Chapter 024: Betrayed

"What? What is she doing here? And why are the Thompsons also here?"

Lyra kept questioning herself, stealing quick glances at the familiar figures like a thief. Dante, who could sense Lyra's sudden stiffness and funny body language, steadied her hand with his own for the second time and continued heading toward the seat directed to them by the usher. When they were just in front of the central circle of seats with the exquisite wine bottles gently placed on top of the middle table, Dante halted and moved to the group of seats next to theirs as he exchanged pleasantries with a group of business associates familiar to him.

Lyra was already beginning to feel left alone and exposed. She cowered on her seat, with sweat lines dripping slowly down her temples. To calm herself and keep her throat from constantly running dry, she gestured to one of the attending waitresses for a glass to sip one of the wine bottles on the table; it was provided in a matter of seconds. Lyra still did not see