She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 173

As the holidays approached, endless errands piled up.

Rowan had to leave for an urgent business trip. His departure was rushed. He had genuinely wanted to see Lyra, to demand some answers, but her phone was unreachable. Coupled with the pressing emergency at the JH Group abroad, he was forced to leave in a hurry.

He was tied up with work for half a month.

By the time he finally returned, the holidays were in full swing.

The Fairchild family hadn't stayed in Seaborne City for the holidays this year. They had booked their itinerary well in advance and traveled together. Since they weren't in town, they naturally skipped the traditional holiday visit to the Jameson estate.

Far away from home, Lyra explored scenic mountains and beautiful rivers with Kayla Harrington, snapping countless photos and constantly teasing Caleb about his terrible photography skills. She was as happy and free as a bird released from a cage...

Aside from a quick phone call to wish Grandpa Alistair a happy holiday, she had completely pushed Seaborne City and its drama out of her mind.

That was until Leo Chavez called to let her know he was back in Seaborne City. He had returned from Monaco for the holidays, though he mentioned he'd likely be gone by the time her vacation ended, making a meetup unlikely.

Lyra hadn't seen her best buddy in ages and genuinely wanted to catch up.

Doing the math, she realized the day she flew back was the exact afternoon Leo was scheduled to leave. They could squeeze in a quick reunion. Thrilled, she shared the plan with Leo.

Leo was naturally just as excited. Shortly after, he texted her the address of the restaurant where they would meet.

...

On the day Lyra returned, she wore a flowing, fiery-red patterned maxi dress that radiated a bohemian spirit. The skirt billowed dramatically with every step, as if she were wearing the vibrant sunset itself. A pair of bold, exquisite earrings swayed gently as she moved, accentuating her radiant complexion and stunning features.

She arrived at The Sapphire Room where Leo had booked a table, practically jogging inside. Vibrant, dazzling, and utterly uninhibited, her beauty made it impossible to look away.

Rowan, who hadn't seen her in quite some time, felt a sudden, heavy drop in his chest the second he laid eyes on her.

"Lyra! Did you feed my cousin fake information on purpose?" Elara suddenly snapped. "Because of you, she sold her shares in Aura Beauty! She could have made a fortune!"

"Who is she?" Leo asked, his face scrunching in confusion.

To Leo, Elara was just a guest of a guest. He didn't even know her. "Hey, waiter... we've got a freeloader over here..."

Just as Leo was about to kick her out, Lucas stopped him. "She's Jasmine's cousin."

Elara's face flushed bright red, and she said defensively, "My cousin hasn't slept in days because of this..."

Jasmine had indeed taken a huge financial hit selling the shares so cheaply, and she looked noticeably paler than usual.

Everyone in their circle knew that Jasmine had invested in Aura Beauty on the recommendation of a friend from California, only to quickly sell out due to other reasons. But not long after she dumped her shares, Aura Beauty began raking in cash.