Chapter 85: New & Fragile
"I don’t want to be just a secret," Lunara murmured after a few moments of silence, her words quieter than she intended. "But I also don’t want to be thrown into something I’m not ready for." She gently pulled her hands from his, unsure how to navigate the complexities of their situation.
Eryx gave a small nod, his fingers grazing the back of her hand as he let go. "I’m sorry I dragged you into this mess," he began, his voice laced with regret. "But something happened overnight, and I think you deserve to know." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "The media is a mess right now, and I’m trying to fix it. But I need you to bear with me while I do my best to protect you."
Lunara looked up at him, her expression was confused.
Eryx continued, his gaze steady. "Take your time to think about what you want. If you want to be known, to stand by my side and face everything with me, I will do everything in my power to protect you from the chaos. But if you choose to stay hidden, if that’s what you feel more comfortable with, I’ll make sure you stay out of the spotlight, away from all this mess."
He took a step closer, his voice softening. "Whatever you choose, Lunara, I’ll respect it. But know that I’m here, and I’ll always have your back."
Lunara looked down at her hands, her thoughts swirling. She had never expected to be in a situation like this, torn between wanting to be part of Eryx’s world and the overwhelming pressure of being thrust into it so suddenly. After a few moments of silence, she met his gaze, trying to find the words to express how she felt.
But just as she was about to speak, the sound of the doorbell rang through the room, cutting the moment short.
Eryx sighed, a brief flicker of irritation crossing his features. He turned toward the door and moved to answer it, his thoughts still lingering on Lunara’s words.
When he opened the door, Callum stood on the other side, holding a neatly folded set of clothes in his hands. "Mr. Grantham," Callum said with a nod, "I’ve brought Miss Lunara’s new clothes as requested."