Chapter 43
Lydia’s face flushed crimson with anger. “What are you blabbering about? My family’s been in the herb business for decades, with clients alf over the world. Why would we risk our reputation selling fakes?”
Briar tilted her head, feigning confusion. “Really? That’s odd. I could’ve sworn I saw a news story about Ponce Group getting caught with counterfeit drugs in Qathana last year. My mistake, maybe?”
Lydia’s confidence wavered, a flicker of unease crossing her face. There had been a scandal involving her family’s business abroad last year, but she wasn’t involved in the company and had no idea where the story broke.
‘Could it really have been Qathana?
‘What are the odds?‘ she wondered, her bravado faltering. That casual little jab of Briar’s had left Lydia with no comeback. She stood there awkwardly, her earlier arrogance evaporating.
Abbie’s hostility toward Briar, on the other hand, was simpler, rooted in a quiet crush she harbored for Frank. As Thomas’s little sister, she had more chances to be around Frank than most, and over time, her heart had started to flutter.
She’d kept her feelings under wraps, especially since Mia and Lydia were also smitten with him.
Abbie knew she was outmatched–Leyla was the perfect match from an elite family, Lydia moved in Frank’s high–society circles, and Mia had the advantage of proximity. All Abbie had was her brother’s friendship with Frank, which wasn’t much to lean on.
Becoming Frank’s girlfriend felt like a distant dream, one she’d have to fight for,
And now, Briar–gorgeous and dangerously close to Frank–was a new threat she couldn’t ignore.
Her venomous glare at Briar matched the others‘ intensity, yet Mia and Lydia assumed she was just backing them up.
“Briar, we’re all roommates now, so let’s try to get along, okay?” Abbie said, her tone dripping with false warmth. “Since you’re the last one to move in, we tidied up your bed for you. That empty one over there? It’s all yours.” Her words painted Briar as the outsider, subtly isolating her
from the trio.
Briar let out a dry scoff. “Thanks, but I’ll pass on this dump. You three can enjoy it.”
With that, she strode toward the small side room, found her assigned safe, and unlocked it with her key. The inside was surprisingly clean- no random junk. She reset the combination, locked it back up, and turned to leave.
“Hold on, Briar!” Mia snapped, blocking her path. “We cleaned this dorm this morning. How dare you call it a dump?” She’d brought Briar here to team up with Lydia and Abbie to put Briar in her place–there was no way she’d let her walk away so easily.
As Briar moved for the door, Mia stepped in front of her, with Lydia and Abbie quickly joining to form a human barricade,
Lydia even reached out, trying to shove Briar, but Briar sidestepped with effortless grace.
Blocked, Briar’s eyes narrowed, her tongue pressing against the back of her teeth. It was a telltale sign to anyone who knew her that she was teetering on the edge of losing her cool. Her expression turned icy, a storm brewing behind her calm facade.
But the three girls, oblivious to the warning signs, mistook her pause and lowered gaze for fear.
They thought they’d intimidated her.
Lydia, emboldened, jutted her chin out smugly. “Word is your dad had to donate five buildings to get you into Shoneport. Instead of playing nice with your roommates and classmates, you’re getting cozy with some guy. What’s your deal…”
1040
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Aug
Chapter 43
Before she could finish, Briar grabbed Lydia’s collar in a flash, yanking her forward and slamming her against the wall, Lydia’s back hit with a thud, and she let out a shrill yelp. “Owl”
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