Chapter 02
She found her way to their bed and lay down quietly, her hands rubbing her chest in a rhythmic, soothing motion. She curled into a tight ball, squeezing herself into the smallest space possible on the mattress. Her folded body occupied only a sliver of the bed, while Bruce's side remained widely empty.
Bruce's phone let out a loud ring beside her. She let out a silent groan, ignored it, and shut her eyes tightly. When the phone beeped again, she was forced to sit up.
She scoffed and tapped the screen, surprised by the content of the message.
*Bruce, could you please come back? I can't sleep.*
She stared at it, stunned. What the hell was this? It was 10 PM. The woman wanted him to come back to her, when Lyra was damn sure he had been home ever since he closed up at work. Jealousy coiled in her chest. Scornfully, she deleted the message. Letting out a low hiss, she dropped the phone back to the exact spot where it had been before.
She lay back down, shut her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.
She opened her eyes abruptly and sat up. *Why is he still in bed?* she thought silently. She wanted to tap him to ask if he wasn't heading to work that day, or if he had simply forgotten. She decided against it. She would mind her own business as usual. Why should she care anyway?
Remembering yesterday's events, she let out a sigh. Would her husband ever feel anything for her?
"No, I shouldn't be thinking about this anymore! I love someone else now," she snapped at herself. But deep down, she knew a part of her still felt something for her heartless husband.
She got out of bed, grabbed her towel, and headed into the bathroom.
Minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, water dripping from her wet hair as she dried it. She startled slightly when she saw Bruce's figure getting dressed. His back was to her, but she could see her reflection in the mirror he was standing before.
Lyra bit her lip slowly before turning away. She made to go get dressed in the bathroom instead. She had forgotten Bruce was in the room; otherwise, she would have dressed in there initially.
The loud bang of the door closing made her stop. Bruce had walked out of the room. She let out a sigh. That was the usual tension between her and her so-called husband.
They hardly ever talked to each other, not even a word. She reminded herself that she shouldn't care anymore. She now had someone who cared about her. She should ignore Bruce's harsh behavior and focus on Bryan. That man was in love with her. She should try to love him fully, not just with a part of her heart.
Initially, she would have tried her best to get Bruce's attention, but not anymore. Was it because she was in love with Bryan now? Or did she just not want Bruce to say hurtful things to her anymore?
She read the message on her screen as she walked out of the room, and it brought a smile to her lips.
She was oblivious to when she reached the stairway and began to descend absentmindedly.
She chuckled loudly while reading the seemingly unending long text and almost tripped on the stairs. She caught herself by gripping the rail tightly, but her phone slipped from her hand and fell to the ground, shattering into pieces immediately.
She let out a loud gasp and rushed down the stairs. She picked up the broken pieces, oblivious to the tears streaming down her face. Was that the end? She had no source of income. Her only company had been given to Ella by her parents to handle ever since she got married; they had thought Bruce would be taking good care of her, but he never did.
She had clothes, bags, shoes, enough food in the house, and he had even given her one of his cars. What else did she need?
She had never asked him for money since then, and now she had no money to repair her phone. She was sure Bruce wouldn't give her any.
How then would she get in contact with Bryan? Did that mean they would be losing contact forever? No, she had to find a way.
She walked back to her room, grabbed her car keys, and rushed out of the mansion. She got into her car and drove off.
** Ford's Enterprise **
Her parents were among the top ten richest families in Australia, but the Ford family wasn't even close to that. She had been so obsessed and in love with Bruce back then. That was why her family had planned a contract with the Ford family, and they had agreed, knowing it was going to benefit them hugely.
She put on her sunglasses as she took a step into the big company. The guards recognized her as Bruce's legal wife and made way for her without delay.
She smiled lightly. At least she still got respected outside of her home, even if her husband didn't respect her.
She walked into the elevator and tapped the button for the 5th floor. That was where her husband's office was.
This was her second time coming to her husband's company after three years of their marriage.
The *ding* sound from the elevator snapped her out of her thoughts as the doors opened widely. She made her way to Bruce's office.
What if he disgraced her at his office or refused to give her the money? He wouldn't want to do that, right?
She was about to push the door open when she realized Bruce had actually never thought of her as his wife. He might flare up and question her on why she had refused to knock before coming in, even as his legal wife.
She inhaled softly. She knocked at the door but got no response at first. She knocked gently again, and this time Bruce responded.
"Come in." His thick voice came through, and her heartbeat accelerated.
Riley bowed lightly before walking out of the office. Bruce and Ella were now left in the office with Lyra.
The duo were surprised to see Lyra before them, as they had never thought she would step foot in Bruce's company ever since he had humiliated her the first time in front of his office.
Lyra was also a bit surprised to see Ella with Bruce. Wasn't she supposed to be handling Lyra's company? Why was she here? Did she come here frequently like this?
"Ella..." Lyra called out shockingly.
She couldn't stop the tears.
"Oh, the bitch is crying," Ella mocked, laughing heartily while Lyra cried even more.
"Woman! Why are you here!?" Bruce asked, looking at her scornfully—a look he would never direct at Ella. Lyra felt her heart shattering into pieces.
TBC