My Cold-Hearted Husband Wants Me Back
Chapter 179: Sneaky Eryx Cyrus

Chapter 179: Sneaky Eryx Cyrus

The silence after Ryan’s desperate plea hung heavy in the air. A few passersby had slowed down to watch the scene unfolding just outside the café, where Eryx stood unmoving, his hand still clasped with Lunara’s.

Ryan remained on his knees on the pavement, clinging to whatever fragile hope he had left.

Lunara gently tugged at Eryx’s hand again. "Eryx..." she whispered.

But his eyes were fixed on Ryan, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable. After a few tense seconds, Eryx exhaled sharply through his nose. Without warning, he grabbed Ryan by the collar and yanked him to his feet.

"Now..." he muttered, his voice cold as steel, leaning close enough for Ryan to feel the heat of his breath, "act pathetic."

Then he pulled his arm back, fist clenched, ready to strike.

"No! Stop!" a voice cried out.

Eryx froze mid-swing.

Ryan blinked.

Lunara turned toward the voice.

Naomi was standing just a few feet away, her eyes wide with shock, her hands clenched at her sides. Her chest rose and fell, breath caught between panic and disbelief.

Eryx didn’t even turn to look at her. Instead, he snapped Ryan’s collar, jerking him forward.

"Just one punch," he muttered, as if that warning alone should be enough to brace Ryan for what was coming.

Ryan barely had time to react.

Eryx’s fist slammed into his face, the force sending him reeling sideways. He stumbled, hitting the pavement with a grunt, pain flaring in his jaw.

"No!" Naomi screamed, her voice breaking as she rushed toward them. "What are you doing?"

Her heels scraped against the ground as she dropped to her knees beside Ryan, shielding him instinctively. "Have you lost your mind?"

Eryx stood still, his shoulders rising and falling with ragged breaths. His eyes, however, weren’t on Naomi. They stayed locked on Ryan with his jaw clenched, fury and frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

"Move." He slipped past Naomi and yanked Ryan up by the front of his shirt. "You didn’t know the daughter of Grantham? And you think I’d believe that?"

Ryan blinked, dazed and bleeding, fear etched into his expression. "What is happening?" he mumbled to himself, voice shaking.

"Answer me!" Eryx barked, loud enough for the few passersby to freeze and glance over but not loud enough to truly lose control. There was a sharpness in his tone, but no chaos in his movements.

Callum, standing off to the side, didn’t interfere. He watched with a calmness that didn’t match the scene. He’d worked under Eryx long enough to recognize the signs—this wasn’t blind rage. This was Eryx putting on a show, and Callum understood exactly who the audience was.

Ryan, still gripped by the collar, blinked hard. Confusion flickered in his eyes but then, just for a second, something else surfaced. His gaze drifted to Naomi, then back to Eryx.

’Wait... was this on purpose?’ Ryan’s eyes furrowed as that thought crossed his mind. "Please... I just want to prove to you that I’m sincere and want to meet Naomi."

Eryx tightened his grip for a moment, his voice low and harsh. "You expect me to believe that after everything?"

Ryan’s shoulders slumped slightly, playing the part perfectly. "I don’t expect forgiveness yet, but give me a chance."

"Chance?" Eryx yanked him forward by the collar again, his voice a growl. At that moment, Naomi had had enough.

"Stop, Eryx! What are you doing?! You’re hurting him!" Naomi rushed forward, trying to loosen Eryx’s grip on Ryan’s shirt.

Eryx’s eyes snapped to her, fury flashing across his face. "He hurt you! And now I’m the villain? I should be the one asking...you...what are you doing here?! Who told you he was here?!"

Naomi’s hands froze midair. Her expression shifted for a heartbeat, her eyes darting toward Lunara before she quickly looked away. "I—I was craving the cake here!" she blurted, latching onto the first excuse that popped into her head.

Eryx narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Then... go on. Enjoy your cake. I still need to settle things with him."

"No—no, no!" Naomi panicked, desperately tugging at his arm. "You’re hurting him, Eryx. Look—he’s bleeding!" Her voice cracked, eyes brimming with tears as they dropped to Ryan’s split lip.

Eryx’s grip didn’t loosen. Instead, he pushed Ryan back against the wall beside the café entrance, the thud drawing gasps from nearby pedestrians. "Is that it?" he growled. "You saw a girl who looked rich and thought you’d struck gold? You think I don’t know your type?"

