My Cold-Hearted Husband Wants Me Back
Chapter 58: I’m Trying

Chapter 58: I’m Trying

A soft rustling sound stirred Lunara from her sleep. Her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the dim hospital room. The scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, and the white surrounding made her eyes hard to open.

She blinked a few times, trying to process her surroundings, when her gaze landed on a familiar figure.

Eryx was slumped in the chair beside her bed, his chin resting on his palm, head swaying slightly with each slow breath. His suit jacket was draped over the armrest, and the faint crease between his brows remained even in sleep.

Lunara’s lips parted in surprise. ’When did he arrive?’

For a moment, she simply watched him, uncertain whether to feel touched or annoyed. Her last memory was Naomi fussing over her before exhaustion pulled her under. Yet now, he sat beside her, his usual composed demeanor softened by sleep.

She hesitated, unsure whether to wake him. Her gaze lingered on him, the way his chin rested on his palm, his head slightly swaying as he dozed. He looked... tired. But before she could continue gazing, the bed creaked ever so slightly as she shifted.

Eryx’s brows twitched by the sound. His head tilted before his eyes fluttered open. It took a second for him to register where he was, and just as his gaze landed on her, Lunara reflexively shut her eyes, pretending to still be asleep.

For a moment, there was silence. She could feel his gaze lingering on her, the weight of it making her heart pound faster. ’Did he notice?’

The chair scraped against the floor as he shifted, followed by a quiet sigh. Then, the warmth of his hand brushed against her forehead, like he was measuring her temperature. It was lingering just long enough to send a shiver down her spine.

But then, just as she thought he would pull away completely, she felt the lightest pressure against her forehead.

Her breath hitched.

It was brief, barely more than a feather-like touch, but unmistakable. Eryx had just pressed a soft kiss against her skin.

Lunara fought to keep still, her mind racing. Did he always do this when she was asleep? Or was this a rare moment of weakness?

Just as she struggled to steady her heartbeat, she heard Eryx’s voice.

"Where are you?" A silence stretched for a few seconds before he spoke again. "Come and stay with her for a while. I’m going to find something for her to eat."

Another pause. Lunara could guess he was on the phone.

"What do you mean you’re at home? When did you go back?" His voice was laced with irritation. "No, you need to come here. I can’t be here when she wakes up."

Lunara’s fingers curled slightly under the blanket. So, he didn’t want to face her?

Eryx let out a quiet sigh. "No... it’s just... she’s mad at me, Naomi. If she wakes up and sees me here, it’s just going to make things worse."

Lunara kept her breathing even, feigning sleep as she processed his words. Was that really how he saw it? That she would rather not see him?

Naomi’s muffled response came through the speaker, though Lunara couldn’t make out the words.

Eryx exhaled sharply. "Just get here as soon as you can."

Just as Eryx hung up, Lunara slowly opened her eyes.

Their gazes met.

Eryx stiffened, clearly caught off guard. A flash of surprise, guilt, maybe even awkwardness, flickered across his face before he quickly masked it. His lips parted slightly, then closed, as if debating what to say.

Finally, he cleared his throat. "Are you awake?"

Lunara blinked at him, feigning drowsiness. "Mmm..." she hummed, shifting slightly under the blanket. Then, as if just noticing him, she frowned. "When did you get here?"

Eryx hesitated for a beat before replying. "A while ago." He glanced away briefly, rubbing the back of his neck. "You were sleeping."

Lunara studied him for a moment, remembering his words from earlier. "Where did you sleep yesterday?"

"Huh?" Eryx baffled, he didn’t expect that sudden question. Straightening his posture he replied, "Office."

Lunara raised a brow. "The office?"

Eryx nodded, his expression neutral. "I had work."

She didn’t respond right away, just kept watching him. "Were you about to leave?"

Eryx’s jaw tensed. "I was just... going to get you something to eat."

Lunara let the silence stretch between them before she finally said, "I’m not hungry."

Eryx let out a small breath, slipping his hand into his trousers pocket. "You should still eat." His voice was softer now, like he was trying to convince himself as much as her.

Lunara glanced at him again, noticing how he avoided her gaze. There was a stiffness in his posture, a tension that hadn’t been there before.

She decided to test him. "If I was still asleep, would you have stayed?"

Eryx’s eyes finally landed on hers. He was silent for a moment, but then instead of answering directly, he asked, "Would you have wanted me to?"

"I don’t know... for someone who tried so hard to prove he would be better starting from now, suddenly giving up doesn’t seem very convincing, right?" She tilted her head, her face unreadable.

Eryx exhaled sharply, his gaze dropping for a second before he looked at her again. "If I thought my staying would have made a difference to you, I wouldn’t have left," he said, his voice calm but firm. "But I figured you wouldn’t want me here when you woke up."

Lunara let out a short, breathy laugh, dropping her gaze to her hands. "Right, of course. You’re a good mind reader, I see. Nothing’s changed... just like before. You live your life, I live mine. Isn’t that how it goes?"

Eryx exhaled sharply through his nose, his jaw tightening. He pinched the bridge of his nose, as if trying to ward off the exhaustion weighing on him. "Lunara," he said, his voice low and edged with frustration. "Must you always twist my words?"

He wasn’t angry but there was a weariness in his tone, a clear sign that he was running on empty. He hadn’t slept at all the night before, and dealing with this now was testing what little patience he had left.

He finally looked at her again, slightly frowning. "Honestly, can’t you just tell me what you want from me? I’m trying here, but I can’t do anything if you keep pushing me away."

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