Chapter 727:
Beneath her composed exterior, envy simmered.
How could Harlee, simply because of her background, secure the attention of someone as influential as Rhys? The injustice gnawed at her. Kelley had always prided herself on her ability to win over men, confident her charm far surpassed Harleeâs so-called dull and uninspiring demeanor.
What exactly made Harlee worthy of Rhysâ attention? Kelley clenched her fists, thinking bitterly that if only sheâd been born into a better family, Rhys would surely have been hers.
Wiping her eyes, Kelley formed a bold plan. She had already antagonized Harlee beforeâwhat harm would there be in doing so again? Agitating her might even be worth it.
In the Tartarus Club, aside from Patrick, Hamilton, and Bart, who had exchanged brief pleasantries with Harlee, no one seemed to know much about her. Most had expected Rhys to bring a warm and approachable partner, not someone like Harlee, who exuded an aloof and imposing aura that perfectly mirrored Rhysâ own.
Even while standing silently, her commanding presence was palpable.
The room buzzed quietly until the hush was broken by the sound of heels clicking against the polished floor. Oaklee approached Harlee with confident strides, her expression unreadable. The crowd held its breath, bracing for conflict.
To everyoneâs surprise, Oaklee greeted Harlee with a bright smile.
âMiss Gill⦠Oh, forgive me, itâs Miss Sanderson now, isnât it? Itâs been ages.â
âI didnât expect you to be Rhysâ girlfriend.
Heâs so lucky.â
The onlookers were dumbfounded. What on earth was going on? Oaklee knew Rhysâ girlfriend and even greeted her with such warmth? How unbelievable.
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Harlee tilted her head slightly, as if trying to recall who the woman in front of her was.
After a moment, she raised an eyebrow and asked lazily, âAre you Oaklee?â
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Oaklee wasnât known to tolerate disrespect, and Harleeâs dismissive tone seemed like a sure way to provoke trouble.
However, what followed left them even more stunned. Instead of reacting with anger, Oaklee smiled coolly and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
âIâm not surprised youâve forgotten me.
A pity, though. I wear your creations almost every day.â
Oaklee extended a hand toward Harlee and asked, âMiss Sanderson, surely you have time to chat this time?â
Harlee glanced at Oakleeâs outstretched hand but made no move to take it. Instead, she nodded slightly.
âI noticed the dress youâre wearing,â she said flatly, her tone neutral.
Her words carried an unspoken implication: if it werenât for the dress, Oaklee wouldnât have been remembered at all.
The crowd exchanged incredulous looks at Harleeâs unapologetic dismissal. She wasnât just boldâshe was audacious. Oaklee rarely extended genuine friendship to others, yet Harlee blatantly declined Oakleeâs handshake and responded with dismissive arrogance, showing no regard for her whatsoever.
Could simply being Rhysâ girlfriend embolden Harlee to this extent? Surely not.
Instinctively, everyone stepped back, expecting Oakleeâs infamous temper to ignite. It seemed inevitable that Harlee would face her wrath, and a clash was about to erupt.
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