Chapter 597:
âYou⦠youâ¦â she stammered, the words dying in her throat as she clamped her mouth shut. The once-imperious woman was trembling.
People born into privilege often read situations well, and Lindy sensed that Allisonâs threat wasnât idle. She was serious, deadly serious.
How unbelievable! How had she never realized Allison wasnât the submissive pushover she appeared to be? Behind that quiet exterior lurked a cold, ruthless side.
Melany slipped into her role with a practiced touch, draping herself around Lindy like a concerned daughter-in-law. âLindy, are you alright?â
Yet, deep down, seeing Lindy like this filled her with satisfaction. She wouldnât mind if the old woman finally succumbed to her misery. Still, she hadnât expected Allison to actually strike Lindy publicly. That was shocking.
But no matter what she was plotting, Melany had to hold her tongue. After all, for now, she and Lindy were both in the same sinking boat.
Coincidentally, at that moment, a sleek black Maybach pulled up outside the crowd. A man emerged â a tall, heavyset figure draped in designer labels, each piece of clothing radiating wealth.
Instantly, Melanyâs eyes welled up, her voice trembling with a carefully crafted quaver. âAllison, I know youâre angry at Lindy because of Colton, but thereâs no reason for violence.â She steadied Lindyâs arm with exaggerated gentleness, adding a fragile touch to her posture, all carefully staged to appear pitiful and distressed. But most of the onlookers, including Allison, saw straight through her theatrics.
Only Melany believed her carefully curated angle might tug at the heart of the approaching man.
And just as sheâd hoped, he strode forward, cutting a path through the crowd. âWhatâs going on here?â he demanded as his gaze swept the scene. âHow dare you mistreat someone on my property!â
The crowd parted, and Melanyâs lips curled ever so slightly in satisfaction.
Hook, line, and sinker. He was exactly the type of man who loved nothing more than playing the hero.
Rebecca looked at the scene, her expression a blend of amusement and disdain as she addressed Allison. âSweetheart, donât even bother looking. Thatâs an eyesore.â
Ferdinand nodded in agreement. âWhereâd he get that tailor? Someone mustâve had an overstock in giant suits. What a waste of fabric.â
The man who had pushed his way into the crowd stood out, a bulky figure crammed into an ill-fitting suit that only exaggerated his greasy appearance. Rolls of fat gathered around his neck, causing his collar to flip awkwardly, yet he wore an air of misplaced arrogance.
He sneered as he approached, his voice booming. âAre you the troublemakers around here? Do you even know whose turf youâre on?â
The crowd grew tense, whispers quickly spreading through the onlookers.
âSunset Hill is Darrel Brennanâs territory. Thatâs Santino Barker, his nephew,â one person murmured.
âIâve heard Santino is a ruthless bully, always picking on whoever he can,â another whispered.
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