Chapter 262
Chapter 262:
Yelena met her gaze, unfazed and steady. “And what gives you the authority to tell me what to do? Perhaps you should focus on minding your own affairs,” she replied, her calmness sharper than any retort.
“Humph! Because I am Austin’s fiancée! We’ve grown up together, and our families have long approved of our relationship. The wedding is just a formality. If you have even a shred of sense, you’ll keep your distance,” Monica scoffed, folding her arms with a haughty flair.
It was a bold declaration, one Monica hoped would shatter any lingering competition.
But in truth, Monica might have been giving herself too much credit.
Yelena was never one to compromise, especially not when faced with threats.
Whether or not she liked Austin was irrelevant. It didn’t change who she was.
The very concept of being coerced was foreign to her: threats were weapons wielded by the weak, and Yelena didn’t bow to such tactics.
With a faint smile, she turned her sharp gaze toward Monica. “Miss Mitchell, perhaps you should direct that little speech to Austin instead of me. What are you so afraid of? As long as people don’t meddle with me, I have no reason to meddle with them. In the future, it’s best if we act like strangers when we cross paths p>
Her calm, cutting words landed like a slap, leaving Monica flustered. Frustration boiled over as Monica stomped her foot, her composure cracking.
“Yelena, wipe that smug look off your face! If it weren’t for your cheap, manipulative tricks, Austin wouldn’t even give you a second glance!” Monica snarled, her voice shaking with barely restrained fury.
Yelena’s smile grew sharper, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and disdain. Her tone was a perfect blend of mockery and poise. “Miss Mitchell, surely you know Austin better than I do since—as you just mentioned—you grew up together. A man like him isn’t swayed by something so trivial. But if you truly believe ‘cheap tricks’ are effective, perhaps it’s your own approach that needs refining p>
The subtle jab pierced through Monica’s composure, leaving her stunned and uncharacteristically silent.
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“You… Just wait and see!” she spat, her voice taut with frustration.
No one had ever dared to speak to Monica like that. With her elevated status and the deference it commanded, she was accustomed to being treated with admiration and respect, her every whim anticipated.
But Yelena hadn’t just dismissed her—she’d openly mocked her, cutting through Monica’s self-assured veneer with infuriating ease.
And worse, Monica couldn’t deny the sting of truth in Yelena’s words.
Her fists clenched tightly at her sides, her mind a whirlwind of indignation. This slight couldn’t be ignored. Yelena had embarrassed her, and if she didn’t act, it might embolden her further. Before Austin and Yelena’s relationship advanced any further, Monica knew she had to take control.
The cheesecake she’d originally set out to buy was now the last thing on her mind.
Her appetite had vanished, replaced by simmering anger. When Monica arrived home, she found Amanda reclining in the living room, sipping tea with a serene expression. During her extended stay in Eighfast, Monica had decided to stay at Amanda’s house.
Amanda looked up as Monica entered, her gaze dropping to Monica’s empty hands.
“Back so soon? Didn’t you say you were going to pick up desserts p>
Monica’s scowl deepened, her irritation impossible to hide. “Don’t even bring it up,” she snapped. “I ran into someone utterly insufferable, and it ruined my mood p>
“Insufferable?” Amanda echoed, her brow arching with concern. “What happened? Are you alright p>
“I’m fine,” Monica said, though the venom in her voice suggested otherwise. “It was that wretched Yelena. She had the nerve to mock me—me! Can you believe it?” She dropped onto the sofa beside Amanda, the tension in her jaw unrelenting.
“Her? Ugh. She’s the worst. I don’t understand how anyone can stand her. Most people just ignore her entirely. She’s nothing but trouble,” Amanda said, her tone dripping with disdain.