CHAPTER 160: FIRST COUPLE FIGHT. MOVING OUT

Watching Lucas’s retreating figure, a kind-hearted stranger helped her up from the ground.

She murmured her thanks, her eyes instantly reddening.

Blood continued to seep from her scraped knees as she sat on a bench, carefully dabbing at the stains with a handkerchief from her bag.

A passing nurse noticed her injuries and kindly escorted her to the nursing station for treatment.

When asked, she simply claimed to have tripped accidentally.

Sarah was already overwhelmed with her own troubles.

Not wanting to burden her further, Beauty sent a brief message saying she’d head home first and urged Sarah to take care.

Then she called her close friend Hannah, asking her to pick her up from the hospital.

Hannah’s parents had bought her a spacious bachelor apartment.

The free-spirited girl had previously invited Beauty to stay over, but she’d declined due to her complicated situation with Lucas.

Now, she doubted he’d care where she went.

A sharp pang shot through her chest—she never imagined she’d shed tears over that older man.

From today onward, she resolved to pull herself together and reclaim her thorny, unapproachable demeanor.

When Hannah rushed over from her apartment, she found Beauty sitting on a hospital corridor chair, one leg propped up.

Only upon seeing her friend did a faint smile appear on Beauty’s face.

"What happened, Beauty?

How did you end up in the hospital?

And where’s your ’uncle’?

How could he just abandon you here alone?" Hannah’s natural nosiness blended with genuine concern—the two shared a rare bond of understanding.

Helped into the car, Beauty remained mostly silent during the ride, her mind replaying every heated exchange with Lucas until frustration welled up again.

It wasn’t until they reached home, after persistent questioning, that she finally confided about the fight.

Right now, Hannah was her only sounding board.

"What the hell!

That Lucas—I thought he was some devoted gentleman!

You’ve been with him all this time, and not only does he refuse to commit, but he fools around outside and then takes it out on you?

Dump his ass already!"

Hannah’s eyes blazed with indignation as she threw a protective arm around Beauty.

"Stay here as long as you want—no rent.

Just help tidy up occasionally.

We’ll be perfect roommates!"

Beauty fell silent for a moment before nodding.

"I don’t want any of those clothes anymore.

Nothing in that place ever truly belonged to me anyway.

Once my knee stops hurting so much, take me shopping, will you?"

"Shopping?

In your condition—half-crippled and injured?

That Lucas is unbelievable!

You ruined your face for him, and this is how he repays you?"

Hannah’s anger grew as she spoke.

Though Lucas had always been her business idol, she wasn’t the type to prioritize handsome faces over her best friend.

Seeing Beauty treated so poorly, she wasn’t about to keep blindly worshipping him.

Beauty bit her lip.

"Just... don’t mention him around me anymore, okay?

I don’t want to hear anything about him right now."

"Fine, fine.

No more talk of him.

Actually, I’ve got a new idol now—President Drake.

Rumor has it he’s not just drop-dead gorgeous but also loyal and devoted.

His girlfriend was abroad for ages, and the moment she came back, they got engaged. Men like that are rare these days." *

Pfft—

Beauty nearly choked on her juice, coughing violently.

Calling Drake "devoted" had to be the funniest joke she’d heard all year.

She was practically wheezing with laughter.

Hannah shot her a stern look, brows furrowed in displeasure.

"What’s so funny?

Did I say something wrong?"

"No, no... you’re absolutely right.

Drake is *so* devoted.

Unbelievably devoted—*hahaha*—I can’t even!"

Doubled over with laughter, Beauty clutched her chest, catching her breath before sticking her tongue out playfully at her friend.

Utterly baffled, Hannah planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes, looking every bit like a comically stern judge.

Clearing her throat, Beauty plucked a grape from the fruit bowl and chewed thoughtfully before explaining, "Drake is the *definition* of a playboy.

He’s surrounded by beautiful women 24/7.

If you *must* call him devoted, well... I guess he *does* treat Sarah differently.

But ’loyal’? Please.

He’s never been the ’one woman forever’ type.

Don’t let his looks fool young girls like you.

A man like him can only be described in two words—*total scum*."

Hannah’s face was a picture of shock.

She never imagined the two men she idolized would turn out like this, letting out a long, heavy sigh.

"Are there really no decent men who are both handsome and loaded?"

"Well, not exactly.

I actually know one."

Beauty thought of Ryan.

Though she wasn’t particularly fond of Nathalie, she had to admit Ryan treated Sarah exceptionally well.

He was precisely that rare breed—good-looking, wealthy, and genuinely kind.

"Who?

How could you keep such a catch from me?"

Hannah pouted in mock indignation, her eyes widening as she glared at Beauty, who couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

She would have introduced them if she could—but the truth was, she barely had the chance herself.

With a sigh, Beauty relented, "Don’t get your hopes up.

The good ones are always taken.

But if I ever come across another rich, handsome, and decent guy, you’ll be the first to know, okay?"

"Deal!

You better not forget me!"

Just like that, the starry-eyed girl was easily appeased, her face lighting up like a blooming flower, all traces of gloom vanishing in an instant.

After resting at home for a while, the pain in her scraped knee had dulled.

Beauty dragged Hannah out for some retail therapy, picking up everyday essentials and a couple of spare outfits.

Now that she was no longer under Lucas’s roof, her standard of living had taken a nosedive—but strangely, she felt lighter than ever.

It was clear she couldn’t keep relying on others.

Once she recovered, she’d start job hunting—anything would do.

She was determined to make a life for herself in New York.

After all, where else would she go?

This city had been her home for years, and with friends like these, leaving was the last thing she wanted.

Marson Family Villa.

Ever since the argument with Beauty and leaving her alone at the hospital, guilt had gnawed at him relentlessly.

He kept calling the housekeeper to check if she had returned, but by 8:30 in the evening, the staff still hadn’t seen her.

Anxiety surged through him, and he immediately sped toward the villa in his car.

Damn it!

She wasn’t answering her calls—her phone was completely turned off!

His unease deepened.

If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself.