CHAPTER 56: LEAVING WAS THE ONLY WAY

Lyra tapped the call history button, and the latest incoming number popped up. One glance at the city code told her the called from Mistvale.

She couldn’t take it anymore. The hurt, the feeling of being unwanted, the exhaustion—they pressed down on her so hard she could barely breathe.

Lyra made up her mind and rushed upstairs. She took a quick shower, wiped her face dry, and began packing everything she thought she might need.

Mere’s eyes widened in shock as Lyra hauled her suitcase out of the private elevator of the penthouse.

"Ma’am, where are you going?" Meredith asked.

Lyra paused—then suddenly remembered Martin’s advice.

She rushed back upstairs, grabbed her sunglasses and a scarf, and hurried down again, only to find Meredith still standing there, frozen in place.

"Mere, you don’t have to make breakfast starting tomorrow. I’ll be away for quite a while," Lyra said, already reaching for her car keys—the ones she hadn’t touched in ages.

Dragging her suitcase behind her, Lyra stepped closer and pulled Meredith into a tight hug.

"Don’t tell him anything. Promise me."

Meredith didn’t nod. She stayed in the doorway, watching as Lyra slipped on her shoes, her expression full of confusion and worry.

"Why so suddenly, ma’am? Did I do something wrong?"

Lyra didn’t respond. Meredith’s voice barely reached her. Everything inside her was too messy and overwhelming—pushing her out the door.

She moved quickly, loading her suitcase into the trunk before slipping into the driver’s seat. The engine rumbled to life.

She dialed Lewis as she exited the building’s private basement parking.

"Lewis, I need to clear my head. Can you prepare a letter for the director? I’m taking a long leave."

He said something on the other end, but Lyra was already speeding down the road, the world blurring past her windows.

Just then, she remembered how good Rowan was with security and intelligence—of course he’d know how to track her.

She let out a soft, humourless laugh. "As if he cared enough to search."

The words faded into a quiet sigh. Still, she needed to make sure she left no trail behind.

She needed time for herself, time to breathe, time to think without Rowan clouding her judgment.

She would return only when she felt ready.

Lyra stopped by a carrier store and bought a new number, deactivating her old one so Rowan couldn’t trace her.

Then she pulled into a gas station, filled up the tank, and grabbed some bread and a bottle of water before getting back on the road.

Lewis had suggested a few places where she could find some peace, and Lyra trusted the navigation and headed that way.

She drove along the highway for two hours before the Coralbay exit appeared. She turned off the road and entered the town.

Lyra slowed down as she drove through the quiet streets. It was already late in the afternoon, and she needed a place to stay and rest.

...

The next morning, as sunlight slipped in through the gaps in the curtains, the phone began ringing nonstop in the empty house, the sound echoing through the silence.

When the call finally stopped, another one came in right after.

Meredith didn’t come—Lyra had told her not to say anything to Rowan. And Mere knew he would call, as he did every morning. So she decided it was best to stay away that day.

Rowan stood beside his desk, the office phone pressed to his ear as he called again and again, each attempt met with silence.

Then a quiet knock came from the office door, pulling him out of his restless thoughts. Damian pushed it open—the only person Rowan ever allowed to enter without asking.

"Boss, we’ve got five minutes before the meeting. The clients are here and already in the conference room."

Rowan checked his watch, assuming Meredith was just running late. Still, a small flicker of unease tugged at him as he leave the room.

...

A low murmur lingered in the conference room, whispers brushing from one corner to the other.

Everyone wore the same uneasy expression, slowly nudging their paper coffee cups away and forcing awkward smiles at one another.

Camela had been the one who insisted on preparing the coffee, convinced it would earn her a compliment from the CEO.

The moment Rowan stepped inside, the entire room fell silent. Chairs shifted as everyone stood.

Rowan went straight to the clients, shook their hands, and invited them to sit.

Damian took over from there, opening the meeting and discussing the collaboration with their new partners.

Meanwhile, Camela carried a single cup—Rowan’s special coffee—in her hand. Wearing her usual proud little smile, she made her way toward the conference room.

But someone moved in front of her, blocking her before she could step inside.

"What are you doing?" Kane asked, his brows furrowing in dislike at her behavior.

Camela shot him her usual arrogant look, acting like she was the lady boss of the company.

"Obviously, I’m bringing coffee for the CEO," she said, brushing her hair back with a careless sweep.

Kane glanced at the cup in her hand.

He had already been in the conference room earlier, long enough to hear everyone quietly complaining about the taste.

"No need," Kane said, giving a slight tilt of his head—clearly telling Camela to leave.

Camela let out a frustrated grunt, annoyed that someone was trying to ruin her moment of glory.

She swiftly stepped to the side, trying to slip past Kane.

But Kane moved faster. He lifted his foot just enough, and Camela stumbled—sending the entire cup of coffee spilling over her own head.

"Oops. I warned you to leave, but you’re too stubborn," he said, not bothering to hide the intention behind it.

The staff at their desks nearby tried to hold in their laughter, whispering among themselves.

They’d seen this scene more times than they could count—a woman on staff trying to seduce the CEO.

Camela froze for a moment, eyes wide as the hot coffee dripped down her hair and soaked into her blouse.

Her face burned with humiliation, quickly twisting into anger. She clenched her jaw and shot Kane a furious glare.

"Seriously?! Look what you did!" she snapped.

She lunged toward him, ready to claw at him, but Kane slipped out of her reach with ease.

"Call security," he said to the nearby staff, keeping his voice low.

He didn’t want the commotion to escalate—not with important clients inside the conference room.