<b>Chapter </b><b>397 </b>
4.23
That was <b>just </b>Aubree being <b>sarcastic</b>, but Birgitte was even more ruthless. Their styles were totally different. Aubree liked to set up a long game, draw people in, and <b>then </b>slowly grind them down.
Birgitte, though, was <b>just </b>savage. She <b>was </b>hard on herself and even harder <b>on </b>others.
She said, “You really think you <b>can </b>get into <b>the </b>Moore family after sleeping with some old man? Take a good look at yourself. Can you stop hanging all over Hugo already?
“You’re just a shameless homewrecker<b>, </b><b>always </b>trying toe between Hugo and me.”
Those filthy words rolled off Birgitte’s tongue in that <b>icy</b><b>, </b>almost creepy tone of hers. After <b>a </b>few lines, she paused and stared straight into Grace’s panicked eyes. <b>“</b><b>If </b>you’ve forgotten <b>what </b>you said, Miss Lawson, I <b>can </b>remind you.”
Stuff like that would be a lifelong <b>scar </b>for <b>just </b>about anyone.
Elizabeth finally <b>gave </b>Birgitte <b>a </b>real look. ‘Damn, this girl is ruthless<b>. </b>She really doesn’t <b>give </b>a damn,’ she thought.
Hugo’s face turned stormy. “Grace, I’ve told you before. <b>I’ve </b>only <b>ever </b>seen you <b>as </b><b>a </b>little <b>sister</b>. I don’t have any feelings for you. Not now, not ever.
“Elizabeth, there’s one thing you’ve got wrong. That <b>so</b><b>–</b><b>called </b>engagement between our families was just our parents joking around.
“If the Lawson family actually took it seriously, you can <b>go </b><b>ask </b>my folks yourself and <b>see </b>if they’ll even admit to it<b>.” </b>
Hugo’s parents would <b>never </b><b>set </b>their son up like <b>that</b><b>. </b>If he was on board, it’d be a <b>great </b>story. But if he wasn’t, they’d justugh it off as a joke.
“Hugo…” Grace’s voice trembled with disbelief<b>. </b>She <b>was </b>the one who <b>got </b>pped, yet she <b>was </b>stunned by Hugo’s reaction.
“Stop calling me so intimately,” Hugo said coldly.
Grace’s eyes reddened instantly<b>, </b><b>tears </b>welling up as she <b>stared </b>at him in shock and hurt.
Bowen lowered his gaze, not for a second believing that <b>Grace </b>had only mouthed off at Birgitte.
His eyes went icy as he spoke. “So, Ms. <b>Lawson</b>, you brought your cousin here thinking my girlfriend and her friend would be easy to push around.
“When you couldn’t snatch the painting<b>, </b>you decided to <b>say </b>nasty things and got what wasing <b>to </b>you. Now you want to turn around and y the victim?”
Elizabeth’s polite smile faltered. ‘Wait, this isn’t how things <b>were </b>supposed to go,’ she thought.
She figured that since Grace got pped, even if they <b>were </b>totally in the wrong, at <b>least </b>they’d gain sympathy. Elizabeth felt that Bowen should’ve at <b>least </b>talk some <b>sense </b>into <b>Aubree </b>for the <b>sake </b><b>of </b><b>appearances</b>.
Bowen let out <b>a </b>coldugh. “Ms. Lawson, you’ve got it all wrong. I’ve <b>never </b><b>been </b>the <b>reasonable </b>type. In fact, I’m fiercely protective of my own.
“Even if Bree really <b>was </b>at fault <b>today</b>, if <b>you </b><b>made </b><b>her </b>upset<b>, </b><b>you’ll </b><b>just </b><b>have </b>to <b>deal </b>with it. <b>If </b><b>you’ve </b><b>got </b>a problem,e talk to me when you can actually put me under your thumb.”
Elizabeth knew she’d really <b>screwed </b>up this time and tried to <b>drag </b><b>Grace </b><b>away</b>.
But the moment Grace <b>saw </b><b>Birgitte </b>being so proud, her temper exploded. The sting from that <b>p </b>on her <b>face </b><b>was </b>still burning, and no matter how hard Elizabeth pulled, she stood her ground, refusing <b>to </b><b>move </b>an inch.
Since they refused to <b>leave</b><b>, </b><b>Bowen </b>didn’t mind giving them <b>a </b>little <b>push</b>.
He pulled out his phone and sent a quick <b>message </b>to Ethan and Samson, who <b>were </b>waiting outside. A <b>few </b>secondster, two huge guys in ck, wearing <b>earpieces</b>, walked into the lounge.
“Mr. Turner, who do you want us to toss out?” one of them asked.
5.00 PM
<b>With </b><b>a </b>slight nod of his chin, <b>Bowen </b>said, “Escort Ms. Lawson and her cousin out.”
“<b>Bowen</b>!” Elizabeth <b>was </b>truly panicking now. If Bowen really had her thrown out of the art exhibition, she’d be aughingstock on Rithol City Evening <b>News </b>tomorrow.
Only then did <b>Grace </b><b>realize </b>the Lawson family couldn’t protect her anymore. Frightened, she instinctively hid behind Elizabeth for protection.
Ethan and Samson let out <b>a </b>sly chuckle<b>. </b>“You got it. Ms. Lawson, no hard feelings<b>.” </b><b>The </b><b>two </b><b>of </b>them moved to escort them out.
Elizabeth muttered <b>a </b>curse under her breath, grabbed <b>Grace</b><b>, </b>and dragged her out, looking like there was <b>a </b>rabid dog chasing them from behind.