Tied In Silence

Victor's POV

I paid the bill, my mind already running through a list of things to handle back at the mansion. But as I turned my head to where Lyra had been sitting—she was gone.

The fork she had been using was placed neatly on the plate, her glass untouched.

My grip on the black card tightened.

She wouldn’t have left on her own.

I turned away from the counter, my eyes scanning the restaurant. She wasn’t inside. My jaw clenched as I strode toward the exit, my steps calm, calculated—cold. The valet was there, but he hadn’t seen her leave alone.

I stepped outside.

It didn’t take long to spot her.

There she was—standing under the soft glow of the hotel’s entrance lights, her delicate form tense as she faced a man dressed in black. A black jacket, black jeans—his posture too casual, his hands shoved into his pockets like he wasn’t standing next to my wife.

But it wasn’t just any man.

I knew that face.

And for a second, the world around me went silent.

Him.

The moment Lyra noticed me, her fingers instinctively clutched the back of my shirt, a quiet plea for reassurance. The man’s expression shifted as his gaze met mine.

A flicker of something passed through his eyes before he took a slow step back.

Smart move.

I didn't break eye contact as I stepped forward, smoothly positioning myself between him and Lyra.

He knew.

He knew exactly who she belonged to.

And yet, he had dared.

He turned to walk away, knowing it wouldn’t be wise to linger. My hand twitched at my side, itching to grab him by the throat and smash his skull into the pavement. To make him regret even looking in her direction.

But Lyra’s fingers tightened around my shirt from behind.

That tiny action was the only thing stopping me from leaving a trail of blood outside this hotel.

I clenched my fists, forcing my breathing to steady. Not now. Not in front of her.

When he disappeared into the distance, I exhaled sharply and turned toward Lyra.

“Let’s go,” I said, my voice controlled, but firm. I grabbed her wrist and started walking toward the car, not giving her a chance to protest.

But she didn’t move.

I turned my head slightly, feeling my patience thinning.

“Lyra,” I warned.

She shook her head. “Who...who was he?”

Not now.

I didn't want to talk about this. Not here. Not when my mind was still clouded with the desire to tear that bastard apart.

“Not now, Lyra. Let’s go home.”

She hesitated before speaking again. “Victor, he said you’re not just a businessman.”

I stopped walking.

My body tensed at her words, but I didn’t turn to face her.

She was putting the pieces together.

And I hated it.

Shut it down, Victor.

Before she could say anything else, I turned, my face cold and unreadable.

“SHUT UP and get in the car.”

The sharpness in my voice was enough to make her flinch, her body jerking slightly at the sudden outburst. Within seconds, her eyes turned glossy, her lips parting as if she was struggling to hold back tears.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, inhaling deeply to get myself under control. The last thing I wanted was to see that look in her eyes. But I couldn’t deal with this conversation right now.

Without another word, I grabbed her hand, attempting to lead her toward the car.

She didn’t move.

“You always do this…” her voice broke, barely above a whisper.

My jaw clenched.

“You talk to a complete stranger without knowing who he is, and now you’re questioning me?” My grip tightened slightly on her wrist. “Do you have any idea what could have happened?”

She sniffled. “He—he said he’s your friend…”

I let out a sharp exhale, shaking my head.

A friend?

That man was anything but.

I didn’t say another word as I pulled open the car door. She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she lowered herself into the seat.

The drive back home was suffocatingly quiet.

She bit her lower lip, trying to hold back the emotions bubbling inside her.

I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. My mind was still replaying the way he had looked at her. How he had spoken to her.

He had gotten away this time.

But I was going to make sure he regretted even breathing in the same space as her.

And Lyra…

She was starting to ask the wrong questions.

The ones I wasn’t ready to answer.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Thankyou for reading 🦋 🦋