She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 8

After all, she was madly in love with Rowan.

But instead, the news they finally received was—

"Lyra Fairchild moved out of the town."

"Caleb Fairchild is seeing the Harrington heiress."

There was no emotional breakdown. No hysterics. She had simply packed up and left without a word.

When Lucas dropped the news of Lyra's departure in their group chat, a heavy silence fell over the thread.

Her quiet, dignified retreat actually sparked a rare flicker of sympathy among them.

However, that sentiment vanished the moment Lucas added Jasmine to the chat. No one mentioned Lyra again.

Instead, they all rushed to greet Seaborne City's newfound darling.

...

After arriving in California, Lyra rented an apartment right near Stanford University. She was browsing the aisles of Costco for essentials when her phone buzzed with a call from Maddie.

"Lyra, you just went there to clear your head, right?"

"No, it's just a post-graduation trip. I've had this planned for a while."

"Lyra, I was fully expecting you to show up at my place, cry your eyes out, drown your sorrows in tequila, and drag me to a club to hook up with some hot guys. How could you just sneak out of the town without me?"

Lyra chuckled as she compared prices on a few items. "Admit it, you're the one who wanted to see the hot guys."

"Busted," Maddie giggled on the other end. "Just take it easy over there. If you ever feel like breaking down, promise you'll call me."

"I'm really not just here to clear my head."

Maddie clearly didn't believe her.

Realizing she would just have to prove it through her actions, Lyra smoothly changed the subject. "Maddie, when I get back, I'm diving straight into work at Fairchild Holdings. We might not get to hang out as much..."

"I bet you won't even last a week at the office before you're back at grad school with me, killing time until you marry Rowan," Maddie blurted out.

Lyra paused, a chill washing over her.

In this life, she would never let history repeat itself.

In her past life, her father and Caleb had both ended up dead.

All because she had been blind to the true nature of the people around her.

Whenever the memories rushed back, a suffocating wave of despair threatened to swallow her whole. The naive girl who prioritized romance over everything else was dead and gone.

Lyra remained silent.

"Give it a rest, Dad," Caleb cut in, saving her from having to answer. "Rowan has been parading that Ford girl around town. Lyra doesn't need to waste time sucking up to the Jamesons."

Arthur sighed. "I know there are rumors, but until Rowan says it himself, we don't truly know what's going on between him and the Ford girl..."

The corner of Lyra's mouth twitched. She didn't want to argue right out of the gate. "I already bought them something separate," she lied smoothly. "These are just for you two."

Reassured, her parents finally accepted the presents.

The truth was, Lyra hadn't bought Charles and Victoria Jameson anything at all.

She was simply placating her parents.

In her past life, she had thrown everything she had at a man who couldn't care less, completely neglecting her own family. She had obsessed over every detail of Rowan's life—laying out his clothes, running his baths, showering him with lavish gifts, and catering to his parents. Yet, she had never so much as bought her own father a simple tie. She had lost everything in the end, and looking back, she had partly brought that ruin upon herself.

Given a second chance, Lyra's only priority was to fiercely love and protect her family.

The idea of kissing up to Rowan's parents ever again was entirely off the table.

She did plan to visit the Jameson estate, but only to formally break the engagement with Victoria.

Six months had passed; the Jamesons had to be fully aware of Jasmine's existence by now. It was time to sever ties with Rowan for good.