She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Lucas leaned in, keeping his voice to a harsh whisper. “She is exactly as insane as she’s always been. Thank God you cut ties with her.”

Their hushed conspiring must have drawn Alistair’s attention.

Moments after dinner concluded, Alistair summoned Rowan directly into his private study.

Though the heavy doors muffled the words, a sudden, furious roar from the patriarch echoed through the halls. No one knew exactly what Rowan had done to enrage the old man on a holiday.

When Rowan finally emerged, his expression was utterly grim.

Before Lucas could even get a word in, Quincy Jameson intercepted Rowan, pulling him away for another private meeting.

Meanwhile, Lyra was just stepping out of Caspian’s room. As she walked past Commissioner Charles Jameson’s study, voices drifted through the slightly open door.

“I told you, just humor your grandfather for now. It’s the holidays, and the entire family is here.”

“If you can triple the company’s market value in two years, I will personally step in and convince your grandfather to let you marry Jasmine.”

Rowan’s voice followed, steady and cold. “Do we have a deal?”

“We have a deal.”

Lyra froze, a shockwave ripping through her body.

In her previous life, she had never known about this secret promise from Charles.

But she knew the outcome. In just one year, Rowan hadn’t merely tripled the Jameson Group’s market value-he had multiplied it by five. Now it all made horrifying sense. This was the moment the deal

was struck.

All the color drained from Lyra’s face as she hurried down the stairs.

In the living room, Delilah was still chatting and laughing with Victoria Jameson. Catching sight of Lyra’s pale expression, Delilah immediately looked concerned. “Lyra, what’s wrong?”

“I just need some fresh air.”

Waylon and Lucas were still lounging on the sofas, exchanging jokes.

Lyra completely ignored them and walked straight out the front door.

She headed for Caleb’s car, intending to drive it off the estate, only to find Caleb already sitting in the driver’s seat, smoking a cigarette.

It suddenly clicked for Lyra-Caleb had barely spoken a word to Rowan all night. The easy brotherhood they once shared was completely dead. He hadn’t even bothered to interact with Lucas or Waylon, either.

“Caleb, since when did things get so bad between you, Rowan, and Waylon?”

“Probably the second you decided you were done trying to marry him. I finally stopped having to pretend I liked them.” Caleb crushed the cigarette and buckled his seatbelt.

Lyra offered a faint smile. “Should we tell Mr. Jameson we’re taking off?”

“He already went up for his afternoon nap. Just text Mom and Dad and have them make our excuses to the Jamesons.”

Once inside his car, Rowan drafted a text to Jasmine.

At that exact moment, Jasmine was also enduring her own family’s holiday gathering.

Her parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, and extended family-including her cousin, Elara

Townsend-were all packed into the house. It was loud and chaotic.

Everyone in the room already knew she was officially dating the terrifyingly powerful corporate titan, Rowan Jameson.

Since he was practically a myth to them, they seized the opportunity to corner Jasmine, bombarding her with endless, invasive questions.

Especially Elara, who was rapid-firing questions with wide-eyed envy.

“How did you even meet him?”

“Don’t you get terrified when you’re alone with him?”

“Is he really as ruthless as everyone says?”

Sitting in the center of the attention, Jasmine smiled serenely and offered a modest reply, “He’s just an incredibly capable man.”

Right on cue, her phone lit up with a message from Rowan.