CHAPTER 61: FACE THE PUNISHMENT

After hearing that, all her sleepiness vanished at once. Lyra clutched her phone to her chest, her brows pulling together, showing both pain and warmth.

Rowan had come looking for her, but Martin said he looked terrible. That had worried her.

"I need to find him."

Rowan lay awake, unable to sleep. He finally got out of bed, grabbed the binoculars, and went to the window, hoping to spot Lyra.

After a while, when he still couldn’t see her, Rowan gave up and began putting on his trench coat.

Just as he was about to leave, Kane’s bedroom door opened. He stood in the doorway, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Boss, where are you going?" he asked with a yawn.

"I’m just going downstairs to get some air."

Then Rowan noticed Kane was about to follow him. "You don’t need to come. I want to be alone."

And the door slammed shut.

Rowan sat on the stone bench at the playground, smoking. Five cigarette butts already lay on top of the trash can.

It had been three days since he came here, and he still hadn’t found the courage to face Lyra. He ran a hand through his beard, rough from days without shaving.

"Mind if I sit here?" a soft female voice asked him.

"Go to hell!

Rowan snapped without looking up. He was already overwhelmed, and now some woman was bothering him too.

He heard her footsteps moving away. Then the voice registered in his mind. Rowan froze, then stood and spun around.

His gaze drawn to the familiar sway of her long, honey-blond hair.

"Lyra?"

He took a long stride, quickly reached toward her—hug from behind.

Lyra was startled. She had really thought Rowan had chased her away. A single tear had already slipped down her cheek from the hurt.

She could feel his warm body and his breath against her ear.

"Don’t go..." His rough voice sent a tingle through her ears. She had missed that voice.

Slowly, Lyra turned to face him. She lifted her delicate hand and wrapped it around his neck.

She nestled her cheek against his firm chest, drawing in the familiar warmth of his cologne, laced with the tobacco scent.

"When did you arrive?" Lyra murmured, lifting her gaze to meet his amethyst eyes.

Her fingers ran through the rough stubble along his jawline. He truly looked terrible in this state, yet his charm was still beyond comparison.

"Not long after you arrived."

Lyra’s breath hitched. He had been in Northvale for days for her.

"Why didn’t you come straight to me?"

"I thought you’d be angry if I did. And I know I was wrong."

"You knew it was wrong, yet you still did it?"

Lyra pulled away from him, irritation creeping into her voice as she remembered how he had ignored her for an entire week.

"For what reason? No message, no call and even lied to me, saying you were out of country."

Rowan reached for her, but she dodged. His hand hung in the air before slowly clenching.

"So what about you? You met Lucas and let him hug you. Did you ever care about me?"

Lyra raised her finger to argue, but then she remembered that he hadn’t come home the same night she met Lucas. Now she understood why.

"Now you remember your own mistake?" Rowan said.

Pride stopped him from reaching for her again. He turned without hesitation and strode away.

Lyra chased after him from behind. "Rowan, wait!"

Rowan didn’t stop. His long legs moved too fast, forcing Lyra to run to keep up with him.

She shouted, "That day, he came to say goodbye. He left the country for good!"

Lyra grew tired from running and came to a stop, bending over as she panted.

"I’m sorry..."

She slumped onto the pavement, chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath.

Suddenly, Lyra heard Rowan’s footsteps coming back toward her. As she lifted her gaze, Rowan scooped her up.

"Then you’ll have to accept your punishment," he said as he carried her to the car.

He set her down in the passenger seat, then climbed into the driver’s seat and drove off.

"Where are we going?" Lyra asked, puzzled and Rowan didn’t answer.

Lyra wondered what kind of punishment he meant. Only when they arrived at a five-star hotel did she understand.

Rowan kept an arm around her waist as they approached the front desk.

The staff glanced at them and asked politely, "Sir, would you like a regular room or a couple’s room?"

"What’s the difference?" Rowan asked.

The staff explained professionally, "The couple’s room comes with additional special features like sex toys, massagers, personal lubricants, and condoms. Perfect for you to enjoy the night."

"Cough... cough..." Lyra suddenly choked on air, and Rowan smirked at her flustered reaction.

Rowan chose the couple’s room without hesitation.

And Lyra’s eyes widened as she hid her face against Rowan’s broad arm, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

She pinched him from behind, but he felt nothing.

The staff handed him the key card with both hands. "Enjoy the night."

When they walked toward the elevator, far from the staff, Lyra smacked his arm.

"What are you doing?"

Rowan bent slightly and said in a serious tone, putting on an angry face, "You caused big trouble, so the punishment has to be big."

As they entered the room, Lyra gulped.

The atmosphere instantly set the mood for a couple. It was luxurious yet dark, bathed in dim red and soft yellow light. Enough to awaken the devil within him.

Lyra took a step back and froze in the doorway, and Rowan halted too.

"Why did you step back?" he asked.

Without wasting a second, he hoisted her up as if he were kidnapping his own wife.

"It’s good if you’re scared," he teased. "Let this be a reminder not to make the same mistake in future."

Rowan sat on the edge of the bed and settled Lyra onto his lap, his arms wrapping around her slim waist. Their eyes met, and he saw the color rising in her cheeks. He smiled.

"Did you miss me?" he murmured. "Because I missed you. Do you know how crazy I went when you left?"

"I’m sorry, I just needed time to calm down. You were gone for a week. I thought you didn’t care about me," Lyra explained softly.

He lifted his hand and traced her face, then pulled her into a hug. "I’m sorry. It was my fault too."

"Does that mean we’re even?" Lyra’s eyes lit up, sensing her chance to escape.

Rowan pulled back just enough to look at her. "No. Your mistake is bigger than mine," he said.

He gently laid Lyra onto the bed, straightened and walked over to the drawer.

"Now... where did they put that stuff?"