She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 158

Jasmine took it all in silently, a flicker of sheer superiority lighting up her eyes.

"I'm going to the restroom," Jasmine announced, slipping away to touch up her makeup.

Shortly after she left, two college-aged girls walked past their table and stopped dead in their tracks. The collective attractiveness of the group was impossible to ignore.

Rowan, in particular, was stunning. With his sharp jawline and an aura of cold, untouchable wealth, he looked like he had stepped off a billboard. The girls were completely starstruck, desperately wanting his number.

However, Rowan's intensely intimidating and arrogant posture made him totally unapproachable. The girls lost their nerve.

"Excuse me, miss," one of the girls whispered.

Even though they wanted Rowan's contact info, they directed the question at Lyra, who looked far more friendly and approachable.

"He's getting married soon," Lyra replied simply.

"Oh, sorry to bother you," the girls mumbled in disappointment before scurrying away.

Rowan arched an eyebrow, his tone dangerously flat. "Since when am I getting married?"

Lyra blinked in surprise. Caspian quickly jumped in to save her. "I was the one who told Lyra you just bought that massive estate. You're not going to live in a place that huge all by yourself, right? Come on, Rowan, don't tell me you aren't planning to settle down."

"Then you should also know," Rowan countered smoothly, "that renovations alone will take at least a year."

He didn't deny it. The marriage plans were real.

He had all but confirmed it.

...

The next morning.

Lyra was flipping through the paper when she spotted Jasmine on the front page. She was wearing a tailored white Dior suit, flashing that same flawless, gentle smile.

Arthur spread strawberry jam on a piece of toast and handed it to his daughter. "I heard Jasmine is incredibly generous. She closed a massive project for the Jameson Group, and Rowan gave her a substantial bonus. She turned around and donated every cent to a charity for homeless children."

Madeline aggressively ran a hand through her hair. "If you don't even care, why should I? Whatever she and Rowan want to do is their business. Me hating her won't change a thing."

"Maddie... that's exactly what you need to do. Please, don't make yourself a target for my sake." There was nothing to be gained from it, and it could easily drag the Vance family straight into bankruptcy.

Madeline's vendetta against Jasmine hadn't been entirely about Lyra. Maddie had harbored her own secret crush on Rowan for years.

It was a secret she kept fiercely guarded.

But watching Lyra suffer so desperately for his love had made her back off entirely.

"Maddie, do you know how to build a social media following?" Lyra asked suddenly. "I want to gain some traction. I need an audience to like, share, and boost my visibility."

Madeline figured Lyra was more affected by the news than she let on.

Lyra had never cared about social media before.

Now, it seemed, she just refused to lose the PR war to Jasmine.