?Chapter 341:


    Without missing a beat, Natalia stepped forward, linking her arm through Brian’s and softening her voice. “I won’t deny it. I hit her. But only because she insulted me and hit me first. And look—” she touched her cheek with a small pout. “It’s still red. My dad’s taking me to a party tomorrow… If he sees this, he’s going to be furious.”


    Brian pieced it together after hearing both sides. So, they’d both thrown hands, but Tracy had been the instigator.


    Tracy’s face drained of color while Natalia shot her a yful smirk, taunting her.


    “Brian, you have to stand up for me. If my face gets ruined, my dad might…” Natalia paused for effect, then cast Tracy a knowing look. “My dad might cut your face with a knife.”


    Tracy was undoubtedly shaken by those words, but she didn’t let them get to her. She assumed Natalia was merely bluffing. Even so, she quickly apologized, saying, “I’m sorry, Natalia…”


    “Only my friends get to call me Natalia. What makes you think you’re one of them?” Tracy’s face darkened at her remark, but she swallowed her pride and bowed deeply.


    “I’m sorry, Miss Carpenter. I take full responsibility. I shouldn’t have hung up on you, and I had no right to hit you.”


    Natalia sat back down, taking a slow, deliberate bite of her cupcake. “But the problem remains—I’m still very upset.”


    “Just tell me what I can do to make amends. I’ll do whatever you say.” Tracy wasn’t naive. She knew that the more she humbled herself now, the more sympathy she’d gain from Brianter. A little humiliation now was a small price to pay for a bigger win.


    “I take after my dad—merciless and never leaving debts unpaid. I prefer to settle matters right away, so…” Without another word, she picked up her ss of coffee and dumped it over Tracy’s head.


    The liquid soaked her hair, ran down her face, and dripped onto her neck before seeping into her clothes and pooling on the floor. She stood there, drenched and miserable, looking every bit like a drowned rat. It was almost enough to make someone pity her—almost.


    “Well, that helped a little,” Natalia said, dusting off her hands as if she’d justpleted a chore.


    “As long as you are satisfied,” Tracy replied, forcing a tight-lipped smile.


    ?????????? ???????? ???? g???????ν?????????????


    Suddenly, she wobbled unsteadily, nearly copsing.


    Brian caught her just in time. “Go get changed and clean yourself up,” he said.


    “Okay,” she mumbled before making a swift exit.


    Natalia smirked before turning to Rachel. “Come on, let’s go.”


    “Sure.”


    “Hold on, Rachel Marsh. Stay here. Ronald, take Natalia for a walk outside. I need a private word with Rachel,” Brian interjected. A private word? Was he about to have a conversation with her—or was this a scolding?


    Rachel didn’t understand why he had let Natalia go unchecked, but she could see his concern for Tracy was real.


    “Alright then!” Natalia pouted, switching back to her yful act as she walked off with Ronald.


    Now, it was just Brian and Rachel in the room.


    The air was thick with tension, and Rachel found herself stepping back instinctively.


    .


    .


    .