Chapter 93

Bianca’s POV(Lyra)

I leaned back in the car seat, the low hum of the engine the only sound breaking the silence.

City lights streaked past the window, the sites brought up memories I was trying too hard to forget.

Damien’s face kept replaying in my mind. The way he’d frozen when our eyes met back at the auction. That shock and that confusion, the flicker of guilt he couldn’t hide.

I had imagined how oddly satisfying it would be seeing all those emotions playing on his face. But reality wasn’t as neat as imagination.

Seeing him again had ripped something raw open inside me.

He was engaged now.

He just moved on, like I was some passing shadow that never mattered.

My fingers clenched around the edge of my bag, knuckles whitening as the thought burned through me.

But I pushed it down. That pain wasn’t supposed to exist anymore. Bianca didn’t exist anymore. Bianca died the day I walked away from him.

Now there was only Lyra Elton… the woman who rebuilt herself from ashes and built an empire.

I bit my lip hard, pulling myself back to the present.

My plan was already in motion, getting under Damien’s skin was only the beginning.

I straightened, tapping lightly on the glass divider. “Stop here,” I told the driver.

The car slowed to a halt in front of a tall, marble building that glowed gold under the night lamps… Calloway Banks.

My heels clicked sharply against the pavement as I stepped out, the cool air brushing against my skin like a challenge.

I adjusted my coat, pulled my hair into place, and walked toward the glass doors. A security guard stood by the entrance, tall and broad, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.

“What’s your name, ma’am?” he asked, her voice even but slightly wary.

“Lyra Elton,” I said smoothly, my gaze holding his.

He frowned and stepped aside briefly, muttering into his earpiece before returning. “Madam doesn’t know anyone by that name.”

My jaw twitched. I hated being questioned, not anymore.

I was past this already.

“Just let me in,” I said, my tone sharp and final. “She’ll know.”

He moved to block me again. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but—”

Before he could finish, his arm shot out to stop me from entering. Reflex took over.. my hand snapped up, catching his wrist midair.

My nails bit lightly into his skin as I met his eyes, mine cold and dark.

“Don’t ever touch me again,” I warned quietly.

He froze, his face a picture of disbelief. I brushed past him and pushed open the door, stepping into the familiar scent of her Esther’s floral perfume.

The sound of my heels echoed against the marble floor, and for a second, it felt like time folded back… like I was walking through my past again.

Then a gasp broke through the stillness.

“Bianca?”

I turned to see her… Esther, standing by the reception desk, her eyes wide before she rushed toward me.

For a moment, I didn’t know whether to smile or brace myself. But then her arms wrapped around me, and despite everything, I let her hold me.

“How are you?” she breathed against my shoulder. “God, I’ve missed you so much, Bianca…”

I stepped back, forcing a smile, though my voice came out steady, practiced. “Ah, ah. It’s not Bianca. It’s Lyra Elton now.”

She blinked, then laughed softly, brushing a tear from her eye. “Wow, you’re looking good… Lyra.”

“So are you.”

She gestured toward the inner office. “Please, have a seat.”

I followed her in, the nostalgia creeping in with every step.

The office hadn’t changed much in a year, not that I expected it to.

We sat facing each other, the silence stretching until I broke it. “So,” I said, crossing my legs. “What’s been happening around here?”

Esther hesitated, then sighed. “Well… since you left, there hasn’t been any more rumors or fake news about Bianca. Things calmed down after you disappeared.”

A small smile tugged at my lips. “I suppose even ghosts have their uses.”

She looked at me carefully. “Damien came by here a few times asking if I knew where you were.”

My heart skipped, betraying me before I caught it. “He did?”

“Yeah.”

“Well,” I said flatly, “he didn’t care too much. He got engaged to Nina in less than a year.”

Esther bit her lip. I could see the hesitation in her eyes before she finally said, “Look, I don’t like Damien. It’s no surprise. But he really does care about you, Bianca. He completely cleared your name from all those accusations you had. Made sure he didn't stop till there was not a single stain.”

The words hit harder than I wanted them to. I turned my gaze to the window, watching the city beyond the glass.

“He did that?” I whispered.

“Yes,” Esther said softly. “He even told the press he was the one responsible for what happened, not you. He said you didn’t deserve what came after.”

I didn’t know what to say. My chest tightened, a mix of anger and a regret, just a little bit.

It didn’t matter. It couldn’t matter.

“Bianca is dead,” I said finally, my voice barely audible. “Now it’s Lyra.”

Esther studied me, her expression caught between sadness and understanding. “You can change your name, but that won’t stop you from feeling, Bianca. I know you still—”

“Don’t.” My tone cut through her words. “Don’t finish that sentence.”

Silence fell again, thicker this time.

I reached for the glass of water on the table, taking a slow sip before setting it back down. “You said things have been quiet. Any word from Elena?”

“NO, her and Leo completely disappeared shortly after you,” Esther replied. “I think Damein had something to do with it.”

“He finally came to his senses then,” I murmured.

We talked a little longer… about business, the new firm I’d built, the expansion plans. Elton Empire wasn’t just a company; it was a statement.

A reminder that no one could destroy me and expect me to stay broken.

When I finally stood, Esther did too. “You know,” she said gently, “you can still forgive him.”

I paused.

Forgiveness. That word was something I didn't welcome in my dictionary.

“I’m not here for forgiveness,” I said. “I’m here for balance.”

She didn’t understand what I meant… she wasn’t supposed to.

I stepped closer and pulled her into a hug. “Take care of yourself, Esther,” I whispered.

“You too,” she said, her voice soft but trembling slightly. “Just… be careful, Lyra.”

I smiled faintly. “Always.”

Then I turned and walked out.

The air outside was cooler now, the city buzzing with life. I walked down the curve and to my waiting SUV.

I opened the car door and slid back inside. “Take me to the mansion,” I said quietly.

The driver nodded, pulling away from the curb.

As the city blurred around me, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, the faintest smirk curling at my lips.

He still cared…