Chapter 969

Rosalind's piercing glare didn't go unnoticed. Lucian's sharp eyes caught her staring.

"Is something wrong?" His deep voice cut through the tension. "You're looking at me rather intensely."

Rosalind blinked. Was he seriously pretending not to understand?

Her patience snapped. "You absolute bastard!"

The words flew from her lips before she could stop them. Not just in her mind this time - she'd actually said it out loud.

Isabella gasped dramatically. "How dare you speak to Mr. Graves like that! No one has ever had the audacity!"

Rosalind gave an exaggerated eye roll. "And what exactly are you going to do about it?"

She shot Isabella a withering look. Rosalind had decided the best way to handle this manipulative social climber was to drop all pretense of politeness.

Besides, Isabella wouldn't dare retaliate in front of Lucian. The girl was too busy playing the delicate, misunderstood flower.

Isabella's face twisted in barely concealed rage before quickly morphing into a wounded expression. She turned watery eyes toward Lucian. "Miss Fairchild is being so unreasonable!"

To everyone's shock, Lucian's lips curved into an amused smirk. Then came the unthinkable - he actually chuckled.

Isabella froze. Why wasn't he angry? This wasn't how this was supposed to go!

Lucian opened the passenger door with a smooth motion. "Get in."

As Rosalind moved forward, Isabella suddenly darted between them. "Miss Fairchild, I'll take the front. You can have the back seat - it's more prestigious."

Rosalind's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me? Why do you get shotgun while I'm banished to the back?"

Isabella's sickly sweet smile made Rosalind's skin crawl. "It's proper business etiquette. The rear seats are for honored guests. I'm simply showing you respect."

The logic was technically sound, but Rosalind wasn't having it. "Keep your false courtesy. I want the front."

She moved to enter, but Isabella was quicker, deliberately bumping Rosalind aside with her shoulder. "I'm sitting here."

Isabella flashed a triumphant smirk as she began to slide into the coveted seat.

Rosalind scoffed. Did this girl really think she could be bullied so easily?

Just as Isabella was halfway in, Rosalind's hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of her perfectly styled blonde locks.

"Ahh!" Isabella shrieked in genuine pain. She'd spent hours preparing her appearance today - every strand of hair meticulously arranged to impress Lucian.

Rosalind yanked hard, pulling Isabella back out of the seat. "Get. Out."

"Let go of me, you crazy bitch!" Isabella howled, tears springing to her eyes from the sharp pain.

With a final tug, Rosalind released her. "Consider that a free lesson. Don't reach for things that don't belong to you."

Casually flipping her own hair, Rosalind slid into the front seat with effortless grace.

Isabella stood trembling with rage, her perfect facade crumbling. If Lucian hadn't been watching, she would have lunged at Rosalind. Instead, she turned to him with pitiful tears.

"Mr. Graves, did you see that? She nearly scalped me! Aren't you going to do something about this... this animal?"