Her Mysterious Savior

Chapter 2 I Am Lyla

Faye wondered if she had somehow slipped away from the world of the living and landed in paradise.

Sunlight poured through the window, bathing a man’s statuesque form in golden light, giving him an almost ethereal glow.

His simple black shirt, impeccably tailored to his frame, spoke of refined taste and a wealthy background.

His piercing green eyes held hers, and for a fleeting moment, Faye felt like prey ensnared in a predator’s gaze.

Nearby stood a little girl who looked to be about Kyle's age but resembled a delicate doll.

With her floral dress, gleaming blonde hair, and rosy cheeks, she had an angelic appearance, pure and stunning.

Her large, bright eyes fixed on Faye with a childlike curiosity. Even though they had never met before, Faye felt an unexpected wave of affection toward her.

Was she an angel from the heaven?

"Hi! Are you okay?" the girl asked, edging closer with a look of concern.

Almost reflexively, Faye reached out and gently touched her cheek, reassured by the realness of the contact.

Thank God she wasn't dead.

She quickly withdrew her hand, suddenly aware of her surroundings—this was an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar faces.

Was she safe, or had she stumbled into another kind of danger?

"Who are you? Where am I?" Faye’s voice was tense as she clutched the blanket up to her chin, her eyes darting around in alarm.

"There’s no need to be scared. There aren’t any bad people here," the girl, Emily, reassured her as she grasped Faye’s hand, seemingly fond of her new acquaintance. "My daddy brought you here. He said he almost hit you with his car. You’re at our home now."

Daddy? A car accident?

Faye pieced together that this man must be the driver who had narrowly missed hitting her and had subsequently rescued her.

"Daddy, why isn’t the pretty lady talking?" Emily turned back to the man when Faye remained silent.

"Perhaps we’ve rescued a little mermaid who’s lost her voice to a witch," he joked, tousling Emily’s hair before sending a warm smile in Faye’s direction. Embarrassed by her own disorientation, Faye tried to sit up to thank them properly. "You saved me? I can’t thank you—"

But a wave of dizziness overtook her, and she fell back onto the bed.

The man stepped forward swiftly, steadying her.

Their proximity filled her senses with his intense masculine scent.

Faye instinctively shrank back, though the confines of the bed made their encounter appear more intimate than intended.

"No gentleman could ever refuse to help a damsel in distress," he said with a soothing, magnetic voice that made Faye’s heart skip a beat.

"Hi, mermaid lady, I’m Emily!" the little girl introduced herself enthusiastically. "Hello, sweetheart, I’m..." Faye paused, "Lyla."

Lyla was the name given to her by the nuns who cared for her because she was born under a full moon.

It was a name that faded after she was adopted by the Whitmore family, and it was used only by her grandparents. Even Derek never called her that.

"Lyla? What a lovely name." There was genuine pleasure in his expression. "You can call me Josh." He offered his hand, carefully watching her reaction. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Josh," Faye replied, shaking his hand.

As she tried to pull away, he held on a bit longer than expected.

Then, Josh’s face darkened—damn, she really didn’t remember him.

Feeling his intense gaze, Faye was silent, trying to pull her hand back gently from his firm grasp.

But to Josh, her delicate struggle seemed almost flirtatious.

He bowed his head and kissed the back of her hand softly. "The honor is mine, Ms. Lyla."

Though a basic gesture of politeness, the touch sent a shiver through Faye. She had to admit that Josh was undeniably charming in an effortless, disarming way.

Had she met a man like this in her teens, she’d have been utterly smitten.

Now, she felt like a beached fish, out of her element and out of options.

"Did you lose your way home? Should we help you find a police officer?" Emily asked innocently.

Lost—such a complex reason for a child to conjure.

Thinking of what Derek and Regina had done, Faye was consumed with a mix of anger and dread.

What awaited her at home? Derek was adept at manipulating the truth, even capable of painting her as delusional.

The memory of their callous intent to kill her made Faye’s hands tremble. She needed time and a safe space to gather her thoughts and plan her next move.

But where else could she go, if not back to the Whitmore family?

"Daddy, Lyla looks so sad. Can she stay here and play with me?" Emily pleaded, tugging at his arm.

Caught off guard by the child’s naive proposal, Faye hastily declined, "No, that wouldn’t be appropriate..."

"Your injuries haven’t healed," Josh interrupted, his tone both sincere and courteous. "I almost caused that accident, so I am obligated to look after you." This reason was persuasive enough.

Josh’s identity was shrouded in mystery. The villa housed only him and Emily, with no sign of a lady of the house, just a servant and the occasional doctor who came for visits.

The simplicity of their domestic setup gave Faye a much-needed respite, though it also deepened the sting of her memories.

She knew Derek for what he was, yet the thought of having devoted her heart to him since high school still hurt. And Regina, her best friend from the orphanage days, who she had begged the Whitmore family to adopt as well. They had shared countless moments together—she knew all her joys, sorrows, and secrets.

She had foolishly believed they would be inseparable and never imagined that Derek and Regina would end up together.

When had they even started their affair?

If Regina had confessed her feelings for Derek earlier, they could have competed fairly, or perhaps she would never have married him.

She remembered the will those scums had mentioned during s*x.

Was Derek’s marriage to her nothing but an elaborate ruse?

She stared at her phone, lost in thought.

Should she confront them calmly?

If they really loved each other and Derek had married her just for the money, she preferred to step away from the circus.

Faye took out her phone, debating whether to call Derek or Regina, when a message notification popped up.

Since her escape from death, no one had reached out.

Likely, Derek had crafted the perfect lie to fool everyone.

Opening the inbox, she saw it was from Regina.

Regina: If you dare say anything to Mr. Whitmore, you will never see your real child again.

Faye’s breath caught in her throat. Real child? What on earth was Regina talking about?!