Chapter 23 Mind Your Own Business
As soon as she heard the voice, Eleanor knew who it was. Her face twisted with distaste as she muttered under her breath, “Such a good actress. She’s wasted not being in a movie.”
“We can just go inside if you don’t want to deal with her,” Tyler said. “Or maybe we’ll have to watch more drama.”
Before Eleanor could respond, Chris rushed over to Serena’s side, positioning himself protectively. His eyes were sharp as he glared at Eleanor. “Eleanor, stop pretending,” he sneered. “Don’t think just because you have Tyler backing you up, you can do
whatever you want!”
Eleanor glanced up, her eyes flashing with sarcasm. “Who gave you the confidence to talk like that? I heard you fought for me. What’s the deal? You can’t let go of me, huh?” Chris shot back. “I’m just worried my friend’s been fooled by you! Didn’t you say you’re married? Where’s the groom? You’re reaping what you’ve sown. You deserve it!”
He was about to continue, but seeing Eleanor started cracking her knuckles, looking a bit too aggressive for comfort, Chris instinctively stepped back, wary of her next move.
“I wasn’t planning to make a scene on your big day.” Eleanor said coldly. “But if you keep spewing garbage out of that mouth of yours, I won’t be so kind.”
Chris stared at her, stunned. He was flooded with fragmented memories from when they were younger. He remembered Eleanor as a spoiled little princess, always sassy, until one day, she suddenly became sweet–especially when she was around him, often praised as being as gentle as a lady. People even speculated Eleanor might have. had feelings for Chris, which made her rein in her behavior.
“So it’s all been an act,” Chris blurted out. “You’ve been pretending this whole time, trying to get rid of Serena by acting like her. What’s the matter, the act’s over now?”
Before he could say more, Eleanor’s fist punched in Chris’s cheek with a sharp thud.
“Does that hurt?” Tyler’s voice interrupted the tense silence.
Chris felt a surge of smug satisfaction. Tyler still cared about him. But just as he was about to run to him for support, Tyler grabbed Eleanor’s hand, inspecting it carefully.” Don’t use your hands for this kind of thing next time. If you really need to, use a shoe or something,” he said.
Chris almost choked on his own frustration. Tyler was from the Langford family. How could he be helping someone like Eleanor against him?
“Tyler!” Chris called out, but Tyler cut him off.
“Shut up. You’re the one who broke the deal. You want to vent your frustrations? Deal with it.” Tyler’s voice was frosty, his displeasure evident.
Chapter 23 Mind Your Own Business
Chris was taken aback, unable to understand why Tyler was so angry with him.
Serena, who had been silently watching, seemed to have a sudden realization. A look of shock crossed her face. As Eleanor followed Tyler out, Serena quickly grabbed Chris‘ s arm and whispered, “Do you think Tyler has feelings for Eleanor?”
“Impossible!” Chris scoffed. “If you ask me, Eleanor’s always causing trouble for him, and Tyler just doesn’t know how to refuse her, so he takes it out on me. Once we’re married and cut off Eleanor’s hopes, there’ll be no more drama.”
“But…” Serena hesitated, “The way Tyler looks at her–it’s not just a friendly glance. It’s. like looking at someone he loves.”
“You’re out of your mind. Tyler is so uptight, I doubt he’s ever even looked at a woman the way you’re thinking,” Chris mocked. “If a seductive woman stood in front of him, I bet he wouldn’t bat an eye. He’s either got something wrong down there, or he prefers
men.”
Serena chuckled in disbelief. “Really? Someone so perfect has such flaws?”
“Exactly,” Chris said. “That’s why he says he’s ‘married‘ but never brings anyone home. I think he’s just paying off some low–tier woman to avoid complications. But it definitely isn’t Eleanor. She was once my fiancée. If Tyler marries her, he’ll be the laughingstock of the family.”
Serena paused, then nodded thoughtfully. Chris made a good point. She had been too nervous earlier, and perhaps she misread things.
After all, she had finally surpassed Eleanor in the marriage race. If Eleanor married Tyler, then she would have worked so hard for nothing.
As they entered the hotel, Serena immediately noticed Mr. and Mrs. Donovan talking to Eleanor. Even though Eleanor’s relationship with them had soured, she was still the daughter of the Donovan family in the eyes of outsiders. Serena knew that Eleanor’s relationship with her parents had changed, and if she worked just a little harder, she could drive Eleanor out completely.
Just as she was deep in thought, an icy voice cut through the air. “Now that you’re married to Chris, you’d better learn to behave.”
Serena turned sharply. It was Tyler. His commanding presence made her feel suddenly breathless. His eyes, full of judgment, froze her in place, sending a chill down her spine and making her legs weak.