Ryan winced, not from the pain, but from the frustration of not being able to say anything without making it worse. His mouth opened, but before he could form a word, Eryx shoved him again—harder this time.

"Did you think she was your ticket out of debt? Or maybe just a temporary wallet with legs?" Eryx spat the words like venom. "Say it! Did you approach Naomi for money?!"

"I—" Ryan started, voice cracking under the weight of the situation, but it was too late.

"I lied!" Naomi suddenly shouted, her voice slicing through the tension like a knife.

Eryx froze.

Naomi stood trembling, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. Her chest heaved as her face burned with emotion. "I lied to him! I never told him anything about me... about our family, or who I really am."

Eryx’s brows furrowed, confused by the sudden confession.

"I told him I was a student," Naomi continued, her voice wobbling but firm. "That I worked part-time to cover my expenses. I didn’t want him to know who I really was. And when I wanted to see him... I asked Callum to get rid of the security so I could sneak out without being followed."

She turned to Eryx, voice softer now. "He never asked for anything, Eryx. He didn’t even know who I was. Not really."

Eryx stood there, frozen in place, the weight of Naomi’s words crashing down on him like a wave. His grip on Ryan’s collar loosened until his hand slowly dropped to his side.

Ryan didn’t move. His eyes were wide, fixed on Naomi, his breath stuck in his throat.

Naomi took a small step forward. "You’re angry, I get that. But don’t punish someone for things he never even had a chance to explain."

Eryx finally turned to Naomi, eyes still sharp but his voice lower now. "So... what should I do with him?" he asked, motioning to Ryan. "He didn’t even want to take respons—"

"No! Who says?!" Ryan cut in quickly, taking a step forward. "I already planned our future together! I already have a stable career and business, I can support her without her money. I didn’t care about who her family was, or what her name meant. I was ready to face everything, even without knowing the truth."

He turned his gaze toward Naomi, softer now. "I thought she was someone just like me, trying to get by, and I still wanted a life with her. Even when she lied—"

"Okay, that’s enough." Eryx grimaced, stepping between them. "You’re going to make me lose my lunch."

Then he reached out and tapped Ryan’s cheeks—two quick slaps with just enough force to be annoying. Leaning in, he muttered near Ryan’s ear, "Good luck. I already helped you."

Straightening again, Eryx clasped Lunara’s hand and, without sparing Naomi another glance, walked off toward their car.

Behind them, Naomi and Ryan stood in stunned silence for a moment.

"Are you okay?" Naomi finally asked, her voice small as she reached toward the faint bruise on Ryan’s lip.

Ryan, sensing the opportunity, gave a theatrical wince. "Aww... ow—ow, it hurts so much," he groaned dramatically, though his eyes sparkled just a little.

Naomi frowned in concern. "He didn’t have to hit you that hard..."

Ryan bit back a grin. "It’s okay. Worth it."

Meanwhile, Eryx walked calmly beside Lunara, his face unreadable. As they approached the car, he cast one last sidelong glance back toward the pair before pulling open the door for her.

Lunara slid into the passenger seat but narrowed her eyes slightly, turning to him once he joined her inside. "Okay... what was that? Why was Naomi looking at me like I just exposed her darkest secret?"

Eryx pulled the seatbelt across his chest, nonchalant. "Probably because you did."

"What?! Me?! I didn’t even say anything—" Lunara paused. Her eyes narrowed even more suspiciously. "Wait. Did you use my phone?!"

"She left hers at home," Eryx said, calm as ever, starting the engine. "And you left yours on the table when you went to the toilet. I just... borrowed it. Briefly."

Lunara’s jaw dropped. "You texted her from my phone?!"

Eryx arched a brow. "Technically, she thinks you told her that me...decided to beat Ryan to death."

Lunara’s mouth parted in disbelief, "Ah...sneaky Eryx Cyrus."

He shrugged, pulling out of the parking space. "It worked."

Lunara stared at him in horror and awe. "You’re actually insane."

Eryx gave a faint smirk. "I helped them, didn’t I?"

Lunara crossed her arms, muttering, "Remind me never to leave my phone unattended again."

Eryx gave her a sideways glance, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Noted."