Chapter 5: As You Wish
“Mrs. Vale…”
Lyra’s eyes flickered with desperate hope as soon as she saw Celestia Vale, Caspian’s mother. Without hesitation, she rushed forward, throwing herself into Celestia’s arms, her sobs wracking her delicate frame.
Tears streamed down her pale cheeks, painting the picture of a tragic, helpless heroine—one that could soften even the hardest of hearts.
Even Caspian, who rarely showed emotion, felt his resolve weaken under her fragile display.
Selene, watching from a short distance, scoffed inwardly. I could never pull off something so pathetic.
Celestia, exuding maternal warmth, stroked Lyra’s hair reassuringly. “No need to worry, Lyra. I’ll protect you.“
Caspian tensed. “Mom, please, let’s not escalate this.” His voice was tight, edged with frustration. Around Celestia, he always felt like he had no control.
Celestia shot him a pointed look. “Caspian, if I hadn’t come, would you have just stood there while Selene lashed out? I know I’ve turned a blind eye before, but now… with Lyra carrying your child—a new Vale heir on the way—can you really afford to let Selene act unchecked?”
Lyra lowered her gaze, as if the weight of those words had suddenly stolen the joy of impending motherhood.
Caspian’s expression was unreadable, his eyes flickering toward Lyra for a brief moment before he sighed. “I can handle this, Mom.”
Celestia wasn’t convinced. “And how exactly? By watching while Selene humiliates Lyra?”
Selene folded her arms, her voice laced with irony. “I’m your daughter-in-law, Caspian’s one and only legal wife. No matter how powerful the Vales are, even you wouldn’t dare commit bigamy, would you?”
Celestia stiffened. “Enough of your bullshit!“
“Bullshit?” Selene’s laugh was sharp, cutting through the tension. “It was I who pursued Caspian, yes. But for years, my family has supported the Vales, lifting you up when you needed it. And now, you want to discard me for Lyra? Did you even bother consulting the rest of the Vale family?”
Her piercing gaze locked onto Lyra. “To even mention you in the Kai Lysandere breath as me is laughable.”
“Selene, that’s enough.“
Caspian’s voice was cold, sharp enough to silence the entire corridor.
Celestia, emboldened by her son’s rebuke, pressed forward. “Did you hear her, Caspian? This is not how a lady should behave. I told you from the start—Selene is too stubborn, too impulsive. She was never a good match for our family. You should have listened to me.”
Selene let out a mocking laugh. “Oh, I see. And I suppose being a homewrecker means Lyra has flawless manners?”
A Painful History
Selene had always known that she was the one who had come between Caspian and Lyra.
Lyra’s family had once fallen into ruin, and the Vales—bound by political constraints—couldn’t openly help her. It was then that Caspian came to Selene.
After five years of ignoring her existence, after five years of treating her affection as invisible, Caspian finally sought her out.
But not for love.
For Lyra.
Selene had despised Lyra since childhood. So when Caspian begged for her help, she had thrown marriage in his face, fully expecting him to reject the idea.
But to her shock, he had agreed immediately.
And that was how she had learned just how much Lyra meant to him.
She had spent five years chasing after him. But it took him five seconds to marry her for someone else’s sake.
Since that day, the name Lyra Wren had been a constant thorn in Selene’s side.
Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the movement—
Until Celestia slapped her across the face.
A Slap for Lyra
The sharp crack echoed through the hospital corridor. Selene’s head snapped to the side, her cheek stinging from the impact.
“You deserved that,” Celestia said coldly. “This slap is for Lyra. Don’t think you can torment her just because she’s an orphan and has no one to protect her.”
“Mom! What the hell was that for?” Caspian stepped between them, his jaw clenched.
Selene, however, simply laughed—low and bitter. “Oh, so I’m the villain now? Fine.”
Then, before anyone could react, Selene lunged at Lyra.
Her fingers tangled in Lyra’s hair as she delivered a slap of her own, harder, sharper, more punishing than Celestia’s had been.
Lyra staggered, a cry of shock escaping her lips.
“She may not have a family, but I’ll be damned if I let her trample over mine,” Selene snarled.
Celestia gasped. “Selene! Have you gone mad?!”
But Selene didn’t care. She had never been the type to sit and suffer in silence. If someone hit her, she struck back. Harder.
And now, as Lyra clutched her burning cheek, eyes wide with disbelief, Selene finally felt a sliver of satisfaction.
Celestia, her voice shaking with frustration, turned to Caspian. “Are you just going to stand there and watch?! Are you really letting this happen?”
Caspian’s Decision
Selene turned her gaze to Caspian, half expecting him to restrain her, to shield Lyra as he always did.
But he didn’t.
He watched.
His military reflexes were impeccable. If he had wanted to stop her, he would have.
But he didn’t move.
Something flickered in Selene’s chest—an emotion she couldn’t quite place.
And then—
Strong arms suddenly wrapped around her waist.
Before she could react, she was lifted off the ground.
“Caspian! What the hell are you—?!”
Caspian threw her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing, carrying her like a sack of grain.
His voice was eerily calm. “Mom, stay out of this. I’ll handle my affairs.”
Celestia’s protests faded behind them as Caspian walked away, Selene kicking and struggling in his grip.
But he didn’t loosen his hold.
Not until they were gone.
Author Trophies
Win Big!