But my mind was starting to drift.
"Since Lucian doesn't want you anymore, why not marry that blind man from the Thorne Family in the north of the city? The Aldridge Family has supported you all these years, you should..."
"Alright, I'll do as you wish."
Before she could finish, I cut her off and hung up the phone. The few words drained me completely.
Who I married no longer matters. What the Aldridge Family needed now was money and resources to rebuild and get my father out of prison.
The thought of resting at home shattered in that instant.
As I packed up my things, I realized, after living here for ten years, I had so little.
Lucian’s presence felt even more distant.
Looking at the empty, cold house, a wave of sadness and emptiness washed over me.
I wiped away my tears and began sealing my luggage, feeling the weight of the moment.
Just as I sat down, the door creaked open. Lucian stood there, dressed in a black suit, the bright light above casting a stark shadow on him.
Standing beside him was none other than Astrid.
“Lyra!” Astrid smiled and rushed to me, pulling me into a tight embrace. “I’ve missed you so much, Lyra.”
Sometimes, I couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly Astrid played the role of the perfect, most affectionate friend.
I also admired Lucian. It took him less than half an hour after signing the contract to get Astrid back.
And now, here they were.
Lucian’s face remained expressionless as he spoke, "Astrid just came back. She said she really wanted to see you, so I brought her over."
As they stepped inside, his footsteps faltered slightly as his gaze swept over the packed boxes.
"Are you moving out?"
His casual question made my heart skip a beat.
"You don’t have to move out. I won’t need this place and Astrid won’t be living here either."
Astrid's expression changed slightly, her grip on my hand tightening. She turned to me with a smile, pulling my hand along.
"That's right. Lucian told me. Over the years, you've taken care of him so much. This house is a little gesture from us to show our appreciation."
Taken care of...
Did Lucian really say that to Astrid?
Of course, he couldn’t let her know about our relationship. He probably thought that Astrid would always remain pure and spotless. What he didn’t realize was that she knew everything.