My Cold-Hearted Husband Wants Me Back
Chapter 196: What Happened Yesterday?

Chapter 196: What Happened Yesterday?

Lunara slowly approached Eryx, who was standing on the balcony, too focused on his phone to notice her at first.

"What are you watching?" she asked, squinting at the screen.

Eryx immediately locked the phone and turned to her with a smile that tried to look casual. "Done eating?"

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "That’s not an answer."

"Because it wasn’t a question," he said, brushing a stray crumb from the corner of her lips. "But yes, I was watching something. Work stuff."

Lunara tilted her head. "Right. Work stuff that makes your jaw tighten like that?"

He let out a short breath and glanced away for a second. "Just reviewing something from last night."

"Last night?" She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she tilted her head. "You were with me the whole night."

He smirked, amused by her suspicious tone. "True. But not every part of me was on vacation."

"That sounds inappropriate, Mr. CEO," she muttered, poking his chest with her finger.

"I meant my brain, Mrs. Lunara." He caught her finger and brought it to his lips before letting it go. "Something happened at the company. I needed to check in and settle it."

She pouted, just a little. "Can’t they survive one night without you?"

He shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head slightly. "Should I take a leave then?"

"Does a boss need to apply for leave too?" Her question sounded like a joke, but her eyes were innocently curious.

He chuckled. "Technically no, but if I disappear for too long, they’ll think I’ve been kidnapped. Or worse, gone soft."

Lunara snorted. "You? Soft? That would be breaking news."

"You melted me, madam," Eryx said with mock offense.

She opened her mouth to add another jab, but before she could get the words out, Eryx suddenly poked her waist. She yelped, flinching hard.

"Eryx!" she cried, twisting away. But in her retreat, her knee banged hard into the side of the low cabinet behind her.

"Ow!" She winced, holding her knee. "Why is that thing even here?!"

Eryx’s grin vanished as he stepped forward. "Did I hurt you? Let me see..."

But Lunara had gone still.

Because in that moment, right as her hand brushed over the sting on her knee, her eyes widened slightly.

"I remember..." she murmured.

Eryx froze. "What?"

She looked up at him, the pieces slowly clicking together in her head. "How I got this..." Her voice trailed off as she pointed to her knee, where a faint bruise was still visible.

"I fell," she said slowly, her brows drawing together. "Eryx..." Her expression began to shift into panic. "How did I get back yesterday?"

Eryx blinked, a crease forming between his brows. "You... I don’t know." He stepped closer. "I was waiting for you in front of the villa, and I noticed you walking toward it... your knee was already scraped, the blood had dried. But I did ask Callum to collect any CCTV footage that might show how you got home."

"No, no, no," she said, her eyes darting with rising anxiety. "I remember now... I snapped my hand away from someone’s grip, and because of that... I fell. I hit the pavement in front of..." She raised her gaze to meet him, her voice almost a whisper. "The bar?"

Eryx nodded gently. "It’s okay," he said softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Don’t worry. You’re here now. You’re safe. That’s what matters."

But Lunara didn’t answer.

She remained frozen, her eyes locked on him, though her mind was far away. "Eryx..." Her voice trailed again, but this time with a different kind of tension. "Do you remember that man we met before? At the ice cream place?"

Eryx frowned slightly, puzzled. "Ice cream place? Who?"

Her eyes widened. "Adam. Adam, your friend. I think... I think I met him yesterday."

Eryx’s expression shifted, his body going still. "You remember seeing him?"

"I think so," Lunara said, her voice unsteady. "I was scared. There were voices around me. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, but then someone pulled me away. And he said... something. I don’t remember what."

Eryx nodded slowly. "It was him. Adam was the one who helped you. Callum confirmed it with the footage."

"Really?" Lunara blinked a few times, trying to piece it together. Her expression shifted as guilt flickered in her eyes, quickly followed by something heavier. Disappointment in herself.

Eryx stepped closer, gently brushing his fingers along her cheek. "Hey," he said softly, "it’s okay. I’m sure nothing bad happened. You’re safe now, and that’s what matters."

She looked away, but his touch grounded her.

"But promise me one thing," he added, voice low but firm. "Don’t ever drink without me by your side again. Not like that. Not until I know you’ll be okay."

Lunara nodded slowly, her voice barely a whisper. "Okay. I promise."

He pulled her slowly into his embrace. "I’m not mad at you," he murmured against her hair.

Lunara stayed still in his arms, her cheek pressed against his chest. "But I was reckless," she whispered. "And you had to worry. I didn’t mean to—"

"You’re allowed to fall apart sometimes," he said softly, his hand running gently down her back. "Just let me be there to hold you when you do."

Her fingers tightened slightly against his shirt. For a moment, she didn’t say anything.

"Are you sure I walked alone?" Lunara asked again, her voice quieter this time, as if hoping for a different answer.

Eryx nodded. "Hmm. As far as I saw last night, you came from the main road, heading toward the villa. Alone."

She blinked, swallowing hard as fragments of memories scrambled back into her mind. "I remember... slipping inside a car," she said slowly, brows furrowing. "Yes! I got out of a car in front of the flower shop."

Eryx’s gaze sharpened as he processed her words. "Okay," he said, nodding. "I’ll check the CCTV in front of the shop. I remember they told me the system was finally set up a few days ago."

Lunara looked up at him, lips parting as if to say more, but then closed them again. Her chest rose and fell a little faster now.

"I didn’t imagine it, did I?" she whispered.

Eryx reached for her hand, steadying her. "No. And we’ll figure out exactly what happened. I promise."