He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 709

He instinctively rubbed his eyes.

He wasn't hallucinating.

The woman striding toward him was none other than the one person on earth he absolutely did not want to see today: Scarlett.

She was dressed in an impeccably tailored white suit, accessorized simply with classic Chanel earrings. Her makeup was flawlessly understated. With one hand casually resting in her pocket, she moved with an aura of immense, undeniable power.

Right behind her, Stellan shadowed her every move, looking lethal in a crisp black suit.

A tidal wave of rage crashed through Yardley's chest.

Without a second thought, he closed the distance with long, aggressive strides, planting himself directly in Scarlett's path.

His voice was ice-cold.

"What are you doing here?"

Scarlett stopped. She tilted her chin up, meeting his furious gaze with absolute serenity.

"Didn't you invite me?"

Yardley felt a vein throb in his temple. He was convinced she was just here to pick a fight.

His thick brows pulled into a harsh scowl, radiating blatant disgust.

"Listen, Scarlett. I get it. I understand that seeing me reclaim my power and succeed without you might bring up some bitter feelings about our past..."

He leaned in, dropping his voice to a harsh, condescending hiss. "But today is a critical milestone for the Flynn Group. Can you please refrain from throwing a tantrum for once?"

His tone dripped with weary exasperation.

He had to admit, the chaotic aftermath of their divorce had genuinely exhausted him.

He had struggled initially, but over time, he had adapted, forcing his business back onto a lucrative track.

Now, his sole focus was scaling his empire.

He had zero patience or energy left to indulge Scarlett's petty grievances and emotional outbursts.

Especially not at a high-stakes event like this.

He couldn't fathom why she insisted on inserting herself into his narrative.

"This is a serious professional environment. It is not the time or place to unpack our emotional baggage."

"If you desperately need to talk to me, we can schedule a private meeting another day. But today, you need to leave. Do not humiliate me, understand?"

Looking at Yardley's nauseatingly familiar, self-important expression, Scarlett was violently thrust back to the years she had spent quietly walking in his shadow.

Her face settled into a mask of pure, unfiltered contempt.

She was just opening her mouth to formally announce her identity and drop the hammer when a shrill, grating voice pierced the air from behind her.

"Wow, Scarlett, you really have absolutely no shame, do you?"

"Sylvia and I were just joking in the car about whether you'd have the audacity to crash the party. And here you are!"

The moment the words landed, Veronica Thorne strutted into view, dripping in wealth.

She wore a bright yellow sheath dress paired with a blindingly gaudy gold-fringed shawl. The sheer amount of gold resting on her shoulders was aggressive enough to give someone a migraine.

Right on her heels was Sylvia, draped in a dark red sheath dress and an expensive fox fur wrap.

The two women had clearly coordinated their outfits to project a united, affluent front, though they each aggressively flaunted their own brand of excess.