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