Chapter 14: It’s On
Selene scrolled through the comment section beneath the latest trending news article.
The internet was buzzing with chatter about Caspian’s so-called affair.
“Isn’t this Lyra girl just like a real-life Cinderella? From what I’ve heard, Mr. Vale and she were childhood sweethearts. Imagine, harboring affections since they were just kids, and yet he was coerced into that arranged marriage.”
“I feel for them—so in love, yet forced apart. Meanwhile, where’s my chance to suffer like the rich? I swear I’d just enjoy the money and skip the heartbreak.”
“Let’s be honest, though—doesn’t anyone else find Selene absolutely stunning? With her ethereal beauty, she could effortlessly dominate as an A-list starlet in showbiz.”
A small, satisfied smile curled on Selene’s lips as she liked the comments singing her praises.
Then, without hesitation, she exited the news feed.
She had better things to do than dwell on online gossip.
Just as she reached for her phone to text Orion, a persistent ring from an unfamiliar number interrupted her.
With a sigh of irritation shadowing her features, she answered.
“Hello?”
A Call from the Past
A deep, authoritative voice filled the silence.
“Selene.”
The voice was sharp and commanding, hardened by authority and an underlying sternness.
A voice that carried weight.
A voice she had only heard a few times in her life.
“Mr. Zane?”
Her mind immediately flashed to Zane Malachai, the renowned captain of the Night Wolf Special Forces.
He had once teamed up with Lazarus on a high-stakes mission.
Despite the age gap, Lazarus and Zane had bonded quickly, their spirits alike in the battlefield.
Selene had only met Zane a handful of times, but each encounter was etched in her memory—
Particularly his intense, wolfish stare that always seemed to pierce through to her very soul.
“I heard about Lazarus’s passing. My condolences.”
His voice carried a blend of solemnity and respect.
Selene’s grip tightened on the phone.
“Thank you.”
She swallowed hard, fighting the lump forming in her throat.
For a few agonizing seconds, silence hung between them.
Even through the impersonal barrier of a phone call, she could feel the weight of Zane’s expectations pressing on her.
Then—
His voice cut through the silence, firm yet inviting.
“You’ve always excelled at scouting. I’ve wanted you on my team for ages, but Lazarus couldn’t stand the thought of you leaving his side.”
“I got a call from him a while back. He said he’d like to see you in the forces, but nothing too demanding.”
“How do you feel about that?”
Selene’s heart skipped a beat.
Lazarus wanted her in the forces?
The revelation hit her harder than she expected.
“He…” she began, but her voice wavered.
A sharp sting of grief crept up, but she quickly sniffled and composed herself.
Clearing her throat, she forced a more casual tone.
“Mr. Zane, I’m married now. The life of the special forces might not fit me anymore.”
It was a bittersweet realization.
In another life, she might have declined without a second thought.
But now—with Lazarus gone and surrounded by people waiting to see her fall—she realized her strength had to come from within.
Zane, perceptive as always, sensed her inner turmoil.
“Don’t worry,” he said, his voice softer now. “I’m not suggesting you take on combat roles. Besides, many in the special forces balance their duties with family life—they marry, have children…”
Marriage. Children.
The idea was so simple, so normal.
Yet, for her—painfully out of reach.
A Message from the Enemy
After hanging up, her phone buzzed with a new message.
The sender’s name flashed on the screen.
Lyra.
Selene’s brows lifted slightly in intrigue.
The message was short, direct—an invitation wrapped in false sincerity.
“Selene, let’s meet up. I’m at Little Cup.”
Little Cup.
It wasn’t just a coffee shop.
It was a landmark, a place woven into their childhood rivalry.
It was where Selene and Lyra had their first major clash.
Was this Lyra’s way of making their rivalry official?
A slow, chilled smile spread across Selene’s lips.
This confrontation was exactly what she had been craving.
She grabbed her keys, stepped out of her home—
And headed straight for battle.
Different Worlds, Kai Lysandere Battlefield
By the time Selene arrived, Lyra was already seated gracefully, looking like she had stepped right out of a magazine cover.
Flawless makeup. Elegant posture. Perfectly curated perfection.
Meanwhile, Selene hadn’t even bothered with makeup.
Her hair was slightly tousled, her attire casual, yet she still carried an effortless beauty Lyra could never replicate.
When they sat across from each other—it was like stars from different galaxies colliding.
Lyra’s voice was neutral, laced with thinly veiled condescension.
“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I didn’t get anything for you.”
Selene waved off the insincere politeness with a lazy flick of her hand.
“No worries.”
Then, turning to the shop owner, she ordered with ease—
“I’ll take some vanilla ice cream, please. Thanks.”
A slight twitch appeared at the corner of Lyra’s mouth.
Her smile stiffened.
“Oh, you still remember?”
Selene’s smug grin widened.
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten anything.”
She leaned in slightly, her voice mockingly sweet.
“In fact, I still remember the exact way I had you pinned down.”
Her eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Crazy how time flies, isn’t it?
Feels like years passed in the blink of an eye.
And you know what?
I’d still take pleasure in pinning you down again.”
Lyra’s fists clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palm.
Her eyes flashed with pure fury.
But her voice remained calm, cold—
“Hate to break it to you, but after all this time, Caspian still has my back.”
“Selene, you gave it your all to win him—but what difference does it make?”
“His heart belongs to me. And no matter what you do, he’ll never fall for you.”
