Chapter 227 A Friend That I’m Ready to Risk My Life For
A chill penetrated Alexander’s limbs from all directions. The last hint of warm light in his eyes went out. Staring coldly at Courtney’s expressionless face, word by word, he said, “Say that again.”
“Even if I were to repeat it ten times, it’s going to be the same thing. If you dare to make a move on Elijah, you’ll have to do the same thing to me.” Courtney’s tone was decisive. From her gaze, it was obvious that she was completely disappointed in Alexander.
She was even starting to wonder how blind she was to fall in love with a petty, bourgeois ideologist; a pretentious and selfish man who had little regard for human life.
Alexander cracked his joints. His words squeezed through his clenched teeth. “It looks like he’s a friend whom you’re ready to risk your life for. How touching! So, this is what you call an ordinary friend. Courtney, you’re really good at acting in front of me.”
Frowning at his words, Courtney did not try to explain herself.
Noticing her silence, Alexander thought she was speechless and he snorted, “Don’t you think it’s ridiculous to threaten me with your own fate? Who do you think you are to me?”
Although Courtney knew he was pissed off, she couldn’t restrain herself. Meeting his gaze, she asked hopelessly, “I’m curious too. Who am I to you?”
“Just a temporary bed partner to warm my bed.”
The reality was always crueler than imagined. Alexander’s harsh words were like a knife piercing through Courtney’s eardrums fiercely. Clenching her fists, she wanted to punch him in his face. Yet, she found herself to be too weak. The man, whom she had poured her heart into, said that she was just a mere ‘bed partner’.
The self-esteem that she had always been so proud of was stepped on and rubbed against the ground by him. She didn’t even have a fig leaf to conceal her uneasiness that was now being disclosed to everyone present at the scene.
“Alexander Duncan, except for overestimating you, I might also have misunderstood your personality.” Elijah’s voice rose at the right moment, breaking the deadlock between the pair. He unbuttoned his suit naturally, and all of a sudden, his expression changed. As sudden as lightning, his punch fell on Alexander’s face.
Groaning in pain, Alexander fell onto the floor, knocking over the table and the chair beside him.
Immediately, his bodyguards wanted to come forward and help. Yet, Elijah’s men weren’t slouching. Soon, both parties, who were well-matched in strength, got into a fight.
Amongst the sound of smashing tables and chairs, someone howled and rolled on the ground. For a moment, the scene was chaotic. Before Courtney could even return to her senses, Elijah and Alexander started hitting each other.
Elijah was an extreme sports enthusiast. With his excellent combat skills and extraordinary endurance, he quickly gained the upper hand.
Being hit once again, Alexander knocked down a floor lamp that was waist-high. He sat on the ground awkwardly.
“Alex!” screamed Mikayla as she came and stood in front of him. Facing Elijah, she yelled, “I’ve called the police. My brother and the police will be here in a second.”
As soon as Elijah saw her, his already raised fist came to a halt. His gaze darted between Mikayla and Alexander. In the end, he snorted, “I’ll never hit a woman.”
Clutching his chest, Alexander couldn’t say a word. Is he mocking me because of what I did to Courtney? If he even knows about that, they really keep no secrets from each other.
Picking up the towel on the table to wipe his hand, Elijah turned and looked at Courtney’s pale face. There was a flash of regret before his eyes. She’s probably frightened.
“Let’s go, Courtney,” he said with concern as he held her shoulders.
Courtney glanced at Alexander through the corner of her eye. Her gaze then moved to Mikayla, whose face was painted with anxiety. Her crying expression was a tenderness Courtney could never pick up. At first, Courtney wanted to check on Alexander’s injuries. Yet, when she saw the scene before her eyes, she gritted her teeth and didn’t look back.
A French restaurant that looked totally fine at the beginning now looked like a Shura field with tables and chairs falling apart.
It was impossible for Elijah to go out without bodyguards and this was something Courtney was not surprised about. Without asking anything further, she got into his car after leaving the restaurant.
In the car, Tina was eating her pudding and watching a cartoon quietly.
Children were always children. No matter what was happening on the outside, they always managed to live in their own world without being disturbed by the outside world.
“We didn’t even finish our lunch. Let’s go somewhere else and get you something to eat.” As if he had not been affected by the earlier incident, the unfinished meal seemed to be the only thing occupying his mind.
However, how could Courtney still eat at this moment? Shaking her head, she rejected, “No, I’m full. Send Tina back to my aunt’s place. I have to meet the designer at the company for the samples tonight.”
Instead of saying anything, Elijah replied with a ‘yes’ and instructed the driver to set off.
From that day on, Courtney and Alexander hadn’t met or contacted one another for two weeks.
Courtney was busy with the production of samples for the opening day of Citron Apparel. After switching between almost a dozen types of fabrics and clothing factories, none of them had reached her expectations. However, she was someone who had a one-track mind. Both fabric and craftsmanship were indispensable. Therefore, even though the due date was approaching, she had not come up with a conclusion yet.
In the end, it was Elijah who contacted an Italian fabric manufacturer. They agreed to work with Citron Apparel for the first phase of the project and provide them with the fabric. Regarding the craftsmanship, with Bill’s hard work, the machines in the factories were improvised.
Two weeks later, Citron Apparel’s first flagship store started its business as scheduled.
The store was located at the Sawgrass Mills Mall, which was an excellent location. To celebrate the opening, many people had sent flower baskets and they were placed at the entrance of the shop. Most of them came from Courtney’s former colleagues back at Sunhill Hotel.
Her break-up with Alexander was no longer a secret these days. Therefore, her former colleagues couldn’t show up in person. To send her a flower basket here was a sign of sincerity, which she appreciated.
Elijah was the first one who came. He came with a bouquet of sunflowers, congratulating the opening of her new store. Lilian had been ushering him to leave from the side. In the end, Courtney couldn’t stand it anymore. Elijah finally left when she urged him to leave to deal with his own affairs.
As soon as she sent Elijah off, she saw a dark blue figure standing by the door. Focusing to check on the figure, she was shocked.
Holding a navy blue gift box that was wrapped in a very low-key yet luxurious packaging, the figure entered the store before handing the gift box to her. The figure had a pair of smiling and gleaming peach blossom eyes. “Miss Hunter, congratulations on the opening of your new store.”
Courtney took the gift box. “Thanks for your best wishes.”
Looking at her as he grinned, Gale teased, “You didn’t expect me to be here, right? You looked somewhat awkward just now.”
However, Courtney frowned and denied, “I just thought that you wouldn’t have the time to come because you need to look after Cameron. Please don’t overthink too much.”
“I didn’t overthink.” Walking around with Courtney in the store, Gale asked indifferently, “By the way, I’m curious. Who is Tina’s father?”
