She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 97

Lyra woke up to a screen full of missed calls.

Surprisingly, one of them was from Rowan.

Without a second thought, she blocked his number.

She didn't need to answer to know exactly what happened: Rowan had put Alistair in the hospital.

Defying the entire family, Rowan had boldly declared, "If I can't decide my own marriage, I'll resign as CEO of Jameson Group and carve my own path."

Those words were enough to make the patriarch, who had controlled the conglomerate for decades, slam his hand on the table before collapsing, clutching his chest. He was now fighting for his life in the ICU.

The Jameson Group was a sprawling empire. With Charles working in politics and Caspian still a student, Rowan was the only one capable of keeping the massive corporation afloat.

The harsh reality was that Rowan didn't need the Jameson Group—the Jameson Group needed Rowan.

Alistair knew this perfectly well, which was exactly why Rowan's threat had triggered such a devastating reaction.

The news spread like wildfire, sending shockwaves through the city's elite.

The Fairchild family was gripped with anxiety. Though they hadn't caused the catastrophe, they were inevitably tangled up in the fallout.

Early the next morning, Arthur sighed heavily at the breakfast table, looking at his daughter who was calmly eating her oatmeal. "Are you heading to the hospital after breakfast?"

Lyra shook her head. "I have work. Quentin needs me for something, and it sounds important."

Arthur was already familiar with Quentin Pierce, the brilliant engineer Lyra had recently recruited with a massive salary.

Still, her casual dismissal brought the entire dining table to a standstill. Arthur, Caleb, and Delilah all stopped eating to stare at her.

Caleb voiced their collective shock. "Lyra, you're not going to visit Alistair?"

"It's only right that you make an appearance," Delilah urged anxiously. "After all, he collapsed defending you..."

Lyra offered a thin, serene smile. "I'm not going to add fuel to the fire."

She remembered how this played out in her past life. Alistair was hospitalized, and eventually, Rowan compromised.

For all his ruthless ambition, Rowan still possessed a sliver of loyalty to his family.

Driven by obligation, he had ultimately married her.

On the ride back, Arthur called Lyra to recount the tense hospital visit.

Lyra simply laughed.

Rowan had been so unspeakably cruel to her family in the past.

Hearing them try to push for their marriage now made her feel like she was living in a sick joke.

"Alistair asked to see you specifically once he woke up," Arthur pressed over the phone. "You need to go."

"Fine. I'll ask Caspian to go with me tomorrow."

Arthur was left utterly speechless.

...

Back at the hospital, Victoria was seething over Lyra's absence.

She vented her frustration to Charles. "I never realized Lyra could be so incredibly petty. Rowan gets a little close to Jasmine, and suddenly she's demanding to cancel the engagement. Your father nearly died defending her, and she hasn't even bothered to show her face."