She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Caleb knew their father had kicked Lyra out of the company, and he understood why she had been in such a foul mood the past few days.

He quickly caught on. “On it.”

The mall was already decked out in festive holiday red, and Lyra picked out two brand-new dresses for the season.

“Caleb, I want cappuccino,” Lyra ordered.

Caleb placed the order on his phone and went to wait at the shop.

While he waited, Lyra popped into STREE HOUSE next door, picking up a few high-end pens, some notebooks, and a few small trinkets.

By the time she finished checking out and walked over, Caleb was already stepping out with two cups in hand. Tall, elegant, and effortlessly handsome, he had drawn the stares of more than a few young  women.

When they saw Lyra approaching, they quickly turned away, whispering, “I knew it. A guy that handsome definitely has a girlfriend. Thank God I didn’t ask for his number.”

Lyra heard them. She took her drink and mercilessly dumped all her shopping bags into Caleb’s arms.

Caleb had bought two drinks, though he didn’t even want one. He just figured that since he was already waiting, buying only one was a waste of time.

The two strolled through the crowded mall, surrounded by couples and groups of friends.

Lyra was glancing around at the storefronts while Caleb managed all her bags in one hand, using his free hand to scroll through Yelp to find a lunch spot that would satisfy his sister’s picky palate. Since she had been in such a bad mood lately, he figured he’d take her to a movie afterward.

He was busy planning when a soft, gentle voice stopped him in his tracks. “Caleb…”

Lyra turned at the sound.

For a second, her mind went completely blank.

It was as if she were staring at a bleak, overcast sky, watching a heavily pregnant woman trudging through the snow, exhaustion etched deeply into her face.

At that time, the Fairchilds had sold their very last car, leaving Kayla Harrington with no transportation. She had just lost the love of her life, and it felt as if she and her unborn child were the only ones left in the world. Her lips had moved as she begged, “Please save the Fairchild family…”

Unlike in her past life, the Kayla standing before her now was clearly defensive.

A thin layer of mist formed in her large eyes.

Lyra stared, a lump in her throat, wanting to tell her not to cry. She gripped her cappuccino so tightly that the cup crumpled, and she only snapped back to reality when Caleb snatched it from her hand and tossed it in a nearby trash can.

“Mr. Fairchild, who is this?” The woman standing next to Kayla demanded, her tone dripping with hostility.

Watching Caleb pull out a handkerchief to wipe the beautiful girl’s hand only infuriated her further. “Don’t tell me she’s your-”

“Lyra…” Caleb was genuinely baffled. Why was she running off so suddenly?

Seeing how unsettled Kayla was, Caleb reached out to hold her hand, offering a reassuring smile. “That was my sister. You two haven’t formally met, right?”

Kayla blushed furiously, genuinely shocked that the girl was Caleb’s sister.

Lyra was so stunning that ‘sister’ was the last thing anyone would assume.

Kayla asked sheepishly, “Did she leave because she saw me?”

She was terrified that her dramatic reaction had scared Caleb’s sister away!

“No. She just suddenly decided to go buy girl stuff with her friends. She’s always been impulsive, though she’s calmed down a bit since she started working.”

Kayla’s friend felt incredibly awkward and hurried to explain. “Mr. Fairchild, I’m so sorry… I saw how close you two were acting and got the wrong idea. It’s totally my fault, Kayla had nothing to do with it.”

“It’s fine,” Caleb said, steering the conversation away. “What are you guys in the mood for? There’s a highly-rated diner nearby, let’s grab lunch.”

“Sounds great.” Kayla and her friend exhaled in relief at the exact same time.