Chapter 4

It was still dark when the door slammed open.

Smack!

Kael and Father stormed into the room. Before I could say a word, Father's hand cracked across my face.

"Lyra! Maren was only trying to help you with a massage, and you kicked her? Don't you know she's still recovering?"

Tears spilled down my cheeks. My own family had rushed in and condemned me without even asking what had happened.

That hurt more than the slap.

If they ever learned that Maren had caused my mother's death, would they regret what they were doing to me now?

"You brought a curse on your mother the day you were born. Now you want to kill Maren, too? How can you be so heartless?"

Father's words came at me like blows. He raised his hand to strike me again, but Kael caught his arm.

"Dad, she's pregnant. That's enough," Kael said quietly.

Father's brow furrowed, but he wasn't ready to let it go.

"Even if Maren accidentally hurt you during the massage, that doesn't give you the right to kick her! She's unwell. Get up and come to the healing hall with me. You're going to apologize."

I gave them a bitter smile.

"The burns on my arm are from Maren. I never kicked her. She threw herself on the floor to frame me."

Kael and Father exchanged a glance. Surprise crossed their faces, and for a moment neither of them spoke.

For one foolish second, I thought they might believe me.

Then Father exploded.

"You've always been selfish and difficult, but at least you used to tell the truth. Now you're lying just to avoid taking responsibility!"

"Maren is kind. Why would she hurt you? Anyone can see you burned yourself to make people feel sorry for you!"

Hearing Father defend her without even considering my words broke something inside me.

I cried harder. Then, somehow, I started laughing.

I had always known Maren mattered more to them than I did.

So why had I kept explaining myself? Why had I still hoped that one day they'd stand on my side?

"Get up. You're coming with us to apologize."

Father kicked me hard.

The room spun. Darkness swallowed everything.

Just before I passed out, I heard someone shout in panic, "Lyra! Lyra, can you hear me?"

It sounded like Viktor had come back.

When I opened my eyes, my arm had been bandaged again. Viktor was holding my hand, worry written all over his face.

"I'm sorry I was late. Don't be scared. I'm here now. Everything will be all right."

His hand was warm and his voice was steady. But the feeling of safety I'd once found in him was gone.

Whenever Father and Kael treated me badly, Viktor had always been the one to step in and protect me.

I used to think he was the light in my life. Now all I could see was a man whose care had never been what I'd believed.

"It's still early," Viktor murmured, brushing my cheek. "Get some more rest."

It was five in the morning.

He was right. I needed to rest and save my strength. I still had to leave.

I drifted off again. When I woke, it was already nine.

The room was empty.

I gave a small, bitter smile. Of course Viktor wasn't there. He was probably back at the healing hall with Maren.

That was fine. It meant I could leave without anyone noticing.

I checked my bags and was about to go when a message from Maren appeared. It was a short video.

In the video, Viktor was cutting fruit for her. Father asked whether he planned to leave me after I gave birth.

Viktor frowned. "I'm not leaving Lyra. I was wrong before, and I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to her."

He told them to stop talking about separation. He wanted to make things right.

Then Maren sent me a message.

[Your husband isn't staying because he loves you. He's staying because he feels guilty. Lyra, you'll never be loved. Your family doesn't love you, and neither does your mate. You don't deserve it.]

Tears filled my eyes again.

Had Viktor ever truly loved me? If his love had been built on a lie from the beginning, I didn't want it.

I picked up my bags and climbed into a hired car.

Then I sent the memory crystal recording from the healing hall to Viktor.

It showed Maren admitting that she had faked her illness and stolen the credit for saving him and playing the Moonharp melody.

I also sent the castle's spirit-watch footage to Father and Kael.

The footage showed Maren admitting that she had killed our mother, then binding me and setting my arm on fire.

Once both messages were sent, I threw my phone out of the car window.

From that moment on, I would live a different life.