Lyra said she was fine. The discussion was nearly ending anyway. She could easily sit there a little longer.
But the moment she lifted her gaze toward the stage, she regretted it.
That shameless woman did it again. But this time, she didn't bother hiding it.
She leaned in boldly, her shoulder brushing his as she whispered something against his ear, her fingers trailing along his arm with practiced ease.
Cameras burst into flashes from the front rows, reporters capturing every angle as if the moment were headline-worthy.
Lyra felt a small ache quietly in her chest.
Rowan didn't pull away. He let the woman lean in, let her touch his arm so easily, right there in front of everyone. It wasn't much, but it was enough to unsettle her.
Lyra couldn't sit through it anymore. A cold heaviness pressed against her chest, and she stood, deciding she needed to step out for a moment to steady herself.
Silas saw Lyra rise and immediately nudged Mia to go after her.
