"Mistvale Government Hospital," she said, struggling to catch her breath as she told where to go. Tears slipped down her cheeks, she immediately wiped away with her trembling hand.
The middle-aged driver nodded silently and pressed the pedal, leaving behind the man whose frustration and anger still lingered as he flung his jacket to the ground.
He said nothing, having already witnessed the scene countless times. Stayed focused on the road while Lyra's soft sobs filled the cab, drifting through the air like a mournful song.
She gazed out the window, hoped the passing cityscape might ease the weight on her chest.
If she returned home right way, her grandmother would surely grow suspicious. It could be too much for her weary heart.
"What are you thinking, Lucas?" she muttered.
Every part of her loved him, yet that same love was what broke her heart when things went wrong.
'Maybe it's my fault... I lost control and ran away,' she thought.
'What should I do?' she asked herself silently.
'Maybe I should ask Mrs. Lancaster to explain? No… I shouldn't disturb her. She needs her rest.'
Her thoughts were a tangled mess, and the urge to scream clawed at her throat, but then she remembered she was still in the cab.
The big sign with the glowing words MISTVALE GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL came into view, and the taxi screeched against the road before coming to a smooth halt.
"We've arrived, Miss," the deep voice of the middle-aged driver broke the silence.
Lyra paid him, adding a little extra, perhaps out of gratitude, or perhaps because he had no choice but to listen to her quiet sobs all the way.
"Thank you, Miss," he said gently, pity softening his voice. Such a young and pretty woman, yet burdened by the weight of love.
Lyra slipped out of the taxi and walked quickly through the hospital doors, her mind set on reaching her office.
She wasn't in the mood to do any work and simply stayed in her office, letting the silence settle around her until late at night.
She would only go home when her grandmother was asleep, and the maids had all gone.
But now, her mind refused to rest. A small, wicked voice seemed to whisper in her ear, stirring doubts and shadows about Lucas.
When had he started to grow cold towards her?
She recalled their past arguments, trying to find the moment when everything had begun to change, yet the most recent fight still lingered, sharp and vivid in her mind.
The way he had pointed out her faults, the way he had shouted at her—it was all such a mess. She couldn't even think clearly now, couldn't tell who was right or wrong anymore.
She sighed. Perhaps it had been her fault too.
Even though her heart still ached, this wasn't the time to think about herself. She brushed the pain aside. She needed to clear the air once and for all before their wedding.
She would apologize to him. Surely then, things would become better again
Lyra grabbed her phone and called Lucas, but he didn't answer. She tried three times with no luck.
"Ah, I forgot," she said with a small, self-mocking laugh. How could she possibly forget the way he always treated her?
Every time they fought, Lucas would punish her with silence for at least three days. Her messages went unanswered, her calls ignored. Only return when it suited him, as if nothing had ever happened.
…
The next morning, she woke early, dabbed on concealer, hiding the puffiness around her eyes and dragged herself to the Arden Group Business Tower.
"Oh, Mr. Arden just left a while ago. He's got a meeting at another branch," the lady at the front desk said.
Lyra had left him a message saying she would wait for him at his office, but after three hours without a single reply, she finally left to the hospital.
A few eyebrows were raised when she arrived, as everyone knew her wedding leave was supposed to begin today.
But she only smiled, pretending nothing was wrong, and walked toward her office.
She hoped she could still meet him after office hours.
By the time the sun slipped behind the city skyline, casting long shadows across the office, Lyra was still at her desk.
She leaned back in her chair when her phone suddenly buzzed in her pocket. An unfamiliar number glowed on the screen, and with a quick breath, she tapped to answer.
"Hello?" a deep voice came through the line.
"Lucas? Whose number is this?" Lyra felt both strange and worried at the same time.
"This is just my temporary number," he said, but didn't explain much.
"Why are you using a temporary number? Where's your phone?"
There were so many things she wanted to ask. She'd been messaging and calling him, yet he hadn't received any of it?
She sighed. "I thought you were avoiding me. Where are you? I'll come to you," she added.
Lucas fell silent. It was true, he had been avoiding her since last night. But now, he had to tell her.
"Baby, something's come up. I can't meet you," he said.
"Why?" Lyra's voice dropped. She sensed something unpleasant stirring in her chest.
"I've just arrived at the branch office in the US. Tomorrow's crucial. The investors are on edge, and I can't risk losing them," Lucas said, his tone clipped.
'What?' Had she heard him right?
Her fingers tightened around her dress as she asked, "When will you come back?"
"Um…" Lucas made a small sound, thinking. "Maybe the day after tomorrow," he said, his voice calm.
"But tomorrow is our wedding," Lyra reminded him, in case he had somehow forgotten the most important day of their lives.
"Yeah, that's why I called you," he said. "It's hard for me to make this decision, but I have to."
She still had an ounce of spirit left in her when she asked, "And what have you decided?"
"Listen… the wedding can wait. Don't worry... I'll handle it," he said, as though postponing their wedding was a small matter to him.
But the thing was, had he ever asked for her consent?
For a moment, silence filled the line.
"Baby? Are you still there?" He checked, the line was still connected.
"Yeah, Lucas." He felt a wave of relief at the calmness in her voice
Lyra took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"Lucas," she called his name.
"Um?"
"I need a break."
"Okay, just rest, baby," Lucas replied simply.
"We can't keep pretending things are fine," she said quietly. "I'm ending this, for both our sakes."
Lyra heard Lucas laugh on the other end of the line before he said, "Hell no, baby. You can't break up with me."
"Why not?" Lyra asked, but he questioned her instead.
"Seriously? Do you not love me anymore, Lyra?" His voice cracked with disbelief.
This time her eyes welled up before she could stop them. "I still love you," she choked out, her voice trembling, "but I can't keep hurting like this."
Lucas exhaled slowly. "Just rest, baby," he said. "We'll postpone the wedding, like I said, and talk about it when I come back."
"I'm sorry but this relationship is finished," she said but Lucas ended the call abruptly, unwilling to hear another word.