Chapter 71 - A Pariah

Lyra paced nervously in her lavish living room, her hands trembling as the gravity of the situation finally hit her. Her thoughts raced, and she couldn't help but engage in frantic internal dialogue.

'How could I have known that Sienna and Jaxon are cousins? I asked Cyrus to find out everything about the Hamiltons, but he was taken who knows where,' she thought, her heart pounding in her chest.

'The Hamiltons have so much influence and power. What if they trace everything back to me? I thought I covered my tracks well, but was it enough?'

As her fear grew, Lyra began to regret ever meddling in Sienna's life. 'I let my emotions control me, and now I'm the one who's going to pay the price. Why didn't I think this through?'

She tried to reassure herself. 'No, I was careful. They can't possibly find out it was me. I just need to stay calm and ride this out.'

But as the clock ticked away, her doubts continued to haunt her.

'What if my involvement in the scandal becomes public knowledg