnawed at him. With no other choice, he called Poppy.
After being hung up on three times, she finally picked up, sounding annoyed. “Joel Fenwick, what do you want?”
!”
