Chapter 38: Show Off
As Yasmin spoke, she deliberately thrust her arm in front of Caroline's face, showing off her bracelet that was covered in sparkling diamonds.
"Look at this bracelet. Quinton bought it for me in Paris. It's a limited edition—only three in all of Europe. Cost him nearly half a million dollars."
Caroline watched her showing off like that, feeling pretty uncomfortable.
Yasmin wasn't like this before.
Back then, they went to school together, shared little secrets, never deliberately competed with each other like this, and certainly never mocked others on purpose.
But now, all she cared about were luxury goods and money. Even the way she looked at people had changed, full of snobbery.
James sat beside them, fingers lightly tapping the table, completely unfazed.
Yasmin's little show-off act looked like kids playing house to him.
His mind was full of the snake-head tattoo on Quinton's wrist and the connection between the Reed family and Ironclad Weapons Corp.
As for Yasmin's provocations, he couldn't care less.
Quinton chimed in, his tone dripping with superiority.
"If Yasmin likes it, this amount of money is nothing. Besides this, I specially had a diamond ring custom-made for Yasmin. One of a kind in the world, worth a million dollars. I had someone get the raw diamond from South Africa and designed the setting myself."
With that, he pulled out a velvet box from his pocket and opened it.
The diamond ring inside was blindingly bright.
Yasmin immediately put on a coy yet proud expression.
She deliberately held the ring up in front of Caroline, then glanced at James with a sarcastic tone.
"Caroline, look how good Quinton is to me. Unlike some people who probably can't even afford a few-thousand-dollar necklace, let alone a million-dollar diamond ring."
Quinton's eyes were full of contempt as he looked at James like he was watching a clown.
"Mr. Anderson, I'm not trying to be harsh, but if a man doesn't have what it takes, he shouldn't hold a girl back. Caroline is so beautiful—being with you is really beneath her."
Caroline's expression darkened instantly. Her grip on the utensils tightened, and anger surged up inside her.
She'd been holding back until now, thinking of Yasmin as her friend and not wanting to make a scene.
But now, Yasmin was going too far. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Yasmin, that's enough."
Caroline's voice rose a few notches, full of anger.
"Whether James is good or not, I know for myself. I don't need you pointing fingers here.
And if you want to show off your stuff, fine, but stop mocking others every chance you get. What's the point?"
Yasmin froze for a moment, clearly not expecting Caroline to talk to her like this.
In her eyes, Caroline had always been meek and never got angry with her.
Today she was actually arguing with her over James? She got angry too, her tone hardening.
"Caroline, I'm giving you friendly advice, and you don't appreciate it? I'm doing this for your own good! Staying with this penniless nobody, you'll be crying later."
"Whether I cry or not is none of your business."
Caroline said coldly.
"I'm saying this one last time—if you dare mock James again, we're leaving, and we won't be friends anymore."
James watched Caroline getting so angry for his sake that her eyes were turning red, and warmth filled his heart.
He reached out and gently held her hand, his fingertips' warmth passing over and calming Caroline down a bit.
He looked up at Yasmin and Quinton, his tone no longer as detached as before.
"Yasmin, you've helped Caroline, so I don't want to get physical with you or hold grudges, but watch your mouth."
"And you, Mr. Reed."
James's gaze shifted to Quinton, a hint of warning in his eyes.
"Show off your diamond ring, your money—I don't care. But don't drag Caroline into it, and don't provoke me. You're not qualified."
Yasmin's face turned ugly after being called out by James, feeling angry and anxious.
She'd wanted to embarrass James and make Caroline see his true colors.
Instead, she got told off by James and threatened by Caroline about ending their friendship, which made her feel especially humiliated.
"How dare you talk to me like that? James, you're a loser. What right do you have to act tough in front of me?"
Yasmin was shaking with anger. She grabbed the knife and fork from the table and threw them at James.
"I think you have a death wish."
James's eyes sharpened. With lightning-fast reflexes, he reached out and caught the flying utensils.
His fingers applied slight pressure, and the knife and fork bent out of shape in his grip.
He looked up at Yasmin, his eyes frighteningly cold, his aura instantly becoming oppressive.
Yasmin shuddered under his gaze, taking a step back, nearly dropping the water glass in her hand.
She never expected that the seemingly ordinary James would have such quick reflexes.
And that look in his eyes was terrifying, like he wanted to devour her.
Seeing this, Quinton immediately stood up, blocking Yasmin, his face dark as a storm cloud.
He'd originally thought that for Caroline's sake, he wouldn't bother with a poor person like James.
But now, James had not only humiliated him and Yasmin but also scared Yasmin, which he found deeply shameful.
"James, you've gone too far."
Quinton glared at James, his tone vicious.
"I wasn't going to bother with you, but you dared to lay hands on Yasmin. Today I'll show you the consequences of crossing me."
With that, he clapped his hands.
Soon, several tall bodyguards in black suits walked in from the restaurant entrance.
Each had a cold expression and fierce eyes, walking straight to Quinton's side and standing respectfully.
"Mr. Reed, what are your orders?"
Quinton pointed at James, saying through gritted teeth,
"Give this ungrateful bastard a beating. Beat him hard and show him what I'm capable of! Don't kill him—leave him breathing so he can apologize to me."
"Yes, Mr. Reed."
The bodyguards responded in unison, then surrounded James.
Caroline's heart tightened. She instinctively grabbed James's arm and said quietly,
"James, be careful."
James patted her hand, then turned to look at the approaching bodyguards, a cold smile playing at his lips.
These small fries wanted to fight him? Simply overestimating themselves.
The first bodyguard rushed forward, swinging his fist at James's face.
James dodged to the side, grabbed his wrist with his other hand, and twisted lightly.
A crisp crack sounded. The bodyguard screamed, his wrist broken, convulsing in pain and collapsing to the ground wailing.
The other bodyguards exchanged glances, then rushed forward together, attacking James with punches and kicks.