Chapter 2 Setting Him Free +2 Bonus Edith froze for a moment before meeting Lyra's gaze . " That's not what you said when we made our deal . What , are you backing out now ? " She wasn't wrong . Lyra had indeed changed her mind . She lowered her eyes , swallowing the sting in her chest . " I'm sorry . I've let you down . " With a long sigh , Edith closed her eyes . " Forget it . If you want a divorce , go ahead . I gave you the chance . If you couldn't get Max to love you , then our family owes you nothing . ' A tight ache pressed against Lyra's chest . She let out a hoarse laugh . " Thank you . " ***** Back at Maple Grove Towers , Lyra ran into Veronica , Felix , and Maxen right at the entrance . As it turned out , Veronica and her son had taken Maxen's car home . Lyra was caught off guard and went completely still . Veronica blinked in surprise . " Uh , Dr. Sheppard ? You live here too ? " Lyra found herself looking at Maxen , searching for a hint of 1/5 21:01 Chapter 2 Setting Him Free +2 Bonus emotion , but he gave her nothing . His cool indifference cut her even deeper . Maple Grove Towers was a high - end apartment complex in one of New York's most exclusive neighborhoods , owned by the Hawthorne Group . This particular unit had been offered to Lyra by Maxen as compensation . She had only taken the apartment since it was so convenient for work . What she hadn't expected was for him to move Veronica and her son in as well . He really didn't waste any time , did he … Lyra murmured , " Yeah … What a coincidence . " She forced the lump in her throat down and turned to leave , but Veronica spoke again , " Dr. Sheppard , I heard you're married . How come I haven't seen your husband around ? " At the word " husband " , Lyra's steps faltered . Her eyes flicked to Maxen and caught the brief shadow that passed over his expression . She then couldn't stop the bitter laugh rising in her chest . Is he that desperate to keep Veronica from finding out about us ? 2/5 21:01 Chapter 2 Setting Him Free Lyra replied calmly , " No , I don't have a husband . " +2 Bonus The moment those words left her mouth , a flicker of something unreadable passed through Maxen's usually composed eyes . " Huh ? But aren't you married , Dr. Sheppard ? " Veronica kept smiling , her tone light . The word " married " sent Lyra into a brief daze . It was true she had marked " married " on her hospital file , but no one had ever seen her husband . She let out a dry , mocking laugh . " I just wrote that for fun . I don't have a husband . " When Maxen heard her say again that she didn't have a husband , his gaze turned sharp , his eyes narrowing with a dangerous edge . Lyra figured that since she had already resigned and planned to leave , there was no point keeping up the charade anymore . Without giving another thought to the people behind her , she walked right into the building , never once looking back . That night , Lyra packed away all her personal belongings and sorted them into two large suitcases in the walk - in closet . Before long , her gaze landed on the wedding photo of her and 3/5 21:01 Chapter 2 Setting Him Free Maxen . +2 Bonus In the frame , Lyra was wearing a white gown , holding onto Maxen's arm with a radiant smile . He , on the other hand , wore his usual blank expression . Back then , she had foolishly believed he just wasn't the smiling type . It was their only photo together , and for a long time , Lyra had treated it like something precious . But now , looking at it again , it only felt painfully ironic . He never hated smiling . He just never thought I was worth smiling for . Lyra picked up the photo frame , gave it one last glance , and dropped it into the cardboard box . It joined the rest of the discarded items she had locked away in the closet . As she stepped out of the bedroom , she heard movement in the living room . She knew Maxen had come home . Lyra walked into the living room and saw him hanging his coat on the rack by the door and changing his shoes . Taking a deep breath , she walked toward him . " Aren't you going to explain what happened today ? " She was referring to how Maxen had arranged for that woman and her child to move into Maple Grove Towers as well . 4/5 21:01 Chapter 2 Setting Him Free +2 Bonus Maxen tugged off his tie , a faint chill in his eyes . " Explain what , exactly ? Maple Grove Towers is close to the hospital . If you can live here , why shouldn't Veronica and her son ? " He draped the tie over his elbow and looked at Lyra . " You already got what you wanted , Lyra . Don't be petty . " Maxen's words drained what little hope she had left . Petty ? Is that what I am ? But the more Lyra thought about it , the more it made sense . In Maxen's eyes , she had already secured the title of Mrs. Hawthorne . If she still insisted on pushing back against Veronica and her son , then yes , she was being petty . Just as Maxen turned to head toward the bedroom , Lyra called out , " Can we talk ? " Maxen stopped in his tracks , turned around with clear impatience , and looked at her with total indifference . " What is it now ? " " Let's get a divorce , " Lyra said quietly , slipping off her wedding ring and closing her fingers around it . " I'm setting you free . " 5/5 Write your comment ir Gifts