Chapter 943 Heartbroken
Rica glanced upstairs. "Mr. Gray came back and went straight to bed, but he's having nightmares again. Honestly, you should probably..."
Lyra didn't wait for her to finish and rushed in.
Rica couldn't stop her.
Lyra dashed up to the second floor and pushed open the bedroom door, her heart tightening instantly.
The usually composed and aloof man was now lying in bed, eyes shut tight, drenched in sweat, caught in some nightmare, biting his lip hard.
Lyra knelt by the bed, taking his hand, shocked by how cold it felt.
"Jeffery, can you hear me? It's Lyra. I'm here. Wake up."
Jeffery didn't respond.
She gently pressed his palm against her cheek. "You're just having a nightmare. It'll be okay once you wake up. Don't be scared."
Yes, Lyra could see he was scared.
It was hard to believe. If word got out, Jeffery's rivals wouldn't buy it, especially Ruben. He'd think it was a lie.
Honestly, when Lyra first came in, she didn't believe Jeffery could be as vulnerable as Rica described.
But seeing him now shattered her long-held image of him.
Beyond the surprise, all she felt was a deep sympathy for him.
"Please wake up, okay? Rica said you haven't eaten yet. Let's get some food, and then you can sleep."
When he didn't wake, Lyra placed her hand on his face, wiping away the sweat.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open!
A powerful grip seized her arm, and pain and dizziness followed.
Before she knew it, she was pinned to the bed, a hand tightening around her neck.
"Jeffery! Look at me!" Lyra gasped, struggling to speak.
But Jeffery remained unmoved.
Soon, she felt lightheaded.
Lyra knew this was the first sign of oxygen deprivation.
No, Jeffery was sleepwalking. She had to wake him up, or she wouldn't make it through the night!
Ignoring his injuries, Lyra grabbed a pillow and hit Jeffery's head.
Normally, Jeffery's instincts would easily block it, but perhaps due to sleepwalking, he didn't react, taking the hit directly.
Gradually, clarity returned to his eyes.
Jeffery realized his hand was on Lyra's neck and quickly released her.
Lyra gasped for air.
Jeffery backed away repeatedly. In the dim room, only the faint light from the window illuminated Lyra's disheveled state. His eyes showed a hint of confusion.
But that confusion quickly turned into a cold indifference. "Why are you here?"
Lyra was stunned by the chill in his eyes. "I... I was worried something had happened to you, so I came in. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but this is my home. I don't want anyone barging in without permission. You should leave." Jeffery said coldly, turning his back.
For the first time, Lyra realized how cold his back could be.
Maybe the near-death experience hadn't worn off, but a wave of hurt and bitterness washed over her. Why did he speak to her like that?
She was here out of concern for him.
Lyra's eyes stung, but she held back the tears, sniffing to keep them at bay. "I get it. I overstepped. I'm sorry."
She stood up, almost tripping.
Jeffery caught her.
Now, Lyra was confused about Jeffery's intentions. He was coldly sending her away, yet he caught her when she stumbled.
Not only was Lyra surprised, but Jeffery was too.
His body acted instinctively, catching her without thinking, as if it were a reflex, something innate.
Before he could voice his questions, he let her go, as if explaining his actions. "Anyway, thanks for earlier."
"Can you get a cab? I can drive you home."
Lyra's heart turned cold in an instant. "No need, I'll manage."
She forced a smile, mocking herself.
The consequence of being too hopeful was this.
He was just being kind, worried she'd fall, while she was overthinking everything. It was hopeless.
Lyra left with high hopes, but walked away feeling lost, blending into the night.
Unbeknownst to her, someone watched her for a long time, ready to rush over when she stumbled.
But ultimately held back.
Rica watched from the side, unable to hold back. "Mr. Gray, it's late. If you're worried, maybe you should go after her."
Jeffery shook his head, staring ahead. "This neighborhood is safe, and it's a prime area. She can easily catch a cab at the corner. Plus, I have her phone's shared location."
The location wasn't for any other reason.
Back when the Hill family was causing trouble, Lyra couldn't eat or sleep well. He was worried, so he suggested sharing their locations through an app.
Rica's expression was hard to read. Why go through all this?
If he was so worried, why not go check himself? Instead, he was saying all this, trying to convince her or himself.
The next day, Lyra was late.
After seeing a few patients, it was soon lunchtime, and she headed to the cafeteria.
Mia looked surprised. "Didn't sleep well last night? You've got dark circles. And I heard you were late today. What's up?"
Mia's surprise was understandable. Lyra was always diligent at work, never late or leaving early unless necessary.
Her being late was newsworthy.
"I saw you come in late this morning and thought I was seeing things. Why so quiet? Bad mood?"
Lyra poked at her curry. "Sort of. Didn't sleep well."
Seeing that Lyra didn't want to talk, Mia sat beside her with her tray. "You look like you're heartbroken."
It was just a casual remark, but Lyra froze.
Mia's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way, did I hit the nail on the head? Wait, don't leave! I won't bring up your troubles. Let me help you out. I'm great at this!"
Lyra rarely shared her feelings.
But Jeffery's behavior was so odd, always hot and cold, yet not like others who deliberately toyed with emotions.
After thinking it over, she sat back down. "Why would someone be so inconsistent with you?"
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