Chapter 242
Hunter Wilde had just shaken off his elder brother's pestering and was about to find Ethan Smith and Lucy White when a heavily made-up woman blocked his path.
"Can I help you?" He frowned at the woman before him.
Fiona Von flipped her curled hair with practiced elegance. "Hello, Hunter. I'm Felix Von's sister."
She flashed a meticulously rehearsed smile. "I heard my brother offended you earlier. I came to apologize personally."
She deliberately softened her voice, convinced Hunter would be drawn to demure, refined women.
Little did she know, her affected mannerisms made him nauseous.
"If you know your brother has no manners, you should keep him locked up at home for proper discipline." Hunter didn't mince words. "With a sister like you, no wonder he turned out so poorly."
With that, he turned on his heel, unwilling to waste another second on her.
Fiona stomped her foot in frustration. Was this man blind? How could he humiliate her when she, a stunning beauty, was offering herself to him?
Hunter plopped down beside Lucy and groaned, "Just ran into some crazy woman putting on airs. Disgusting."
He'd become an expert at spotting fakes. After being harassed by that deranged woman before, he could instantly identify any sanctimonious schemer.
Lucy stifled a laugh. "Your luck with admirers is truly one-of-a-kind."
She'd long seen through Fiona's true nature. First stealing her best friend's boyfriend, now trying to climb the social ladder? She and Lily Green were cut from the same cloth.
Hunter sighed dramatically. "What's wrong with me? Why do I only attract toxic romance?"
"Lucy, this isn't another romantic doom situation, is it?" he asked warily.
She shook her head with a smile. "Relax. Just an ordinary rotten flower. Ignore it, and it'll wither."
"Thank goodness!" Hunter exhaled in relief.
Just then, a smooth male voice came from behind them. "Lucy, what a coincidence."
Julian Chase stood there gracefully, his gaze fixed intently on Lucy.
"Mr. Chase." Lucy nodded politely.
Julian sat down uninvited. "Had I known you'd be here, I would've asked you to be my plus-one."
"I'm more interested in the auction," she replied courteously.
"You could've gotten an invitation from me," Julian offered eagerly.
Hunter immediately cut in protectively, "My brother's hosting this auction. Why would she need your invite? Lucy's not stupid."
He shot Ethan a look: See? Someone's trying to move in!
Ethan returned a calm glance: Just a clown seeking attention.
Julian raised an eyebrow. "Hunter, since when did you become so nosy?"
"Better than being fake," Hunter retorted bluntly. "Lucy, this guy's a notorious playboy. Stay away."
Julian: "..." He suddenly regretted approaching them.
"I change my outfit daily, but that doesn't mean I change women just as often," he defended with forced cheer.
Ethan delivered the finishing blow: "Everyone knows Julian Chase's romantic escapades."
Lucy watched their bickering with amusement.
Nearby, Lily Green and Fiona Von burned with jealousy. How could Lucy so effortlessly belong in that elite circle while they couldn't get close no matter how hard they tried?
So unfair!
As the auction was about to begin, guests started filing out. Lucy's group took their time leaving last.
At the entrance, they ran into the Gould family.
Giselle Gould's eyes gleamed as she raised her voice pointedly: "Isn't this Lucy? Aren't you going to greet your grandfather?"
She counted on Lucy's fiery temper to publicly snub the old man—humiliating him while ruining Lucy's image in front of these influential young men.
A perfect two-for-one scheme played out in her scheming mind.