I’ll Marry His Rival and Burn His Empire to Ash Chapter 07

I’ll Marry His Rival and Burn His Empire to Ash Chapter 07

The woman leading them was Claire, one of Ava’s childhood friends. She held a glass of champagne and swept a contemptuous gaze over the dress Savannah-Claire had clearly tried too hard with.

“I was wondering who it was. So it’s the woman dreaming of climbing her way into the Devereaux estate.” Claire’s voice wasn’t loud, but it pierced the room’s lively atmosphere like an icicle.

A friend behind her immediately chimed in. “Jackson, your taste these days is truly something. Aren’t there enough good women in Charleston for you to choose from?”

“How is she better than Ava in any way?”

Jackson’s face darkened. He shot to his feet and grabbed Claire’s arm, his grip instantly turning her wrist red.

“Apologize to Savannah-Claire. Now.” His voice was thick with undisguised rage.

Claire shook off his hand in disgust, as if she had touched something filthy. “Don’t touch me. You make me sick.”

A friend quickly pulled Claire behind her and whispered, “Claire, forget it. Do you want to end up like Chloe?”

“I’m not afraid of him.” Claire stared at Jackson, her eyes blazing. “Jackson, one day you’ll get what’s coming to you!”

She raised her hand and swung it at his face.

At that moment, Savannah-Claire, who had been hiding behind Jackson, suddenly screamed and threw herself in front of him.

Slap!

The crisp sound echoed through the room. The slap landed squarely on Savannah-Claire’s face.

“Savannah-Claire!” Jackson swept her into his arms and turned on Claire, his eyes like daggers. “Who gave you the right to touch her? Do you want to find yourself unable to survive in this town?”

Claire sneered and was about to retort.

But Savannah-Claire, covering her already swelling cheek, spoke through her tears. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried to everyone nearby.

“Miss Claire, I know you all want justice for Chloe.” She sobbed pitifully. “But that day, Chloe was the one who broke into the estate and humiliated me first… Jack only wanted her to calm down, so he locked her up for a few days to teach her a little lesson. Is that really worth all of you coming here to make a scene?”

She lifted her tear-filled eyes and swept them over Claire and her friends, her tone taking on a trace of barely perceptible contempt.

“I get it now. Girls like you have had it so easy your whole lives that being locked up for two days feels like some terrible torture.”

“Shut up!” Claire, enraged all over again, raised her hand once more.

This time, Jackson caught her wrist in a vise grip.

“Claire,” he said through gritted teeth, “for Ava’s sake, I’ll let that slap go. But if you dare touch her again, don’t blame me for being merciless.”

“For Ava’s sake?”