This man was terrifying. She thought to herself.
“Hello, Tyler,” she muttered softly.
“The wedding isn’t over yet, so calling my first name is a bit inappropriate,” Tyler said coldly. “Since you’re married to the Langford family now, you need to respect the elders. No backtalk, understand?”
Serena nodded quickly. “I understand. Mr. Langford, you will make sure Chris marries
Chapter 23 Mind Your Own Business
Chris was taken aback, unable to understand why Tyler was so angry with him.
Serena, who had been silently watching, seemed to have a sudden realization. A look of shock crossed her face. As Eleanor followed Tyler out, Serena quickly grabbed Chris‘ s arm and whispered, “Do you think Tyler has feelings for Eleanor?”
“Impossible!” Chris scoffed. “If you ask me, Eleanor’s always causing trouble for him, and Tyler just doesn’t know how to refuse her, so he takes it out on me. Once we’re married and cut off Eleanor’s hopes, there’ll be no more drama.”
“But…” Serena hesitated, “The way Tyler looks at her–it’s not just a friendly glance. It’s like looking at someone he loves.”
“You’re out of your mind. Tyler is so uptight, I doubt he’s ever even looked at a woman the way you’re thinking,” Chris mocked. “If a seductive woman stood in front of him, I bet he wouldn’t bat an eye. He’s either got something wrong down there, or he prefers men.”
Serena chuckled in disbelief. “Really? Someone so perfect has such flaws?”
“Exactly,” Chris said. “That’s why he says he’s ‘married‘ but never brings anyone home. I think he’s just paying off some low–tier woman to avoid complications. But it definitely isn’t Eleanor. She was once my fiancée. If Tyler marries her, he’ll be the laughingstock of the family.”
Serena paused, then nodded thoughtfully. Chris made a good point. She had been too nervous earlier, and perhaps she misread things.
After all, she had finally surpassed Eleanor in the marriage race. If Eleanor married Tyler, then she would have worked so hard for nothing.
As they entered the hotel, Serena immediately noticed Mr. and Mrs. Donovan talking to Eleanor. Even though Eleanor’s relationship with them had soured, she was still the daughter of the Donovan family in the eyes of outsiders. Serena knew that Eleanor’s relationship with her parents had changed, and if she worked just a little harder, she could drive Eleanor out completely.
Just as she was deep in thought, an icy voice cut through the air. “Now that you’re married to Chris, you’d better learn to behave.”
Serena turned sharply. It was Tyler. His commanding presence made her feel suddenly breathless. His eyes, full of judgment, froze her in place, sending a chill down her spine and making her legs weak.
This man was terrifying. She thought to herself.
“Hello, Tyler,” she muttered softly.
“The wedding isn’t over yet, so calling my first name is a bit inappropriate,” Tyler said coldly. “Since you’re married to the Langford family now, you need to respect the elders. No backtalk, understand?”
Serena nodded quickly. “I understand. Mr. Langford, you will make sure Chris marries
Chapter 23 Mind Your Own Business
me, won’t you?”
“Yes,” Tyler said flatly. “Once you two are married, everything will be much simpler.”
“Then I can rest easy. Was what you said true? That if I left, you’d destroy ‘those things‘ for me?” Serena asked, her voice soft.
“I’m a businessman. I never do anything without a purpose,” Tyler didn’t answer her directly. “Let me give you a piece of advice: don’t mess with people you shouldn’t.”
Serena gathered her courage. “Mr. Langford, don’t you want to deal with Eleanor once and for all? You’ve been threatened by her for so long… You and Chris could work together, you know.”
Tyler’s eyes hardened, and a dangerous coldness radiated from him as he stared at her.
“Your appetite is quite large,” he sneered.
“Eleanor’s been using your debt to manipulate you. A person like you, who’s so respected, shouldn’t be at anyone’s mercy,” Serena pressed quickly.
She felt Tyler had been forced into helping Eleanor out of some sense of duty. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he just tell Chris what he knew? Tyler clearly didn’t like Eleanor, and he didn’t want her marrying into the Langford family.
“I don’t need anyone to teach me how to do things,” Tyler’s voice turned even colder. ” You should worry about yourself. The Langford family only accepted you because of your child.”
His eyes briefly flickered to Serena’s abdomen, a pointed glance that made her instinctively cover her stomach.
“Without that, you wouldn’t have any leverage,” he continued.
Serena’s face drained of color, and she whispered, “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Langford.”
She was about to say something, but meanwhile, Eleanor seemed to be arguing with
Mr. and Mrs. Donovan.
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