Chapter 302
Yann glanced across the street, then took a skewer of grilled meat from Audrey’s hands.
Audrey thought, ‘What? A
I Valerie’s gonna charge over here and ruin my dinner?‘
With her hands–free, Audrey picked up the fries. She hadn’t been mistaken. That woman was
Valerie.
Audrey thought, ‘Isn’t she supposed to be on probation? Community service and all that? And yet she dares to cause trouble like that. She’s got guts!
“Let’s pack the rest,” Audrey said. Her appetite
Yann told her to stay put, then turned to ask the
gone.
Waitpack their food and settle the bill.
No one intervened as Valerie’s wails filled the air. That man rifled through her backpack, snatched his money back, and stormed off with a string of
curses.
“Cheap bastard!” Valerie muttered, rubbing her
as she stood. Then, her eyes locked on Audrey, who was watching this scene from the curb.
A flicker of shame crossed Valerie’s face before she stru
over. “I thought you married a rich man. But you are eating here, in a small restaurant.” Without hesitation, she grabbed a half–finished plate of fries from a nearby table.
She took a bite and immediately spat it out. “Disgusting.” Her glare at Audrey was venomous. “Clayton has been moping ever since he heard you upgraded. You’ve got a knack for screwing with men’s heads.”
Audrey’s gaze flicked to the fries in Valerie’s hand, her lips curling in amusement. “You knew it was trash, yet you grabbed it anyway. Now that you’ve got it, you’re complaining? You should’ve thought of that sooner.”
A flush of humiliation crossed Valerie’s face. She stared down at the fries. The first bite had nearly made her gag, but seeing them on every table, clearly popular, she took another hesitant bite, chewing slowly before swallowing.
Valerie wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Audrey, Clayton is the one who wronged you. He wanted your docile sweetness and my worship. If you’re out for revenge, take it up with him. Leave my daughter out of it.”
Audrey’s brow furrowed slightly at the rambling accusation but said nothing, finishing her fries calmly.
Valerie, meanwhile, choked on a too–large bite, her eyes watering
her.
as she
grabbed a half–finished beer from the table and chugged. A loud belch escaped
“Who the hell are you?” A burly man, Arlo Mackay, loomed over them, his beer gut straining against his shirt.
Valerie startled. The fries nearly slipped from her fingers mid–chew.
A web of tattoos peeked above Arlo’s collar. His face was all hardened edges.
Valerie thought in disdain, ‘What kind of people does Audrey even hang with?‘
Valerie blurted, desperate, “We’re friends!”
Arlo’s glare swung between Audrey and Valerie. “I don’t care who you’re pals with. You stealing my food?”
“Your food? I…” Valerie lunged to clutch Audrey’s arm. “Tell him. It was just a couple of fries and one sip of beer. We’re friends. You can’t just―”
Audrey stepped back, brushing off her touch. I don’t know him. What are you even saying?”
“You don’t know him?” Valerie’s voice pitched higher.
She thought, ‘You’re sitting right here! You’re lying this badly?‘
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Chapter 302
“Audrey, come on. I messed up with Clayton, but you’ve moved on. Why hold a grudge?” Valerie’s attempt at a smile twisted into something panna m she turned to Arto. “Look, he is an upgrade. At least he’s not a walking corpse like Clayton now.”
“What’s going on?” Yann returned with takeout bags in hand and pulled Audrey against his side.
Audrey tilted her chin at Valerie. “She ate someone else’s meal and wanted me to vouch for her. Seems to think standing nearby means I’m part of this
table.”
Valerie was stunned upon hearing this. She had seen Audrey standing by the table, eating fries, and just assumed she was dining there.
“You ate them, too!” Valerie stomped her foot in frustration..
Audrey gestured toward another table. “I was sitting over there. My husband went to get our takeout. Am I not allowed to stand here?”
Valerie’s eyes darted nervously to Arlo. Arlo crossed his arms, his jowls sagging as he tilted his head, his glare downright murderous.
Valerie stammered, “L–look, man, my bad! I thought she… She didn’t tell me.”
“My wife owes you no explanation,” Yann cut in, walking away with Audrey.
Valerie tried to follow, but Arlo blocked her path. “You just gonna walk off after stealing my food?”
“No! It was a misunderstanding. I know her. She’s screwing with me on purpose!” Valerie’s voice cracked, tears welling–her specialty.
Arlo wasn’t going to shake her down. He just wanted to scare
Just as he was about to let Valerie go, Audrey called over her shoulder, “I just heard her tell that guy she has an STD. You might wanna skip that plate.”
“You bitch!” Valerie hurled a wad of napkins after Audrey, then immediately paled at Arlo’s reaction
Arlo stepped back in disgust. “Pay up now. Or I’m calling the cops.”
As for what happened after that, Audrey didn’t stick around to find out. She was already in the car, humming a cheerful tune. Call her petty or vindictive, she didn’t care. Valerie’s misery was her joy.
- Yann adjusted her seatbelt and then drove home.
As they lay in bed, Yann pulled Audrey into the crook of his arm, idly twirling a lock of her hair around his finger. “A wise man doesn’t stand beneath a crumbling wall.”
Audrey tilted her head up to look at him. “Are you worried Valerie might lash out at me?”
Yann frowned, “She has nothing to lose, so she won’t be afraid to take risks.”
There were a hundred ways to deal with Valerie, but picking a direct fight was the dumbest. Even if Valerie couldn’t win, the risk to Audrey wasn’t worth
- it.
“Today was different. And you were right there,” Audrey murmured, planting a kiss at the corner of his mouth before settling against his chest. She listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, her fingers tracing idle circles on his other side.
Yann’s pulse gradually quickened. He caught her hand. “Don’t start what you can’t finish.” He was already holding back. Her teasing wasn’t helping.
Audrey giggled, her breasts trembling against him, the soft friction sending a rush of heat through Yann. In one swift motion, Yann flipped her onto her back, crushing his lips to hers.
Audrey had never been able to resist his kisses. Her response was instinctive, hungry. What she had once called “too much” now felt achingly rare. Since learning of her pregnancy, Yann had been painfully restrained. Part of her missed the reckless abandon.
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Chapter 302
Abruptly, Yann broke away. He rolled off the bed and strode into the bathroom. Seconds later, the shower hissed to life,
Audrey lay dazed until her phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was a text from an unknown number.
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
