Page 121 of Bound By Crimson
The rest of the morning dragged. Lyric paced. Read. Tried to nap. Failed. Every sound outside made her jump.
Then finally—a car pulled into the gravel drive.
She rushed to the foyer just as the door opened.
Kai stepped inside, tall, handsome, tired looking but smiling faintly.
“Kai!” she breathed, and ran to him.
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, heart leaping with relief.
But then—
A presence.
Mrs. Thornwick appeared in the hallway just beyond.
Kai gently untangled from Lyric’s embrace. Not harshly. Just… subtly. Respectfully.
“Not here,” he whispered, voice warm but restrained.
Lyric blinked, pulling back. The joy faded just a little.
Mrs. Thornwick moved toward them, her smile wide and chilling. She reached for Kai’s arm—but it wasn’t a mother’s touch.
As she closed the distance, her body leaned into his, her hips brushing his with a slow, deliberate glide. Her hand rose to his face, fingers trailing along his jawline in a gesture far too intimate, lingering far too long.
For a moment, she gazed into his eyes—a gaze thick with possession, with a hunger that had nothing to do with motherhood.
Lyric’s stomach twisted tighter, nausea blooming low and sudden.
Maybe she was overreacting. Maybe it was nothing. Just exhaustion. Just nerves.
But the doubt dug in anyway, hollow and cold.
Mrs. Thornwick’s eyes flicked lazily to Lyric, the faintest smirk on her lips—as if daring her to notice. As if proud.
It wasn’t maternal pride.
It wasn’t even possessiveness.
It was something else. Something wrong.
Kai smiled stiffly and stepped back, but the damage was already done, the moment lodged deep like a splinter under Lyric’s skin.
She’s trying to make me jealous,Lyric realized, feeling the cold clarity slice through her haze of relief. She wants me to know I’ll always be second.
Still, she said nothing. She only smiled.
Smiled until her cheeks ached.
Inside, something delicate folded and snapped.
He was home.
But something had changed.
And she could feel it.
