Chapter 270

“Hey, Keira!” Brad waved, a cheeky grin on his face. “I’ve been waiting for almost an hour. You’re late.” He shook his wrist, as if I hadn’t noticed the time.

I took a deep breath, composing myself, and walked over. I wasn't wearing my usual heels—flats, because my legs were still sore and shaky.

“Not feeling great today?” Brad’s sudden concern surprised me. I hesitated, caught off guard, but refused to engage. I sat down. “Just cut to the chase, Brad. What do you want?”

He ignored my question. “Rough night?”

His boldness was escalating. He seemed to know more than he let on. I straightened up. “If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, leave before I call the police and report you for harassment.”

He chuckled. “Still holding a grudge, huh?”

“Enough games. What do you really want?” I held up my phone.

A mischievous grin spread across his face. “I want to pursue you.”

I remained unfazed. He wasn't serious; he was fishing for a reaction. If I lost my cool, he'd win. I gave him a stern look. “Aren’t you still underage? If you’re serious, have your parents call me.”

“Are you free this weekend?” he asked abruptly.

I ignored him, but he leaned closer. “It’s my birthday this weekend. I’ll be eighteen. How about coming to my party…as my girlfriend?”

His smug face made me think of a frog attempting to date a princess. I pursed my lips. “I don’t care what game you’re playing. Stay away from me. Don’t test me, or you’ll regret it.” I tapped my phone, eyeing his limited-edition sneakers and designer clothes—a stark contrast to the scrappy kid who'd tried to frame me. Tanya's sudden rise had clearly benefited him, too.

“You didn’t tell Tanya you were coming here, did you? Or does Jace even know?”

He snorted. “Don’t try to scare me by bringing them up.”

He was like a little monkey, thinking he ruled the jungle just because the tiger wasn't around. I offered a small, amused smile. “If you want to keep enjoying your fancy lifestyle, you’d better back off. Otherwise, you won’t be able to afford flowers, let alone Gucci.”

I wasn’t insulting him, just reminding him his current status was precarious. Jace might be with Tanya, but he wouldn't let his ex become his future brother-in-law's girlfriend. Brad was playing a dangerous game, and his face turned bright red with embarrassment.

He jumped up. “Don’t underestimate me! Everything I’m wearing, I bought with my own money. Not a single cent from him!”

Is that so? I thought. Funny, considering Tanya couldn’t afford a decent meal a while back. One of them was definitely lying. But they both shared the same flaw: vanity. Tanya, obsessed with appearances, used Jace’s money, while Brad, lacking a personal background, strutted around in designer labels. Whether he was spending his own cash or Jace’s, only he knew.

“Well, good for you, still trying to prove yourself,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Of course, I am—” Brad began, but stopped mid-sentence. A knock came at the door.

I saw Hayden standing there. My heart skipped a beat. What was he doing here? Was he planning a fight? Things could get messy quickly. I scrambled for a way to prevent Hayden's involvement, but before I could speak, he said in a cold, steady voice, “Ms. Kay, do you need help?”