Doomsday Revenge: Payback Time (Josie) novel Chapter 68

Just as Aubrey was at a loss, Ethan flashed a roguish grin.“Sierra, I’ve got something even more explosive to tell you. Aubrey’s first love in college, the one she dated for four years, was Damon.”

At his words, Ryan and Sierra were stunned speechless, their jaws dropped in shock and utter bewilderment.

Sierra stood up furiously, pointing a finger at Aubrey.“Damn it, Aubrey, I’m done with you!”

With that, Sierra stormed away from the table.“This time, our sisterhood is over. Do you see me as an outsider or something? Your ex–boyfriend from college, the one you dated for four years, was Damon? You actually kept this from me? Do you take me for a fool?”

Sierra continued to rant as she headed for the exit.

Aubrey panicked, rushing after her.“Sierra, please listen to me!”

The three men in the room watched their retreating figures, remarkably calm, making no move to intervene.

After all, Sierra and Aubrey’s two–decade–long friendship could be smoothed over with just a few words.

As long as it wasn’t treason or drug–related, they’d never fall apart.

Ryan asked curiously, “Damon, did you really date Aubrey for four years?”

Damon’s lips thinned into a bitter line, and a single syllable-“Yeah“-escaped his throat.

“You really kept that under wraps!” Ryan said, making a fist and lightly punching Damon’s bicep.

Damon picked up his cup and took a sip of tea.“What do I have to hide?”

Ryan asked, “So, why’d you break up?”

Damon remained silent.

Ethan chimed in, “Aubrey fell for me and dumped him.”

Ryan was even more shocked.“No wonder Skylar called Aubrey a jerk at that party before my wedding. So she really did play Damon like that.”

Damon turned his head to look at Ethan, his gaze ice–cold, his voice laced with annoyance.“Are you enjoying this?”

Ethan shrugged nonchalantly.“I don’t even like Aubrey. What’s there to gloat about? I like Sierra better.”

The words hit Ryan like

a

lightning bolt. His face burned crimson, a mix of fury and fear washing over him, leaving him tense and utterly bewildered. He pointed a trembling finger at Ethan.“You… you and my wife are childhood friends, practically siblings. How could you possibly be interested in

her?”

“Just kidding,” Ethan said with a casual shrug, a playful grin on his face.“Look how flustered you got. Relax, man. I only see her as a sister. I wouldn’t try to take her from you.”

Ryan deflated, a massive sigh of relief escaping him.

Ethan, with his perfectly sculpted features, was clean–cut and incredibly handsome. Most importantly, his family was rolling in money. If he truly wanted to compete, Ryan knew he’d be no match for Ethan.

Ethan leaned closer to Damon, whispering in his ear, “We’re not rivals, you know. Can’t you be a little less hostile?”

Aubrey entered, arm in arm with Sierra, just in time to catch the scene.

Her heart leaped into her throat, and her eyes narrowed coldly as she watched the two men across from her.

Sierra didn’t pay much attention to Damon and Ethan. She just walked in and took a seat.

Damon felt Ethan was too close, his breath warm against his ear, stirring up a wave of revulsion.

He raised an elbow, pressed it against Ethan’s forehead, and shoved him away impatiently.“Get away from me.”

A waiter came in carrying the dishes.

They were the most famous local delicacies, light, fresh, and bursting with natural flavors.

The ingredients included reservoir fish, river shrimp, free–range chicken, squab, fresh winter bamboo shoots, organic vegetables, and more.

There were also various sizzling clay pot dishes, savory preserved meat rice, and other regional specialties.

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As a Northerner, Damon had often learned to cook Southern dishes when he was dating Aubrey, just to accommodate her tastes.

He had grown accustomed to the light, delicate Southern cuisine, and now his palate had completely changed. Whatever Aubrey liked, he liked too.

During the meal, Ethan kept trying to make conversation with Damon.

Damon barely acknowledged him.

Sierra suddenly remembered something. She turned her head to Aubrey and said in a slow, deliberate tone,“Bree, your mom called me again. She called my number and told me to tell you…”

Aubrey immediately cut her off.“Sierra, let’s discuss this in private.”

Sierra finally registered what Aubrey was saying. “Oh, right.”

Damon’s movements faltered. He froze for a few seconds, then looked up at Aubrey, his hand clutching his fork, unmoving.

Aubrey kept her gaze lowered, focused on her food.

Even though she was acutely aware of Damon’s gaze, she refused to meet it.

Ethan looked from Damon to Aubrey, a piece of local chicken still in his mouth. As he chewed, an idea began to form.

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