Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 428

Everyone froze, glaring at Nyx. Nyx stayed calm and nodded.

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Zachary chuckled dryly to himself in his head. Fooled once was enough–fall for it again, and he’d be an idiot. His nose was sharp–they smelled the same, not some generic soap scent either–probably living together, and still denying it. Watching Nyx climb into Seafarion’s car only cemented his hunch.

After long days out working, the house stayed spotless thanks to Gavin popping by to clean. Nyx dropped her bags, texted Gavin some praise, then knocked next door. ‘Dinner together tonight?”

No plans set, but Seafarion was ready–had a chef whip up a full spread at home to welcome Nyx back.

They ate, Nyx tried on the new clothes he’d bought her, twirling around for him, then borrowed his bathroom for a shower and crashed there like old times.

She acted like nothing had happened–mood steady, no talk of romance. Seafarion watched her bright smile, words catching in his throat.

When no one called it out, he could dodge it, not think too hard. But Zachary’s offhand question slammed him into reality -Nyx wasn’t his wife; they shouldn’t be this close. She was young, clueless–he was older, shouldn’t have taken advantage of that, tricked her into staying by his side.

“Nyx,” he said, lips tight, stopping her as she headed for the guest room, “Your place is next door–sleep there.”

Even a guest room wasn’t right–unmarried, living under one roof long–term, it didn’t add up.

Nyx paused, looked back at him for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”

She wasn’t about to push. With a stubborn partner like him, she had plenty of patience–let him cool off and think it over alone.

Nyx didn’t hesitate–said she’d go and went. No fuss–she pushed the door open in her pajamas and slippers, leaving everything behind, even the new clothes she’d tried on.

The lock clicked shut, and the big house fell dead quiet. Seafarion stared at the door, lost, feeling a hole in his chest. The withdrawal hit harder than last time.

Nyx’s traces were everywhere–big stuff like the bed she’d slept in, small stuff like the lotion she’d left in the bathroom.

He couldn’t step into the guest room, but her memory still swallowed him–every glimpse of her things brought a sour ache crashing over him. Pent–up frustration had nowhere to go–he dumped it all on Terry.

By month’s end, Breaking Chains dropped a trailer–huge buzz. Nyx picked up fans, and ad deals started rolling in. Marilyn sifted through them carefully, landing her a gig promoting a niche local luxury jewelry brand’s fall line.

On the way there, Nyx heard Helly chattering–word was, JoyTV’s other execs caught wind and teamed up to shove Terry out to save the company. Betrayed by his own, Terry tanked–seemed like his head wasn’t right anymore, paranoid about traps everywhere.

“A few days back, he swore someone was watching him, hunting him–ran up to JoyTV’s roof like a nutcase, almost jumped,” Helly said, shaking her head, “Someone grabbed him quick, pulled him back, but they say his hands got messed up- dislocates all the time now,” said Helly.

“And Joanna,” she mumbled, “after wrap–up, Zachary said her scenes sucked, cut the role entirely, and swore he’d never work with her again.”

Nyx listened, then went quiet, thinking, ‘Little mermaid’s got a mean streak.

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Chapter 428

her milder partners–guess he’d been

Nyx asked, “Has Seafarion checked in about

59%

“Uh, yeah, he’s got me reporting your

Nyx

Seafarion was the prey. Seafarion peeked at her from the shadows–she was just biding her time, waiting for

“Sorry, boss–I’ve been telling Seafarion about your meals every day. He didn’t want to play spy, but the big guy paid way

I’m the only one who hasn’t done it! I’d never stab

“Alright, alright, you’re the

an outsider, and he’d set up the studio, paid their wages. She didn’t mind him knowing these things; there was no

it wasn’t solo- A hot new actor was there

“My artist doesn’t do close–contact shoots

brand was baffled. “It’s standard stuff–not that intimate,

wasn’t pairing them up, just wanted some flirty vibes for the jewelry theme. Hand- holding, a hug, no

would’ve shot it no problem. But with Nyx, she had Seafarion to answer

and murmured to her

had the final say–once she greenlit it, the shoot went smooth as silk. Solo parts flowed, duo parts clicked—the young guy was a gentleman, kept it professional, no extra moves, saving tons

stood at a mirror, lifting her hair a bit; the guy stood behind, fastening a necklace, his fingers brushing

stare from nearby. She played it cool, focused on the

the photographer cheered, thrilled–brand reps

Nyx and the guy hit it off, swapped contacts. She waved him off, heading to her agent and

been holding back finally snapped, pulling off his hat,

she’d just noticed him, gasping, “You’re here?”

face popped–everyone else was genuinely floored. Nyx faked her shock, but they were

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brand rep belatedly got why Marilyn had balked at the close shots–heart pounding. They wondered if they could still

keeping you busy? Why’d you drop by?” Nyx said, voice light, “When’d

Seafarion. “First

didn’t crack a smile but

guy was decent, didn’t overstep with Nyx. For that, he offered Sergio a spot at Cosmic Entertainment. Cosmic Entertainment was mid–purge–Terry’s cronies got axed if they were dirty, dragging some artists down,

joining now meant steady good gigs–second–tier

Seafarion’s card, dazed. As a fellow guy, he’d felt the jealousy and edge–yet Seafarion held it

faced Nyx–met her eyes, then flinched, looking down. “Nyx, there’s a

names would be there–he’d introduce her, so next time he wasn’t around, no idiot

wouldn’t say no to that.

acted, he hadn’t cleared that mental hurdle yet. She couldn’t figure it–she shrugged, deciding to wing it.