The Tyrant's Stolen Bride-Chapter 114: Leave

She thought carefully about how to handle the woman, who refused to accept anything but her own desires.

For a moment, she considered just going along with her plan, asking Rowan, as instructed, and then explaining that she had been forced.

But then she shook her head. That would only make Rowan angry and punish Nova immediately. And she hated seeing him upset because of her or causing a scene in front of everyone at the event.

"Mrs. Pierce, you’re not listening." Nova snapped, her fury rising when Lyra didn’t respond and seemed lost in her own thoughts.

"Okay... okay... I’ll try to talk to Rowan, but it’s still his decision," Lyra said. Nova’s sharp tone had forced her hand.

"No, don’t just try. You have to convince him," Nova snapped, her voice rising again.

Lyra scratched lightly behind her ear, then she gestured toward the doorway.

"Yes, yes... I’ll go now... talk to him," she said carefully.

Slowly, she stepped past Nova and moved toward the door, but suddenly her wrist was caught.

Lyra sneezed abruptly, her nose flushing red as the overpowering perfume assaulted her senses, but Nova ignored her.

"I’ll wait here..." Nova’s voice was firm, a clear warning against any attempt to lie.

Lyra yanked her hand free from the grip and quickened her pace toward the exit, only to be caught by strong arms she hadn’t noticed in time. She collided straight into her husband.

Rowan had come looking for her after she’d been away longer than expected.

"Lyra?" He frowned, noticing the redness around her nose and the tears in her eyes.

"What happened?" he asked.

His gaze shifted past her shoulder, landing on Nova, who visibly stiffened. She looked caught off guard, clearly not expecting Rowan to be there.

"It’s you," his eyes narrowed, his face turning cold.

"I can explain... I—" Nova stammered, scrambling for excuses as she tried to justify herself.

Rowan ignored her and focused on Lyra. "Did she bother you?"

"Yes... no. It’s just that I couldn’t stand the smell of her perfume," Lyra answered quickly, her voice gentle but tinged with desperation as she tried to calm him and avoid any scene.

She slipped her hand around his arm and tugged lightly, urging him to leave with her.

"I’d like to go back in... there’s still more I’d like to have." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Lyra’s soft, pleading manner melted the anger in him, and amusement flickered in his eyes at his wife’s growing appetite lately.

"You’ve been eating a lot these past few days."

"Yeah? Maybe... let’s go, then," she said lightly, offering an excuse to draw Rowan away and keep the situation from turning into a scene.

But her attempt failed. The moment they’d taken a few steps, Nova lunged after them. Without warning, she sank to her knees.

Passersby slowed, curiosity pulling their gazes toward the unexpected scene, and it was all too easy to draw the wrong conclusions.

"Miss, please... stop this!" Lyra urged, trying to make Nova halt her dramatic act.

But Rowan did not respond. He simply pulled Lyra into his arms and urged her forward, ignoring the people around them and the curious stares that lingered.

They strode back into the ballroom toward their table, while Nova didn’t relent.

She sprang to her feet and hurried after them, her voice trembling with desperation.

"Rowan... you have to invest in my company. If this deal falls through, it’ll ruin my standing in the industry."

She continued pleading as she followed, and at one point, she stumbled and fell. A murmur instantly erupted around them.

Hearing the commotion following the couple, Marcus and Enzo rose from their seats and exchanged a look.

Their gaze lingered on Rowan as he approached the table, completely ignoring the chaos behind him.

Rowan guided Lyra back to her seat and helped her settle in.

Across the ballroom, Axel noticed the shift in attention and made his way toward them, his expression tightening with displeasure. He had little tolerance for disruptions at his event.

He stopped a few feet away, his gaze shifting between the couple and Nova.

"What’s going on here? If there’s going to be any more disturbance, I suggest you leave before I have security escort you out," he asked coolly as he meant every word.

Nova swallowed hard and fear took hold. Desperation consumed her so completely that she forgot her own reputation. Now, she stood in silence, as though she bore no fault at all.

The room seemed to hold its breath. By contrast, Rowan remained composed as he responded.

"My apologies... we’ll excuse ourselves from the event."

Enzo and Martin exchanged a look. This was not how Rowan usually reacted. It was clear he was holding himself back for his wife sake.

If it had been any other time, anyone looking for trouble would have long since felt Rowan’s blow.

Rowan took Lyra’s hand, inclined his head in a brief gesture of apology, and turned toward the exit.

Enzo clenched his fists. This didn’t feel right to him. Rowan never showed softness, especially not when apologizing for something he hadn’t done.

"Mr. Axel, you’ve got it wrong. They weren’t the ones causing the commotion."

"Yeah! We saw for ourselves how she chased after them. Why don’t you ask her?" Marcus added as he nodded toward Nova, who stood nearby.

Axel rubbed his temple. He had hoped the event would settle down, yet his actions only stirred discontent among the others.

Lyra gripped Rowan’s arm, her ears still catching faint murmurs behind them.

"I’m sorry..." she breathed.

"No, that’s not your fault," Rowan said. Inside his mind, he had already figured out how to put Nova in her place, leaving her humbled and unable to recover.

They were only a few steps from the doorway when Mrs. Axel appeared, blocking their path further.

"Mrs. Axel?" Lyra startled.

"Don’t leave just yet... we haven’t cut the cake."

Mrs. Axel wore a calm smile, as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Gently, she took Lyra’s hand.

"But..."

"There, there. No need to argue... let’s go."