Mr. Wallace barely spared the box a glance, his response deeply dismissive. "You're too generous, Lyra."
As a secretary set down their coffee, Lyra cut straight to the chase, keeping her voice even. "I came here today to find out the real reason behind the sudden cancellation. I won't lie to you—we tied up a significant amount of capital stockpiling the custom materials for your order. This breach of contract is a massive blow to Fairchild Holdings."
Mr. Wallace picked up his coffee cup, avoiding her gaze as he offered a flimsy excuse. "The market is volatile. Corporate restructured our procurement strategy, and our hands are tied. I hope you can understand."
It had been like this all day. Most of their partners had blatantly dodged her calls or refused a meeting altogether. She had finally managed to corner him, only to be fed vague corporate bullshit instead of the truth.
Lyra narrowed her eyes. "Did someone order you to back out?"
Mr. Wallace looked away, resolutely refusing to answer.
On the drive back, the sheer exhaustion of her relentless hustling finally crashed over her. Slumping against the leather backseat, Lyra's eyelids grew impossibly heavy. Within minutes, she drifted off into a deep sleep.
Halfway through the route, she groggily opened her eyes. Her voice was raspy with fatigue. "Don't take me home. Head to Blackwood Manor."
Andrea smoothly merged into the next lane, rerouting the car.
When they pulled up to the grand estate, Lyra turned to her. "You can take the car."
Assuming Lyra planned to spend the night, Andrea nodded and drove off.
The staff at Blackwood Manor recognized Lyra from her previous visits. Unlike the incident at the gates, they didn't block her from entering the foyer to wait.
Lyra sat completely alone on the sprawling living room sofa. She waited from dusk until well past eleven at night. Exhaustion clawed at her senses until she finally slumped against the cushions, fast asleep.
Rowan didn't return from the office until almost midnight.
The sound of the front door echoing through the hall jolted Lyra awake. She rubbed her heavy eyes and stood up.
The man's dark, predatory gaze landed on her for a fraction of a second before he coldly looked away.
Lyra crossed the room, stopping directly in his path. Her voice trembled as she met his eyes. "Are you really going to marry Jasmine?"
Rowan didn't utter a word. His handsome face was an icy mask as he walked right past her, casually loosening his silk tie with one hand.

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