Chapter 279 He Is Afraid of Losing Her for the First Time
Scarlett and Briar left the private room and returned to their booth. Ambrose followed, sliding into the seat across from them.
Scarlett didn't spare him a single glance from start to finish, keeping her focus entirely on discussing what had just happened with Briar.
Ambrose's gaze, however, roamed all over her. He had never seen her in this kind of form-fitting maxi dress. It gave her an aura that was simultaneously innocent and seductive, carrying a sultry charm without looking the least bit tacky.
It was a complete departure from her usual polished, wealthy-heiress vibe. The sight made Ambrose's blood run hot; he couldn't register a single word the two women were saying.
"That Mr. Morris totally deserved it. Supposedly, he's been around the block, yet he couldn't even tell two people apart," Briar cursed under her breath.
"Thank God you know how to defend yourself. Otherwise, if you had been dragged in there and they locked the door with a room full of men... I can't even imagine the consequences."
Scarlett genuinely despised the behavior of those people from the bottom of her heart. She let out a cold scoff. "Those guys are used to running wild. They learned their lesson this time, but who knows if they'll actually dial it back."
It really was hard being a woman in this society; the sheer disparity in physical strength was a major factor.
"Still, Scarlett, this really was a disaster out of nowhere. Just because of a face that looks somewhat like yours, you got dragged into this filthy mess. What if that woman goes out and commits a crime? You wouldn't be able to clear your name even if you tried."
Briar's remark made Scarlett realize that she really did need to think about how to protect herself.
But how could she defend against someone who simply looked like her?
Beside her, Briar's eyes darted around before locking onto Ambrose.
"Mr. Boleyn, if that girl showed up in your bed, would you mistake her for Scarlett?" Her question was sharp and brutally direct.
Scarlett nearly choked. But on second thought, it was a highly practical question. She couldn't help but look at Ambrose too.
Ambrose's brows knit together. The icy glare shooting from his narrow eyes made Briar shiver. Then came his warning.
"If you're blind, that's your problem. How dare you bring up a fake, plastic-surgery face in front of me?"
Briar fell silent.
Even though the insult was incredibly harsh, she caught a key piece of information: that woman had plastic surgery. Tossing her displeasure aside, she asked, "Plastic surgery? How do you know?"
Just as Briar asked this, Felicity happened to walk over. Hearing Ambrose's words, her footsteps faltered slightly, and her hands balled into tight fists. But a second later, she resumed her pace and walked over to Scarlett's side.
She gave Scarlett a deep bow.
Scarlett, who had been quiet, snapped out of her thoughts. She looked at the newcomer, pressing her lips together without saying a word.
Seeing Felicity's action, Briar spoke up with heavy sarcasm. "Well, waitress, popping up out of nowhere to give us such a grand bow. You're not trying to hook another man and cause more trouble, are you?"
Ambrose was the only man present.
Dropping her previous pitiful act, Felicity clapped back firmly. "I just came to thank Ms. Mellon."
The unspoken implication was, 'It has absolutely nothing to do with you.'
Briar choked on her words. Back in the private room, Felicity had played the fragile, helpless victim perfectly, but now she had a sharp tongue.
Quite the quick switch, wasn't it?
"Thank me? For what?" Scarlett's eyes were cool, her tone distant.
This woman standing before her was clearly targeting her.
Since she had altered her face to look like this, it meant Felicity must have known her from the past. But Scarlett had no recollection of a nobody like Felicity. It was better to feel her out.
"If Ms. Mellon hadn't taken the fall for me earlier, I can't imagine what would have happened to me. It's only right that I thank you for saving my life," Felicity said, her reasoning sounding perfectly justified.
A cold smirk touched the corners of Scarlett's lips. So Felicity was playing this game with her? Quite the manipulative little scheme.
But Scarlett wasn't buying it.
"What a bitch," Briar muttered, unable to hold back her cursing any longer.
