Chapter 45

045 A 30 Grand Piece Scarlett’s POV “So, you are saying that I bought a knockoff, is that it?”

The handsome stranger does not let Lilith go, but looks up at the group of mean girls with a nod. Suddenly all his moves are elegant in my eyes, a pleasure to watch for some reason.

I think Lilith feels the same because she is looking up at him with a smitten slash stunned look from his chest.

“I-“The mean girls all look at the one standing in the middle, Olivia Keen, Ava’s best friend. She hems and haws, “I mean...”

Eyes darting to Ava, she’s too nervous and she needs instructions from her master.

“I’m sorry, who are we talking to?” Ava clears her throat and steps up, her tone polite and her voice pleasent. It’s the voice she uses when she wants to impress. Guess it’s universal that the stranger is considered handsome. Or Ava just evaluated the tailed suits on him well.

The stranger cocks his eyebrows with an amused look as if pleasantly surprised.

I’m nervous again. If Ava wants to come off as charming, she can. It takes time to see her true color. Or, in Sebastian’s case –

takes forever.

“Does my name have anything to do with my accused crime?”

To my surprise, the stranger gave her question a gentle rejection. I have never seen that happening to Ava. She likes to earn men’s favor, like they are her collection.

“I’m not accusing you of anything, sorry if I offended you in any way,” Ava’s bitter smile is just perfect. A poor little thing that is wronged but remains polite, with a tad of sorrow in her eyes.

I’d even believe her if I didn’t know her.

I I dart nervous eyes between Ava and the stranger, unconscious of my nail cutting deep into my palm.

“Relax,” Granny s pats my back gently, whispering, “just watch.”

I don’t know why Granny seems so confident in the situation, “Do you know him?”

+25 BONUS 045 30 Grand P Granny curves her lips happily: “Nope!”

...” Then why are you so confident?! And what’s with the proud face when the answer you give is “no“?!!

The stranger throws his question back at Olivia: “I paid 30 grand for this piece, and you thought it smart to humiliate me with a claim of it being a knockoff? Apologize.”

My heart sinks.

The Nightingale is a luxury brand. Even their ordinary designs are close to six figures, not to mention a customized, unique piece in the world.

Ava plays her elegant celebrity role well, only making a slightly surprised look. But not her minions. They exchange a shocked look before bursting into laughter.

I I don’t know how much that piece is. I think I saw it on the cover of the Times, but that was it. I sincerely hope that’s not where he got to know the piece...

“How laughable!” Olivia picks up her condescending demeanor, sneering at the stranger coldly, “Next time you buy a knockoff, count the zeros right of the original! It’s 300 THOUSAND, my love, and certainly something you can’t afford! I know because it’s hanging in Ava’s closet, right? Ava?”

Olivia shoots a smirk at Ava, and Ava lowers her head modestly. The stranger shoots a glance at Ava.

Lilith looks up with a worried look, also shocked: “You gave me a 30 grand piece?!”

The stranger has his eyes nailed on the mean girls with a cold, dangerous look when they burst into laughter, but Lilith’s words put an utterly surprised look on his face.

“That’s what you picked up? They said I’m lying.”

“Maybe you are, but for helping me,” Lilith pushes him lightly, and he lets her go this time, “I’m really grateful for your help, both times. I’m sorry I got you involved in this, but this is my war.”

The stranger blinks with a pleasantly surprised face.

I know that look. I use that a lot, too. Lilith might be a tough fighter, but she has a heart that is innocent and clean like crystal.

I “It might be a knockoff, but it’s way more than what I can afford,” Lilith turns to the mean girls, speaking in front of the crowd that she couldn’t face a moment ago, with +25 BONUS -P–45 A 10 Grand Pi her chest held up high, “I’m not rich, but I’m not ashamed of it. I never said my dress was expensive, but it is worth more to me than all your dresses added together, because it’s the help from a true gentleman who gave it to me only to help out an ordinary girl who wanted a peek at a party she doesn’t belong to.”

I watch in awe of Lilith’s courage, and Granny nods her head slowly with. appreciation. If Granny likes anything, it’s dignity.

“That’s a good girl,” Granny steps up with her iconic smile of “the Iron Lady“, “Okay, now-”

I know she’s wrapping it up in favor of Lilith. But before I can let out a relaxed breath, the stranger suddenly cuts in:

“I’m sorry, but I have got one more question...for Miss Ava.”