Chapter 160
Just a moment ago, Austin was acting all fierce, but now he was like a kitten with its claws tucked away. He nodded obediently at Emily and said, “Whatever you say.”
He shot a quick glance at Andrew, who was still standing there, frozen. A dark glint flashed in his clear eyes, so fast that no one else noticed.
Emily didn’t even spare Andrew a second look. She turned and walked away with Austin.
Andrew never expected Emily to treat him this way. For a moment, he felt completely lost. Somehow, memories from the past suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Every time he came home from work, exhausted, Emily would greet him with a glass of milk and call out “Andrew” in that sweet, gentle voice of hers.
She had even gone out of her way to learn a special massage technique just for him, to help ease his headaches. Back then, he was the one her whole world revolved around-her most trusted brother. She had never brushed him off like this before.
“Here, take this money and buy some more eggs. I’ll bring the rest of the groceries home first,” Emily said as she pulled some cash from her pocket and handed it to Austin.
Her voice snapped Andrew out of his daze. A wave of panic hit him, and before he even realized what he was doing, he rushed over to block their
way.
Almost at the same time, Austin stepped right in front of him. He demanded, “Didn’t we already say you don’t have to pay? What more do you want?”
“I…” Andrew started to say, but nothing came out. He hadn’t even figured out what he wanted to say-he just instinctively tried to block their way, like there was this voice in his head telling him he had to do it.
After a brief pause, his eyes landed on the cash in Austin’s hand, and it was like he’d just found some leverage.
He looked at Emily, disappointment written all over his face. He said, “Is this really what you’re doing with the money the Bennett Family gives you?
“For this random guy, you’re willing to stoop so low as to scam us out of money-even if it means hurting yourself? I can’t believe you’d let me down like this.”
Andrew’s face was twisted with anger, but he forced himself to keep up appearances, clinging to whatever dignity he had left. Acting all high and mighty, he said, “I’ll spare you the embarrassment and not lecture you here in front of everyone.
“Right now, you’re coming back with me. Apologize properly and promise you’ll cut all ties with this guy. If you do that, I’ll let bygones be bygones and forget everything that’s happened before. Emily, be a good girl and do as you’re told.”
Emily stood there with a blank face, calmly listening as Andrew passed judgment on her like she was on trial.
She thought, ‘He kept going on about how he was trying to save my dignity, yet here he is, pointing fingers at me and scolding me in the middle of a crowded street-like even just breathing is a crime in his eyes.
‘Doesn’t he find himself ridiculous?’
Seeing Emily standing there so calm and cold, Austin felt a stab of pain in his chest. The Emily he knew would never act this distant–not even to total strangers. He thought, ‘Just how much did the Bennett Family hurt her?’
Austin stepped to the side, putting himself squarely between Emily and Andrew, making sure Andrew had no choice but to
1/2
Chapter 160
look at him.
Before Andrew could get a word out, Austin shot back, “Is being brain-dead just something that runs in the Bennett Family or what? First it was Lucas, now it’s you.
“You two really must have the same mom-neither of you ever remembers to bring your brains when you leave the house.”
Andrew, who had never been cussed out so directly to his face before, was left completely stunned. The usually composed look behind his gold-rimmed glasses shattered. He said, “You dare talk to me like that?”
Austin sneered, “What, you can’t even hear me cussing you out right in front of you? Need me to chisel it on your gravestone or something?”
Andrew’s face turned green with anger, but he couldn’t get a single word out.
He’d been raised to be a proper gentleman, the kind who always kept his cool. When he got mad, he’d just glare or slap a stack of files on the table, using his intimidating presence to make people back down.
He’d never been the type to cuss someone out so bluntly. For a moment, his usually handsome face twisted with rage.
