She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 156

"I have it."

"But what do you need his number for?"

"I need to talk to him about something," Lyra replied. "Just send it over."

She hung up. Madeline muttered something about her being unnecessarily secretive, but texted Lucas's number a second later.

A suffocating wave of anger burned in Lyra's chest. Swallowing her disgust, she dialed the number. "Where are you?"

"What's wrong?" Lucas asked, immediately recognizing her voice. "You haven't called me in a long time."

Lyra took a deep breath. "Meet me. I have questions for you."

"Alright," Lucas agreed. "Where?"

"You pick." Lyra was driving, her mind a chaotic mess. A lingering sense of unease gnawed at her, though she couldn't quite pinpoint why it filled her with dread.

Twenty minutes later, Lyra pulled up to The Sapphire Room.

She found the private dining area Lucas had booked and shoved the door open.

He was lounging on the sofa, casually snacking on some appetizers.

She knew this was Jasmine's restaurant, but Lyra couldn't bring herself to care right now. "Did you bankrupt the Sinclair family?"

Lucas tossed his napkin aside. "Who?"

"The Sinclair family business went under. Calvin is washing cars for a living. Did you force him into that?"

Lucas had practically forgotten about the minor player until she brought him up. "You saw him?"

"Did he run crying to you?"

"Are you feeling sorry for him?"

Lyra's heart sank. "Lucas, his company didn't even compete with yours. Was it really necessary to back him into a corner like that?"

Lucas wiped the corner of his mouth with agonizing slowness. He looked completely unbothered, as if discussing the weather. "Yes."

"But that's none of my business."

"I just didn't like the guy. So what?"

"Showing mercy to a rival is just being cruel to yourself. I've crushed countless companies; are you going to micromanage all of them?"

Lyra exhaled a shaky breath. She hadn't even finished what she came to say.

The waitress hovered nervously.

"Will you be eating, miss?"

"No."

Lyra grabbed her purse and turned to leave, dismissing the food entirely.

The waitress immediately stepped in her way, her tone suddenly haughty. "You haven't paid the bill."

Lyra paused.

She knew Lucas kept a running tab here that he settled monthly; he never paid upfront. This waitress was deliberately giving her a hard time.

Lyra didn't argue. She threw down her credit card, paid the exorbitant check, and walked out.

Sitting behind the wheel of her car, she called Caleb. "Caleb, it's about the Sinclairs... the ones who manufacture auto parts. Can we see if there's any way we can throw them a lifeline? I've been looking into their situation."

Caleb kept it brief. "Alright, let's talk about it in person."