Chapter 165: Jealousy

"Well, at least you’re aware of your situation," Clara sneered coldly. "I’ll lend you some money—enough to leave this place. Go back to wherever you came from."

Lily trembled. "N-No! I can’t go back there... I-I’ve gotten used to this life. I can’t survive in a village again." Desperately, she turned to Briena. "I was only helping with the plan to get revenge on Natalie. If it weren’t for that, none of this would have happened. Please, Briena—you to help me rebuild my life."

Briena gazed at her with a mask of helpless innocence, carefully concealing her true feelings. She only felt disgust towards Lily. Before she could respond, Clara interjected.

"You are not allowed to be around Briena anymore," Clara said flatly. "I’ll give you a million. Use it to start over somewhere far away. If you don’t, I’ll have no choice but to be cruel."

Lily’s face twisted in disbelief. "After everything... after me, you’re just going to throw me aside?" she cried bitterly.

Briena kept her expression neutral. "My grandmother has ordered me to sever ties with you. I’m sorry, Lily—we can’t be friends anymore."

Lily’s heart broke, tears welling in her eyes. "You can’t do this to me..."

Before she could say more, Clara’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, and her expression darkened.

"That whore!" Clara spat venomously. "After everything she’s done to us, now she’s off having a romantic fling with that gigolo!"

"Let me see." Briena leaned in, studying the screen. It was a photo of Natalie, her side profile visible, walking hand-in-hand with a man whose back was to the camera, a hat obscuring his face.

"It’s him," Briena murmured, recognising him immediately. "That gigolo... her husband."

Since the day Briena saw Justin, she could never shake off his handsome face, his perfect appearance from her mind. Just one glance, and she could tell that was him.

Clara nodded with a sneer. "Both of them are shameless. She sleeps with rich men, and he sleeps with women."

"That’s why they get along so well," Briena said through gritted teeth. "If I can tear him away from her, show the world that even a gigolo can’t stay with her, proving she’s nothing but a worthless bitch—it would be the perfect revenge."

"Don’t worry. Money can buy anyone," Clara assured her. "We’ll buy him too."

"It’s not easy mother. Didn’t you see how protective he is of her?" Briena commented, "I tried offering him money, but he is so into that bitch Natalie that he can reject money."

Lily suddenly spoke up, catching both women off guard. "What if I manage to take him away from Natalie?"

Clara arched a brow, intrigued. "Can you do it?"

Briena’s lips curled slightly, amused by the idea.

"I can," Lily declared, her voice steady. "But on one condition—you won’t send me back to that village. I want to stay here, and you’ll have to help me maintain my lifestyle."

Clara exchanged a glance with Briena, as if to silently ask whether they could trust Lily. Briena gave a subtle nod.

Clara studied Lily for a moment. Though not as stunning as Briena, Lily had her own charm. With the right wardrobe and makeup, she could easily pass as a wealthy woman—a perfect match for a gigolo.

"Alright," Clara agreed at last. "Stay in this house for now. When the time is right, I’ll let you know what to do."

Lily smiled, satisfaction washing over her.

Briena and Clara left the house and got into the car.

"Mother, do you have a plan?" Briena asked as the door shut behind them.

Clara smirked, a glint of malice in her eyes. "Your friend isn’t entirely useless just yet. Let’s use her one last time before discarding her. Garbage like her doesn’t matter—no one will care what happens to her."

"As long as she helps us get revenge on Natalie," Briena murmured, scrolling through more pictures, her eyes stuck at the handsome man in the picture, the kind which she had never seen before.

None of the photos revealed Justin’s face or even his side profile. But Briena knew without a doubt—it was him. Aiden Handrix, Natalie’s husband.

Her eyes lingered on his back profile. Even from behind, he stood out—broad shoulders, a perfectly shaped physique, casual clothes draped effortlessly over him. Just remembering Justin’s devilishly handsome face made her heart race.

Despite knowing he was just a gigolo, jealousy gnawed at her.

Her gaze hardened, determination flaring in her eyes.

A sinister smile touched her lips.

Meanwhile, among the spying reporters...

"We caught her with her husband, but none of the photos show his face."

"We’ve been waiting for hours, and all we got was his back."

"Even from behind, though, he looks like a handsome guy."

"Of course—gigolos are supposed to be good-looking. How else would rich women fall for them?"

"Exactly. Why else would Natalie Ford marry him? He must be a real looker."

"They went home after dinner. Looks like we’ll have to wait until morning if we want to catch a glimpse of his face."

-----

Natalie and Justin returned home.

"Are you sure they didn’t catch your face?" Natalie asked, glancing at him anxiously.

Justin smirked. "You shouldn’t underestimate my cleverness. There’s a reason no one knows what Justin Harper looks like—at least, not yet."

"Well, that’s true," she admitted, slipping off her shoes. "I’m heading to bed."

Justin trailed after her, aware that she was trying to create distance between them, avoiding being alone with him. But he wasn’t going to let it slide.

Something was bothering her, and he was determined to find out what it was.