Chapter 71

Lyra’s POV

This morning, I woke up with a single, resolute thought: I was going to pay Alistair a visit. I’d spent the past few days plotting, determined to make his life so impossible that he’d finally have to agree to let me go on our girls’ trip. Enough was enough—no more excuses, no more dodging. Today, I would confront him.

I pulled on a simple but elegant dress—nothing too flashy, but polished enough to show I meant business. After slipping into comfortable heels, I scanned my reflection in the mirror and ran a scarf loosely around my neck. If the guards at the compound saw me heading toward Alistair’s office, they’d phone him in a heartbeat. I needed stealth on my side.

Outside, the morning air was crisp. I hailed a taxi at the curb, climbed inside, and tapped the window closed. As the car eased into traffic, my heart pounded. I reviewed my plan in my mind—walking right up to his office, insisting on an immediate meeting with no chance for him to wrig