Chapter 17 17

Chapter 17 17


Kyrian forced out a laugh. “Of course not, grandmother. We’re hiding nothing from you. Everything is as it seems. I was only worried this will be a little too much for my wife.”

Lily said nothing. This quick-witted brat told lies smoothly. How dare he claim he was worried about her.

“Oh, I see. You’ll both get used to it soon. It’s the natural thing to do, especially now that Kyrian is fully recovered.” Grandmother believed him and that was the end of the topic.

After dinner, they moved to the sitting room. A show was playing on the television, something light and interesting but no one seemed particularly interested in it. The air was still a bit heavy from everything that had been said at the dinning table.

Lily sat for a moment but the room suddenly felt suffocating. Her eyes drifted towards Kyrian and Tracey.

Tracey had positioned herself very close to him on the sofa, her shoulder almost brushing against his arm. Every now and then, she would lean in slightly, saying something softly to him, her tone intimate, soft and familiar.

It made Lily’s chest tighten. What’s worse, Kyrian smiled at her joke! She looked away immediately.

“I’ll take a walk,” she said softly, standing up.

No one stopped her, not even Kyrian. That hurt her more than it should have. He probably didn’t notice she was leaving. How would he when he was busy letting another woman lean too close to him, tell him jokes and even let himself smile at her jokes?

The night air was cool and calm. Lily stepped into the garden, the familiar scent of flowers surrounding her. The flowers smelled sweet, and the garden lights glowed softly over the grass, but her heart was heavy. 

This had always been her place, her escape. For three years, this was where she came to think, breathe and feel like herself.

Whenever Kyrian’s bitterness had become too much, whenever the weight of the marriage pressed against her chest, she would come here and walk until her thoughts settled. 

But tonight, however, nothing settled.

She wrapped her arms around herself, walking slowly along the path. Her thoughts drifted back to Kyrian. No matter how much she tried to push it away, she couldn’t. She still loved him and her heart refused to go.

Her steps slowed. Memories crept in, uninvited and vivid. The past week replayed itself in her mind. That night he had made love to her. The way he had held her, the way his touch had felt different, softer, more certain. She recalled vividly, as if it was yesterday, the way he slammed into her and made her eyes roll into her head. How she had let her moans fill the room in that carefree moment and how she let him take her to cloud nine.

The way for one brief foolish moment, she had believed everything between them had finally changed. That maybe, just maybe he had started to see her, want her and choose her.

Her breath hitched and she stopped walking.

No!

She shook her head, forcing the thoughts away.

“I can’t think like this,” she whispered to herself. That moment had meant nothing. It had only been the calm before the storm, the type of sex one would want to enjoy for the last time before they asked for a divorce.

Lily pressed her lips together and resumed walking. She had to stop holding onto something that no longer existed.

By the time she returned inside, the house had quieted down. The show was over, the servants moved quietly around the house, clearing things and preparing for the night.

Kyrian and Lily were standing near the hallway. Lily slowed her steps as she approached. As she walked past, Tracey suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her path.  

Their eyes met and Tracey smiled, but there was nothing kind about it.

“I’m feeling unwell tonight,” Tracey said lightly, her tone extremely soft. “My ankle still hurts.”

Lily said nothing.

“I’ll need Kyrian to look after me,” Tracey continued, tilting her head slightly. “I hope you don’t mind.”

The words were polite but the meaning behind them was clear. Before Lily could respond, Kyrian spoke.

“Tracey, the medications will help tonight. You’ll be fine after resting.”

But Lily cut in.

“I don’t mind,” she said quietly.

Kyrian turned to her surprised. Lily kept her gaze steady.

“I’m fine,” she added.

There wasn’t any need to cling to him since the divorce was bound to happen anyways.

Silence fell instantly. Tracey’s lips curved slightly, satisfied.

“Lily...” Kyrian began. He wanted to call her back. They were supposed to spend the night together, not because grandmother said so, but because he wanted to be with her.

But she had already stepped past them. She didn’t stop or look back. Kyrian watched her walk away, something tightening painfully in his chest. He almost called her again but he stopped himself.

She had chosen to go. Maybe she already went back to the man she loved. He was a burden imposed on her by his grandmother. She had only learnt to tolerate him while clinging onto the one man she called his name every night.

The thought irritated him more than he expected.

“Why does it bother me,” he wondered. He looked away sharply.

“Kyrian!” Grandmother’s voice echoed from the end of the hall. Everyone turned. She stood there, her posture straight, her expression firm.

“I hope both of you remember what I said earlier,” she said pointedly, her eyes moving between Kyrian and Lily.

Then she looked at Tracey.

“You will sleep in the guest room,” she added.

Tracey’s smile faltered. She had been excited few seconds ago that she had gotten the chance to spend the night with Kyrian when Lily was in the house. She had almost succeeded in informing Lily through practical methods that she was the only outsider in the house. Why the hell did grandmother show up again?

“But…” she began.

“I have already asked the maids to prepare it,” Grandmother cut in. “Or do you not know that it is proper for married couples to share a room?

Tracey’s face stiffened. Her fingers tightened against her sides.

“Yes… I understand,” she said softly, though the words tasted bitter. Lily stood still. Her heart sank. She had hoped that she could avoid this but grandmother’s words were final.

As Tracey walked away towards the guest room, her expression was anything but pleased.