Chapter 7 Finally Choosing Divorce Lyra went to the hospital to check on the patient . When the patient's mother learned that she was the lead surgeon , she was overwhelmed with gratitude , nearly dropping to her knees . She quickly stepped forward with the accompanying medical staff to stop the woman , gently helping her up . " Please , there's no need for this . It's our duty to save lives . " " If it weren't for you , my son wouldn't have made it . You gave him a second chance . I can't thank you enough , " the woman sobbed , her tears a mix of grief and relief after surviving a close brush with tragedy . Doctors saw life and death all the time , but to pull someone back from the edge was always a blessing. The patient had made it through the surgery and was no longer in critical condition . There were no complications , which , under the circumstances , was the best outcome they could have hoped for . Lyra steadied the woman , offered a few gentle words of comfort , and gave her final instructions before leaving the room with the team . On the way back to her office , her phone rang unexpectedly . It was her father , Andrew Sheppard . She hesitated for a moment before answering . 1/5 21:03 Chapter 7 Finally Choosing Divorce B +2 Bonus " Lyly , " Andrew said , " can you and Max come home for a bit ? " Lyra had a vague idea of what this was about , and her expression darkened immediately . " Just say what you want . " Andrew grumbled , " Oh , come on . Can't I ask my kids to visit even if there is nothing urgent ? Be home this afternoon . " Before she could decline , he ended the call . ***** Maxen was in a meeting when he received a message from Veronica . It read : [ Max , Felix has made it into the kindergarten . Thank you . If it wasn't for you , he wouldn't even have a spot . ] After skimming the text , he responded with just three words : [ Don't mention it . ] When Maxen opened WhatsApp , his eyes stopped on Lyra's chat box . That was when he noticed the last message she had sent was dated the 8th of last month . She had asked if he was still coming over that weekend . Maxen hadn't replied , and she hadn't messaged him again since . She's really good at keeping quiet , huh . ***** 2/5 21:03 Chapter 7 Finally Choosing Divorce That afternoon , Lyra stood hesitating outside the Sheppard Mansion for a long while before finally stepping through the doors . * 2 Bonus Her mother , Ruth Sheppard , saw her and greeted her with a warm smile . " Oh , Lyly , you're back . " She couldn't help but peek toward the entrance , and a trace of disappointment showed on her face . Lyra noticed right away and said calmly , " Don't bother looking . It's just me . " At those words , Ruth's smile froze for a moment . Just then , Andrew came down the stairs . When he didn't see Maxen , his expression darkened . " Didn't I tell you to bring Max with you ? " " He's busy , " Lyra replied . " Busy ? " Andrew snapped . " He's your husband , for crying out loud . Every married couple has their ups and downs , but they still come home in the end . Can't you even convince him to show up for a family meal ? How useless can you be ? " Those words chilled Lyra to the core . No one ever seemed to get her or care about her feelings , not even her own family . Andrew didn't even ask what had happened . He just jumped 3/5 21:03 Chapter 7 Finally Choosing Divorce +2 Bonus straight to scolding her , just like he always had over the past six years . Lyra still remembered how thrilled her parents had been when she married Maxen . They hadn't even cared about wedding gifts , saying those things didn't matter . The Sheppard family might not have come from old money like the Hawthorne family , but they were still far better off than most . So , back then , Lyra had truly believed her parents were happy for her and wanted her to have a good life . But everything shifted after the wedding . Her parents started using her title " Mrs. Hawthorne " as leverage , pressuring her to ask Maxen for money . At first , it was to upgrade her brother's house and car . Later , it was to cover losses when her father's business tanked . In their eyes , the son mattered more . And Lyra ? She was just a lucky ticket married into wealth and a golden goose they could pluck . Lyra snapped back to her senses and spoke with eerie calm , " Well , sorry to disappoint . We're getting a divorce . " At the word " divorce " , Andrew's face turned stormy . Without warning , he slapped her hard across the face . 4/5 21:03 Divorced : The Cold CEO Went Mad Chapter 8 Over My Dead Body ! +2 Bonus The slap came down so fast that Lyra was caught completely off guard , and even Ruth was startled . Andrew jabbed a finger at her , shouting , " You want to divorce Max ? Absolutely not . Over my dead body ! " You think just anyone gets to marry into the Hawthorne family ? You got lucky . That was a gift from the heavens . Don't take it for granted ! " Hearing her father chalk it up to luck , Lyra almost laughed , though there was nothing funny about it . That so - called luck was nothing more than the result of her sticking by Maxen when he needed her most , helping him escape from those dark days , no matter the risk . Whatever she had now was simply what the Hawthorne family owed her . Tears stung her eyes , but Lyra managed a shaky laugh , saying , " I just don't get it , Dad . Am I not your child , too , or is it just Micah you see as your own ? " I know you only asked me to come home because of him , right ? Honestly , you didn't have to pretend it was just for a family dinner . You could have just come right out and said you wanted me to ask Maxen for money . 1/5 21:03 Chapter 8 Over My Dead Body ! +2 Bonus " As far as you're concerned , all that matters is Micah . Anything that has to do with me doesn't even register , right ? " Andrew choked , his gaze shifting guiltily away . " You're the eldest . Micah is your younger brother . Isn't it your job as the big sister to help him ? " Lyra blinked back tears . " Raising him is your job . Not mine . " " How dare you say that ? " Andrew's face flushed with anger , and he raised his hand again . Lyra leaned in and stuck her face out defiantly , her tone daring . " Go on . Slap me . If you've got the guts , go ahead . " Andrew trembled with rage , but this time , he couldn't bring himself to strike her . Ruth finally snapped out of it and pulled him back . " Andrew , that's enough . Let's just talk this through . " She turned to Lyra and stepped closer , saying , " Lyly , don't fight with your dad , okay ? Micah is really in trouble this time . He's being held at the precinct . Your father and I were thinking … with your connection to the Hawthorne family , maybe Max could pull some strings for him . " That was the last straw for Lyra . Even now , all they cared about was her brother , Micah