My Cold-Hearted Husband Wants Me Back
Chapter 65: Lunara’s Salary

Chapter 65: Lunara’s Salary

Lunara settled into the salon chair, her fingers instinctively running through her long strands as she faced the mirror. She had been so sure earlier, but now, staring at herself, hesitation crept in.

The stylist draped a cape over her shoulders, smiling. "So, how short are we going?"

Lunara opened her mouth but hesitated. She had told herself this was just hair, that it didn’t matter but suddenly, it did.

"Actually..." She exhaled slowly. "Can we just trim it instead?" Then, as if trying to convince herself, she added, "Or is there a way to make it look shorter without cutting too much?"

"What? Changing your mind?" Naomi, who had been sitting nearby, immediately stood up and walked over. "I told you, don’t let your frustration decide for you. And no, Eryx isn’t worth your anger." She crossed her arms. "Take care of yourself, ignore him, and let him be the one to regret whatever nonsense he said to you."

Lunara let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. "You make it sound so easy."

"That’s because it is," Naomi said, flipping Lunara’s hair playfully. "So, are we going for a trim or something more dramatic?"

The stylist smiled, waiting patiently. "There are ways to create the illusion of shorter hair without cutting too much. We can layer it or style it differently."

Lunara bit her lip, looking at herself again. "Let’s try that first," she decided. "Then I’ll see if I’m brave enough for the real thing."

About an hour later, Lunara ran her fingers through her newly styled hair, tilting her head slightly as she admired the result in the mirror. It looked shorter, lighter, and fresh but without the regret of actually chopping it all off. A satisfied smile spread across her lips. "I love it."

Naomi grinned, nudging her playfully. "See? No drastic measures needed."

Lunara turned to the stylist. "Thank you. This is perfect."

As they stepped out of the salon, Naomi stretched her arms and sighed. "Okay, now that we’ve survived your hair crisis, what’s next? I say we go cafe hunting."

Lunara raised a brow. "Cafe hunting?"

Lunara instinctively reached for her purse, fingers brushing over the worn edges as she opened it. A few bills and some loose change stared back at her. It was not much, but maybe enough to cover at least one of their drinks. She had been too comfortable around Naomi and her family, and just this once, she wanted to be the one to treat her friend.

Naomi, still scrolling through cafe options, didn’t notice Lunara’s brief hesitation. "Oh! This one looks cute... Lume Cafe. It has great reviews and fancy desserts. Let’s check it out!"

Lunara glanced at the amount in her purse again. It wasn’t like she could splurge, but one drink wouldn’t hurt, right? She closed it quickly before Naomi could notice. "Sure, let’s go," she said, forcing a small smile.

As they walked toward the cafe, Naomi continued chatting excitedly about the desserts she wanted to try. Lunara listened, nodding along, but part of her was still calculating in her head that if Naomi didn’t order anything too expensive, she could probably cover at least one of their drinks.

But then her phone rang as a notification entered. Checking it right away, her eyes slightly narrowed. "What is this?" She read it again only to make her eyes widened by surprised, "What the—"

"What what what?" Naomi followed and checked her phone, "Ah probably the payment for your job modelling."

Lunara blinked, still confused. "But it didn’t even start yet."

Naomi shrugged. "Maybe an advance payment? Some companies do that."

Lunara stared at the notification, her heart pounding. The amount wasn’t small. It was more than she had ever seen in her account at once. "This... this is real, right?" she muttered, almost afraid to believe it.

Naomi grinned. "Unless you’ve been sleepwalking and modeling without knowing it, I’d say yes."

Lunara swallowed. This money meant a lot for her. It meant she could finally stop feeling like a burden. She could actually pay for things without second-guessing every coin she spent and of course her mother’s hospital bills.

Feeling a newfound confidence, she slipped her phone back into her purse. "Then drinks are on me," she announced, her lips curving into a determined smile.

Naomi gasped dramatically. "Yeah, I am the first one to taste Lunara’s salary!"

Lunara rolled her eyes but smiled. "It’s just a drink, Naomi. No need to make a big deal out of it."

Naomi beamed. "Hey, it’s your first treat. That’s a milestone! I’m just happy for you."

Lunara felt warmth in her chest at Naomi’s genuine excitement. ’Let’s go!"

As they approached the counter, Naomi’s eyes casually scanned the café. Her gaze landed on a familiar figure sitting in the corner, and she immediately frowned.

"Eryx?" she muttered under her breath, her expression shifting into a mix of curiosity and mild irritation.

Lunara, focused on the menu, didn’t notice at first. "What do you want to drink?" she asked, glancing at Naomi.

Naomi, however, was still staring. "Who is he with?"

Lunara stiffened at that. Slowly, she followed Naomi’s gaze. Sure enough, Eryx was there, sitting across from a woman. They seemed to be in the middle of a conversation, though Lunara couldn’t make out the details.

Naomi’s frown deepened as she looked closer. Just beside the woman, partially obscured by the table, was a small figure. It took her a second to realize the girl was Mila.

Naomi’s expression softened slightly. "Oh... it’s Mila," she murmured.

Lunara’s grip on the menu loosened as she followed Naomi’s gaze again. Mila sat quietly, swinging her little legs under the chair, seemingly lost in her own world. Unlike Eryx, whose expression was unreadable, Mila looked comfortable, occasionally glancing between the adults.

"That must be..." Naomi trailed off, stealing a glance at Lunara.

Lunara tapped her fingers against the menu, pretending to study it, but she could feel Naomi staring at her.

"What?" she muttered without looking up.

Naomi exhaled and leaned in slightly. "That woman with Eryx... I know who she is."

Lunara’s brows furrowed, but she kept her focus on the menu. "And?"

Naomi hesitated for a second before lowering her voice. "Her name’s Amara."

Lunara finally glanced at Naomi, confused. "Am I supposed to know who that is?"

Naomi bit her lip, her gaze flickering between Lunara and the table where Eryx sat. "Shall we greet them?" She gave Lunara a teasing smile.