Chapter 234
I clench my teeth, my hands fisting at my sides. My stare bores into her, but it does nothing to wipe the fucking smile off Juliett’s face. If anything, it only seems to encourage her because it widens.
“If it isn’t the Ashthorne heiress,” Lilly drawls, folding her arms across her chest.
Juliett’s smile drops the moment she turns to her. “And if it isn’t the Wood heiress p>
Lilly doesn’t rise to it. She simply stares at the woman in front of us. “Aren’t you tired of chasing my cousin yet p>
“Aren’t you tired of minding other people’s business?” Juliett fires back.
Lilly practically growls.
They don’t interact often, but when they do, it’s always explosive and honestly entertaining and amusing. Juliett is the only woman apart from Sierra and the women in our family who’s ever dared go head-to-head with Lilly. The only one who doesn’t bow, or back down.
They hate each other’s fucking guts, but it’s probably because they’re too much alike. Same sharp edges. Same need for control. Two forces too similar to coexist without collision.
“Of course I’ll mind if it involves my cousin” Lilly snaps. “You’ve been chasing him for years, even when he was married. Where’s your self-respect p>
Juliett sneers. “Since you’re so far up my ass, why don’t you check for it there p>
“Why you—” Lilly lunges forward, fury flashing across her face.
I grab her hand before she can do something we’ll all regret.
“Let’s go,” I say coldly, already pulling her toward the elevator without sparing Juliett another glance.
Unfortunately, Juliett follows us inside. Even more unfortunately, she doesn’t press a button, meaning she’s coming to our floor.
“Are you stalking my cousin?” Lilly asks, eyes narrowing to slits.
Juliett rolls her eyes. “It’s just a coincidence p>
“Coincidence my foot,” Lilly snaps. “You always just happen to appear wherever Noah is. That’s not coincidence; that’s stalking p>
“Think whatever you like,” Juliett replies coolly. “It’s none of your goddamn business p>
I ignore both of them, focusing instead on the auction charity gala scheduled for tomorrow.
There’s a pair of earrings I’m sure Iris would love. Olivia and Emery aren’t really into jewelry, so I’ll get them something else.
When the elevator chimes open, I step out, tugging Lilly along with me. She grumbles under her breath but follows nonetheless.
I’m just about to turn toward my room when Juliett steps out of the elevator and grabs my hand.
“Don’t go, Noah,” she pleads, her voice suddenly soft and sweet, so different from moments ago. “Let’s have lunch. We can catch up. It’s been a while p>
“Not interested,” I say through clenched teeth.
Juliett and Chloe never got along. Of course, Juliett’s interest in me made sure of that.
She never hid the fact that she wanted me, but that’s not why I can’t stand her. It’s what she did to Chloe.
Chloe told me countless times how vicious Juliett was toward her. How she mocked her. Put her down whenever they crossed paths. Rubbed it in her face that she didn’t belong in our world, that she wasn’t of our social standing. That she wasn’t good enough for me.
Even the fight at the club, the one that got Chloe banned, Juliett was the one who instigated it. She struck first and yet Chloe was the one who paid the price, all because the club owner happened to be friends with Juliett’s uncle.
The thought still makes my blood boil. The audacity she had to torment my wife and then walk around pretending she’s some kind of saint.
“Why can’t you give me a chance?” Juliett asks now. She isn’t begging; she sounds genuinely confused, like she can’t comprehend why I won’t.