"Mr. Lynch." Mina greeted Tyrone politely.
"What happened to your hand?" someone asked, curiosity in their voice.
Mina smiled graciously at the group, her manners impeccable. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a little run-in with an ill-mannered girl. Nothing serious."
By now, Mina and Vincent were both standing in front of Tyrone, neither of them recognizing Alicia.
They probably assumed she was still at the police station.
"What did your brother do that was so vile a young girl would go after him like that?" Tyrone's tone was cool, but the weight behind his words was unmistakable.
It was a clear display of hostility.
Mina was taken aback, glancing at Tyrone in confusion.
She couldn't recall ever offending him.
Alicia froze as well, looking nervously at Tyrone before instinctively stepping behind him, as if seeking shelter.
She never expected Tyrone to stand up for her like this, especially in public.
"Mr. Lynchâ" Vincent started, wanting to say something on Mina's behalf, but as his eyes landed on Alicia, the words caught in his throat.
His expression darkened visibly, but good breeding kept his anger in check.
Tonight, Alicia was nothing like the girl he'd known.
He'd been with her for four yearsâever since she was a shy nineteenâand he'd always admitted to himself she was beautiful. But in all that time, he'd never once seen her truly make an effort with her appearance.
To Vincent, Alicia had always been natural, fresh-faced, dressed in simple white tees or plain sundresses, never a drop of perfume, always understated and clean.
It was why he'd been so satisfied with her as his lover, never growing tired or looking elsewhere all these years.
But now, the girl he'd kept quietly on the side for four years had suddenly slipped away, appearing dazzling and confident on someone else's arm. It infuriated him.
"Alicia?" Mina finally recognized her, staring in disbelief. "Weren't you... still at the police station?"
"I'd say the one who really belongs at the police station is your brother, Henry," Tyrone replied coolly, shielding Alicia behind him with no concern for Mina's pride.
Everyone in the city knew Mina came from an influential family, and as Vincent's longtime flame, she was always treated with deference by the business elite in Seaview City.
But Tyrone was different. He didn't play by those rules.
Embarrassment flickered across Mina's face as she frowned at Tyrone. "Mr. Lynch, you know Alicia? She works for Vincent. We're friends."
"Friends?" Tyrone gave a short, sharp laugh and turned to Vincent. "I had no idea Mr. Lawson enjoyed drinking green tea. I've got a few rare blends in my grandfather's collectionâmaybe I should bring some over for you to try sometime."
Everyone in the room exchanged uneasy glances, stunned by the sudden tension between Tyrone and Vincent.
What was going on here?
The Lynch family was unrivaled in Harboridge City, just as the Lawsons ruled the top of the social ladder in Seaview City. The two men had never had public disagreements beforeâwhy were they suddenly clashing like this?
Vincent said nothing, his gaze steady and inscrutable as he watched Alicia.
Alicia kept her eyes averted, not out of fear, but because she simply didn't want to meet his gaze.
"Mina, why don't you join your friends for a bit?" Vincent said gently, offering her a way out of the conversation.
Though her expression was sour, Mina's composure as a socialite wouldn't allow her to argue with Tyrone. She gave Alicia a long, searching look, then turned and walked away.
Vincent's eyes flicked back to Alicia. "Alicia, come with me."
His voice was low, commanding, as he headed toward the restroom, fully expecting her to obey.
After all, for four years, Alicia had never once disobeyed him.
Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent)
ï¤Chapter 18 Transmigration: I Have Storage Space in the Apocalypse ï¤Chapter 760 - 756: Encountering a Man with Evil Intentions No matter what unreasonable demand he made, she always complied.
But this time, Alicia didn't move.
Vincent took a few steps, then turned, surprised to see her staying put. Instead, she clung gently to Tyrone's arm and spoke quietly, "Mr. Lynch, Maddox left early... Is it alright if I go home?"
She looked unwell. Just the sight of Mina and Vincent turned her stomach.