Love Rents A Room -
Chapter 175: She Was Not Ashamed Anymore
Chapter 175: She Was Not Ashamed Anymore
Robert’s smile faltered for a split second.
That flicker in his eyes—surprise, annoyance, maybe even unease—was all Joanne needed to know she’d hit a nerve.
Good.
She tilted her chin, letting her gaze settle on him like he was something stuck to the bottom of her shoe. "I’m standing still and I’m listening, Robert. See... I’m even smiling. Aren’t I a good girl? Go ahead, now that I am behaving. Tell me whatever brilliant thing you’ve rehearsed. Just make it quick. I have actual people worth my time to get back to."
Around them, the buzz of conversation continued, laughter drifting from William’s circle, but the tension between them thickened like fog. Joanne didn’t care. Let them look.
Robert’s smile turned tight. "You’ve gotten cocky," he said, his voice low. "All this just because my grandfather likes you and brought you here?"
"No," Joanne replied coolly, "because I built something from nothing. Unlike you, who just had his title handed down like a clearance bin suit at a royal yard sale."
Robert’s nostrils flared.
Joanne smiled. Not sweetly. Not kindly. She smiled like a woman who remembered every insult, every wound—especially the ones that came with champagne laughter and whispered cruelty.
"You thought I’d be scared of you," she said. "You’re mistaken."
Robert stepped in closer. "Careful, Ms. Smith. You’re not in your small town anymore."
She didn’t flinch.
"And you’re not even the biggest snake here," Joanne said, her voice cool and smooth as silk. "So if you’re done slithering around, I’ll be on my way."
Robert’s eyes darkened, his nostrils flaring just slightly. "I could destroy you," he hissed. "Don’t forget that you’re only here because of my grandfather."
Joanne let out a soft, incredulous laugh, then tilted her head and gave him a look like he was a particularly dull child. "Oh, sweetheart. Try it. Please. But here’s the thing..." Her lips curled into a smug smirk. "Can you destroy me against your grandfather? Because let’s be honest, your entire personality is stitched together from the fabric of Philip Winchester’s name. Even Jeffrey couldn’t go against me four years ago. And you think you have more favor than him?"
She leaned in, just enough to make it sting. "Hmm... sad, isn’t it?"
Robert’s jaw tensed. She’d hit the nerve—and she knew it.
She knew every last one of Jeffrey’s cousins harbored the same dirty little secret: they knew Jeffrey was their grandfather’s favorite. That fact clung to them like a bitter aftertaste, like an invisible weight of jealousy and dread. Because if anyone had the potential to inherit it all, it wasn’t them.
It was Jeffrey.
When Philip cast him out for refusing the arranged marriage, they probably popped champagne behind closed doors. But fate had a cruel sense of humor. Philip went to Jeffrey. Not because of obligation or manipulation, but because Jeffrey had chosen Joanne. Fell in love with her, organically, unapologetically. And now? He wanted to marry her.
And that... that changed everything.
There was a very real chance Philip might take him back. And none of them—especially Robert—wanted that.
Joanne didn’t need proof to know Robert would do anything to keep them apart. He had everything to gain by turning Jeffrey against her. What an insecure, small-souled jerk!
But her jab had landed.
She saw it happen. The moment Robert’s plastic grin faltered, the dignified air around him cracked like a cheap mask. His nobleman act? Shattered.
Joanne smirked.
They had broken her once. Laughed at her. Looked down on her like she was something scraped off their designer shoes. But she wasn’t that girl anymore. She wasn’t scared. She wasn’t ashamed.
She could admit Philip Winchester had helped her. That didn’t make her weak, it made her honest. But could Robert say the same and still stand tall?
She doubted it.
He wouldn’t last a week in the storm Jeffrey survived.
And deep down... he knew it.
"I know how dumb Jeffrey is," Robert sneered. "Or are you saying his balls finally dropped in the past four years?"
Joanne smiled, unfazed. "Jeffrey is the smartest person I know," she said simply. "He survived without the Winchester name. Survived adversities on his own which sculpted him. I’ve seen him in business, Robert. I’ve seen what he’s done for my business. He’s sharper than any of you give him credit for. And God knows he’s already won the heart that matters most—Philip’s."
Robert’s lip curled. "Jeffrey can’t take anything from me," he spat. "And you... Everything you have is thanks to a Winchester. Sucking up to my grandfather wasn’t enough, huh? Had to suck up to my cousin too?"
His voice dropped low with venom.
"You truly are a—"
He cut himself off, eyes darting around, aware of the growing audience.
Joanne’s fists curled at her sides. She wanted, so badly, to slap him into next week. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of watching her break.
Not here. Not now.
So instead, she smiled.
"Well then, are you saying Jeffrey’s worth it or not?" she asked sweetly, her voice like honey edged with blade. "Because you’ve insulted both of us in one breath. I just want to make sure you understand he’s better than you. In every way."
Robert’s jaw ticked again.
"That doesn’t matter," he said finally, the menace in his voice returning. "Just like he ran off with Heather four years ago, he’ll run again. He’ll choose her again. You’re not worthy to be his wife. Jeffrey is dumb but not dumb enough to marry you."
Joanne stepped closer, her eyes gleaming.
"How sweet of you," she murmured. "Tell me, Robert... Is this how you respect your grandfather? Or are you that terrified of Jeffrey?"
Robert realized that he had insulted his grandfather indirectly. After all, it was Philip who chose Joanne for Jeffrey first.
"Mmm... Should I tell on you to Philip? Push Jeffrey high up the ladder of favorability?" She smirked. "Tell me, Robert. I genuinely want to know. Between us, who will Philip believe more?"
Robert adjusted his coat with stiff fingers, muttered something under his breath, and turned on his heel.
Coward. Jerk.
Joanne stood still for a moment, her smile slowly fading as her gaze swept the crowd.
He’d touched a sore spot, alright.
Four years ago, Jeffrey did turn his back on her, for Heather. And it nearly destroyed her.
But that was then.
This time will be different. It has to be.
She took a steadying breath, eyes scanning the garden.
Jeffrey, where are you?
She needed to see him. Not because she was weak, but because they were stronger together.
But she didn’t find Jeffrey.
She found Heather. Or rather, Heather found her.
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