She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 136

Lyra noticed Rowan had already arrived, lowering her head to pretend she hadn't seen him.

They sat with an empty seat between them, neither saying a word.

Soon, Lucas slid into the empty seat between them. He greeted Rowan cheerfully before turning to Lyra. "Why would the Fairchilds send someone who knows absolutely nothing to a meeting like this?"

"Mind your own business," Lyra shot back coldly.

"You..." Lucas choked on his anger. He had no idea when Lyra had started treating him like dirt. She used to cozy up to him just to get closer to Rowan, always calling him "Lucas" with such sweet reverence.

Now, she wasn't even pretending anymore.

She had even refused to see him when he showed up at her front door.

Lucas figured she was probably taking her anger out on him because he hadn't taken her side when she was fighting with Jasmine over Rowan.

With that in mind, he lowered his voice. "So you're just giving up because you can't have him? The more you act like this, the more Rowan is going to despise you."

"Whatever."

Lyra threw the word back at him with icy indifference, leaving Lucas fuming.

On the other side, Rowan kept his eyes on the documents in front of him. Even if he had heard their exchange, his reaction was completely nonchalant.

Waylon Grayson walked in a moment later.

The meeting was just about to start when he arrived.

Government officials led the conference. With Jameson Group's financial reports miles ahead of the competition and Rowan's formidable reputation and elegant composure, several female staff members couldn't help but cast admiring glances his way. Lyra only looked up and offered a polite smile when Fairchild Holdings was mentioned.

When the meeting concluded,

Lyra followed the crowd as they filed out.

The weather outside was beautiful. As Lyra made her way down the steps, a sudden, forceful shove from behind sent her stumbling. It was Lucas.

The impact sent her pitching forward. Her high heels clattered uncontrollably down several steps, unable to halt her momentum. By the third step, a sharp jolt of agony shot through her ankle. Even worse, she saw Rowan turn around at the sound of the commotion—

And she was plunging directly toward him, practically guaranteed to crash right into his arms.

It all happened so fast that all the color drained from Lyra's face in sheer panic.

With all eyes on them, the last thing she wanted was to be entangled with Rowan again. She clenched her fists and forcefully twisted her body, pivoting on her toes just in time to avoid the collision.

Lucas's expression turned grim. He hadn't expected her to fall so hard, and a twinge of regret gnawed at him. He turned to Rowan. "Why didn't you catch her?"

Rowan remained silent.

She had deliberately twisted away right before she would have collided with him...

She preferred throwing herself down a flight of concrete stairs.

Her absolute desperation to avoid him was painfully obvious, making Rowan furrow his brow.

Lucas muttered, thoroughly bewildered, "What is wrong with her? She'd rather humiliate herself and tumble down the stairs than let you touch her."

Rowan tore his gaze away from Waylon's departing black sedan.

He didn't say a word, merely shooting Lucas a freezing, predatory glare.

Lucas immediately shrank back, realizing he had definitely crossed a line today.

He had only given her a tiny shove; he hadn't factored in how unstable she would be in those heels.