My Cold-Hearted Husband Wants Me Back
Chapter 205: Dirty Tricks

Chapter 205: Dirty Tricks

The restaurant sat tucked away on the top floor of a boutique hotel, its windows wide open to the night sky. City lights shimmered below them, soft jazz playing faintly in the background. For once, Eryx looked relaxed—his blazer draped over the chair, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened.

Across from him, Lunara rested her chin on her hand, eyes glinting with amusement as she watched him slice through his steak with unnecessary precision.

"You’re acting like you’re performing surgery," she teased, watching him slice his steak with unnecessary precision.

He smirked without looking up. "Need to be careful for a princess to eat."

Lunara laughed softly, leaning back in her chair. "Oh? Since when am I royalty?"

"Since the day you walked into my life and demanded I fix the chaos I didn’t know I was living in," he said casually, popping a perfectly cut bite into her mouth.

She blinked at him, caught off guard as he lifted the fork to her lips. "Feeding me now, are we?"

"You’re the one who said I was performing surgery," Eryx said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "Might as well complete the operation."

She chewed slowly, narrowing her eyes. "I could get used to this. Really feel like a princess."

He leaned back, swirling the wine in his glass. "That’s the point."

Lunara smiled, letting the warmth of the evening settle in her chest. The restaurant around them buzzed with soft chatter and the occasional clink of silverware, but in their little corner, the world felt quieter.

"I still can’t believe you’re setting up a fund for the orphanage," Lunara said, watching him slice into his steak again. "You don’t exactly strike me as the philanthropic type."

"I’m not," Eryx replied coolly. "But I don’t like loose ends. And letting a place like that go unmanaged is how people like Seraphine find pawns."

She raised an eyebrow. "So this is strategic generosity."

He met her gaze without flinching. "It’s a correction. If I don’t control it, someone else will. And I don’t like repeating mistakes."

Lunara softened, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Still sounds like a good thing."

"Don’t misunderstand. I’m not doing it to be ’good.’ I’m doing it because I can."

"And because of Ren?" she asked, testing gently.

He shrugged. "He’s just one of many. But he got my attention."

"Then how do you want to handle Seraphine and...of course your grandmother?" Lunara looked straight at Eryx as she waited for the answer.

Eryx leaned back in his chair, his wine glass untouched as he let the question settle between them.

"For Seraphine," he said slowly, "I don’t need to handle her. I just need to let her think she’s still playing the game."

Lunara’s brow furrowed. "Isn’t that dangerous?"

Eryx shook his head, correcting her gently. "She doesn’t have much power. Just because Matilda helped her once doesn’t mean Matilda will back her up now."

Lunara looked unconvinced. "But even a little help from someone like Matilda can open doors she couldn’t touch before."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone firm. "I know. That’s why I’m keeping those doors closed, one by one. Matilda wanted to test me—see how I’d react. I’ll give her her answer soon enough."

Lunara studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "So, you’re two steps ahead of her?"

He gave a half-smile. "I have to be."

Lunara nodded but suddenly felt the need to excuse herself. "I’ll be right back," she said, standing up.

As she walked toward the restroom, she passed by a small group at the next table. They were talking quietly, but Lunara caught bits of their conversation.

"...so sad, really," one woman whispered. "Seraphine, the model, losing her fiancé like that. Everyone feels sorry for her now."

Another voice added, "Yeah, I heard he was completely taken away by that gold digger girl. Can you believe it? From the top model to heartbroken fiancée."

Lunara’s footsteps slowed. She paused just far enough to listen but stay unnoticed.

"Pitiful, isn’t she?" the first woman said. "All those glamorous photos, but behind the scenes? She’s got nothing."

Lunara’s grip tightened on her purse. She straightened her shoulders and kept walking. Thinking that she would not hear more, she would only be surprised the moment she entered the toilet cubicle.

"Did you see the proposal video? They were so sweet... but seriously, I can’t stand the woman who stole Seraphine’s fiancé."

"I’m dying to see who she is. If she managed to take Eryx away, she must be something else."

"Right? Eryx is so handsome, no wonder Seraphine lost him."

