I Chose Me Over My Marriage novel Chapter 189

As for Aria, she had seamlessly transitioned from wrapping her latest shoot right into a massive IP adaptation.

While she wasn't the lead, the second female lead had monumental screen time.

A relentless PR campaign highlighting her 'insane work ethic' and 'stunning visuals' had successfully brainwashed a legion of new fans.

However, her romantic relationship with Maxwell remained entirely stagnant.

Through her occasional chats with Silas, Lyra learned that Maxwell was still desperately trying to buy his way into Silas and Howard's upcoming joint project.

In Silas' exact words, hell would freeze over before he gave Maxwell a single shred of an opportunity.

Time flew by. The preliminary results for the design competition were officially announced. Both Lyra and Courtney crushed it.

Because it was a globally recognized event, the semi-finals were held regionally. Their division was hosted in Averston.

Since the semi-finals consisted of live, high-pressure design challenges, they had to fly in three days early.

While Lyra was packing, Eleanor dragged her to the mall under the guise of 'bad weather.'

After wandering the designer boutiques for hours, Eleanor hadn't found a single piece she deemed worthy.

Lyra, on the other hand, was exhausted.

She despised shopping. The sheer physical toll of walking through endless aisles was her personal nightmare.

Noticing her exhaustion, Eleanor let out a dramatic sigh. "Look at you. You're a young woman, yet you hate shopping. If I didn't personally curate your wardrobe, you'd have nothing to wear."

Lyra groaned softly. "Mom, I'm mentally prepping for a massive competition here. Just pick anything, I don't care."

Eleanor gave a mock-disappointed smile, gently poking Lyra's forehead with affection.

"Fine, fine. I know you're stressed. Go grab a coffee downstairs and chill for a bit, or just head back home if you want."

Lyra jumped at the escape route. "I'll be at the café downstairs!"

The moment that familiar voice drifted over the counter, Lyra froze. She immediately locked her phone and looked up.

Cecilia was standing at the register, her back turned, entirely unaware of Lyra's presence.

Remembering the terrifying events from weeks ago, Lyra hesitated for a split second before standing up and walking over.

Hearing footsteps, Cecilia turned around. Her eyes widened in genuine shock.

"Lyra?"

Lyra offered a warm smile, stopping right in front of her.

"Hey, CeCe. It's been a while."

"It really has! It's been almost a month since all that chaos. I can't believe we bumped into each other here." Cecilia genuinely adored Lyra, her eyes crinkling with a bright smile. "I was just passing by, grabbing coffee for the studio team. What about you? Did you just get in?"

Lyra chuckled and shook her head. "I've been here for a bit. Are you in a rush? Want to sit and catch up?"