THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 201: BITCH!

Chapter 201: BITCH!

The matriarch stepped aside for Fay to make an acknowledgement speech.

With her disgusted gaze still rested on Ace’s awestruck one, she climbed up, and aligned her body in a way her voice would strongly translate through the speakers.

"Good evening everyone," she began, and the crowd erupted.

Celine Atticus rolled her eyes hard. It was bad enough she was stuck sitting beside Ace. And now, she had to deal with hearing the girl she thought was out of their lives for good, speak ahead of her.

"I can see the skank returned," she muttered.

Gabrielle next to her on the other side, scoffed.

"You insult everyone. It’s a pity."

Celine held back her tongue from throwing out a lashing. Her plan was to enjoy her last weekend not being the president of Spades.

"It’s an honour to speak tonight. As many of you already know, I was once married to the heir of the Atticus dynasty," she paused, and watched the expressions of the guests in the crowd.

If she didn’t have their attention when she walked into the room, which in hindsight, she knew was impossible, she definitely had it now.

"What is she trying to do?" Reign snickered beside Ace, loud enough for Celine to hear.

"Being a bitch, what else? That’s what she’s good for, anyway."

"A beautiful bitch then," Colin said, and Reign sent him a deathly glare.

He rolled his eyes, and returned his attention to Fay.

Recently, his guilt had been eating him up. That guilt was the reason he had formed a wedge with his favourite cousin, Ace, for the past four years.

How could he look him in the eyes, when he knew the only reason he wasn’t with the woman who loved him was because, four years ago, he had sat in silence, and watched Reign lie about who was responsible for her pregnancy.

Fay began to speak again, and he tossed aside all thoughts of his betrayal, and focused on her words.

"Unlike many of you may have imagined, that didn’t work out too well. Because you see, my marriage to Ace from the beginning wasn’t—"

"What are you doing, Fay?" She heard the matriarch ask in a low voice, behind her.

She chuckled in her mind. What did it look like she was doing? She questioned herself.

It wasn’t her fault the matriarch had asked her to make an impromptu speech. This was the best she could do, as far as chivalry was concerned.

"Maybe we shouldn’t talk about my marriage to Ace. There wasn’t much to it anyway. Instead, I should talk about the Atticus family, and what they represent. After all, this is an event to relaunch one of their ventures, right?"

The crowd broke into murmurs. Everyone had something to say. A rumour, speculations, and gossip. All of these saturated the large room, causing the matriarch to wonder if she had done the right thing by spotlighting Fay.

"She’s going to cause trouble," Landon, seated behind Ace, leaned forward, and whispered to him.

"That’s all she’s good for. Trouble, I mean. I won’t be surprised if she does," Ace replied.

"Please don’t tell me you’re talking about Fay? You’re not going to embarrass me in her presence the way you did the other day, right?" Reign butted in.

He ignored her, because he didn’t want to cause a scene.

"The Atticus are an interesting family, like you all know. I could sit here and prop them up with lies to make them look good, but I won’t. All I’ll say is that they should be glad to have Gabrielle Atticus. I hope they continue to appreciate the gem they have in her. And to the matriarch of Atticus, I want to say a big congratulations to you. We have our differences, but there’s no erasing the great woman you are. Well-done."

She turned around, and placed a kiss each on both sides of the matriarch’s cheeks.

"Be grateful for your grandchildren, like Sophie and the twins. Because of them, I’ll spare you tonight," she whispered, before pulling away.

The matriarch recovered from her shock swiftly, and smiled.

"Thank you."

"I’ll be on my way to my seat then." She forced a smile, as she headed down to the table reserved for her.

"She didn’t go through with it," Gabrielle said.

"Go through with what?" Claire asked, very much confused on what was happening.

"Embarrassing us, of course," her twin Blaire, replied.

Fay walked past the Atticus table, and went to hers that was just next to them.

She felt their eyes resting on her, and preserved the fake smile on her face.

It was a thing of joy to her that they were clearly bothered by her presence.

She hoped that through the night, they continued to be on edge, because they had no idea what she would say, or do next.

"Like I said before, I’m so happy Fay Luxe decided to grace our event. I haven’t seen her since the unfortunate incident between my family, and her, four years ago. I had hoped she knew that we cherished her dearly, despite the circumstances of the situation. And tonight, she has shown how loving, and welcoming her heart is. Thank you, Fay," the matriarch said, holding her gaze for a few seconds.

She could tell Fay was out for revenge, and she didn’t hold it against her.

Anyone would be thirsty for retribution, given the circumstance.

She just hoped it wasn’t a feeling that consumed her, and made her hurt the people that only wanted to protect her.

"I know you’re all waiting for the show, but it would be impossible to fully begin, without my first child, giving a speech. Please welcome, Celine Atticus."

Claps, and screams of praises echoed about, as Celine rose to her feet, with a smug look on her face.

She had always thought she was better than everyone, and it was that feeling that directed her relationship with the people around her.

An usher helped her up the podium, and she kissed the matriarch’s cheeks, before she turned to face the crowd.

"Good evening everyone, I’m Celine Atticus."

She paused, and waited for the cheers that followed that name.

For someone who people considered selfish, and self-centred, they sure did love her.

Hated, loved, but she was never ignored, and she basked in that fact.

"My mother has always been an ambitious woman, so when Spades had to shut down many years ago, it was a blow to all of us that watched how hard she worked for that company. Infinity years later, and oh well, we’re back."

Everyone threw their heads back in laughter.

"She has great timing, I’ll give her that," Landon said.

"Even the devil is hilarious. I’m not impressed," Neil said, strolling in.

The whole family turned to look at him.

"Look who decided to show up," Ace, who had been trying and failing to get a hold of him, said.

"Sit down, Neil!" Gabrielle ordered, before the people around could start staring.

The boy held his mother’s gaze for a few more daring seconds, before he finally took the empty chair next to his sister.

From the corner of her eyes, Fay watched the entire exchange.

A thought, a real vivid, and deliciously wicked thought was already forming in her head.

Celine Atticus resumed, after the brief distraction from her son.

She couldn’t bear to think of him, else she would fumble badly.

"I want to use this oppo—" An usher interrupted her speech, to pass her a note. "Thank you," she muttered, as they turned away.

She noticed her mother had gone backstage during her speech, so she thought the note was from her.

"Excuse me," she laughed. "My mum obviously can’t do without me."

The crowd joined her to laugh heartily.

"They’re such followers," Sophie, who had been silent all along, scoffed.

"Sophie!" Gabrielle warned, and she instantly pressed her mouth shut.

Celine opened the note, and her eyes widened in a split second.

It wasn’t a note. Very far from it. Someone was trying to mess with her.

That was the only possible explanation for this thing she had just seen.

She could feel the blood draining out of her body. She knew if she didn’t compose herself immediately, she would bring attention to the fact that she had just been hit below the belt.

"What’s happening to her?" Ace questioned no one in particular.

"Maybe she got bitten by a bug. Hopefully it’s a bug that silences people," Landon replied.

Celine cleared her throat, as the whispers began.

She tried to speak, but the image of what she had just seen appeared in her head, and somehow managed to clog her throat.

Who could possibly know about that? She thought in her head.

The whispers were growing louder now, as everyone wondered what was in the note that had gotten the great Celine Atticus, tongue tied.

"Ace, quickly, go replace your aunt," Gabrielle directed, already feeling embarrassed on Celine’s behalf.

He was rising to his feet, when Celine’s eyes spotted the mischief in Fay’s.

"You bitch!" She blurted, causing everyone to look in Fay’s direction.

They all saw the exact moment, she smiled, and threw the enraged woman a wink.