Chapter 242

Roman Vale had just shaken off his elder brother's pestering and was about to find Damian Cross and Aria Bennett when a heavily made-up woman blocked his path.

"Can I help you?" He frowned at the woman before him.

Celine Valmont flipped her curled hair with practiced elegance. "Hello, Roman. I'm Julian Valmont's sister."

She flashed a meticulously rehearsed smile. "I heard my brother offended you earlier. I came to apologize personally."

She deliberately softened her voice, convinced Roman would be drawn to demure, refined women.

Little did she know, her affected mannerisms made him nauseous.

"If you know your brother has no manners, you should keep him locked up at home for proper discipline." Roman didn't mince words. "With a sister like you, no wonder he turned out so poorly."

With that, he turned on his heel, unwilling to waste another second on her.

Celine stomped her foot in frustration. Was this man blind? How could he humiliate her when she, a stunning beauty, was offering herself to him?

Roman plopped down beside Aria and groaned, "Just ran into some crazy woman putting on airs. Disgusting."

He'd become an expert at spotting fakes. After being harassed by that deranged woman before, he could instantly identify any sanctimonious schemer.

Aria stifled a laugh. "Your luck with admirers is truly one-of-a-kind."

She'd long seen through Celine's true nature. First stealing her best friend's boyfriend, now trying to climb the social ladder? She and Serena Blake were cut from the same cloth.

Roman sighed dramatically. "What's wrong with me? Why do I only attract toxic romance?"

"Aria, this isn't another romantic doom situation, is it?" he asked warily.

She shook her head with a smile. "Relax. Just an ordinary rotten flower. Ignore it, and it'll wither."

"Thank goodness!" Roman exhaled in relief.

Just then, a smooth male voice came from behind them. "Aria, what a coincidence."

Tristan Cole stood there gracefully, his gaze fixed intently on Aria.

"Mr. Cole." Aria nodded politely.

Tristan sat down uninvited. "Had I known you'd be here, I would've asked you to be my plus-one."

"I'm more interested in the auction," she replied courteously.

"You could've gotten an invitation from me," Tristan offered eagerly.

Roman immediately cut in protectively, "My brother's hosting this auction. Why would she need your invite? Aria's not stupid."

He shot Damian a look: See? Someone's trying to move in!

Damian returned a calm glance: Just a clown seeking attention.

Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Roman, since when did you become so nosy?"

"Better than being fake," Roman retorted bluntly. "Aria, this guy's a notorious playboy. Stay away."

Tristan: "..." He suddenly regretted approaching them.

"I change my outfit daily, but that doesn't mean I change women just as often," he defended with forced cheer.

Damian delivered the finishing blow: "Everyone knows Tristan Cole's romantic escapades."

Aria watched their bickering with amusement.

Nearby, Serena Blake and Celine Valmont burned with jealousy. How could Aria so effortlessly belong in that elite circle while they couldn't get close no matter how hard they tried?

So unfair!

As the auction was about to begin, guests started filing out. Aria's group took their time leaving last.

At the entrance, they ran into the Whitmore family.

Vera Whitmore's eyes gleamed as she raised her voice pointedly: "Isn't this Aria? Aren't you going to greet your grandfather?"

She counted on Aria's fiery temper to publicly snub the old man—humiliating him while ruining Aria's image in front of these influential young men.

A perfect two-for-one scheme played out in her scheming mind.