Chapter 457

Aubree and Birgitte were not only superior and subordinate, but also friends. Outside of work, they would occasionally joke around with each other.

“So, how’s it going with you and Hugo after the Moore family’s birthday party in Rithol City?” Aubree asked, a teasing glint in her eye.

Birgitte paused for a moment before replying, “Well, both Hugo and Grace returned to Südlichen Strand and continued working. Grace remained the same as ever. I thought after everything Hugo had done, he’d finally be more decisive with her.”

Aubree’s playful expression faded. “He still can’t turn Grace down,” she said.

"Turn down" here referred to how Grace had constantly found excuses and reasons to plead for Hugo’s help. Even though he knew perfectly well that these were likely just excuses for her to get close to him, he still found it hard to say no and ended up leaving everything behind to go to her.

It has nothing to do with love; he simply can’t let go of his sense of responsibility, Birgitte thought.

“He has a tremendous sense of responsibility,” Birgitte said. ‘I don’t blame him. Everyone has their own personality. Wasn’t it that very same sense of responsibility that first drew me to him?’ she thought.

Birgitte smiled with relief and said, “Let it be.”

As they chatted and walked toward the restaurant, something unexpected happened just as they were about to enter.

“Bitch, go to hell!” A middle-aged man, fully armed and with bloodshot eyes, hurled a bottle straight at Birgitte’s face and shouted. Aubree and Birgitte, caught off guard, didn’t even have time to react.

“Watch out!” At that critical moment, someone rushed in from the side and shouted, shielding Birgitte in his arms and simultaneously pushing Aubree away, saving her from an unexpected disaster.

A pungent, corrosive smell filled the air.

“Patrick Steward!” Birgitte cried out.

“Ahhh!” A scream burst from Patrick’s mouth. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his entire body trembled from the pain. Yet he held Birgitte tightly, shielding her from danger.

A large portion of his back corroded, and blood soaked through his clothes. “Ms. Cherniavsky, are you okay?” Patrick forced out through gritted teeth, his words, despite the pain, still full of concern for Birgitte.

“I’m fine! Call 911, quick!” Birgitte shouted.

Aubree snapped out of it and kicked the middle-aged man to the ground. She was no longer that scrawny, helpless girl everyone used to pick on.

After all the dangers she had been through and the professional training she had received, taking down an untrained grown man was a piece of cake for her now.

She pinned him to the ground, her face icy cold. “Who sent you?” she asked.

“No one sent me! I just can’t stand that bitch, Birgitte. Who is she that can steal Hugo from our Grace? What a slut! She’s got herself a new guy to play hero for her so soon?” the middle-aged man replied.

His bloodshot eyes were wild, his face twisted with rage, his voice completely deranged. He was clearly out of his mind.

Aubree was caught off guard, and the man broke free from her grasp. Fortunately, the police arrived just in time and subdued him. The sharp wail of sirens rang out as the ambulance followed closely behind, rushing Patrick to the hospital for treatment.

Birgitte went with him to the hospital, while Aubree stayed behind to assist with the investigation. With all the key figures of the incident gone, the crowd finally erupted into a flurry of heated discussion.

“Aren’t they from Bree Technology, Ms. Cherniavsky and Ms. Miller? What the heck just happened?” someone said.

“I heard that guy mention someone by the name of Grace. Is he talking about Grace Lawson?” Another chipped in.

“Who’s Grace Lawson? What’s she got to do with all this?” someone asked.

“You seriously don’t know? Well, it makes sense. It was covered up real soon when it first broke out. Rumor has it that Grace, the TV station’s most gorgeous host, her beloved is Hugo…”

Whether the people involved wanted it or not, a serious incident like this was bound to make the news.

After Aubree was done with the investigation, she was sent to the hospital by none other than Hugo.

“Birgitte’s okay, right?” Hugo asked.

“She’s fine. Someone stepped in and saved us,” Aubree replied.

“This should have something to do with Grace. What do you think?” Aubree looked at him and asked.