Chapter 122
Lisette was clearly annoyed, but if Lennox really did get bitten by her dog, she’d be the one footing the medical bill. Worse, she’d have to take care of him out of basic responsibility. And if it was a serious bite that left him with lasting damage? Was she supposed to be his caretaker for life?
Grimacing internally, she still hit the unlock button.
Lennox all but launched himself into the car and slammed the door shut, practically panting with the adrenaline. Sitting in the passenger seat, he turned to her, eyebrows high. “Your dog doesn’t even look that big—how is she so aggressive? What breed is that p>
“She bites whoever she doesn’t vibe with,” Lisette replied dryly, slamming on the gas and heading home.
Once parked, she hopped out, scooped up the excitable Wendy, and rubbed her head affectionately while murmuring, “Wendy, why are you so worked up? Did you miss me that much p>
“Woof woof woof!” came the enthusiastic response.
Lisette giggled softly, then shot a side glance at the passenger seat, where Lennox hadn’t moved. Her gaze turned icy. “You getting out or what p>
Lennox hesitated. Was she… two-faced?
Just now, she’d been all gentle and sweet with her dog, yet switched to full-on hostile with him in a snap. Was this some ploy to grab his attention?
His brows furrowed, but he stepped out and hadn’t even shut the door before Lisette turned to Elliot and ordered coldly, “Take it to the garage. I want a full clean—top to bottom. Disgustingly dirty p>
Lennox blinked, glancing at the vehicle under the garage lights. Spotless. Not a speck of dirt in sight. He could swear the wheels were literally gleaming.
Dirty? Where exactly?
He shot Lisette a baffled look. Since when did she turn into such a neat freak?
Wait a second p>
A thought hit him. Was she basically saying—he made the car dirty?
A wave of frustration boiled in his chest. She really would try anything just to get his attention, huh?
As he opened his mouth, Lisette hit him with two sharp questions: “Who told you I live here? What are you doing here p>
Her tone was harsh, and she looked done with him already. Lennox’s fists clenched tighter at his sides, but before he could respond, Tobias strolled over casually. He slung an arm around Lisette’s shoulders, all smooth and natural, and asked, “Had a good time p>
“Yeah p>
Still riding high from a full day out, Lisette melted into his chest slightly, her body relaxing.
Her eyes gleamed with lazy contentment. “We didn’t just have fun. I accomplished something big today p>
“Oh yeah? What kind of big p>
Seeing she was tired, Tobias reached out and gently took Wendy from her arms, passing the dog off to Elliot, who had just walked up.
Freed of obligations, Lisette leaned more comfortably into him, her whole posture screaming ’done for the day.’ “We’re heading back to Aurelian the day after tomorrow. Scarlett and I made a whole gift list—I picked out a bunch of stuff for Grandma. Let’s go shopping tomorrow, okay p>
“Sounds perfect,” Tobias said, his smile softening.
The two of them were lost in their own world, chatting like no one else existed.
It made Lennox’s eyelids twitch.
Seriously? Just how far was she going to go to get a reaction out of him?
He stepped forward, eyes locked on Lisette. “Lisette, I’ve made up my mind. I’m in. Let’s date—give it a year, and I’ll marry you p>
Elliot, about to get in the car with Wang Wendy in his arms, froze like he’d been struck by lightning.
“Wait, what p>
This guy had to be out of his damn mind.
Forget driving, Elliot was now fully invested, hugging the dog and watching the drama unfold like he had front-row seats. Glancing over at his boss, yep, there it was—Tobias was fully laser-focused on his wife, and his dark eyes were practically storming with rage.
Lisette froze for a second, blinking in disbelief before straightening her spine. “Come again?” she asked, her tone laced with suspicion.
Lennox responded without a shred of doubt, “I’ve thought it through. I’m in. We can date—but let’s take it slow. One year, no rush on marriage p>
Lisette blinked at him like he’d just eaten paint chips. Then, chuckling softly, she said, “And then what p>
Last she checked, Lennox and Grace were still stuck together like glue, acting like a pair of besotted teens. So what flipped the switch?
Honestly, she was dying to know what made this clueless guy march up and say something this ridiculous.
With her stunning looks and graceful presence, Lisette offered a smile that practically glowed—beautiful enough to ruin nations.
Lennox zoned out for a second, completely taken.
If it hadn’t been for her wealth, the attitude, and the glam life that kept her hands from even doing a load of laundry—qualities he found less than ideal—he might’ve caved ages ago, purely based on face value.
But reason always pulled him back. Grace was the safe bet. The right one.
But that was back then. Now Lisette was smiling? To Lennox, it felt like victory. He was convinced this frostiness of hers, all that drama—it had to mean she still wanted him. That she was pulling his strings.
He lifted his chin, smug as ever. “Just one condition p>
“Oh?” she said, eyebrows arching slightly.
“Give Grace back the lead role in ’Battle Hymn.’ She didn’t do anything wrong. You took that from her just to get to me p>
Lisette stared at him for five long seconds.
Then—pfft—she burst out laughing, leaning into it like it was the funniest thing she’d heard in weeks. “Lennox, I got a question for you p>
He stared back, his eyes intense. “Whatever it is, if you stop going after Grace and return what’s hers, I’ll agree to anything p>
A split second ago she was laughing; the next, her face turned icy, and her voice dropped cold as steel. “Tell me, how thick is your skin p>
“How bloated must your ego be to think I’d actually screw over my own artist just to snag a clueless idiot like you p>
“What are you, exactly? A billionaire with world-changing power? A god-tier genius with jaw-dropping looks who’s manipulating the whole board? No? Then what gives you the right to think the world owes you squat p>
Lennox looked completely thrown. “Lisette, do you even hear yourself right now p>
She didn’t just turn him down. She insulted him. After he graciously said yes?
Puffed up with hurt pride, Lennox’s expression went cold. “Keep talking like this, and I might take it all back. You might regret losing your one chance to be with me p>
Lisette rolled her eyes so hard they might’ve gotten stuck. “Wow. Thanks for the free comedy. But do this world a favor and don’t bring your dumb face near me again. I feel physically ill looking at you p>
Before, she’d tried not to hold a grudge. She really had. Her crush had been one-sided. He never promised her anything, so him ending up with Grace wasn’t really betrayal.
But now? She was done being the bigger person.
This guy needed to get lost. ASAP.
His presence was giving her a headache, and she could feel her brain cells dying just being in the same room.
“Tobias, get this clown out of here,” she scoffed.
Suddenly, Tobias turned to Elliot. “Elliot p>
Elliot had just put down the dog and zipped over. “Boss, say the word p>
“Throw him out p>