pter 6
Leo and Cheryl had already returned by the time I arrived.
Cheryl was sitting on my bed, while Leo knelt beside her, applying medication to her wound.
When I walked in, both of them were instantly startled. The moment of surprise quickly passed, and they returned to their usual
demeanor.
“Why are you dressed like that so early in the morning, Lyra? Did you spend the night alone outside?” Cheryl asked, glancing at
Leo.
Leo was holding Cheryl’s leg as if it were a prized possession, even though her injury was just a flesh wound.
Suddenly, memories of my own experience flooded back–the time I had to undergo surgery shortly after our marriage due to a miscarriage, and how cold Leo had been during that period.
He had been either away on business or at work, while Vera had cared for me for an entire month.
I had even forgiven him then, believing that his absence was simply due to his work commitments.
But now, I realized it was nothing but an excuse. If Cheryl had been the one to miscarry, Leo would have rushed to her side,
attending to her every need.
I might never have come to this realization if I hadn’t died once.
Cheryl noticed my distracted expression and began to boast, clearly pleased with herself.
“I’m so sorry for using your room, Lyra. I accidentally fell and hurt myself
told Leo it’s just a flesh wound, but he insisted on
helping me bandage it. We’ll be done soon.” Her voice dripped with feigned sweetness.
She immediately tried to rise but winced dramatically, clearly pretending that her injury was more painful than it was.
Leo turned and shot me a sharp glare. “Why are you afraid of her? Sit back down before your wound starts to bleed again.‘
Cheryl reluctantly sank back into the bed, casting me a look that seemed to convey she wasn’t sitting down willingly but rather at
Leo’s insistence as if he were being caring.
I met her gaze calmly, smiling faintly,
“Lyra, go tell Mom and Dad that Cheryl will be joining us for dinner tonight. They won’t do anything hurtful toward her if you’re
the one to ask,” Leo said without even looking at me.
“Cheryl doesn’t like meat, so ask the housekeeper to prepare something vegetarian. It also shouldn’t be too greasy, or it might
affect her wound’s recovery,” he added.
I gave him no response.
1/2
I thought about the pain Victor and Vera must have felt when they couldn’t see their son one last time.
Their bodies were likely already at the funeral home, where the staff should be preparing them for burial. Meanwhile, Leo continued to give me instructions about what I needed to do that night.
I looked at him, no longer feeling any love for this man, as I pulled out the financial agreement.
Leo glanced at it, his expression darkening as he asked, “What’s this?”
“A Binding Financial Agreement. Let’s annul our bond, Leo,” I replied.
He took the agreement from my hands, his gaze cold and filled with disdain.
Taking a deep breath, Leo stood up after finishing bandaging Cheryl. “Are you sure about this, Lyra?”
I nodded, only to see him snicker. “In that case, I’ll give you what you want. But! You can’t go crying in front of Mom and Dad, or
they’ll give me an earful again.”
“I’m not going to do that.”
I reached into my bag, pulled out a pen, and
anded it to Leo.
Just as he was about to sign, he paused and said firmly, “I want you to tell Mom and Dad that you’re the one insisting on this. I
don’t want them blaming Cheryl.”
“You’re right. I’m the one who wants this. It has nothing to do with you two,” I said.
Leo quickly signed the papers and tossed them back at me.
At that moment, nothing would make me stay bound to Leo any longer.
After I put the documents away, I calmly met Leo’s eyes and asked, “Are you going to attend your parents‘ funeral?”
