CHAPTER 167: COVETOUS

Both hands resting in the hollow of Lyle’s curved arm, Ephyra leaned into him without hesitation. Yet, Lyle neither shifted nor complained about her weight. He simply stayed upright, letting her cling however she pleased, like he was her anchor in the shifting tide of tourists around them.

The thought made her chuckle softly as she closed her eyes for a second, savoring the kiss of the evening sun and the salty breeze drifting up from the harbor.

They strolled past the Statue of Liberty Crown Café, or at least, they were about to—until something tugged at Ephyra’s attention. She slowed to a stop, eyes catching the quaint storefront and the colorful cluster of souvenir stalls nearby. Tourists bustled between racks of novelty shirts, postcards, and miniature liberty statues. It was the kind of spot that screamed vacation photo dump incoming.

Lyle paused beside her, his gaze flicking toward the shops.

Ephyra smiled. "Let’s check that café out, hmm?"

Lyle didn’t reply. He simply redirected their steps and guided her over.

The café was quiet inside, the kind of quiet that made you talk softer without thinking. Soft jazz played from a speaker overhead, and the air was rich with the aroma of roasted coffee and sweet pastries. Only a handful of tables were occupied—mostly couples or tired sightseers nursing iced drinks.

They picked a table near the window, where they could still see the boardwalk and glinting water outside. A waiter approached, young and cheerful, holding a notepad and giving them a polite smile.

"Welcome! Can I get you two started with anything?"

"Iced matcha," Ephyra said with a pleasant tone, still scanning the café interior. "And maybe something sweet, but small."

"Cold brew. Black," Lyle added, almost like he’d rehearsed it.

The waiter jotted it down quickly. "Coming right up."

But before he could leave, Ephyra leaned forward slightly, catching his attention. "Actually—those shops outside... Do they sell mostly souvenirs? I saw some people carrying tiny statues and keychains."

The waiter perked up. "Ah, yeah! They’re all souvenir stalls. Most of it’s Liberty-themed stuff, but you can find some handmade jewelry, postcards, and custom shirts. Are you visiting?"

Ephyra smiled like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We’re a newly married couple on our honeymoon," she said smoothly.

That made Lyle glance at her, not sharply, but definitely curious. He didn’t comment.

The waiter’s eyes widened, and his whole demeanor lit up. "Oh my gosh, congratulations! That’s so cute. You picked a great spot for it—romantic, a little breezy, and great views."

Ephyra gave a small laugh. "That’s what I told him."

"Well then, I’ll make sure your drinks are honeymoon-worthy." He winked before heading off.

A few minutes later, he returned with their drinks on a tray and a small plate of macarons. As he placed them on the table, he gestured toward the window. "So those stalls just outside? The third one to the left has these carved keepsakes—little figurines you can get customized. And if you’re into quirky stuff, the last one down the row has vintage postcards and rare stamps."

He set down the cold brew in front of Lyle, then the iced matcha for Ephyra.

"Hope you enjoy it."

Ephyra reached for her small purse, pulled out a folded bill, and handed it over. It was a hefty tip—too hefty for such a short exchange.

The waiter’s eyes widened again. "Wait—this is way too much!"

Ephyra just smiled. "Think of it as payment for travel advice."

He blinked, then grinned. "In that case—thank you! You two have an amazing honeymoon."

They lingered for a bit longer, enjoying their drinks and the breeze filtering through the open doorway. Then they left the café, stepping back out into the soft glow of golden hour.

By the time they were done browsing the shops, Ephyra had a new white hat perched on her head—wide-brimmed and subtly glamorous—and two guards were walking behind them, carrying neatly bagged purchases like silent, well-dressed pack mules.

Ephyra thought this as she turned her head to glance at the two guards trailing behind them. When she saw their stoic expressions and the picture they made — arms full of pastel-colored shopping bags like bodyguards straight out of a luxury fashion commercial — she couldn’t resist the grin that tugged at her lips. Her mouth twitched, and she quickly turned her head back to the front, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing outright.

She didn’t want them to see her laughing. Not because she was scared of them — but because she knew she’d never live it down if they knew she found their misery adorable.

As she faced forward again, her eyes immediately met Lyle’s stare.

Uh-oh.

He wasn’t even pretending to be subtle about it. Just full-on watching her like she was something he couldn’t quite figure out but didn’t want to stop studying.

Caught red-handed, she snapped her gaze forward again like a guilty kid.

Still, she felt his eyes on her. Which made her squirm a little, inwardly.

Think, think, distract him—

Just then, the voices of two passing women drifted to her ears.

"...I love how peaceful Battery Park is this time of day."

That was her lifeline.

"Let’s check out the park, okay, Lyle?" she said, feigning casual.

They turned down the path that led toward the park, stepping beneath a canopy of trees gently swaying in the ocean breeze. But after a few steps, Ephyra paused. Her brows pulled together slightly.

She glanced behind them.

The guards were still right there, carrying the bags like solemn mannequins on a mission.

"Why don’t they go and drop the bags in the car?" she muttered, leaning toward Lyle. "They’ll attract way too much attention this way."

The guards stopped when their wards did, attentive and silent. They hadn’t heard her, but they didn’t need to — they read her lips. And now they were waiting. Awaiting Lyle’s command.

Without a word, Lyle raised a single hand and made a lazy flick of his fingers.

That was all it took as they turned instantly and headed back toward the car.

Meanwhile, Ephyra let out a small sigh and picked up her pace again, leading Lyle forward. The sunlight had already faded from the sky, and dusk rolled in with a soft hush. Lamplight flickered on, one by one along the path, casting golden halos on the pavement.

Ephyra tilted her head up, watching the glow shimmer between branches. She smiled to herself, wrapped in that fleeting peace.

Then she turned to Lyle, catching his gaze again.

This time, she didn’t look away.

She smiled. Warm. Open. And looked down shyly, but not out of embarrassment—more like she didn’t know what to do with how happy she felt.

"You know, Lyle..." she began, voice quiet but sure. "This is the first time I’ve enjoyed myself this much."

He said nothing, but she could feel the way his energy shifted—how he was fully locked in.

"I mean, this is the first time I’ve been on a real vacation. The first time I went to a rooftop restaurant in a building that used to be a church." She laughed softly. "It’s the first time I’ve gone on a yacht tour around the Statue of Liberty, and even though I’ve lived in America my whole life, I’ve never done any of these things."

Her voice was gentler, more honest now. "I could say I never had the time. But even if I had... I don’t think it would’ve been this enjoyable."

She turned to him again, and this time her smile was all sunlight. Her eyes gleamed like they were reflecting stars.

"But with you? It’s so enjoyable I feel like we don’t even have to do anything. We can just sit or stroll around, and I’m already having the best time of my life."

Her voice caught slightly in her throat, and she pushed through it.

"So what I want to say to you is... thank you, Lyle. Thank you. You want something more, I know you do. I might not know exactly what that is, but I do know this — you’re the only person who’s ever made me feel this way. The only one. The only man I’ve ever cared about like this."

She let the silence hang in the air between them for a moment. It was heavy but beautiful.