She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 80

Mother's Day was fast approaching, and between her trip and her work, Lyra hadn't had a second to buy a gift. She dragged Maddie through the high-end boutiques. After grabbing lunch on the third floor, they headed down to the luxury jewelry promenade. Lyra walked straight into a premium gold retailer and purchased two heavy, solid gold bracelets.

"Why two?" Maddie asked, eyeing the velvet boxes.

"One for my mom, one for my future sister-in-law, Kayla."

Maddie rolled her eyes. "Why are you blowing cash on that? You're just falling for a consumer trap."

Lyra laughed inwardly. She had survived the ultimate toxic romance trap; she hardly feared a marketing gimmick. "It's fine. Gold prices are going to skyrocket soon."

She found her own ulterior motives amusing as she tapped her phone to process the payment. Afterward, she ruthlessly swept through several other boutiques, buying enough designer goods to ensure she wouldn't need to set foot in a mall for at least two months.

Exhausted, they finally collapsed into chairs at an upscale cafe. Maddie took a long sip of her iced latte, her eyes landing on the luxury shopping bags. "Why didn't you buy a bracelet for yourself? Oh, wait... you never wear bracelets. You're a delicate chain girl."

Lyra froze, a memory flashing through her mind.

"You haven't worn a chain in forever, actually," Maddie noted, reaching across the table to grab Lyra's wrist. The pale skin was entirely bare.

Lyra smoothly pulled her hand back. "Not my style anymore. I'm over the flashy stuff."

A woman at the next table shot them a weird look, prompting Lyra to offer an apologetic smile, realizing she had spoken a little too loudly.

Just then, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and hesitated. It rang for several long seconds before she finally picked up.

"Alistair?"

Alistair Jameson's booming, jovial voice echoed through the speaker. "Lyra! What have you been up to? It's been ages since you came to visit your old man. I've missed you..."

"Alistair, I..." Lyra stammered, caught completely off guard. Her own grandfather had passed away years ago, leaving Alistair as the only grandfather figure she had ever known. He was demanding she come to the manor, claiming he had a special gift waiting for her.

"By the way, the millions of dollars you lent me? I put it into Bitcoin. If it tanks, I'll cover the loss. If it moons, the profit is yours."

"Seriously? Best news I've heard all day!" Maddie practically skipped after her. Sometimes she thought Lyra was recklessly generous, selling off her designer bags to hoard cash while simultaneously throwing millions at volatile investments.

Lyra opened her mouth to reply, then abruptly stopped dead in her tracks.

Maddie nearly crashed into her back. "What's wrong?"

Lyra's eyes were locked onto a figure in a boutique window. It was Kayla Harrington. She was alone, aimlessly picking up and setting down a pair of couple's mugs. For some reason, Lyra could sense an overwhelming wave of sadness radiating from her.

Maddie followed her gaze. "Who is that?"

"Caleb's girlfriend, Kayla," Lyra murmured. She quickly grabbed Maddie's arm and pulled her in the opposite direction. It wasn't the right time for them to meet.