Chapter 770:
Alyssa lifted her glass of beer and downed a bold sip, her face alight with exhilaration. “I never dreamed Sweetberry, once on the verge of collapse, would finally rise to success!” She turned to Rylie, her voice brimming with gratitude. “And it’s all because of you, Miss Owen! You’re our savior! Here’s to you, cheers!”
The others rose as well, lifting their glasses in unison to toast Rylie. Even Melany, still a university student and unaccustomed to drinking, was so swept up in the moment that she tapped her beer glass against the others and downed it in a single gulp.
Seeing the fervor in their eyes, Rylie rose to her feet, glass in hand. “This is everyone’s achievement. It was our unity that made success possible.”
The long table was laden with seafood dishes of every kind, the scent of the ocean mingling with laughter and chatter. As the night wore on, Melany drank far more than her limit. Her steps turned unsteady, and she pushed herself upright, staggering toward the exit.
Deandre noticed instantly and moved in to catch her by the arm, steadying her before she fell. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To the restroom.” Melany jerked her wrist free and shot him a scornful glance. “Don’t touch me.”
Deandre almost thought he had misheard. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he leaned closer, his voice low.
“What did you just say?”
The alcohol burned away her hesitation, and emboldened by it, Melany drew back a few steps. Her gaze was unfocused but sharp with contempt, and her words landed like a slap.
“You’re nothing but a vile bastard.”
Deandre went rigid, certain this wasn’t some drunken slip of the tongue. The audacity of this reckless girl.
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A gentle laugh echoed from behind him. Deandre spun around, his face shadowed with displeasure, yet Kyla showed no sign of intimidation. With a playful smirk, she remarked,
“Even you have nights when girls find you annoying? Bet that’s a first.”
Deandre pressed his lips into a thin line, a flicker of irritation breaking through his otherwise composed demeanor.
Never in his life had a mere college girl brazenly dared to insult him.
Without another word, he pivoted sharply and strode in the direction Melany had disappeared.
From her seat across the table, Fiona couldn’t hear their exchange, yet Deandre’s unmistakable focus on Melany did not escape her. The truth was clear — his attention had settled on someone new.
Whether from sympathy or an old attachment to Deandre, she leaned subtly toward Rylie, who was tilting her face into the salt-kissed wind, and murmured, “I suppose I should warn you about something.”
Rylie didn’t shift her gaze. “Speak.”
Fiona wet her lips before continuing, her tone low. “It seems Deandre has developed an interest in Melany. She’s still just a student. I only hope she won’t fall for a man destined to break her. What she deserves is someone who can stand beside her, someone who will truly treat her well.”
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