She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 192

The voices behind the partition carried on. "If you ask me, Arthur never should have let go of the Jameson marriage alliance. Rumor has it Lyra was the one who called it off, and her father was just too soft on her. Now that he's dead, who knows if Caleb can even keep Fairchild Holdings afloat."

"Spot on. Rowan is throwing all his weight behind the Ford family now. Gotta support the future in-laws, right?"

Lyra turned and quietly walked away. It was true—when she had broken off the engagement, she hadn't considered the devastating ripple effects it would have on her family's empire.

But what was done was done, and she had never once entertained the thought of looking back.

She had expected this kind of ruthless, fair-weather behavior from the business world anyway.

Her father's death meant that the peace at Fairchild Holdings was strictly temporary. On paper, the corporation looked spectacular. They had massive cash flow and colossal assets. To the outside world, they were a corporate titan.

But having lived through this once before, Lyra knew the gossiping executives were entirely right. They were sitting on a gold mine without a vault to protect it. Lacking political backing, even their groundbreaking patents left them dangerously exposed.

Weaving through the buzzing crowd, she snagged a glass of red wine from a passing waiter's tray. She took a slow sip, her gaze sweeping over the laughing, schmoozing elites. It was a bitter pill to swallow—when push came to shove, the Fairchilds didn't have a single genuine ally in this entire room.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a middle-aged man blocked her path. "Miss Fairchild."

Lyra scoffed inwardly. It was the bank president from Seaborne City's largest state-owned bank.

He was clearly trying to hit his commercial lending quotas. Handing her his business card with both hands, he smiled warmly. "If Fairchild Holdings is ever in need of financing, my door is always open."

But Lyra knew this man would turn his back on them the second the wind shifted. Banks were the most ruthless players in the game.

They loved to hand you an umbrella when the sun was shining, only to snatch it away the moment it started pouring. When Fairchild Holdings was thriving, they shoved credit lines down their throats; when the company was on the brink of collapse, they wouldn't lend them a single dime.

In her past life, Caleb had practically begged for a meeting with this very man and had been completely shut out. He was nothing but an opportunistic snake.

Still, Lyra offered a polite nod. "I'll be sure to reach out if the need arises."

"Excellent, excellent. I'll let you get back to the event."

After they exchanged cards, the man walked away.

The second he was out of sight, Lyra casually tossed his card into the nearest trash bin.

"I heard Arthur was dead before he even hit the floor," Tabitha taunted, her voice practically dripping with malice. "I wouldn't be surprised if your mother suddenly dropped off just like—"

Before she could finish the vile sentence, a flash of pure, unadulterated fury ignited in Lyra's eyes. Without a second thought, she hurled the entire glass of red wine straight at Tabitha's face.

"Ah!"

Tabitha shrieked in terror.

But right as the crimson liquid flew through the air, a figure suddenly lunged in front of her.

The dark red wine splashed violently against Jasmine Ford, dripping down her luminous skin and staining her gorgeous designer gown in a humiliating, stark contrast.

The chatter in the ballroom died instantly. Every socialite and executive froze, all eyes locking onto the spectacle.

A collective gasp ripped through the crowd.

Everyone in Seaborne City knew exactly who that woman was. She was the woman under Rowan Jameson's absolute, untouchable protection.