?Chapter 362:
Katelyn couldn’t believe her eyes.
It wasn’t just Bartley’s perfect features that caught her off guard, but the fact that someone so young could own a hotel this grand.
He was as striking as Vincent, but the difference in their presence was stark.
Vincent carried a cold, detached arrogance, whereas the man in front of her had a sharp, refined elegance. His charm was undeniable, and there was a quiet authority in his handsome face, as though he didn’t need to unt power to be taken seriously.
Katelyn forced herself to look away, her lips twisting into a bitter smile.
“I was here first. Why should I give up my room for them?”
Bartley nced at Lise, the story they had fed him now seeming a bit off.
With a practiced smile still in ce, Bartley said, “Thisdy mentioned they’d be happy topensate you for the inconvenience.”
Katelyn’s reply came quickly, her voice cool and firm. “I’m not interested in their money. I only ask that I receive no harassment while I’m here.”
Lise’s expression darkened with anger. Harassment? What exactly was Katelyn insinuating?
She red at Katelyn. “Katelyn, don’t push it. We’re trying to be reasonable, but don’t make us take another route.”
Katelyn’s smile grew, but the chill in her eyes deepened.
“Oh? Are you thinking of getting physical?” Katelyn’s voice carried a taunt.
“You…” Lise started, her anger bubbling over, but Bartley’s quick, warning nce silenced her.
Though his smile stayed in ce, the atmosphere around him shifted, bing just as intimidating as Vincent’s.
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“Once someone checks into my hotel, they’re under my protection,” Bartley said with quiet authority. “No one has the right to pressure my guests into anything they don’t want.”
Katelyn gave him a sidelong nce, surprised. She had assumed Bartley would back Lise.
Elora, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up. “I’ve never been denied anything I wanted, not since I was a child. Name your price for this hotel, and I’ll buy it right now.”
Her anger simmered beneath her words. She was determined to make Katelyn pay for defying her.
Katelyn quickly estimated the hotel’s worth, easily in the billions. Bartley, still wearing his easy smile, replied, “I’m afraid this hotel isn’t for sale. It’s my personal property.” His smile didn’t falter—a practiced expression that kept his true thoughts hidden.
Perhaps his experience as a businessman, dealing with all kinds of people, had taught him to keep his emotions in check.
Elora’s temper red. “Find a way to fix this, or I’ll make sure your hotel is shut down.”
For the first time, Bartley’s smile slipped slightly.
“You might be a Williams, but don’t forget the Lawrences don’t scare easily,” Bartley said calmly, though the warning in his words was unmistakable.
Katelyn observed the standoff, her mind processing the details she had just learned about Elora’s lineage. The Williams family had been nobility since thest century, their wealth rooted in gold mining andter flourishing through a prestigious jewelry business.
Though their power had dimmed over the years, Elora was still treated with reverence wherever she went. She carried herself with the kind of arrogance that only old money could justify.
Elora’s expression hardened, her teeth clenching in barely contained anger.
“Bartley, is this really how you’re going to treat me? Don’t forget our connection. You’d rather stand by a stranger than me?”
This wasn’t just about emotions; it was about a potential family alliance, and Elora expected Bartley to show her the respect she believed she deserved, especially in front of others.<fn0001> Fresh chapters posted on FindN0vel</fn0001>
Bartley’s face remainedposed as he spoke with steady resolve. “My guests’ rights are my top priority. That’s not up for negotiation.”
“What about me? What do I mean to you?”
Elora’s voice wavered with anger as she jabbed a finger in Katelyn’s direction.
“You’d defend this woman over me? I’ll make sure your family knows exactly what you did here today!”
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