He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 421

A shrill scream shattered the air.

Caught off guard by the vicious kick, Gwen stumbled forward awkwardly. If she hadn't instinctively caught herself with her hands, she would have completely humiliated herself by face-planting right in front of the crowd.

Scarlett smoothly pulled her leg back. Her gaze was icy, and the sheer intensity radiating from her forced the circle of gossiping socialites to instinctively take a step back.

On Gwen's meticulously maintained face, a distinct red heel mark stood out. The skin had instantly swollen, making her look both ridiculous and terrifying. She covered her cheek, practically dying of mortification. Just as she turned to retaliate, a figure blocked her path.

It was Jacqueline.

Her eyes were as sharp as knives, carrying a fierce aura honed from years of surviving in the cutthroat business world. She glared at Gwen with a bone-deep ruthlessness that made the other woman cower. The curses on Gwen's lips were forcefully swallowed back down.

"Assault! This is an outrage!"

It took Corinne a few seconds to process what had happened. She shrieked in exasperation, trying to mask her fear with volume. "Security! Someone is causing a scene in public! Guards, arrest them all!"

At her command, several bodyguards immediately rushed in, ready to grab the women.

"I'd like to see you try!"

Elara's booming voice echoed through the hall, making everyone's eardrums ring.

She took a step forward, her presence exploding outward, completely shedding her usual image of a gentle professor. "Whoever dares to stop us today is making an enemy of the entire Croft family! Piss me off, and I'll make sure you don't even have a place to stand in Bay City!"

Her piercing gaze swept the room, every word ringing out like steel. "Did you really mistake my silence for weakness? I suggest all you ladies here carefully weigh the Croft family's standing in this city!"

"Today, I am settling the score with the Flynn and Stetson families! If you're smart, pick a side right now. It's either them, or us. I'm giving you the chance to choose!"

Elara had completely erupted.

The situation became crystal clear.

The women who had been sitting on the fence immediately moved, acting purely out of self-interest.

"Is there even a choice?"

Mrs. Wallace, whose husband held a decent amount of power, was the first to speak up. She glared fiercely at the bodyguards and snapped, "Mrs. Croft has spoken. Are you idiots blind? Get the hell out of here before you get us all killed!"

With Mrs. Wallace leading the charge, the rest of the wealthy women immediately defected, flocking to stand behind Elara.

The venue, which was supposed to be Corinne and Gwen's home turf, had instantly transformed into Elara's domain.

Seeing more than half the room switch sides, Corinne and Gwen turned green with rage. Only Mrs. Lowell and Mrs. Morgan stubbornly remained by their side, while a few others nervously lingered in the middle, trying to stay neutral.