She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 130

Lyra let out a soft giggle.

As the two reached the ground floor and stepped out of the elevator, Marcus sighed. "You've really grown up, Lyra. Arthur told me you're actually doing real, impactful work at the company now."

"But I remember someone once telling me that sudden maturity always comes with a heavy price..."

Lyra stiffened. It wasn't because of her uncle's words, but because of what she saw: Josie Somerset walking through the revolving doors.

Marcus was still talking.

Lyra's hand instinctively flew up to adjust her face mask before she slowly lowered it.

Marcus kept his arm half-wrapped around her as they headed for the exit. Seeing guests approaching, Josie habitually stopped and lowered her head in a professional greeting.

Lyra walked out through the revolving doors without a single backward glance.

The cab they had called hadn't arrived yet. Marcus was just about to light a cigarette when he spotted Rowan's black SUV pulling up.

Clamping the unlit cigarette between his teeth, Marcus waved through the windshield and muttered, "That little bastard."

Whether Rowan heard the curse or not was unclear.

He rolled down the window, his gaze landing on Lyra standing in the cool night air. She was wearing an oversized hoodie and cream-colored sweatpants, her long hair hanging loose. It was a stark contrast to her glamorous gown from earlier in the day, giving her an effortless, relaxed vibe.

Marcus grinned and shoved his niece toward the front of Rowan's car. "Perfect timing. Give Lyra a ride home. I don't feel good about her taking a cab this late..."

Lyra took a half-step back, her brow furrowing slightly as she muttered, "I don't need—"

Rowan leaned across the console, his long arm pushing the passenger door open. "Get in."

"Marcus, seriously, I don't need—"

Ignoring her protests, Marcus shoved Lyra into the passenger seat, reached across her, and buckled her in himself. "I'd rather have him drive you than put you in a random taxi at this hour," he babbled. "Didn't you tell me he has absolutely zero interest in you? Good! If he did, I wouldn't trust him to take you home!"

Lyra couldn't believe her uncle was just blurting all of this out. She froze in her seat, her limbs feeling hopelessly awkward.

A second later, the car door slammed shut.

Inside the enclosed cabin, Lyra caught the faint, lingering scent of women's perfume. It was the exact same fragrance she had smelled when passing Josie just moments ago.

She hadn't expected Rowan to personally drive Josie back to the hotel.

It made sense, though...

In her past life, Jasmine had viewed Josie as a massive threat for a reason.

The SUV merged smoothly onto the road. The atmosphere inside the car was suffocatingly tense, prompting a deeply uncomfortable Lyra to crack the window for some fresh air.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Rowan's mouth.

It reminded him of when she was younger. She used to beg him to tutor her, only to complain that his explanations were too complicated before inevitably dozing off with her head tipped to the side.

It was only later, when his resentment toward their parents' arranged marriage began to fester, that he had intentionally distanced himself from her.

Rowan reached out, intending to wake her. Before his fingers could even brush her arm, she shifted. At that same moment, a faint, natural scent wafted toward him—nothing like artificial perfume.

It was strangely familiar.

He froze.

As if sensing his proximity, Lyra woke with a start. Seeing Rowan's hand hovering right in front of her, a suffocating wave of panic gripped her heart. She instinctively shrank back against the passenger door.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Rowan said, glancing out the window. "You're home."

Lyra looked out at the dark estate. No one in her family even knew she had sneaked out. The house was pitch black, illuminated only by the glow of the streetlamps.

She quickly unbuckled her seatbelt. Just before slipping out of the car, she murmured a soft, "Thank you."

She unlocked the front gates and hurried inside without looking back.

A few moments later, Rowan drove away into the night.