Chapter 457

"Brittany, I don't want to tell you if you're going to react like this," Arianna said cautiously. Arianna had only just mentioned the word, and Brittany exploded. Had she heard the whole story, it would have been far worse.

Arianna stood up. "By the way, I just remembered I have something to attend to at home, so I have to go."

"Don't leave!" Brittany grabbed her. How could she let her go so easily?

"You weren't clear enough. Are you trying to drive me crazy? Tell me, where did you hear that? And who is Alex engaged to?"

Brittany found the last question difficult to ask. Deep down, she refused to believe it. She had been by Alexander's side for so long; there weren't even female animals near him, let alone women. How could someone with no girlfriend suddenly become engaged? If she'd heard this from anyone else, she would have dismissed it as a joke. But this was Arianna.

Arianna, a member of the Tanner family from Ruby City, was Brittany's best friend and knew how much Brittany liked Alexander. Why would she joke about this?

"Brittany, this might not be true. I heard it from someone else, too. Don't take it too seriously," Arianna said, pursing her lips. "Forget it. Consider it a rumor, or that I'm talking nonsense. Don't overthink it."

"Arianna!" Brittany pulled her friend's hand, stamping her foot. "You're driving me crazy! I can tell the difference between fact and fiction. Just tell me what you heard, and I won't blame you for anything else!"

Brittany's impatience and infamous temper were well-known in the entertainment industry. Her popularity and family connections had protected her from the consequences of her outbursts, though haters occasionally spread rumors. Her brother, Brandon Oakley, usually suppressed them. Just now, she'd yelled at her assistant, who'd come to check on her, anxious about the news.

"It was hearsay!" Arianna sighed helplessly. "Did you know Wilfred Lodge had his birthday a few days ago?"

Brittany subconsciously nodded, then quickly shook her head. She didn't know.

The Oakley family had prospered in the past two years, growing rapidly thanks to the younger generation's efforts. However, they were still considered relative newcomers in upper-class circles and thus unfamiliar with many other families.

"He's from the Lodge family in Brown City—the mysterious one," Arianna explained patiently. Brittany, however, lacked the patience to listen.

"I don't need that explanation. I don't care about the Lodge family. I only care about Alex! Get to the point!"

Arianna's mouth twitched. "I'm telling you. Calm down. This might not even be true. And even if it is, it's just an engagement, not a marriage. Why are you so upset?"

"How can I not be upset? I've been by Alex's side, keeping every other woman away from him. Now you tell me he's engaged?! To whom?!" Brittany remained agitated.