IN DEVIL'S GRIP

Chapter four The Wall and The Hidden Flaw

Lyra was stunned. She pulled back slightly from his embrace, but his hands kept her close. Her face was pale, and her wide eyes held a mixture of fear, disbelief, and the dizziness that returned forcefully—she had received two enormous shocks in minutes.

"Kellan... you..." she stammered in a voice barely audible, unable to process the meaning of his words.

Kellan saw the dizziness returning. He realized he had overstepped the boundary, but he did not regret his confession. He pulled her back to him, this time with stronger tenderness and greater resolve, as if he were protecting her from himself and the whole world.

"Don't answer me now, Lyra," he said in his deep voice, burying his face in her hair again to gain composure. "I know this is too much for you. Forget what I said, forget it if you wish, but remember one thing: Don't worry as long as you are next to me. I will be your wall."

He gently pulled away from her, then took her arm and walked her towards the adjacent room—the room he had specifically chosen to be next to his.

"You are exhausted. Sleep now, and I will be here."

He left her at the edge of the bed and walked out, but he did not close the door completely this time. Her room door remained ajar, a silent message from him: Safety is only a step away.

Lyra remained seated on the bed, staring at the partially open door. The possibility of a future next to this man... She did not deny to herself that she felt something for him; she had certainly developed feelings for him recently. His attention, even if it was just surveillance under the grandfather's orders, was accompanied by a small amount of tenderness and reassurance. And now he had confessed his love to her.

She smiled as his voice echoed in her ears, telling her he loved her. But that smile faded and turned to sorrow when she remembered Evan, and that his older brother was Evan, her dark past that she wished Kellan would never know about. She closed her eyes in tiredness and regret, uncertain of what tomorrow held for her future.

_________

In a densely populated working-class neighborhood, a modest apartment buzzed with noise. The sound of loud music covered the space, while the rooms and hall were filled with men and women. Around a circular table, some men sat gambling, and at the head of the table sat Karla. She was exhaling smoke from a cigarette in one hand while the other held cash, her mind pondering where Lyra might have gone.

Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of someone she knew well standing far off. He was looking around the place, seemingly searching for her.

Karla excused herself from the attendees, stood up, and approached him, calling out with forced welcome:

"Unbelievable! Is Evan Pierce truly here with us?"

Evan smiled as he looked at her, examining her appearance. He wore a sharp black leather jacket and an open-collared shirt, looking alien—like a noble hawk that had accidentally descended into this cheap nest. His smile was wide but did not reach his hazel eyes, which gleamed with coldness.

"Hello, Karla. A long time has passed since we last met."

"You know, I do not have the face to meet you after the last time we encountered each other and what Lyra did to you."

Evan smiled as he placed his hand on his head, touching the scar left by the vase Lyra had injured him with, and exclaimed:

"Because of your daughter, I had five stitches sewn into my head. She has changed and become fiercer now that she's grown up. When you brought her to me, Karla, when she was little, she was calmer than that, and I was able to control her. You know, I spent thirty days with her, and she was very obedient."

Evan let out a short, joyless laugh, then said in a tone devoid of sympathy:

"Are you still exploiting Lyra, photographing her with customers and at your parties?"

Karla answered stiffly, folding her arms: "Yes, of course. You know nothing works with Lyra except threats; she is a stubborn girl with a hard head."

Evan looked around, his eyes searching for something, then asked coldly:

"Where is Lyra? I don't see her."

Karla's features twisted into annoyance and anger, and she said:

"She ran away a few months ago, and her phone is switched off, but she will return; she has no place other than here."

Evan nodded in understanding. It seemed this fool was completely oblivious, and that her daughter was now held captive in the arms of the Pierce family! This explained why she hadn't searched for her seriously.

Finally, Evan spoke in a voice devoid of any emotion and complete coldness, as if pricing an item:

"Karla, I want all of Lyra's video clips, and without any questions. And don't worry, I will give you the amount you ask for."

______^^

Lyra woke up early. She couldn't sleep deeply, as Kellan's last words were ringing in her ears, mixed with the imminent danger posed by Evan. She looked at the ajar door, which yesterday was a symbol of absolute safety, but today represented endless embarrassment. How would she act when she saw him? Would he bring up his love again?

After an hour of hesitation, she decided to go out to find a maid for breakfast, avoiding the main wing.

Lyra hadn't walked far down the corridor when her body collided with a solid frame near the library corner. She lifted her head to find Kellan Pierce standing before her. He was dressed in elegant formal wear, but his features were less severe than usual.

Kellan looked at her deeply, then offered a slight smile, one Lyra had never seen on his face before.

"Good morning, Lyra," he said calmly. "Why haven't you had breakfast?"

"Good morning," Lyra murmured, trying to steady her breathing. She was determined to ignore what happened last night, but his warm gaze made it impossible.

"Know that I have not withdrawn anything I said," Kellan stated, speaking in a low tone to ensure the privacy of their conversation, "but I will never pressure you. You have all the time you need. All I ask is that you simply feel safe."

Lyra felt tears welling up; the tenderness he showed was genuine and confusing at the same time. "I... I'm sorry. I don't know what to say."

"Say nothing for now," Kellan interrupted with a soft smile. "Let's go to breakfast."

Just as they headed towards the dining hall, Evan passed them, having just returned from outside, wearing stylish sunglasses perched on his head.

Evan said nothing, but he cast a swift glance at Lyra, a look that was colder than any words. He then addressed Kellan in a forced friendly tone:

"Hello, brother, I see you are having breakfast in the company of our... precious guest today. Don't tire yourself too much guarding her. Very precious things might hold hidden flaws that render them worthless."

Kellan’s grip tightened around Lyra’s arm unconsciously. Kellan ignored the veiled insinuation in Evan's words, but he felt anger rising because of Evan's crude manner of dealing with her.

"Stop this nonsense, Evan. She is our cousin, and you must respect her," Kellan said strictly.

"Of course, I hold her in the highest respect," Evan replied with a yellow smile, then left.

Kellan looked at Lyra, who was breathing heavily. Kellan did not understand the reason for her extreme fear of Evan, but it only reinforced his sense of responsibility towards her.

"Don't be afraid of him," Kellan whispered, emphasizing that he was still her protector. "You are under my protection now."