She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 1032

A lecher like Alistair would never pass up an opportunity like this.

Clinging to his arm, Elara marched right up to Melanie and Preston.

Alistair, who had been busy ogling the bikini-clad women, only just realized Preston was standing next to Melanie.

"Oh, Mr. Whitmore, I didn't expect to see you here!"

Alistair offered a fake, insincere smile, deliberately lowering his voice. "What, did you come all this way just to check out the bikini babes too?"

The crude, lecherous grin on his face made Melanie sick to her stomach.

She glanced at Elara beside him. Elara's face was entirely blank, her eyes devoid of life, as if she had grown completely numb to Alistair's disgusting behavior.

Or perhaps...

Her mind was so far detached from Alistair that she simply didn't care anymore.

Melanie couldn't help but study Elara's face more closely.

Ever since she became Alistair's fiancée, her entire wardrobe and style had shifted drastically to cater exclusively to his vulgar tastes.

However, her makeup today was completely different from usual.

Despite wearing such a garish, neon rainbow bikini, her face was caked in a heavy, dark smokey eye.

The eye makeup was so intensely layered that at first glance, it almost looked like she was trying to cover up a black eye!

The moment that thought crossed Melanie's mind, she froze.

Could it be...

Had Elara actually been hit?

As the saying goes, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. No matter how far the Bennett family had fallen, they still had wealth.

Elara was still a wealthy heiress.

Who would dare lay a hand on her...?

Melanie's gaze shifted to the bloated, pig-like Alistair.

As her fiancé, he was exactly the kind of man who might raise a hand against her.

Honestly, she felt bad for Preston. He was completely innocent in all of this.

From start to finish, Preston had never crossed any lines with Elara.

Their arranged engagement had been annulled long before he even started pursuing Melanie.

He hadn't wasted Elara's youth, nor had he ever led her on.

Yet Elara's unrequited feelings had curdled into pure hatred. She didn't just want to tear Melanie and Preston apart; she wanted to destroy Stellaris and strip Preston of everything he had.

As far as Melanie was concerned, whatever misery Elara was suffering now was entirely her own doing.

Yet here she was, acting as if Preston owed her something.

The sheer audacity was almost impressive.

"I think your warning is completely unnecessary, Miss Bennett."

Melanie purposefully flipped her hair, her smile radiating absolute confidence.

"Because unlike you, I have never relied on a man."