CHAPTER 40: MODERN-DAY FAIRY

The women in the lounge began whispering the moment Theodore Pierce appeared at the door. He paused only for a heartbeat, eyes sweeping the room.

Some straightened their posture.

Some adjusted their hair or clothes.

Others offered polite, shy smiles.

Their eyes widened, glances flicking between one another as he strode straight to the woman at the center of the chaos.

"Is he really someone to that woman?"

The whispers shifted into a different kind of buzz.

Those bubbling with jealousy started murmuring about boundaries and rules.

Theo felt relieved that Lyra wasn’t the one who had fainted. He crouched until he was eye to eye with her.

"Hey... what’s going on?" he asked, worry in his voice. "You look pale."

"Oh, you’re here."

She blinked rapidly, fighting tears—holding her emotions hostage.

"Please do something—I want to leave this mess immediately," she managed to say, unable to explain anything more.

Mia looked at Theo and recognized him immediately—the same gentleman at the refreshment bar.

But what was he to her?

Mia stepped in quickly, trying to shield Lyra from more distress.

"Sir... please. I know you’re concerned, but she’s not in a good state right now. Let me explain everything for her."

Her voice was firm, protective—she wouldn’t let anyone overwhelm Lyra further.

Theo slowly rose to his full height, narrowing his eyes as he really looked at her.

"Hold on... you’re the Mineral-Water Lady?" His surprise was obvious.

"Excuse me?" Mia raised a brow at the nickname.

He couldn’t help but smile at Mia’s surprised reaction when he called her by the nickname.

He finally took a proper look at her—fair skin, naturally sweet features, and a mature face framed by platinum hair with soft purple tips.

She really did look like a modern-day fairy. So...Lyra had practically gained a fairy godmother.

A small smile tugged at his lips again, revealing the unfairly handsome, God-sculpted face Mia hadn’t noticed earlier.

"So you’re Dr. Chavan? Lyra’s friend?" Theo asked, catching himself before using the nickname again.

"Yes," Mia said, her tone firm despite the small gulp she couldn’t hide.

"We can introduce ourselves later. There’s something more important right now."

Theo followed the direction of her eyes, his expression darkening as he took in the scene—Julie still sprawled on the floor

Mia gave him a brief, urgent rundown of the situation and Theo understood everything in an instant.

He was about to say something when suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Move!"

The sound alone made the crowd tense. People shifted aside instinctively, as if pulled by an invisible force.

Rowan stepped through the opening.

His expression stern, his features sharpened into something even more intimidating under the lights.

The moment he spotted Lyra, something in his gaze tightened—anger and worry all tangled into one sharp, unreadable look.

Lyra caught Rowan’s gaze for a split second before dropping her eyes immediately. His presence now felt almost suffocating.

It looked like she was about to get a very thorough scolding. Trouble stuck to her like glue. Rowan must think she was a walking disaster.

Enable to look at him, her eyes locked on the fingers gripping the hem of her dress.

Rowan didn’t look away until he reached her.

He stopped in front of her, slowly lowered himself into a crouch and wrapped his hands around hers.

"Lyra..." he breathed her name, careful not to startle her.

"Hey... your hands are freezing."

Their faces were so close he could see every flicker in her eyes.

Lyra nodded slightly to acknowledge his presence, but she went speechless.

Unsure if she’d heard him right—surprised, confused, and oddly relieved that Rowan wasn’t angry.

She felt the familiar flutter in her stomach that always appeared when he was near.

"It’s okay," he murmured. "I’m here." His voice settled warmly in her ears.

Rowan patted Lyra’s hands before he rose. His gaze swept the room, cool and assessing.

"Put your phones down. Stop recording."

Immediately, everyone lowered their phones. A clatter sounded from one corner of the lounge—someone had dropped theirs in fear.

Lyra flinched as well, out of pure reflex—despite the fact she wasn’t even holding a phone.

"Who did this?!"

The room grew even quieter, tension hanging in the air. No one dared to say a word with Theo and Rowan standing there.

Julie, still on the floor, flinched. She nearly raised her hand when Rowan asked who did this.

She cursed silently when Pierce stepped in to protect Lyra.

She wanted to run, but the exits were crowded with people. She desperately hoped a medic would show up and wheel her out on a stretcher.

Theo stepped in. "It’s better if I handle this part. Take her to your lounge—she needs to calm down."

Since Rowan was a special guest, he had a private lounge set aside.

"Yes, please hurry. Call my dad, he can check on her condition," Mia said as she quickly gave Silas’s number.

Damian took the number, then quickly called Silas.

Rowan scooped Lyra into his arms, holding her as if she were the most precious thing he owned.

Lyra’s hand slid up to his neck, her cheek pressing lightly against him.

His scent hit her first—warm and it soothed the knot in her chest.

Every gaze followed them, whispers spreading as people wondered who Lyra was to Rowan for him to treat her like royalty.

The murmurs grew, spreading quickly. A few people even tried to trail behind them, phones raised, hoping to record everything all the way to Rowan’s lounge.

Kane cut them off before they got far, stepping in front of them and blocking their path with a cold look that said they wouldn’t be going any further.

Now, Theo and Mia remained in the lounge to sort out the mess.

Mia moved to Julie’s side. With a fed-up sigh, she nudged Julie’s leg with her foot—not hard, just enough to break the act.

"Stop acting," Mia muttered. "Get up."

Julie’s eyelids fluttered, her jaw tightening.

Theo had no intention of dragging this out. With the influence he carried, the posts about Lyra were wiped from social media almost immediately.

But Julie wasn’t walking away from what she’d done. It was still a crime, and Theo wasn’t about to let her slip past the consequences.

As a clear message to her and to everyone, he called the police and had Julie taken into custody.