The Heiress's Revenge

A Facade of Concern

Lyra's bare feet podded softly on the cold floor as she decended the stairs, her heart heavy with worry. The police officers words still lingered in her mind. "Ethan is under arrest for murder." She couldn't shake off the feeling that this was all a terrible mistake.

As minutes ticked by, Lyra's anxiety grew. The questioning had been intense, with the officer probing every detail of her relationship with Ethan and her whereabouts the previous night.

"That's all for now, Miss," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. "We'll be in touch if we need any further questions." The words sent a shiver down Lyra's spine, implying this was far from over.

As the officer turned to leave, Lyra's parents stood in the doorway, their face etched with concern. "Lyra, darling" her mother said rushing over to envelope her in a hug. "We're sorry to hear about Ethan. We're here for you"

Lyra's mind whirred as she extricated herself from her mother's grasp. Why were they being so nice? They'd made it clear they didn't approve of Ethan, that they wanted her to marry Alex instead. This sudden display of concern seemed...fake.

"Thanks, Mom, Dad," Lyra said, her voice neutral "But I'm fine. What are you doing here?

Her father cleared his throat " We were in the neighborhood and thought we did drop by to check on you. We heard about Ethan's... situation .

Lyra's eyes narrowed. The police had just left her and her parents were already here? That was quick. Too quick.

She studied their faces, searching for any sign of insincerity. Her mother's expression was a mask of worry, but Lyra detected a hint of something else lurking beneath the surface. Triumph? Satisfaction?

"You're not fooling me," Lyra said, her voice low "What's really going on?"

Her parents exchanged a glance, and for a moment, Lyra thought she saw a flicker of annoyance. But it was quickly replaced by concern.

"We're just worried about you, sweetie" her mother said "We want to support you through this difficult time"

Lyra wasn't buying it. She knew her parents, knew their tactics. They were hiding something, and she was determined to find out what.