The chatter continued as Lunara held her breath, feeling the weight of their words.

After a few minutes, the women’s voices softened, footsteps moved away, and silence settled.

Lunara waited a moment, then heard the restroom door open and close.

A soft click from outside caught her attention.

But unlike the casual chatter of the women who had just finished gossiping, silence fell the moment they stepped out of the restroom.

There he was—Eryx, the very man they had been talking about—leaning casually against the wall just outside, one hand in his pocket, the other checking his watch. His expression was calm, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes.

"Excuse me," he said politely, glancing at the two women. "Is there anyone else still inside? My wife has been gone for a while."

The girls froze. One of them opened her mouth, then quickly shut it. The other just shook her head silently, her eyes wide as saucers.

"N-no," the braver one finally stammered. "We didn’t see anyone else..."

Eryx gave a brief nod, offering a small, courteous smile. "Thank you."

As they walked away, whispering furiously to each other, Eryx returned his gaze to the restroom door, his jaw tightening slightly.

Inside, Lunara remained still, her hand gripping the strap of her purse. Her heart pounded, not just from the words she had overheard, but from the sinking feeling they stirred in her chest. What exactly had she just walked into? And what was happening out there now?

Eryx glanced at his watch, then pulled out his phone. His thumb hovered for a second before he hit the dial. The line rang once and twice.

Inside the cubicle, Lunara jolted slightly at the vibration in her purse. Thank God, she thought, instinctively reaching for it. It had always been her habit to bring her bag along whenever she went to the restroom, especially when they were out.

She checked the screen, Eryx.

Taking a quiet breath, she accepted the call and brought the phone close.

"Where are you?" His voice was low but calm. "Still in the toilet? You’ve been gone for a while. I’m worried."

"I’m coming," Lunara said quickly, trying to keep her tone light. "My tummy didn’t feel so good for a bit... must’ve been the dessert I ate at home."

There was a pause, then his voice dropped, firmer. "I’ll wait outside. Let’s go to a clinic after this."

"No need, really—" But he had already hung up.

Lunara let out a soft sigh and stepped out of the cubicle. She gave herself one last glance in the mirror, adjusted her expression, and walked out of the restroom.

Just as expected, Eryx was there, leaning against the wall with that subtle tension in his frame, one hand still in his pocket, the other holding his phone.

His gaze softened slightly as he saw her. "You okay?"

"I’m fine, seriously," Lunara said, waving him off. "Just needed a moment."

Eryx didn’t seem convinced, but before he could say more they heard continuous sound.

Click.

The unmistakable shutter sound of a camera snapped through the corridor.

Both of them turned their heads sharply toward the noise.

At the end of the hallway, a woman was quickly pulling her phone down, eyes wide as if she hadn’t meant to be caught. Her friend beside her gasped, nudging her arm in panic.

Lunara blinked. Eryx’s jaw locked. Neither of them said anything for a second.

Then he stepped forward slowly, calm but dangerous. "Delete it. My wife didn’t like being exposed to the media. Kindly delete it."

The woman rolled her eyes, muttering just loud enough, "Doesn’t like being exposed, but liked stealing someone’s fiancé."

Eryx’s expression didn’t change, but his tone dropped into something colder. "What did you just say?"

The woman blinked, startled by the edge in his voice. "Everyone saw the video. She thought you were going to marry her, and then suddenly—you broke up? People aren’t stupid."

Eryx frowned, stepping forward. "What video?"

"The proposal video," the other girl chimed in, eyes wide with excitement. "It’s all over social media. The one where you pushed the ring box to Seraphine across the table—she looked like she was about to cry. It was so romantic."

Lunara tensed beside him.

Eryx’s voice was sharp now. "That’s all it shows?"

The woman nodded. "Yeah, it ends there. She said she thought you were finally going to settle down with her... until someone else came between you two."

Eryx let out a quiet scoff and looked away for a beat, jaw tightening. Then he turned back to them, voice iron-flat. "You saw a cropped moment. She said no. And I left. That’s the truth."

They hesitated, shifting uncomfortably.

"And unless you want to be part of a defamation lawsuit," he added, "I suggest you delete the photo you just took of my wife. Now!"