Between Two Rourkes

Chapter 10

Lyra's POV

I shifted my gaze to Luca, waiting for him to spill whatever they were holding in. Luca however was suddenly out of words.

He had been vibrant all along but was suddenly quite, this was already showing the secret might be of importance.

“You can't speak anymore, Luca? I thought you had a lot to say.” Maelis taunted.

Luca remained awfully quiet, I was now eager to know what they were hiding. “Someone tell me already, what is going on here?”

“The all good and righteous Luca here is not as clean as he seems. His past is as dark as his heart.” Maelis said and paused.

Hearing her only confused me the more, I was even more confused than I initially was.

Maelis continued, “He hasn't told you about his s****l addiction has he? The most unloyal person I have come across in my life is suddenly asking for a woman's hand in marriage. You can't make this up.” She said and laughed.

I was slowly wrapping my head around what they were aiming at.

“He has slept with so many women, in such a short span of time as well. His addiction is like nothing you'll ever see!” Maelis added.

Hearing this made my stomach turn, it was so unsettling to hear that about Luca. Just moments ago, I was establishing a connection with him and he seemed like a gentleman.

Not only that, but he had suddenly asked to marry me. I was still unsure if he's doing this to save me from his Cassian and Mealis or there was more to it.

I stared at Luca, then at Cassian and his mother. This was the most intense stand off I've ever been in. Any decision I make here would affect the future of my daughter.

“I will give you everything you want, Lyra. Just let me have custody of my daughter and you'll get anything you want. We'll be helping each other here.”Cassian blurted.

My gaze shifted to him, I had almost forgotten he was still in the room with us. I stared at him scornfully. Everything about his reason being here was detestable, he was only looking for a way out his own troubles.

“ You're not here because you know she's your daughter, Cassian. You just want to save yourself.” I said to his face.

He was stunned, too stunned to say anything else. Maelis quickly spoke up for him, “That is not true. He was relieved when he found out about her. My son is more interested in being present in his daughter's life than anything.”

I sighed and shook my head, “That would have sounded believable to me years ago, Maelis.”

She gasped, surprised everything she said didn't get to me. “Then what do you plan on doing? You'll marry him and jeopardize your daughter's future?”

I turned to Luca, who was still quiet. “Yes...yes I will. Marrying him sounds so much like a better option to me.” I stated.

Cassian let out a grunt, he was spooked I accepted such a request. Neither Luca nor Maelis were left out, they were equally surprised I accepted this.

In reality, I wasn't really accepting to marry Luca. If anything, what I wanted the most is to be left alone by the Rourke family. Accepting to marry another would mean I was loosing my mind.

But pretending to want Luca would make Cassian and Mealis finally let me be. “Wha...what! You'll accept him? That is absolutely ridiculous! Why would you accept to marry him all of a sudden? You do not even know him!” Cassian objected.

I clenched my fist, “With the little time I've spent with him, I am certain he'll be a much more better father than you'll ever be.”

“This is absurd, Lyra. You will not choose him over my son just to keep the child away from us. I will not allow it!” Mealis blurted.

At that point, there anger were becoming more threatening. Letting them stay much longer would attract more than I could bargain.

“ I'm sorry, but It is time for you to leave. Both of you.” I stated.

Cassian gasped, he was even more shocked by my audacity. The old me always cowered whenever his mother spoke, I feared and respected her so much. Looking back on that, I realized how stupid I was.

Maelis was smart enough to know whatever they say here will not change anything. She pulled Cassian, “ We must leave now.”

“What! We'll just leave them and let them have what they want? I cannot allow that! Not with all I have to loose!” Cassian yelled.

Maelis wasted no time landing a thunderous slap on his face. This immediately calmed Cassian down, he stared meekly.

They both left afterwards without saying anything else. I heaved a sigh of relief as I watched their car zoom off.

It was finally over for now. I turned back to Luca, who was still surprisingly quiet. “You did not really think about it well before saying it, right?”

Luca flinched, “I..I just wanted to help you. They weren't planning on leaving with the child.” He muttered.

“ Eleanor, her name is Eleanor. Do well to remember that.” I scolded.

He nodded.

I sighed deeply and walked to a chair, crashing on it. Things had taken such a huge turn. From trying to coexist with another Rourke to agreeing to marry him to save my daughter. I doubt my day could get worse.

“So..what do we do now? Once they find out we do not really intend on getting married, they'll come for Eleanor. Surely they wont give up even if we do either, they'll always be fighting to have her.” Luca asked.

I stared at him again, I saw him in a different light now after everything his step mother said. Maybe it was because I was already doubting his genuineness.

Regardless, he was still my only hope to not loosing custody of my daughter. There weren't choices here, only decisions that has to be made.

“If getting married is the only way to save my daughter, then we will get married.” I blurted.

Luca gasped, “What? We will? But I only said so at that moment to get rid of my brother.”

“We will get married, Luca. But it'll not be a contract marriage. This is to save my daughter and once it's all over, we'll go our separate ways.”