All eyes immediately focused on Sophia.
“It’s Sophia! Didn’t she get married? I heard she married a freeloading guy!”
“I was at her wedding four years ago; it was the biggest joke in the city! And the guy standing next to her is her good-for-nothing husband!”
Brook cleared his throat a couple of times, gesturing for everyone to quiet down. He then continued, “I know you’re curious about why Sophia is an invited guest.”
“Now, I’ll answer your questions because I want to go to Marico Kingsley’s concert with Sophia!”
Brook’s statement caused a commotion throughout the room.
The young master of the Winifred family was inviting a married woman to a concert in front of so many people. This news was indeed scandalous.
Leo’s initially indifferent expression turned cold, and he clenched his fist discreetly.
Sophia stood up from the couch and glared at Brook with anger. “Brook, what nonsense are you talking about? There’s no way I’m going to a concert with you!”
Brook put down the microphone, wearing a slightly smug smile as he approached Sophia. “Sophia, to be honest, I fell in love with you the first time I saw you a year ago.”
Brook was confessing his feelings publicly.
“Brook, I’ll say it again. I’m already married, and the man standing beside me is my husband, Leo!”
Brook gave Leo a disdainful sidelong glance. “I know this good-for-nothing is your husband. What’s the use of keeping such a trash around? He can’t get you tickets to Marico Kingsley’s concert, and he can’t give you the life you desire. In our circles, a man like him is worse than a dog.”
“Brook, shut your foul mouth. I won’t allow you to speak about my man like that.”
“Not only will I speak about him, but I’ll also give him a beating!” Brook took two steps forward and grabbed Leo’s collar. “You good-for-nothing, don’t think I don’t know it was you who hit Emmanuel just now! In my territory, no one can act recklessly!”
Leo remained motionless and stared calmly at Brook, his gaze as cold as midwinter frost.
“I’ll give you one chance, let go of your dirty hand!” Leo’s voice sounded as if it came from the abyss.
Brook remained utterly oblivious to the impending danger. Instead of letting go, he continued to taunt Leo: “Do you even realize, you’re a disgrace and a waste of space among men? A piece of trash like you, being with Sophia is a stain on her, a mockery of courage. What gave you the audacity to marry her?”
Brook tugged Leo’s collar upward, attempting to lift him from the ground, but he couldn’t manage it.
Leo extended a single finger and lightly tapped Brook’s hand gripping his collar.
The next moment, Brook let out a painful cry, as if he had received an electric shock, hastily retracting his right hand.
He concealed his right hand behind his back, and the stinging sensation on his hand lingered.
Now, Brook had to be cautious around Leo. Leo could have easily kicked Brook away, but he found it more amusing to use his strength to put the second-generation rich kid in his place.
“Brook, listen closely. Sophia wants to go to the Marico Kingsley concert, and I’ll accompany her. If you dare to be disrespectful again, Emmanuel will be your fate!”
Brook’s previous action had indeed caught Brook’s attention, but in Brook’s view, Leo was essentially a freeloader. So, when he heard these words, he couldn’t help but scoff.
“A freeloader is just a freeloader, spouting nonsense without engaging your brain. You claim to accompany Sophia to a Marico Kingsley concert? Do you even have the means to get tickets?”
Marico Kingsley concert tickets are extremely hard to come by. Even if you have the money, they’re nearly impossible to purchase.
Many of the people attending this fan meetup, despite being devoted Marico Kingsley fans, failed to secure tickets.
Upon hearing Brook’s words, everyone cast pitying glances toward Leo. They regarded Leo’s earlier statement as utterly shameless bragging.
Leo remained composed, scanning the crowd that had gathered around, and calmly stated, “Getting tickets to the Marico Kingsley concert is just a matter of making a phone call.”
“Oh my god, this freeloading son-in-law must have lost his mind, saying something like this. How dare he utter such words?”
“I’ve seen people show off, but never this extravagantly. Well, this interloper son-in-law who usually lives off his in-laws probably doesn’t know how challenging it is to obtain tickets to a Marico Kingsley concert.”
“I think this guy is a real clown. Claiming that he can get tickets with just one phone call, is he insulting our intelligence?”
After Leo’s words, there was practically no suspense; the crowd started their rounds of mockery.
Brook’s eyes gleamed with an idea as he looked at Leo, sneering, “Freeloading King, since you claim you can get concert tickets, how about we make a bet?”
“Brook, today is a Marico Kingsley fan meetup. You’re the president of the fan club; can’t you avoid being so boring?” Sophia discreetly tugged at Leo, signaling him not to engage in a bet with Brook.
Karen, standing by Sophia’s side, had grown increasingly furious with Brook’s arrogance. She whispered to Sophia, “Sophia, if someone wants to get their face smacked by Leo, just let Leo teach them a lesson.”
Sophia hesitated. While she also knew about Leo’s abilities, she didn’t want Leo to get involved with Brook, the second-generation rich heir.
Leo gave Sophia’s hand a reassuring squeeze and then turned to Brook, saying, “What kind of bet are you proposing?”
“You just claimed you could get Marico Kingsley concert tickets, so the wager is simple. If you can get the tickets, you can make me do anything you want. If you fail to get the tickets, then you’ll let Sophia and me attend the Marico Kingsley concert together. How about it?”
Brook finished with a smug and provocative look directed at Leo.
To be honest, Leo didn’t want to make Sophia a part of the bet. But since Brook had thrown down the challenge and provoked him, he couldn’t just let it go unanswered.
“Brook, remember that you proposed this. Don’t regret it later,” Leo stated firmly.
Brook wore an expression of supreme confidence. “Regret? I’ve never even heard of that word in all my life.”
Sophia couldn’t help but feel worried. While she knew that Leo had treated Marico Kingsley’s father, she’d heard that the tickets were sold out, even on the black market. So the outcome of the bet between Leo and Brook remained suspenseful.
Seeing the concern on Sophia’s face, Leo flashed her a confident smile and said, “Sophia, don’t worry. I won’t lose.”