She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 4

Rowan's mother never missed a chance to play matchmaker. Lyra had zero desire to see him, but she needed to retrieve her bracelet today, so she politely agreed.

As she watched Lyra head upstairs, Rowan's mother noted that the girl seemed just as quiet as her last visit. She assumed the couple was just having a lovers' quarrel. Surely, once they talked it out, everything would be fine again—after all, Lyra was completely smitten with him.-

Just as Lyra reached the door to the study, a low voice drifted out from inside.

"I can't believe Jasmine happened to be there to save you. So, how are you going to repay her?"

"Maybe I'll just give her myself," came Rowan's crisp, cool voice.

"You're actually falling for her?" Waylon asked, sounding surprised. "What about Lyra?"

"Spoiled princesses aren't my type."

Hearing his blunt dismissal, a sharp pang hit Lyra's chest. But she didn't dwell on the heartbreak—her love for him belonged to a past life.

Mostly, it was shock. For the past few days, she had been wondering who had actually taken the credit this time around...

Would it be the future superstar, Josie, or Jasmine again?

Hearing the conversation today confirmed it.

It was Jasmine. Again.

It seemed that despite her interference, the ultimate outcome hadn't changed.

Jasmine truly was the universe's favorite child!

...

Lyra was only here for the bracelet. Having heard enough, she quietly turned and slipped away from the study.

Knowing Rowan was occupied, she snuck into his bedroom. She systematically opened every drawer and checked the closets, but came up empty. It wasn't under his pillows either.

She worked meticulously, making sure everything was returned to its exact place.

Finally, her gaze landed on his safe. He wouldn't lock a cheap bracelet in a safe, would he?

There was another possibility—he might have returned it to Jasmine, thinking it was hers.

If that was the case, there was no point in looking. Even if she found it, taking it back would make its sudden disappearance highly suspicious.

Just as she decided to abandon the search and slip out, she heard footsteps approaching in the hallway.

Having been his wife for years, she instantly recognized the steady, unhurried gait. Rowan was heading straight for the bedroom.

Panic set in. Glancing around frantically, she threw open the massive walk-in closet and ducked inside.

She quickly smoothed out the hanging clothes she had brushed against, wiped away any trace of her footprints on the carpet, and double-checked the area before heading downstairs.

...

When it was time to eat, Mr. Jameson was absent. As the head of the table, Rowan's mother gestured for Lyra to sit next to Rowan. Waylon was already seated on his other side. Instead of taking the bait, Lyra deliberately chose the seat next to Caspian.

Rowan shot her a cold glare but said nothing.

His mother looked surprised but kept her thoughts to herself, assuming they were just stubbornly refusing to make up.

Normally, even if he treated her like ice, Lyra would have eagerly taken the seat beside him.

Waylon seemed to notice the shift in dynamic too, glancing at Lyra more than once.

With Rowan's mother and Caspian keeping the conversation going, the atmosphere remained pleasant enough.

As soon as the meal ended, Lyra excused herself. In the past, she would have lingered, badgering Rowan with questions just to spend more time with him. Now, she just wanted to escape.

When she got home, she created a burner account online.

Using her funds, she bulk-ordered five hundred exact replicas of the pink crystal bracelet. A few days later, she set up a free giveaway spot near a college campus café. Word got around, and within hours, every single bracelet had been snatched up by female university students.

Knowing her tracks were perfectly covered, Lyra finally breathed a sigh of relief.