She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 174

Before Lyra arrived, Jasmine had just been sitting quietly next to Rowan, listening to the group chat and only offering polite responses when spoken to. She looked the picture of elegance and grace.

Could Lyra really be behind this?

Lyra's voice was ice. "Do you want me to pull the security footage from the nail salon? I didn't say a single word. She made her own decision based on her own paranoid assumptions! Oh, wait. Did you guys lose money and now you're just looking for a scapegoat to blame?"

Finishing her sentence, she feigned a look of exaggerated terror.

Jasmine had no choice but to bite her lip and swallow her humiliation.

"Keep acting, Lyra. You'll be crying soon enough," she thought.

Mr. Usher, a friend of Lucas and Leo's, chuckled to break the tension. "Hey, it only takes one breadwinner in the family. Mr. Jameson makes plenty of money. Don't worry, Miss Ford, just feel free to make bold investments."

Jasmine instantly forced a smile.

Elara's mood visibly improved at that, and she immediately comforted Jasmine. "Jasmine, once Aura Beauty goes public, we can just buy the stock back."

"Initial shares and publicly traded stocks are two entirely different beasts," Lyra pointed out dryly.

Elara stiffened, her face flushing as she stubbornly shot back. "I obviously know they're different! I'm just saying that if Jasmine really wanted to, Mr. Jameson could buy out Aura Beauty entirely without breaking a sweat. Right, Rowan?"

Rowan hadn't spoken a single word. He just threw a flat look at Lyra.

Mr. Usher quickly chimed in again. "Exactly. Who in our line of work hasn't missed out on millions of dollars? We're used to it. With Mr. Jameson backing you, Miss Ford, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. He could buy ten Aura Beauties without blinking..."

Despite not getting a verbal response from Rowan, Elara lifted her chin smugly. "Besides, Jasmine just had a bit of bad luck. She still has an incredible eye for potential. Unlike you, Lyra..."

"Elara," Jasmine finally spoke up, cutting her cousin off. Leo was the one hosting this dinner, and bringing Elara had already annoyed him. If she kept pushing it, Leo might actually throw them out without a shred of mercy.

Before Lyra could even process what was happening, his hand clamped down on her wrist. His grip wasn't painful, but it carried an undeniable, dominant force.

Startled, Lyra jerked her head up, crashing straight into his deep, predatory gaze. "Rowan, what are you doing?"

"Come with me."

Refusing to take no for an answer, he half-dragged, half-led her straight into the empty private room next door.

Jasmine remained frozen in her seat, her smile turning brittle. She sat there completely helpless, watching Rowan forcefully pull another woman away in front of everyone.

The door shut with a sharp click, locking instantly and completely severing them from the noise outside.

In that confined space, it was just the two of them.