Chapter 80
Elizabeth's POV
The murmurs of conversation around us died down. Everyone who had heard froze, their eyes darting back and forth between the few of us.
This man, Barry, commanded enough respect that even Alexander deferred to him. He must be an elder of significant standing.
The friendly way he treated Aiden was enough to signal that their relationship was far from ordinary.
A quick, sidelong glance at Alexander did little to soothe the uncertainty churning in my gut.
I had come here relying entirely on Alexander as my shield, but with Barry's status so evidently special, I was at a complete loss as to how to navigate this.
"Is that so?" Barry's gaze landed directly on me, a slow, deliberate appraisal that traveled from my head to my toes. It was a deeply uncomfortable look, one of scrutiny, as if I were a piece of livestock being judged at auction.
Aiden stepped squarely in front of me, blocking his view. "Yes, she is my fiancée, Mr. Barnes. What do you think of her?"
My brow furrowed instinctively. I tried to shift away, to escape that piercing stare, but Barry's eyes remained locked on me, giving me no quarter.
"Aiden, what nonsense are you spouting?"
I felt the air around me getting colder. When I turned my head, I saw that Alexander's face was gradually darkening.
I clenched my fists, a strange and defiant impulse surging through me, and shot him a glare.
The engagement was off; there was nothing between us anymore, yet here he was, making these ambiguous statements that only served to confuse the situation.
I couldn't begin to fathom what he was thinking.
Aiden's gaze met mine, a flicker of amusement he couldn't quite conceal dancing in his eyes. He cleared his throat and took a step closer. "Elizabeth, don't be so quick to deny it. We have years of history between us. Are you saying you can just throw all that away?"
"Shut up!" The words tore from my throat, louder than I'd intended.
The surrounding chatter ceased completely. A wave of embarrassment washed over me in the sudden silence, and I found myself instinctively shrinking closer to Alexander, seeking some form of comfort from his presence.
From the back of the crowd, a sudden burst of applause echoed. The onlookers parted, creating a path as Carter strolled toward us, his eyes sweeping over our group with a measuring look.
"Quite the lively scene here. What are we all talking about?" His tone shifted as his gaze fell upon Barry. "Mr. Barnes, it's been a long time."
I caught a rare hint of genuine regard on Carter's face, and my brows drew together as I pressed even closer to Alexander's side.
What was this? Were they all truly this close? Who exactly was this Barry?
"By the way, Alexander," Carter continued, his voice just loud enough for everyone present to hear, "what is your relationship with Ms. Spencer, exactly? How is it that she still seems to be involved with other men?"
All eyes swiveled back to me, filled with a mixture of curiosity and gossip that made my skin crawl.
Alexander's hand found mine, his fingers lacing through my own as a faint smirk touched his lips. "She's my girlfriend. Is there a problem?"
The bluntness of his declaration left me stunned, staring at him with a mind gone completely blank.
I had assumed Alexander was merely playing along, but his current demeanor suggested he was genuinely claiming me.
The anger that had been simmering because of Aiden began to dissipate, and I squeezed his hand in return.
My voice was firm when I finally spoke. "That's right. We've been together for a long time."
"And Aiden and I have been over for a long while. He was the one who betrayed our relationship."
I laid out the facts with methodical clarity, making my case not just to them, but to everyone listening.
Barry seemed to be a respected figure whose words carried weight, and the crowd would likely be swayed by his opinion.
I had to set the record straight now to avoid any further misunderstandings.
As expected, when I finished, a distinct malice crept into Barry's expression.
He let out a cold snort. "The two of you were engaged. Do you think a relationship like that can be dissolved with a simple declaration?"
I risked a glance at Alexander and saw a flicker of affirmation in his eyes. Bolstered, I lifted my chin to face the older man. "Of course. And from the sound of it, Mr. Barnes, you seem quite protective of Aiden."
"So, are you at all aware of the sordid things Aiden did while he and I were together?"
The scandal with Aiden and Bianca just a short while ago had tangibly impacted the company.
If Barry truly held Aiden in such high regard, it was impossible that he wouldn't know about it.
Predictably, Barry's face grew darker. He let out another cold laugh, his attention shifting back to Carter.
He adopted the posture of an elder being disrespected. "I finally come back for a visit, only to be contradicted by some little girl who appeared out of nowhere."
Carter quickly intervened. "Mr. Barnes, let's go inside and enjoy ourselves. There's no need to concern yourself with these younger folks."
Thankfully, he had provided an out. Barry seized the opportunity and turned to leave, abandoning the confrontation.
The crowd had already broken into hushed discussions, undoubtedly forming their own judgments. Dragging this out any longer would benefit no one.
Watching their retreating backs, I let out a quiet sigh of relief and looked up at Alexander. His expression was as cool and distant as ever, as if everything that had just transpired had nothing to do with him.
"How did I do?" I couldn't help but ask, rising onto my toes to bring myself closer to his ear.
Alexander lowered his gaze to meet mine, his handsome face looking even more captivating under the soft lights.
I still couldn't read any emotion in his features, but he gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod.
"You should have clarified your identity from the start," he said, his voice light. The words could have been a criticism, yet his tone was so indifferent it was hard to tell if he cared at all.
"Right," I answered quickly. "After all, I am your girlfriend."
The words were, of course, for the benefit of anyone still watching.
We were still surrounded by prying eyes. If we were going to put on a show, we had to commit to it fully.
There was no room for complacency.
However, a discordant, cold laugh cut through the air nearby.
Aiden hadn't left with Barry. He was standing just a short distance away, his gaze fixed on me with a chilling intensity.
I met his stare without flinching. "Aiden, what kind of game are you playing?"
He had deliberately brought in a powerful-looking elder to corner me with those words. What was it if not a provocation?
Aiden, who supposedly loved someone else, just wouldn't stop harassing me. I couldn't help but suspect he had some ulterior motive.
Aiden's eyes flickered from me to Alexander, and whatever he had been about to say died on his lips. He narrowed his eyes. "Elizabeth, I'm not finished talking to you. Come with me."
He started toward me, his hand reaching out to grab mine, but I yanked it away before he could make contact.
"You have no right to touch me," I said, my voice sharp. "I am Alexander's girlfriend now."