She's Too Busy Winning to Watch Him Cry novel Chapter 405

"I'll buy you a dozen muscular models later," Lyra replied. "For now, just stop picking on Leo."

"When exactly is 'later'?" Maddie shot back.

Meanwhile, Jasmine was slowly stepping into a grand banquet hall.

Dressed in a simple, elegant gown, she looked noticeably thinner. Faint dark circles shadowed her eyes, and despite her natural beauty, she looked exhausted and terribly lonely.

The moment she walked in, several wealthy heiresses turned their heads in unison. Their gazes were filled with probing curiosity and undisguised schadenfreude.

Someone was the first to speak up, a mocking lilt to their voice. "Well, if it isn't the great Miss Ford."

Another quickly chimed in with a light laugh. "I thought she'd be too embarrassed to show her face after Rowan dumped her. She used to act so high and mighty."

"Right after she practically bragged about making out with him on the balcony, he publicly announced they were done. So humiliating!"

"I heard Rowan is already with someone else."

Jasmine had known she would face this kind of gossip before she even arrived. Desperate to secure partnerships and resources for her struggling company, she swallowed her pride and approached the senior business executives and family patriarchs in the room. She humbled herself, handing out business cards, but hardly anyone took them.

At that moment, someone sent Maddie a video of Jasmine humbling herself at the gala. Still lounging on the sunbed and chatting with Lyra, Maddie opened her phone, watched the clip, and instantly jumped up. "Jasmine is at a business gala. Come on, let's go see how pathetic she looks."

Leo swam over to the edge. "Hey, hey. Don't go starting trouble."

Lyra didn't want to go either.

Jasmine already knew she was the woman on the balcony with Rowan. Right now, Jasmine probably wanted to grind her bones to dust.

"What are you afraid of?" Maddie urged. "It would be a tragedy to miss seeing her like this. Relax, she doesn't dare mess with you right now."

Seeing he couldn't talk them out of it, Leo climbed out of the pool. "Fine, fine. I'll go with you two. If things get ugly, I can step in and smooth it over."

Maddie grabbed Yvonne by the sleeve. "And you'd be the nameless extra villain. Great, the whole cast is here! We're all just here to make her look good."

Yvonne's face paled at the insult. "This woman is already a laughingstock, and she still thinks she's walking the red carpet? Just watch, I'm going to beat the fake right out of her."

"She knows Taekwondo and kickboxing," Lyra casually reminded her.

Yvonne froze. "She... she actually knows kickboxing?"

"You've got an uncle backing you up, what are you afraid of?" Maddie egged her on. "Go get her."

Yvonne fell utterly silent.

No sooner had Maddie spoken than they saw Jasmine marching straight toward Lyra. Jasmine's face was freezing cold, her lips pressed into a tight line, and her eyes burned with absolute jealousy.

Instinctively, Maddie grabbed Lyra and took a step back. But realizing that made them look weak, she quickly stepped in front of Lyra, taking a defensive stance. "What... what do you think you're doing?"