Chapter 2
The sound of the immigration officer’s typing echoed clearly through the quiet hall.
“The paperwork should be ready within two weeks,” the officer said, handing Lyra back her documents. “Please be patient.”
Lyra thanked her quietly and turned to leave.
Back home, she opened her closet and began packing, one item at a time.
Each piece of clothing felt like tearing open an old wound.
This shirt was what she’d given Mason for his birthday–he’d worn it when they watched the sunrise from the mountain peak.
That scarf she’d knitted through sleepless nights–he always said wearing it meant he could smell her perfume.
In the drawer lay two expired concert tickets. It had poured that night, so they’d stayed home listening to records on the couch instead.
Lyra’s hands trembled slightly, but she didn’t hesitate to throw everything into trash bags.
As darkness fell, she dragged the last trash bag toward the door, but heard familiar footsteps outside.
The door opened, and Mason stood there supporting a heavily pregnant Willow.
‘Mason, don’t forget to come over later,” Willow said with a sweet smile, her eyes meaningfully glancing at Lyra before she slowly walked toward the
guest room.
‘Lyra,” Mason stepped closer, his voice low. “Willow’s almost due. The doctor said she can’t be left alone. So… I need to share a room with her, keep an eye on her.”
‘But don’t worry,” Mason quickly added, “we won’t do anything.”
He’d prepared himself for Lyra to cry and make a scene, had even rehearsed comforting words in his head. But unexpectedly, Lyra just nodded calmly. “Do whatever you want.”
Mason froze for a moment, then relaxed, even allowing a hint of relieved smile to cross his lips. “Just one more month to get through.”
yra didn’t respond, just turned and walked toward the bedroom.
Get through?
She was done getting through anything.
That night, Mason moved all his clothes and belongings to the guest room. Lyra leaned against the door–frame, watching him shuttle back and forth, eeling in a daze like he was slowly extracting himself from her life, piece by piece.
n the dead of night, a knock suddenly came at the door.
yra opened it to find Willow standing outside with her swollen belly, barely concealed smugness on her face. “Lyra, Mason bought me this stretch nark oil and I forgot to grab it. He’s going to help me apply it in a bit, so I came to get it.”
Lyra’s heart clenched sharply.
Hadn’t Mason said he only saw Willow as a breeding tool?
Then why was he personally taking care of even her stretch marks?
She turned and pulled the bottle from a drawer, her fingers trembling slightly as she handed it to Willow.
Willow took the oil but didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she looked Lyra up and down. “Five years of marriage and you couldn’t give him one child, but I got pregnant on the first try. Doesn’t that make you feel pathetic?”
Lyra looked at her calmly. “You know exactly how this baby came to be.”
“So what?” Willow smiled dismissively. “Even if I did steal the condom from you and Mason’s intimate moments, I’m still carrying the Vale family’s only heir. And you? You have nothing.”
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “You know what I hate most? That high–and–mighty look on your face. Every time you sponsored me, it felt like charity. But now I’ve finally crushed you completely. Once this baby is born, you’ll never be able to compete with me.”
Lyra didn’t want to hear any more of this nonsense and reached to close the door, but Willow suddenly shoved her hand into the gap, then threw herself backward with an exaggerated scream. “Ahh-”
Before Lyra could even react, Mason had rushed over and was helping Willow up from the floor.
“Lyra!” He looked up at her, his eyes full of disbelief. “Didn’t you promise me this morning you’d put up with this?”
“I didn’t push her.” Lyra said calmly. “She threw herself down to frame me.”
“She’d risk her own child just to frame you?” Mason’s voice suddenly rose. “Do you even believe that yourself?”
This was the first time he’d ever yelled at her.
Lyra’s eyes welled up, but she stubbornly lifted her chin. “I really didn’t. If you don’t believe me, let’s go check the hallway security footage.”
She reached out to grab Willow’s arm.
“Enough!” Mason shoved her away. “Stop bullying her!”
Caught off guard, Lyra stumbled backward, the back of her head slamming hard against the door frame.
Sharp pain exploded instantly, warm blood trickling down from her temple.
But Mason didn’t even glance at her. He bent down and scooped up Willow, who was still putting on a show of moaning. “Don’t worry, I’ll get our private doctor here right away.”
His figure disappeared completely down the hallway.
Lyra slumped to the floor and suddenly began to laugh softly.
The laughter seemed to squeeze out from deep in her chest, carrying a broken tremor that mixed with her falling tears, echoing through the deathly quiet corridor.
