Chapter 21

Lyra’s POV

After breakfast, we stepped out of the restaurant together. We were almost at the car when Alistair’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, excused himself, and strode off toward the parking lot. “Go wait in the car,” he called over his shoulder. I kept walking until I heard someone speak my name.

I stopped and turned. There stood Julian—groomed, handsome, exactly as I remembered him before everything fell apart. My chest tightened at the sight of him. Seeing him look so perfect, knowing what he’d done, made my stomach twist. Part of me wanted to run to him, throw my arms around him, tell him how much I’d missed him. Another part of me tsked at myself: I was married now, and my husband was waiting in the car.

Why was Julian here? Had he followed me? Had he come to apologize, to explain that awful night? I braced myself, ready to forgive if only he would admit his mistake. But he wasn’t alone.

“Julian, love…” A familiar sultry voice called.