Chapter 4: Confrontation
The moment Lyra laid eyes on Selene, her heart stuttered, her instincts betraying her as she instinctively darted behind Caspian. Like a frightened child seeking refuge, she clung to his sleeve, her fingers curling into the fabric.
Caspian’s gaze hardened into a frown, his voice edged with disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
Selene cocked her head slightly, her lips curving into a dry, humorless smile. “It’s a hospital, Caspian. What do you think?”
His frown deepened as his sharp gaze swept over her, scanning for any sign of illness or injury. But there was none. She stood before him, perfectly composed, the picture of strength—yet the fire in her eyes burned with something far more dangerous than sickness.
Taking a slow, deliberate step forward, Selene let her piercing gaze settle on Lyra, her voice turning deceptively soft.
“I heard my husband escorted another woman to a prenatal checkup early this morning,” she mused, tilting her head slightly. “Naturally, as his legal wife, I thought I should see for myself.”
Lyra tensed under the weight of Selene’s stare, her fingers tightening around Caspian’s arm.
Selene’s next words cut through the air like a blade.
“Miss Lyra, let me be clear—as long as I draw breath, your child will never be acknowledged.”
The statement hung in the silence, heavy and inescapable. Then, she shifted her gaze to Caspian, a calculated pause stretching between them before she added, with icy precision, “Unless, of course, Caspian dares to divorce me. Why don’t you ask him, Lyra? See if he has the courage to do it.”
Would Caspian actually muster the courage to divorce her?
Obviously not.
If he had that kind of resolve, he wouldn’t have endured three years of this marriage.
The Unbreakable Union
Selene had been just twenty when she first declared her intent to marry Caspian. Even her grandfather—Lazarus Quinn, a former commander and the only man who had ever spoiled her without question—had refused her for the first time in her life.
Lazarus, once a towering figure in the military, had built a legacy of unwavering influence. Selene’s father, though steering clear of politics, had cultivated a vast empire in the business world. Their power was undeniable.
On the other hand, Caspian’s father, Dorian Vale, held immense sway in the political sphere. A man on the verge of a major promotion, he had long understood that allying with the Carter family would cement his legacy.
Thus, the marriage was sealed—an unbreakable alliance forged in power, not love.
Divorce? It wasn’t just a personal issue; it was a potential declaration of war. The fallout would be catastrophic, splintering alliances and igniting political and financial chaos.
So, from the moment Caspian and Selene exchanged vows, their fates were locked in place.
A Marriage Without Love
In the beginning, Selene had tried.
She had loved him first, chased after his affection for five years, foolishly believing that marriage would somehow make him love her in return.
But love had never been part of Caspian Vale’s plans.
By the time reality crushed her illusions, she had already spent years running after a man who barely glanced back at her.
And so, Selene had done what she never thought she would—she made a deal with him.
They would keep up appearances, playing the perfect couple at family gatherings and social events. Behind closed doors, they would live separate lives.
It worked.
Mostly.
With Caspian’s military assignments, they rarely saw each other anyway.
But one thing never made sense—whenever he returned from duty, he would spend every night in her bed, refusing to stop until she gave in.
It was baffling.
He had ensured that Lyra lived close to his base in Stotta. So why did he always act like a man who hadn’t touched a woman in months?
Selene could only assume it was because of Lyra’s frailty—Caspian probably didn’t want to strain her too much.
What a fucking bastard.
He pampered Lyra like a queen and used Selene like a lifeless doll.
And now, here he was, standing between them, as if she was the one in the wrong.
The sight of Lyra hiding behind Caspian sent a sharp pang through Selene’s chest.
And she hated it.
A Challenge No One Expected
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Caspian’s voice was taut, edged with frustration.
Selene let out a slow, mocking laugh. “Caspian, I’m getting rid of Lyra’s baby right now. Are you going to stop me?”
Her words were sharp, deliberate, designed to strike hard.
Lyra gasped, her grip on Caspian tightening. “No! Caspian, please—not my baby!”
Her voice trembled with raw desperation, her wide eyes brimming with panic as she clutched at his sleeve. “I can’t let go of this baby, Caspian. I need your help!”
But Caspian remained silent.
His gaze, dark and unreadable, stayed locked onto Selene’s icy eyes.
The silence was deafening.
Lyra’s breath hitched, a flicker of realization dawning. “Caspian?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Say something.”
Still, he said nothing.
The longer the silence stretched, the more Lyra’s panic morphed into terror.
Then, Selene moved.
In one swift motion, she raised her hand—and the sharp, resounding crack of a slap echoed through the corridor.
Lyra stumbled back, her cheek burning with a vivid red imprint.
“You don’t get a say here, Lyra,” Selene said, her voice drenched in scorn.
Lyra clutched her face, stunned beyond words.
Then, from the other end of the corridor, a new voice shattered the tension, smooth yet laced with undeniable authority.
“Is that so?”
The words cut through the thick air like steel.
“And do I have a voice in this matter?”
Every head turned instantly.
The woman stood tall, exuding a quiet yet overwhelming presence. Her elegance was effortless, her aura commanding, though she wore nothing overly extravagant. The simplicity of her tailored attire only amplified her dominance.
She carried herself like a queen, like someone accustomed to power.
Lyra’s breath caught in her throat.
Caspian’s expression barely shifted, but there was a slight tension in his shoulders.
And Selene—who had never once backed down from anyone—felt something stir in her chest as she stared at the last person she wanted to see here.
The woman’s gaze swept across them all, then settled on Caspian.
“Mom?”
