She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 356

Rowan's movements paused. "What's wrong?"

Lyra licked her lips and shook her head.

"Use your words," Rowan demanded. "Does it taste bad? Is it too hot?"

"I don't like it."

"Liar. You ate the first two bites perfectly fine."

Lyra glared at him coldly. "I'm afraid it's poisoned!"

The man frowned in genuine confusion. "Why would it be poisoned?"

Lyra's lips parted slightly. "Who knows?"

The chilling image from his dream flashed through Rowan's mind. "Who would want to poison you?"

Lyra fell completely silent.

His beloved brother, Caspian.

Or perhaps Rowan had silently authorized it himself.

"I've moved out," Rowan explained smoothly. "I'm staying at Blackwood Manor now, and Zola made this. It's just me and her, absolutely no one else. I haven't even hired the rest of the staff yet. You know exactly what kind of person Zola is."

"Eat it." He scooped up another spoonful and held it to her mouth. "Don't you want to escape me? The only way out is to get your strength back."

Seeing her clear eyes staring back at him in stubborn refusal, he lowered his voice. "If you refuse to eat, we can find something else to do."

Lyra's lips twitched. She desperately wanted to heal as fast as possible, so she forced herself to swallow. But plagued by horrifying mental images, she choked the food down agonizingly slowly.

Once she was finished, Rowan had the nurse come in to clear the table, then carefully helped Lyra rinse her mouth.

The doctor's subtle wording made it painfully obvious he knew exactly who Rowan was.

The blood instantly drained from Lyra's face, leaving it a frozen, ghastly white.

She knew the doctor was fully aware that Rowan had a fiancée—and that Lyra wasn't her. Yet he had been holding her intimately for days on end. It didn't take a genius to figure out that vicious rumors and judging whispers were already tearing through the hospital.

Seeing her distress, Rowan gently patted her stiff back, lifted her into his arms, and carefully settled her back into the bed. "I'll take care of it," he promised softly.

Recovering her voice, Lyra said coldly, "I already called my mom and brother. They'll be here any minute. You need to leave."

Rowan's brow furrowed slightly. "When did you call them?"

"Right before you showed up."

True to her word, a flurry of urgent footsteps echoed down the hallway moments later. Delilah and Caleb hurried into the room, their faces etched with frantic worry.