Chapter 945 Fate's Trickery
Lyra could hardly imagine that the calm and confident Jeffery in front of her was once a slave.
Her lips quivered, wanting to say something comforting, but she knew words felt useless against such a harsh reality.
Jeffery caught the shock on Lyra's face and gave a wry smile. "In that hellhole, they ran all sorts of drug experiments on me every day. It was torture, both physically and mentally. They treated me like a lab rat, and my life was completely in their hands."
With each word, Lyra's heart ached more. She couldn't fathom the nightmare the always gentle and composed Jeffery had endured.
"How'd you get out?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper, careful not to reopen old wounds.
Jeffery's eyes grew distant, as if he was reliving that dark past. "I got lucky. They messed up during a transfer, and I used everything I had to escape. Since then, I've been living under a new identity, diving into medicine to take back control of my life..."
He paused, his voice dropping to a whisper, "And to help others who've been messed with by fate like I was."
Tears filled Lyra's eyes, a mix of heartache and admiration. So that's why he became a doctor—to heal others' pain with his own.
"And the sleepwalking?" she asked gently.
Jeffery nodded, "The drug experiments left a lot of scars, and sleepwalking's just one of them. I've always been scared of being found out, scared of being seen as a freak again, so I've kept it under wraps for a long time."
"You're not a freak," Lyra blurted out, her voice so firm it surprised even her. She reached out and held Jeffery's hand tightly, "You're the most incredible person I know."
Her other hand rose gently to touch Jeffery's face, her fingertips tracing his features as if to memorize them.
"You must've had it rough all these years."
Feeling the warmth of Lyra's touch, Jeffery was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. He never thought someone could so easily see through his defenses and touch the most vulnerable part of his heart.
His throat tightened, and after a moment, he spoke hoarsely, "It's all in the past. But sometimes, those memories are like nightmares that just won't quit."
"They won't bother you anymore," Lyra shook her head gently, her gaze steady, "I won't let those memories haunt you."
She leaned in, her forehead almost touching his, their breaths mingling. "Whether it's the sleepwalking or the past trauma, we'll face it together. You're not alone anymore."
Jeffery gazed at Lyra, so close, her clear eyes reflecting his image, filled with determination and affection, without a hint of pity or fear.
His eyes grew slightly moist. For the first time in his life, he felt the urge to lean on someone else.
"Okay." He turned his hand to hold Lyra's, his voice low but warm.
Lyra's lips curled into a bright smile, trying to lighten the heavy mood. "Let's not dwell on this today. I heard there's a new movie out that's getting rave reviews. Wanna go see it?"
Jeffery paused for a moment, then nodded, "Yeah, sounds good."
The theater was bustling with weekend crowds, filled with the laughter of couples and friends.
Lyra was having a bit of trouble with the self-service ticket machine, which kept spinning without printing the tickets. A nearby staff member, Abel Smith, quickly came over to help.
"Sorry about that, this machine's been acting up today," Abel, a friendly young guy, said as he expertly worked the machine, apologizing again, "Sorry for the hassle."
"No worries," Lyra replied with a smile.
Abel glanced at the two of them and couldn't help but comment, "You two look great together. Is this a date?"
Lyra's cheeks turned red, and just as she was about to explain, Jeffery chimed in, "Thanks. It's a rare chance for us to kick back together."
Lyra shot Jeffery a surprised look, but inside, she felt a warm, sweet sensation.
"This movie's been a hit lately, lots of couples are coming to see it," Abel said as he handed over the tickets, "You got here just in time; it would've been sold out soon."
After grabbing the tickets, Lyra eagerly headed to the popcorn stand. The staff enthusiastically explained the day's special. "Hey there! We've got a deal today! Buy a large popcorn and get a free small chocolate or caramel popcorn. The chocolate's imported, and the caramel's homemade; both are super sweet."
Lyra's eyes lit up, and she turned to Jeffery for his opinion, "Should we go for it? I think we can handle a large one."
Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, Jeffery couldn't say no, "Sure, whatever you want."
So Lyra picked a large buttered popcorn and got a free small chocolate popcorn. She held the popcorn bucket like a kid with candy, smiling contentedly.
"Try it," she said, offering a piece of popcorn to Jeffery, "It's fresh and smells amazing."
Jeffery leaned down slightly, gently taking the popcorn, his gaze never leaving Lyra's face, "Yeah, it's really good."
They handed over their tickets and entered the theater. Once seated, Lyra placed the popcorn on the armrest between them for easy access.
As the movie started, Lyra quickly got caught up in the plot. During exciting scenes, she would unconsciously grab Jeffery's arm and shake it lightly, while Jeffery would take the opportunity to pull her closer.
Whenever they both reached for popcorn at the same time, their fingers would meet in the bucket, each touch sending a spark through Lyra, her face warming, while Jeffery acted as if nothing happened, his smile growing wider.
The sweet aroma of chocolate popcorn filled the space between them. Jeffery picked up a piece and offered it to Lyra's lips, "You gotta try this one too."
Lyra opened her mouth slightly, taking the chocolate popcorn, the rich sweetness bursting on her tongue, "Wow, it's really good!" she mumbled in delight.
Watching Lyra's satisfied expression, Jeffery felt a wave of tenderness he'd never experienced before. As they left the theater, Lyra noticed Jeffery occasionally zoning out, a hint of worry in his eyes. She knew that despite the fun they just had, the shadows of his past still lingered.
To help Jeffery fully relax, Lyra's eyes twinkled with an idea, "Now that the movie's over, how about we try an escape room? I heard there's a new one that's super exciting and has great reviews!"
She feigned excitement, hoping that the intense focus required for the game would help Jeffery temporarily forget his painful memories.
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