Rebirth Swapped Bride: Married to a Ruthless Cursed billionaire Book2-Chapter 138: A grown old man acting like a spoiled brat

Chapter 138: A grown old man acting like a spoiled brat
"All credit goes to President Lucas.
I’m just a model, really.
But I do adore this evening gown—he said he’d gift it to me as a keepsake."
Beauty dabbed the corners of her lips with a handkerchief from the table, her gaze lingering on the moon-white dress, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Sarah watched her with a flicker of envy, though beneath it lay concern and unease.
She knew better than anyone the challenges of being the woman by Lucas’s—or Drake’s—side.
Countless women were waiting in the wings, sharpening their claws, desperate to claw their way into their lives by any means necessary.
A woman’s jealousy was the most terrifying thing.
Back in their school days, she had considered Samantha her closest friend, confiding in her about everything—even her relationship with Drake.
Yet that very "best friend" had ended up in bed with the man she loved.
The memory of those sickening scenes still twisted her heart, a wound that refused to heal.
She had endured that pain once already.
She couldn’t bear to see someone else she cared about suffer the same fate—especially not this sweet, innocent girl standing before her.
"Sarah?
You spacing out on me?" Beauty waved a hand in front of Sarah’s face several times before she snapped back to reality.
With a faint smile, Sarah shook her head.
"Must be the champagne.
Congratulations, Beauty.
Half the women at this party are probably green with envy right now."
"Really? I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
I was too busy playing the dazzling accessory earlier—now the thought of ending up on gossip headlines gives me a headache.
I prefer keeping a low profile."
Beauty sighed, her eyes drifting almost involuntarily toward the most striking man in the room.
Standing beside him was Cassandra—a woman she hadn’t seen in ages.
"What’s wrong? Jealous?" Noticing her gaze, Sarah arched an eyebrow with a playful smile.
"What, are you jealous?
Is it that obvious?"
Truth be told, it wasn’t jealousy—just a lingering thought after that deep conversation with Cassandra.
She had always loved Lucas so fiercely.
Compared to her, what Beauty had with him was nothing more than a fleeting act.
Lowering her eyes, she took a bite of cheese and chuckled.
"Me?
Jealous?
Please. The bond between Cassandra and him isn’t something I could ever wedge myself into.
Everyone knows they’re the perfect match."
She answered Sarah’s teasing without hesitation, holding nothing back. In this world, the people she could truly trust were few, and those she could confide in even fewer.
Sarah was one of them, so she never bothered with pretense.
And Sarah loved that about her—her blunt honesty.
She understood that, to Beauty, she was perhaps the only person who could be called a true friend.
"Don’t say I didn’t warn you," Sarah said lightly, her gaze drifting toward Cassandra and Nathalie.
Though she didn’t spell it out, the implication was clear.
"If you want to stay by Lucas’s side, you’ll need to watch out for more than just the obvious threats.
Some knives come from the shadows.
Trust no one too easily—except me, of course."
For now, Beauty hadn’t sensed any real hostility from those women, but the warning lingered.
"I know, Sarah.
There aren’t many people in this world I’d trust anyway," she replied.
"And don’t worry—I won’t be in the Marson family much longer.
Soon enough, I’ll be out of the picture, and no one will see me as a threat."
The thought of regaining her freedom next year sent a swirl of emotions through her.
Part of her couldn’t wait to escape Lucas’s grasp, while another part wished time would slow down, just a little, so she could savor whatever warmth remained between them.
Would she ever meet another man like him?
Just as she was lost in conversation with Sarah, Lucas approached, his quiet gaze settling on her.
Her hand, mid-bite into a prawn, froze as she looked up at him, unblinking.
"Had enough?" His voice was calm.
"If you’re done, come with me to toast Grandpa and Grandma."
Before Beauty could react, Sarah burst into laughter first.
With a teasing smirk, she turned to Lucas.
"Lucas, it seems like you really treat Beauty as your wife now."
"What’s wrong with that?"
Rarely in such high spirits, Lucas arched his sharp brows playfully.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Beauty’s hand and strode toward the grand round table at the center of the banquet hall, drawing astonished glances from the crowd.
The moment she spotted Beauty, grandma. Marson beamed warmly and beckoned her over to sit beside her.
Seeing that Lucas didn’t object, Beauty immediately slipped her hand free and hurried to the elderly couple’s side.
"Bootlicker." Laura set down her fork and knife, shooting Beauty a cold, disdainful glare, her face twisted with contempt.
But today, Beauty was in a far too good mood to let Laura’s pettiness bother her.
She ignored the remark entirely, instead picking up the delicate porcelain bowls in front of the elders and ladling in some seafood soup.
With a radiant smile, she said, "I just tried this soup earlier—it’s incredibly flavorful and packed with nutrients.
Perfect for you, Grandma and Grandpa."
"Oh?
I haven’t had the chance to taste it yet," grandma Marson replied.
"But if our dear Beauty says it’s delicious, then it must be!
Come, Grandpa, try some too."
Gracefully lifting the white porcelain bowl, she stirred the soup lightly with her spoon and took a small sip.
Instantly, her face lit up with delight.
"So, Grandma, how is it?"
Beauty gazed at her eagerly, her captivating eyes sparkling with anticipation—so mesmerizing that it was hard to look away.
Lucas cleared his throat pointedly.
"Always so eager to please Grandma and Grandpa.
What about your man?
Aren’t you going to ask if I’ve had enough?"
*Ahem...* Beauty’s face flushed with embarrassment as she glanced at her
grandparents, then shot him a pouty look.
"You just had a whole meal with clients.
How can you still be hungry?"
Her tone dripped with unmistakable jealousy.
During dinner with Sarah, she had caught a glimpse of Cassandra feeding him a bite of dessert—and of course, she hadn’t forgotten.
*Tsk, tsk...* Lucas shook his head in amusement.
So she’d noticed that tiny bite from someone else?
This sharp-eyed little thing really didn’t miss a thing.
Seemed like she was always watching him.
"I just want to eat what *you* feed me.
Got a problem with that?"
A smirk curled his lips as he tilted his head, his gaze equal parts tender and domineering.
Grandma. Marson, delighted by the couple’s affectionate banter, beamed from ear to ear.
She even gave Beauty a discreet nudge, silently urging her to indulge him.
*Seriously?* Beauty thought.
*A grown man acting like a spoiled brat—and still managing to be this overbearing?*
But outwardly, she put on her sweetest smile.
After all, he *was* her big boss.
Crossing him wasn’t an option.