CHAPTER 47: WRONG ASSUMPTION

Rowan wrapped a towel around his wife, then gently guided her toward the door. If she didn’t leave now, he worried he might pull her back for another round.

"Careful... don’t fall," Rowan said with a soft laugh, keeping an arm ready just in case.

Lyra walked slowly, her fingers brushing the wall for support. Her legs barely had any strength left.

He grabbed another towel and wiped himself off in a rush before hurrying to her side, gently guiding her down to sit.

Then he went to her bag, searching through her clothes for something that would keep her comfortable for their next activity.

"You need something suitable for the ride," Rowan said, as he checked each piece one by one.

"Ride?" Lyra blinked, unsure. She had never been on a motorcycle before.

Nerves fluttering in her chest as she tried not to ruin the surprise.

She watched quietly as he pulled out each piece of clothing, trying to decide which one she felt comfortable wearing.

The motorcycle was already waiting outside. Lyra froze, staring at it.

It looked huge, longer and heavier than anything she’d ever seen. It definitely wasn’t the kind of ordinary. Rowan said it was a Honda Gold Wing.

She wasn’t confident about riding it at all and wasn’t even sure Rowan could handle something that size.

On their way, her eyes stayed shut, too scared to look. Sometimes she peeked a little.

But whenever their motorcycle passed a huge truck or other vehicles, she yelped and squeezed her eyes shut again.

Lyra clung to Rowan from behind, her arms locked around him. Even with her eyes closed, her ears worked just fine, she could hear Rowan laughing at her.

She didn’t bother responding. Right now, survival was the only thing on her mind.

They arrived at a small-town marina, where a mid-sized yacht waited for them. It was another surprise, and the gesture alone left her breathless.

She had dreamed of this for years, but Agnes had always found reasons to keep her from it.

Rowan started the yacht and guided it out toward the open sea, where not a single other boat drifted nearby, so the world around them felt intimate and secluded.

Lyra sat at the small dining area, watching Rowan cook their dinner. Soon, garlic butter shrimp pasta and grilled salmon were served in front of them.

They ate about an hour before sunset, golden light settling around them. It felt surprisingly close to a romantic dinner.

Lyra felt a little tipsy after two glasses of rosé wine. Warmth rose in her cheeks, making her bolder than usual. She leaned forward and kissed Rowan.

Their kisses deepening as he gently took her hand. He guided her into the cabin, pressed her onto the bed. Her hand gripped his shirt, refuse to let him go.

Their breaths brushed in a tender, heated rhythm. Together, desire slowly unfurled into a wave of release, left their bodies trembling in satisfaction.

...

Marce scrolled through one news article after another, biting her lower lip.

She muttered under her breath, as if talking to herself, before getting up and heading straight to her husband’s study.

She knocked softly before stepping inside.

"Oh dear, look at this," she said, holding her phone up in front of Silas’s face.

A news report about Rowan Pierce and his wife. The article didn’t mention the woman’s name, but Marce knew exactly who she was.

Still unable to believe it. She rushed to Silas for answers, hoping the article was fake.

But he didn’t show any reaction at first.

He simply took the phone and studied the article in silence.

There wasn’t a single thing Silas didn’t understand about Marce’s worry. Mia and Edris had already told him everything. His wife was the only one left in the dark.

"Is this really true, dear?" Marce asked.

"Yes... what you saw is true. But it’s not what it looks like," he said, trying to reassure her.

Marce’s eyes widened.

"What are you even saying? True but not true? I’m getting confused," she muttered softly.

Silas pushed himself up from his seat and gently motioned for Marce to sit.

"Relax... Let me make you something warm first."

Marce couldn’t help feeling nervous. But when he returned with a cup of coffee, the rich aroma drifted up and helped her calm down a little.

She set the cup down right after her first sip. "Hurry. Explain," she urged.

Silas let out a slow breath, steadying himself before answering.

The whole story was tangled like a knot of wires, and he needed to unravel it one piece at a time so his wife didn’t get things wrong.

"Yes... she’s Rowan Pierce’s wife," he began.

Marce’s eyes widened, and her grip tightened on his thigh made he flinched when her nails scratched him, biting back a hiss.

"Darling... I still have more to say," he said, holding up a hand. He wasn’t finished yet.

"Her fiancé ran away the day before the wedding, and she ended up marrying Rowan Pierce because her grandmother pressured her," Silas explained, recalling Edris’s story, while his hand rubbed at the spot that still stung.

Marce’s shoulders dropped, her heart sinking at the revelation.

"Poor girl... her family must have treated her terribly, forcing her into a marriage like that."

She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

"Yes... she’s a good girl, always trying to do the right thing," Silas said, sad about what happened. "She agreed because she didn’t want her family to feel embarrassed."

"Is that why Edris came back all of a sudden?" Marce asked.

Silas nodded slowly. "Yes... exactly. You got it right." He folded his arms across his chest, gathering his thoughts before he continued.

"At first, he was heartbroken and refused to meet Lyra, but Mia kept urging him not to give up on Lyra," he said, his voice filled with conviction.

Marce slapped his lap, and he hissed again. She had hit the same thigh.

"So he really likes her?" Marce pressed.

Silas nodded and quickly pulled his thigh away from her dangerous hands.

"In that case, Mia’s right. He must not let those feelings fade. I have to help him," Marce said with fierce determination.

She already adored the idea of Lyra becoming her daughter-in-law, and she wouldn’t hesitate for a second to help Edris make it happen.