Chapter 218
Chapter 218:
As they waited for their food, passersby frequently glanced curiously at Ashton’s table. After all, Rosalie’s striking presence was a rare sight in a place like this.
At that moment, a woman with heavy makeup strolled by and came to a halt upon recognizing Rosalie. Her eyes sparkled with a concealed delight.
She was Bliley Foster, a former classmate of Rosalie. Her excitement stemmed not from the joy of reconnecting with an old friend, but from the satisfaction of seeing Rosalie in what she considered a diminished circumstance.
During their school days, Rosalie had consistently outshone Briley, excelling both in appearance and academics. Now, observing Rosalie dining at a modest eatery, Briley couldn’t suppress a pang of satisfaction.
Rosalie caught Briley’s gaze. Even though they were not especially close, she returned a courteous smile, making an effort to acknowledge her presence. However, before Rosalie had a chance to speak, Briley’s expression twisted into a sneer.
“Hey, hey! If it isn’t Miss Rosalie Campbell herself! It’s been years, and now here you are, downgraded to dining at a roadside stall?”
At the sound of this, Ashton looked at Briley with curiosity. He remembered Rosalie mentioning that she had kept a low profile during her school days, carefully concealing her family background. Given this context, it was not surprising that Briley was speaking in such a manner.
But Liam was deeply offended by Briley’s comments. This was the meal he had organized, and here was this woman clearly ruining it!
Liam’s frustration boiled over. He slammed his hand on the table, pointed aggressively at Briley, and yelled, “Who do you think you are? Do you have no sense of decorum? Our choice of where to eat is none of your business!”
Briley jumped in surprise at Liam’s sudden fury. She sized him up with contempt before snapping back, “Really? And who the hell are you to lecture me on manners? Eating at a roadside stall is simply beneath me! And you’re just a tattooed brute. Do you really think I’m intimidated by you? My boyfriend is on his way, and he’ll put you in your place! How dare you try to act tough with—”
𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⍰𝖼𝗈𝗺
No sooner had she spoken than a man in a suit arrived. In an instant, Briley hooked her arm through his, proudly introducing him, “This is my boyfriend, Hayes Olson. His family owns a construction materials company, and he became the general manager at just 24!”
Hayes gazed at Rosalie with fascination. While he had always found Briley attractive, seeing Rosalie now made him realize how ordinary Briley seemed in comparison. Quickly regaining his composure, Hayes wrapped his arm around Briley’s waist, playing the part of a supportive partner. Briley, oblivious to Hayes’ thoughts, continued her show of pride.
“Hayes is truly remarkable! He has secured big investments at such a young age. One of his projects is here in this area.”
Hayes, eager to impress Rosalie, chimed in, “Spot on! I think you’ve heard about the big Skyline Group project nearby? The museum being built around here? That’s one of my investments!”
The topic couldn’t have been more opportune. Ashton and Rosalie shared a look of amused recognition. Ashton said, “Oh, so you’re one of our investors? I haven’t come across any external funding for our project, but since you’ve brought it up, why don’t you join us? As an investor, you must be quite familiar with the project site. If you have any recommendations or insights, feel free to share them, and we’ll make sure our construction team considers them.”
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