She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew)

Chapter 406 Brandon looked them over, a smirk plastered on his face. 'So, Zoe ditched Andrew for a thirty-something Sebastian?' In fairness, Sebastian might be older, divorced, and already have two kids, but he was still the Randolph heir. Marrying him would make Zoe the lady of the Randolph family, letting her keep that luxury lifestyle. When Zoe noticed Brandon staring, she quickly looked away, pulling her arm from Sebastian's.

Deep down, she knew Sebastian was the practical choice, yet shstill crept up on her, especially with all these Donovan family around.

The idea of Athena laughing at her for settling with an older man made her stomach churn; it was like an itch she couldn't scratch, irritating and constant.

Sebastian, oblivious to her discomfort, focused on Brandon. "Cat got your tongue?" he mocked. "Didn't you use that smooth talk of yours to chase Laney down, convincing her to marry you?" Then, he added, "After Laney finally cto her senses and dumped you, didn't you cause that scene at her birthday party? All that talk about 'every dog has its day,' saying you would get your revenge on the Randolph family?" Sebastian loved to remind Brandon of that incident. Brandon's public humiliation of the Randolph family still stung. He had stood up to them, with neither the servility nor the hesitation they expected from someone beneath them.

The Randolph family had never forgotten that slight, and every tSebastian saw Brandon, he wanted to grind him down.

Now, people nearby murmured among themselves, casting curious glances at Brandon.

The Randolph family was among Kitmore City's elite, controlling Randolph Group-a giant with its hands in everything from pharmaceuticals to food, even hospitals and toys. The business wasn't just wealthy; it was steady, one of the West End's top companies with room to grow.

And then there was Laney Randolph, the family's only daughter, a stunning, accomplished woman who turned heads everywhere she went. Plenty of men wanted her, but the Randolph family had strict standards, and no one had yet made the cut.

Brandon's Al company was growing, sure, but compared to the Randolph Group, it was still just getting started. Him aiming to marry someone like Laney sounded... too ambitious.

Brandon didn't rush to respond Sebastian's mockery. He calmly downed his glass of red wine, setting it back on the table with a quiet clink.

Sebastian's eyes narrowed, irritated by Brandon's calmness. He spat, "Seven years have gone by, and here I am, heir to the Randolph family, right in front of you. Go on, take a shot at me! "Didn't you say every dog has its day? Well, looks like you've still got 23 years to wait." The crowd chuckled, and a few people threw Brandon sidelong glances.

Brandon finally broke his silence, his voice cutting, "You seem in a hurry to get knocked down-what's the rush? Are you afraid you or your parents don't have much tleft? "I mean, here I am, not even thirty, while you're already pushing thirty-something. Your parents are nearly sixty. Face it, they will be gone before me. Maybe that's why you're desperate." Low laughter rippled through the crowd as Sebastian's face flushed with embarrassment. "Big talk," he snapped. "If you were so great, your so-called company wouldn't still be so small. It wouldn't even be a crumb to the Randolph Group!" Brandon just chuckled. "In seven years, I've gone from nothing to owning a company. While in those sseven years, the Randolph Group's value, production, profits-they've all been sliding. "Sure, my company's smaller now, but I'm climbing up from the bottom while you're slipping down from the top. One day, we'll meet-and I'll be the one looking down." He leaned in, adding with a smirk, "So, why the rush? If anyone's feeling the pressure, it's you. Go ahead and stress yourself out over it." The crowd murmured, with someone even calling out, "That's right! One is rising, the other is falling. We all know who will cout on top." Sebastian gritted his teeth. "Trash is still trash, no matter how you spin it." "You used to be a nobody reaching for the stars and wouldn't back off from Laney, Sebastian sneered.

"And now, you really think you're skind of David taking on swneveGoliath? With what you've got, you'll be "Enough!" A woman's voice suddenly broke the tension. Her tone was shaky but determined. "I've told you already-Brandon didn't trick or force me. We loved each other. Stop talking about him like that." With that, Laney stepped forward, graceful and striking, placing herself between Brandon and Sebastian. Her eyes held an apologetic, almost sorrowful look as they met Brandon's. "Laney?" the crowd murmured. "She is here too, and as beautiful as ever." Sebastian's expression twisted, a mix of anger and frustration. "Why are you still defending him? This guy doesn't deserve you, Laney! He used you back then, just trying to climb his way up-" "Mr. Randolph," Brandon interjected calmly, his gaze steady. "Someday, I will surpass the Randolph family. When that happens, you won't have the luxury of mocking me.

"Until then, maybe focus on your own life rather than wasting tprovoking me. None of this will change a thing for you or the Randolph family." Then, he turned his gaze to Laney-cool and detached. "Laney, whatever we had ended a long tago. You don't have to speak for me. I don't need anyone standing up for me-not even you." Low murmurs spread through the crowd. "The guy's got guts," someone whispered. "Donovan High-tech's been growing fast these past three years. Definitely someone to watch." Laney's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked at him. "I'm sorry, Brandon. For everything. If I could... I would make it up to you." But before she could say more, a well-dressed young man appeared, slipping his arm protectively around Laney's waist and shooting Brandon a challenging look. "Laney, don't apologize to him," he said, voice tense.

"He didn't do anything for you except make you look like a fool. You owe him nothing." "Brandon, I'm warning you. Laney is my fiancée. Don't even think about—" "We're not engaged!" Laney snapped, pushing his hand away and stepping aside. "I only agreed to date you, not to be engaged." The crowd murmured, catching on to the tension and sensing that Laney might still have feelings for Brandon.

The young man noticed too and burst out, "Laney, you can't seriously still be hung up on this guy! He's not good enough for you. I'm the one who truly loves you-I'm your best choice." Sebastian jumped in, shooting Brandon a warning look. "If you try anything with Laney, I swear I will" "No need to worry," Brandon cut in, his tone steady. "I already have a girlfriend, and I'm not about to betray her." Sebastian paused, then burst into laughter. "A girlfriend? You? Who would date someone like you? Letguess- she is poor and stuck-up too? "Or maybe she is foolish enough to think you will actually surpass the Randolph family someday and make her rich?" Unlike Sebastian, Laney looked stunned. Her face went pale, and her voice shook. "Brandon, you... you have a girlfriend? You toldonce you wouldn't date until you'd made something of yourself. Were you lying toback then?"

Before Brandon could reply, a calm, clear voice rang out. "He was noth X lying to you Nam his girlfriend. I love him and will be loyal to him."

All eyes turned to the source of the voice, and an impressed murmum swept through the crowd: "Wow. She looks beautiful, elegant, and sharp-a real stunner."