Chapter 161

The roles had reversed; the beater had become the beaten.

Emily covered her face, disbelief etched on her features. "You… you hit me?"

"Since you can hit me, why can't I hit you back?" Grace retorted. Even if she faced consequences, Emily wouldn't fare better.

"Who do you think you are? You're just a third-rate celebrity. What right do you have to hit me?" Emily raged.

Grace countered, "And what about you? You're a small-time celebrity yourself. Without Brian, where would you be? You're here in a frenzy because you broke up with him and fear losing everything. Everything you have is built on his support. Do you really think you're morally superior?"

Grace's words, and the watchful eyes of the onlookers, burned Emily's cheeks. Feeling trapped and consumed by hatred, Emily raised her hand to slap Grace again.

But someone grabbed her arm from behind.

Emily was startled. A voice followed, "What are you doing, Emily?"

Emily froze. Turning, she saw a handsome but cold face. Sharp, impatient eyes met hers.

A shiver ran down Emily's spine. That impatience signaled Brian's extreme displeasure.

"Brian, I just heard you were here, and I… I wanted to see you…" Emily's voice trailed off.

Brian's eyes flicked to Grace's reddened cheek. Ignoring Emily's own flushed face, he asked Grace, "Did she hit you?"

"I hit her back," Grace replied.

"Once?" he asked, as if discussing mundane matters.

Both Grace and Emily were stunned. Grace appeared thoughtful; Emily, however, understood. Her face paled, and she trembled.

"Why don't you hit her a few more times to vent your anger? She provoked you; she should pay the price, shouldn't she?" Brian said, his face impassive.

"Brian, I… I won't do it again. Please forgive me," Emily pleaded, panic etched on her face. She feared the shock of her fans.

Restaurant staff, alerted by the commotion, rushed over. Recognizing Brian, they quickly dispersed the onlookers. Scandals involving the entertainment industry's crown prince were not to be witnessed lightly.

Soon, only the three remained.

Despite Emily's pleas, Brian remained unmoved, his gaze never meeting hers. She was nothing to him.

Only then did Grace understand the internet's descriptions of Brian's cold-bloodedness toward ex-girlfriends.