"I'll buy you a dozen muscular models later," Lyra replied. "For now, just stop picking on Leo."
"When exactly is 'later'?" Maddie shot back.
Meanwhile, Jasmine was slowly stepping into a grand banquet hall.
Dressed in a simple, elegant gown, she looked noticeably thinner. Faint dark circles shadowed her eyes, and despite her natural beauty, she looked exhausted and terribly lonely.
The moment she walked in, several wealthy heiresses turned their heads in unison. Their gazes were filled with probing curiosity and undisguised schadenfreude.
Someone was the first to speak up, a mocking lilt to their voice. "Well, if it isn't the great Miss Ford."
Another quickly chimed in with a light laugh. "I thought she'd be too embarrassed to show her face after Rowan dumped her. She used to act so high and mighty."
"Right after she practically bragged about making out with him on the balcony, he publicly announced they were done. So humiliating!"
"I heard Rowan is already with someone else."
Jasmine had known she would face this kind of gossip before she even arrived. Desperate to secure partnerships and resources for her struggling company, she swallowed her pride and approached the senior business executives and family patriarchs in the room. She humbled herself, handing out business cards, but hardly anyone took them.
At that moment, someone sent Maddie a video of Jasmine humbling herself at the gala. Still lounging on the sunbed and chatting with Lyra, Maddie opened her phone, watched the clip, and instantly jumped up. "Jasmine is at a business gala. Come on, let's go see how pathetic she looks."
Leo swam over to the edge. "Hey, hey. Don't go starting trouble."
Lyra didn't want to go either.
Jasmine already knew she was the woman on the balcony with Rowan. Right now, Jasmine probably wanted to grind her bones to dust.
"What are you afraid of?" Maddie urged. "It would be a tragedy to miss seeing her like this. Relax, she doesn't dare mess with you right now."
Seeing he couldn't talk them out of it, Leo climbed out of the pool. "Fine, fine. I'll go with you two. If things get ugly, I can step in and smooth it over."
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