Chapter 18
Lydia slowly regained her composure and looked toward Michael. For a moment, she caught a flicker of concern in his typically indifferent eyes.
Michael caught her looking and casually withdrew his hand. “Are you feeling okay?”
Lydia glanced at the water glass on the table. Before she could reach for it, Hayden handed it over. Their fingers brushed- his palm cool, hers warm–and a flutter hit her chest out of nowhere.
“Rachel got even for you out there,” Hayden said. As she sipped slowly, he began recounting everything that happened after she passed out.
Lydia listened–how everyone was calling Rachel a “loving mother“-but felt nothing. ‘Rachel nailed the script,‘ she thought. ‘After all this drama, she’s not only scored herself a great reputation as a doting mom, but also pulled me deeper into the Hollander name.‘
She looked up at Hayden, her tone sharp. “You saw right through her, didn’t you?”
Hayden raised a brow. “What do you think?”
Lydia looked at his confident expression and couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “Ugh, what a manipulative guy.‘ “Sorry, I messed up your bid meeting.” Lydia pushed herself off the bed and stretched. Her eyes turned cold as she added, “To make it up, I’ll help you get rid of some trash that doesn’t belong here.”
Hayden’s face stayed calm, but a glint lit his eyes. “Go ahead. As Mrs. Leonard, you don’t have to hold back.”
Lydia remembered the terms of her agreement with Hayden, feeling a slight blush creeping up her neck. “Okay,” she muttered.
Then she pushed open the door to the lounge and walked out. Ignoring the stares around her, she headed straight for Michael and Ciara.
Ciara was pressing an ice pack against her face, trying to soothe her burning skin. Spotting Lydia approaching, she instantly went on high alert.
“Lydia, you okay?” Michael asked, his gaze sliding past Lydia to Zachary behind, who’d been the one to carry Lydia to the lounge after she fainted.
Michael had asked around earlier. Zachary was Hayden’s assistant. He was the very person who had called Michael to come to Jettridge.
“Disappointed I’m still breathing?” Lydia flagged down a server, grabbed a glass off her tray, and handed it to Ciara. “You almost got me killed back there. Have a few drinks to make up for it, yeah?”
“I don’t drink.” Ciara turned to Michael, silently begging for help.
Michael frowned, subtly turning huis head to hide the swollen side of his face. “I’ll drink for her.”
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Chapter 18
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Lydia let out a bitter laugh. “She says she can’t drink, and you’re jumping in to save the day. But you knew I’m allergic to mangoes, and you let her bully me anyway. What a perfect couple you two are.”
People had always said that about Lydia and Michael. After a while, she’d started to believe it. But now, it was obvious that Ciara and Michael were the perfect couple.
Michael was speechless. He glanced at Zachary standing behind Lydia. At the Leonard Group’s bidding event, picking a fight with her might offend Hayden. Wanting to smooth things over quickly, he turned to Ciara, signaling her to do what Lydia said.
Ciara took the glass reluctantly and chugged it. The alcohol burned her throat, making her cough so hard that tears sprang to her eyes. Before she could wipe them away, another glass appeared in front of her.
“Drink.” Lydia’s voice was sharp.
Ciara’s eyes filled with tears, but Michael didn’t budge. When money was on the line, her crying didn’t mean a thing.
She choked down another full glass. Her stomach lurched, her eyes went red, and her whole body shook.
Lydia kept pouring. The deep crimson liquid flowed into the champagne glass, stopping abruptly when it was barely half full. She looked up at Michael coldly. “Trying to play the hero?”
Michael’s face darkened. “You’re always so tough.”
Lydia’s eyes welled up, her gaze locking on Michael. ‘Tough? Fine, I am,‘ she thought bitterly. ‘If I hadn’t been tough, your company would’ve never made it. Those so–called partners would’ve crushed you. Now you’ve got everything, and you’re calling me pushy?‘
She let out a sharp laugh and hurled the wine bottle straight at Michael’s head. The crash made everyone gasp in shock.
Ciara shrieked, “Lydia, have you lost your mind?”
Lydia stood there, the broken bottle slipping from her hand. A bitter smile tugged at her lips as she stared hard at Michael, blood trickling down his forehead.
“Remember this,” she said coldly. “This is what real tough looks like. And compared to what you put me through, one lousy bottle doesn’t even come close.”
Zachary hadn’t seen that coming. After a moment of stunned silence, he remembered Hayden’s instructions and turned to the crowd. “Alright, everyone, let’s head to the conference room. The bidding is about to begin.”
Michael’s head spun. He swayed, leaning weakly on Ciara.
“Lydia, that’s way too far,” Ciara snapped.
“Oh yeah?” Lydia stepped carefully around the glass shards. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Rachel, who’d been watching from across the room, walked over. She grabbed Lydia’s arm and steered her toward the conference room.
“The meeting’s starting. These people aren’t worth your time,” Rachel said dismissively. It was as if chold
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Chapter 18
forgotten her own dramatic confrontation with Ciara and Michael just moments ago.
Lydia walked into the conference room without looking back, not giving a damn about the two behind her.
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Only Michael and Ciara remained in the hall. He clutched his forehead and stumbled toward the closing conference room door. He had fought hard to get a ticket to cooperate with the Leonard family. Giving up now would mean all his effort was wasted.
“Sir, you can’t go in like that,” the staffer at the door said, sounding sympathetic. “You might need a hospital now.”
Michael brushed him off and tried to barge right in. However, since he was already injured, the staff easily stopped him from entering.
Ciara stood beside Michael, stunned. As the door closed, she caught a quick glimpse of the man sitting at the head of the conference table.
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