My Cold-Hearted Husband Wants Me Back
Chapter 208: Another Option

Chapter 208: Another Option

The warm, spicy scent of curry still lingered in the penthouse, comforting and rich, clinging to the air like a quiet reminder of the meal they’d just shared. Lunara sat cross-legged on the couch, her bowl of ice cream half-finished in her lap, while Eryx scrolled through his phone with a tense expression.

"Three hours," he muttered under his breath.

Lunara glanced over. "She still hasn’t posted anything?"

"No." His reply was clipped.

A beat passed. Then, without another word, he tapped Callum’s name and put the phone to his ear.

"Release the full video," he said as soon as the call connected. "I gave her more than enough time."

"Yes, sir. Understood," Callum replied.

Eryx ended the call and set his phone aside with a sigh. Before he could even lean back, Lunara’s voice broke the silence.

"You’re really going to release that video?"

He turned to her.

"I mean," she said hesitantly, "you were rejected in it, right? Two years ago. Doesn’t it... hurt your image to let that be public? People might think Seraphine dumped you and you just—moved on."

Eryx’s lips quirked, but not in amusement. "Let them think what they want."

He picked up his empty bowl and set it on the coffee table beside hers.

"I’d rather look like the guy who got rejected than let them talk bad about my wife," he said simply.

Lunara watched him, heart strangely tight. "But..." she paused, taking a few seconds of hesitation, "I mean you could use another option other than release the video right?"

Eryx turned slightly, meeting her eyes with quiet certainty.

"I could," he said. "I have dozens of options. But none of them are as honest as this."

Lunara’s pout faded into something softer, but the wrinkle between her brows didn’t entirely disappear. She let out a quiet breath, her fingers absently brushing the side of her bowl. "It’s just... When people see that video, they’re going to make assumptions. About you. About everything. They’ll talk, Eryx."

He leaned forward again, elbows on his knees, the edge of a tired smile on his lips. "Let them talk."

"But—"

"Look." His voice dropped, calm but steady. "Two years ago, I made a deal that ended with me dragging you into something you didn’t ask for. A mess, really. I didn’t handle it right. But now I have the chance to handle this right. I won’t let the same people twist it all over again...especially not if it means you get dragged into it."

She blinked, taken off guard. That... was unexpected.

"I know it’s not ideal to show the world I got rejected." He gave a dry huff, shrugging once. "But if the choice is between saving my pride or clearing your name, I’ll pick you."

Lunara gave him a small, almost embarrassed smile. "That curry must’ve been really good if it turned you into this kind of romantic."

Eryx chuckled under his breath, pressing a light kiss to her forehead. "What can I say? You cooked. I evolved."

And yet... her frown lingered.

He noticed, of course. "What is it?"

She hesitated, eyes flicking to the window before returning to him. "Are you really okay with what comes after this? The media backlash, the hit to your name... everything?"

Eryx tilted his head slightly. "Don’t worry. Your husband doesn’t make decisions based on emotion."

She raised a brow, not convinced in the slightest. "Mm-hmm."

He grinned. "Okay. Sometimes I do. But only for the right reason."

This time, she didn’t argue.

Their laughter melted into the soft hum of the city beyond their penthouse windows.

Ice cream bowl now empty, fingers lazily interlaced between them on the couch, and even though the television was on, their eyes were never on it.

Lunara leaned her head against Eryx’s shoulder with a soft sigh.

"Can we go to the cemetery tomorrow?"

Eryx tilted his head, his eyes searching her face.

"Of course. You’re thinking about Mom?"

She nodded lightly. "Yeah. Just... felt like I haven’t talked to her in a while."

There was a pause before she added quietly, "We can visit Mila too."

Eryx’s jaw tensed just slightly, his fingers curling more firmly around hers. Mila. His niece. Her death was a wound that never fully healed, especially because of who caused it.

He exhaled slowly. "Yeah. We should."

Lunara looked up at him gently. "You okay?"

He gave her a faint smile, tired but honest. "I don’t think I ever will be. Not when it comes to her. But I’ll be better tomorrow. With you."

She leaned in closer, resting her forehead against his temple.

"We’ll go early?"

"We’ll go together," he said, giving her hand a soft squeeze.

The moment was quiet. Still. Almost peaceful.

Then the intercom buzzed again.

Lunara groaned softly, half-laughing. "Please tell me that’s not Seraphine again."

Eryx stepped over to the panel and pressed the button. "Yes?"

"Apologies, sir," the guard said. "Aaa... Mr. Lucas Grantham is here. He came alone... said he doesn’t have an appointment but wants to speak with you."

Eryx’s hand froze on the console.

Lunara straightened beside him, lips parting. "Lucas?"

His jaw flexed. "Let him up."

"Are you sure?" she asked gently.

He nodded once, not taking his eyes off the intercom. "Yeah. Let’s hear what he wants to say. There must be something to make him come tonight."

It was not long after, the bell of the penthouse rang.

Eryx opened the door and there he was.

Their eyes met, like searching for each other’s emotions.

The two brothers stared at each other, neither speaking.

Lunara stepped away quietly, offering them privacy.

"Come in," Eryx offered.

But Lucas didn’t move.

He stood rigid in the hallway, as if stepping into the penthouse would somehow betray the storm in his chest.

"I came here because I want to know everything about my daughter."

His voice was low but cut like glass.

Then, from beneath his coat, he pulled out a small photograph—creased, worn around the edges. Mila. Her tiny smile frozen in time.

Lucas raised the photo slightly, not offering it, just showing it. His hand trembled. "Tell me... everything."