She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 153

After three grueling days of meetings in Irving City, the local partners invited Lyra to tour a newly developed town, but she politely declined. On the night of the third day, she caught the last flight back. The digital clock in the airport terminal flashed exactly ten as she grabbed a cab, heading straight for Madeline's apartment.

The moment she stepped into Madeline's place, her friend dragged out the baking equipment Lyra had arranged to have delivered earlier that afternoon.

"Are you out of your mind?" Madeline shook her head, taking in Lyra's exhausted yet determined expression. "Just grab a cake from some random bakery. You literally just flew back from a business trip. Why are you killing yourself over this?"

Lyra casually pulled her long hair into a messy bun, tucking a stray strand behind her ear to reveal her radiant complexion. "Cas only asked for a cake. If I couldn't even manage that, I'd be an awful friend."

"Besides, he's done me a massive favor."

Madeline rolled her eyes but turned to preheat the oven anyway.

Lyra mixed the batter and baked the sponge. By the time the cake had cooled and was ready to decorate, it was already past eleven. She whipped the frosting and carefully piped the edges. Bypassing any flashy decorations, she simply wrote a clean message across the top: 'To the future doctor who will save the world.'

"So cheesy," Madeline teased.

"Don't tell me you two are actually falling for each other for real?" she joked.

"No way. There's zero spark between us."

Twenty minutes later, Lyra let out a breath of relief. "Done."

She turned to Madeline, who was practically dozing off on the counter. "Where are your keys? I need to borrow your car."

Madeline tossed her the keys. "I'll have the maid clean up this disaster zone tomorrow. Go sweet-talk your fake boyfriend."

"Thanks, Maddie." Snatching the keys, Lyra rushed out, heading straight for the Jameson estate.

The midnight wind whipped through the streets, carrying a biting chill. Lyra nervously checked the time at every stoplight, her eyes scanning the dark roads.

As she pulled up to the security booth at the entrance of the Jameson neighborhood, she dialed Caspian's number.

While it rang, she glanced at the dashboard clock again. It was approaching midnight.

"Happy birthday, Cas."

Caspian noticed her slightly disheveled hair and the faint smear of frosting on her sleeve.

She really had baked it herself.

"Lyra, don't tell me you rushed back early just to bake this?"

"Of course not. I just hate staying in hotels, so getting to sleep in my own bed was the goal." She handed the box over with a laugh. "Thank God I made it before midnight."

Caspian simply stared at her.

Taking in her exhausted yet stubbornly affectionate face, for the very first time, Caspian thought Rowan was an absolute idiot.

The brilliant, untouchable, omnipotent Rowan was nothing but a fool who knew absolutely nothing about love.