Chapter 40

Lyra made the technical jargon sound like a story, explaining techniques with warmth and wit. Whenever she leaned close to check a suture or whispered encouragement to a nervous participant, the audience reacted instantly, laughter, whistles, bursts of clapping. From his seat, Caleb could hardly sit still. His small fists pumped the air as he blurted, “That’s my aunt! She’s the best!” Heads turned, smiles spreading at his pride. Lyra, catching his voice, looked over and rewarded him with a radiant smile. Her eyes, however, flicked briefly past the boy, landing on Damon. The two exchanged the kind of glance that never goes unnoticed. Predictably, it didn’t. Within minutes, fans online were already speculating, pairing them up in excited comments, and hashtags began trending. Lyra’s name climbed charts faster than anyone expected, dragging her recent projects back into the public eye. She felt the spark of triumph. Maybe, finally, everything she wanted was falling into place. Not everyon