When I Flash-Married a Billionaire, My Ex Went on a Hunger Strike novel Chapter 22

Eugene looked helpless, rubbing his temples.

"How would I know? Just because she liked me doesn’t mean I liked her. She did go to Adora once, but I thought you already knew…"

His words were meant to reassure Ruby, but instead, they completely offended Julianne.

"Eugene Turner! Who the hell do you think you are? You think I liked you? I must’ve been blind back then!

“I stopped caring about you ages ago! If Peter hadn’t pursued me, I wouldn’t have wasted another second thinking about you!"

Julianne, still in Peter’s arms, suddenly turned and snapped at Eugene.

Hearing that, Ruby wasn’t having it.

She immediately shot back, raising her chin.

"Oh, shut up! You’re just bitter because you couldn’t have him! If I’d known you had a thing for Eugene, I never would’ve let my brother date you!"

Julianne sneered. "And who do you think you are? You’re just an orphan the Matthews family took in—nothing but a fraud.

“Do you really think you’re some kind of heiress? What right do you have to meddle in Peter’s love life?"

Ruby lost it. "Julianne Carter, say one more word and I’ll rip that filthy mouth of yours apart!"

Theodore and Lilian had never expected a simple family dinner to turn into a full-blown disaster.

Watching their son, their soon-to-be daughter-in-law, their daughter, and her fiancé all tearing into each other, they tried to intervene—pleading on one side, pulling on the other—but no one was backing down.

"Ruby, enough!"

"Julianne, we were in the wrong tonight. Please, for our sake, don’t take it out on Ruby."

But Julianne, having been raised as a privileged socialite, had never been insulted like this before.

Seeing Ruby about to lunge at her, Julianne refused to back down.

Instead, she stepped forward on purpose, tilting her face up mockingly.

"Come on then! Do it! Let’s see if you’ve got the guts! Whoever doesn’t strike first is a coward!"

Peter held onto his girlfriend with all his strength while barking at Eugene, "Take Ruby upstairs!"

"I’m not going!" Ruby snapped.

In the midst of the chaos, Ruby suddenly broke free from Eugene’s grip and, to everyone’s shock, actually slapped Julianne across the face.

Even Adora was stunned.

However, Julianne was not the type to take a hit lying down.

Without hesitation, she turned and sank her teeth into Peter’s arm.

As he recoiled in pain and loosened his grip, she lunged forward and grabbed Ruby’s hair, yanking her head back before delivering two hard slaps in return.

"Ahhh—!" Ruby shrieked like a madwoman, her hands flying up to retaliate, but before she could strike back, Peter snapped.

He swung his arm and slapped Ruby across the face instead.

"Enough!" he roared. "Can you all stop acting like lunatics?"

Ruby stood frozen, clutching her stinging cheek, her hair a tangled mess.

She stared at him, wide-eyed, disbelief written all over her face.

“Brother… you hit me?"