Felicity maintained a stubborn, frozen expression. "I am sincerely here to thank Ms. Mellon."
The next second, she shifted gears, "I also know that this was my fault and that I caused trouble for Ms. Mellon, so I want to apologize to you as well."
With that, she gave Scarlett another deep bow.
First, a thank you, then an apology. This rapid-fire sequence of actions was both reasonable and forceful. Even if one felt immense resentment toward her, it was impossible to pinpoint a flaw in her behavior.
What a brilliant tactic.
A brilliant tactic to steal the spotlight.
Scarlett looked at Felicity with a half-smile, her voice slow and deliberate as she asked, "Do I know you?"
Felicity stood there looking highly constrained. Biting her lip and putting on an earnest, innocent facade, she shook her head.
"Then did I take my anger out on you over what just happened?" Scarlett continued.
Felicity didn't understand what Scarlett was getting at, but she shook her head again.
"Since we don't know each other, why rush over here to thank me? And since I didn't take my anger out on you, what exactly are you apologizing for?"
Her unspoken implication was clear, 'You're doing too much.'
"Since we don't even know each other, why go out of your way to invite humiliation?"
Scarlett's tone was light and breezy, but its destructive power hit harder than a missile.
Felicity's clenched fists tightened even further.
Beside her, Briar wanted to clap and cheer, but feeling it might be too arrogant, she reined in her wild joy and sneakily kept the humiliation going.
"Waitress, let me ask you a question. Why did you get plastic surgery to look like this?"
Felicity stood there, biting her lip hard. She stared at the two women, her eyes brimming with hurt.
Briar saw right through her act and pressed on, "Was it to make things more convenient for yourself?"
"I came here sincerely to thank you and apologize. You can refuse to accept it, but you don't get to insult me," Felicity argued, playing the righteous victim perfectly.
Hearing this, Scarlett's temper flared. Felicity had brought this upon herself, yet she was acting like she had suffered some massive injustice.
"I'm not a man. You don't need to put on this deeply wronged act for my benefit. Let's get one thing straight—I am the victim here."
After dropping that reality check, she voiced the question lingering in her mind, "Did you know me before?"
Felicity recalled Ambrose's earlier comment about her having plastic surgery on her face and felt the need to clear the air.
"Tonight is the first time I've ever seen you."
Then, she decided to just confess. "All of us girls at the film academy get cosmetic procedures done. I've had some med-spa work, but I never had full plastic surgery. I had no idea I would end up looking so much like you afterward," Felicity explained.
Hearing this, Scarlett looked at her thoughtfully.
Right at that moment, Chase walked over with two bodyguards. He glanced at Ambrose, received the unspoken command, and ordered his men.
"Throw her out."
The two bodyguards stepped forward, grabbed Felicity by the arms, and dragged her out of the booth.
"Let go of me! I can walk myself," Felicity yelled, struggling against their grip.
The bodyguards holding her completely ignored her, continuing to drag her away.
Furious and choking back tears, Felicity cried out.
"Mr. Boleyn, since you saved me twice before, I thought you were different from Tobias. I didn't expect you to be just like him, abusing your power to bully people!"
Since they wanted to humiliate her like this, she wasn't going to let them off easy either.
Briar's eyes went wide with shock. She looked at Scarlett, then turned to Ambrose and asked.
"Mr. Boleyn, you knew her before? And you saved her?"
Ambrose didn't even look at Briar. His dark, fathomless eyes were fixed entirely on Scarlett's face. Her gaze was dead quiet, not a single ripple disrupting its surface, as if whatever he had done had absolutely nothing to do with her.
The look in her eyes right now was exactly the same as when she had completely given up on Wesley.
For the first time, Ambrose felt an inexplicable surge of panic. She was slipping further and further away from him; he felt a constant, terrifying sense that he couldn't hold onto her anymore. Driven by that fear, he opened his mouth and immediately explained.
"I was dealing with Tobias, and she took advantage of the situation. It was exactly like what happened tonight."