CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 196: DID THEY BULLY YOU?

Summer Monroe replied with a cool gaze, "I had no impression of Miss Rachel Ross last time. This time she brought along a diamond necklace the size of a pigeon egg... truly a different appearance. Next time I’ll remember you, Miss Pigeon Egg."

Rachel’s face instantly darkened.

"Shut up! Who do you think you’re talking to? I’m from the Ross Family!"

Rachel’s girlfriends, feeling indignant on her behalf, chimed in.

"Just a wild country girl, no manners at all!"

"Exactly! In a bit, there’s the chess simul. If you don’t want to be kicked out, you’d better leave right now!"

Listening to her friends belittle Summer one after another, Rachel’s mood finally lifted a bit.

She was just waiting for Summer to be kicked out!

So what if she’s Damian Knight’s companion?

The tradition of The Elite Society goes back many years. If you don’t play chess well, even Damian Knight’s companion will be kicked out.

She was waiting to see Summer humiliated, unable to show her face in Crestfall!

Thinking this, Rachel put on a kind expression and said, "Okay, everyone, let’s stop. It’s not her fault she’s been in the countryside for so long. If any of you happen to play chess against her, remember to go easy on her, so she doesn’t lose too badly."

Her friends laughed and said, "We’d like to go easy on her, but if she doesn’t even know the names of the pieces or where to place them, we couldn’t help even if we wanted to!"

Summer just found it amusing.

These people probably couldn’t win against her even if they banded together.

She casually tucked some loose hair behind her ear and said lightly, "It seems you all know how to play chess, then... I’ll see you at the chessboard in a bit."

Just as she finished speaking, Damian Knight returned.

Seeing Summer surrounded by a group of people, he immediately walked over.

Instinctively, he stood protectively in front of Summer, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd.

The socialites felt a chilling wave climb up their spines, silencing them like wilted eggplants.

Rachel, emboldened by being Isaac Ross’s cousin, dared to greet Damian, "Brother Knight..."

She knew that Damian Knight was good friends with Isaac and would definitely give her some face.

However, Damian seemed not to hear her at all, directly ignoring her.

Rachel was mortified, biting her lower lip hard out of shame.

Then Damian slightly turned his head and protectively asked Summer, "Did they bully you?"

Seeing Damian speak so gently to Summer, Rachel bit her lip even harder, till it turned pale and almost white.

She liked Damian, had liked him since she was small, but she didn’t dare express it because she couldn’t think of anyone in all of Crestfall worthy of Damian.

Since no one could have him, she made peace with that.

But now, seeing Damian show a gentleness to a girl that he never showed anyone else, her psyche crumbled.

A slow-burning bitterness spread from her fingertips, and she clenched her hands into fists.

Hearing Damian immediately stand up for her, Summer felt an inexplicable softness in her heart.

She shook her head, smiling, "No, they didn’t bully me; we’re just discussing the chess competition."

"I see." Damian nodded, looking away from Rachel and her friends, and told Summer, "I have a few friends to introduce you to, let’s go."

"Alright." Summer nodded and left with Damian.

Once they left, Rachel’s girlfriends started chattering endlessly—

"A girl from the countryside, and Young Master Knight really fancies her, is looks everything? I’m really amazed!"

"But to be honest, I haven’t seen anyone more beautiful than her."

"Her mother used to be a nationally renowned beauty of Crestfall, right? Looks like she inherited her mother’s beauty."

"Oh, if I were half as good-looking as her, I wouldn’t have lost to Coralie Hughes in last year’s socialite pageant..."

Rachel’s face grew darker the more she listened, finally snapping, "Enough! Stop talking!"