When They Beg I Rise (Lemira) novel Chapter 1118

Jessica looked like she was about to completely shatter. "Mom, are you serious? Look at how arrogant he is! Set him up with who? He's completely delusional, thinking he can just marry into a billionaire family. They wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole!"

"Jessica, what the hell are you talking about?!" Barrett snapped. "What's wrong with me? I'm a total catch!"

Jessica stood alone, entirely surrounded and targeted by her own family.

Watching from the doorway, Lemira had seen enough. She pushed the door wide open, strode right up to Jessica, and grabbed her hand. "We're going outside for some fresh air."

The moment Jessica saw Lemira, the tears she had been fighting back finally spilled over.

As Lemira started leading her friend away, the infuriating Barrett scrambled after them. "Ms. Langston, please, forgive my earlier behavior. I hope you won't hold it against me. How about I treat you to dinner sometime so I can properly apologize?"

The guy's confidence was staggering. He genuinely believed that if he just played the game right, he could steal a billionaire's girlfriend.

Mrs. Halloway hurried out to join him. "Yes, exactly! My son even looked up a Michelin-star restaurant just to make it up to you. You really should give him a chance."

Lemira stopped and stared at the mother and son like they were insects. "Why on earth would I give you the time of day?"

Her bluntness was absolutely brutal.

Mrs. Halloway flushed with deep embarrassment. "Ms. Langston, our family isn't exactly nobody. We've actually done business with the Langston Group in the past."

"What kind of business?"

"Oh, we supplied some of the raw industrial materials for your projects."

Lemira's eyes glazed over with pure boredom. "A small-time manufacturing plant. Cute."

The searing condescension in Lemira's eyes made Mrs. Halloway want to sink into the floor. She couldn't even formulate a comeback.

Compared to an empire like the Langstons, their little factory was less than dust.

Lemira didn't waste another second and pulled Jessica out of the restaurant entirely.

Once outside, she handed Jessica a tissue. "Did they go after you because of me?"

Seeing how deeply devoted Orion was to Lemira now, Jessica knew her friend was in incredibly safe hands.

Jessica managed a real smile. "It's getting late. You two should head out. I'll text you!"

Lemira nodded, and she and Orion walked away toward his car.

Just as they left, Barrett practically sprinted out of the restaurant doors, his voice dripping with slimy ambition. "Hey, Jess, if you actually set me up with Ms. Langston, I'll make sure to pull some strings for you when I make it big."

Jessica turned to look at him, her face completely deadpan. "Do you even know who her boyfriend is?"

"Who cares? He's just some rich kid born with a silver spoon. If we're talking about actual ambition and talent, I bet he couldn't last a day in my shoes."

Jessica let out a bark of cynical laughter. "Her boyfriend is the Everhart heir."

Barrett froze. "...What?"