The Contract With Her Father's Billionaire Rival-Chapter 83. Just Leave Her Alone.

"Leave me the fuck alone!" Nicolette yelled, struggling to free herself from the men, but their grip was firm and unrelenting.

Anger surged through her at Clara’s audacity, the way she sauntered into the house, the mocking glint in her eyes, the amusement and delight playing across her face.

"If she slips away, consider your jobs gone!" Clara snapped.

The men tightened their hold on Nicolette’s arms, and she cried out in pain.

Clara let out a harsh laugh. "You disgust me so much, you know."

"And why is that? Because you’re mad your son chose me? Because he loves me and not that stupid girl you had lined up for him?" Nicolette asked, her voice low and taunting.

If Clara was coming into her house and embarrassed her, she wasn’t going to make this easy for her. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Hell no.

Clara’s eyes flickered with surprise before they were replaced with hardness. Her mouth twisted into a scowl as she stepped forward. "No. You disgust me because you are a cheap slut pretending to belong here!"

Nicolette blinked, stunned by the insult.

"You disgust me because you humiliated my son in front of the whole world, like some fame-hungry scandal magnet! And for what? Alaric doesn’t deserve it! You don’t deserve him!" Clara’s voice rose with so much repulsion.

Of course, Clara had seen the news about her and Lucian.

Clara stepped closer, her voice sharp and venomous. "And it’s all because of that cheap, reckless, and unworthy Voss blood running through your veins that makes you this way.

"You’ve dragged the Allens name through the mud. You don’t deserve a shred of the respect it carries, and it’s a shame Alaric can’t see that!"

The words pierced Nicolette harder than she had expected. She thrashed in the men’s grip, but it was useless. She couldn’t let Clara get under her skin.

No.

"Takes one misfit to know another!" she shot back, adding as much venom in her tone as possible.

Clara’s eyes twitched. She raised her hand in anger like she wanted to hit Nicolette.

"Do it!" Nicolette growled through gritted teeth. "Hit me!" she taunted, lunging at Clara, but the men held her back.

Clara flinched at Nicolette’s fury and instinctively stepped away.

Nicolette chuckled darkly, watching as Clara tried to mask the fear in her eyes.

"What’s going on here?" Anna burst into the room, confusion high in her voice. She looked from Nicolette to Clara, then back again.

"Tell this desperate slut to leave my son’s house!" Clara snapped.

Nicolette’s eyes burned at the disdain in Clara’s tone. She screamed, struggling against the men.

Just then, Wex and the new bodyguard rushed in, and before Nicolette knew it, a fight broke out between them and the hefty men.

Clara screamed. Nicolette ducked as punches flew across the living room. They crashed into everything, knocking down the lamps and the tables.

"Stop this nonsense!" Anna shouted, her voice rising above the chaos.

"Stop this! Stop it!" Suzie yelled, entering the room with Walt on her shoulders.

Other bodyguards swarmed in, and soon the chaos began to die down.

Nicolette straightened up, anger boiling within her. "See what you have done!" she said, pointing at Clara, her eyes blazing. "You came into my house just to cause trouble."

"It’s my son’s house," Clara snapped. "And you don’t deserve to be here! Not with your disgusting, embarrassing—"

"Watch your mouth before I shut it for you!" Suzie cut in, stepping forward.

The hefty men flanked Clara protectively. She eyed Suzie, before her demeaning gaze settled on Nicolette. "I never expected anybody good around you. Shame on you for dragging my name into the mud."

Suzie was about to reply when the front door creaked open. Richard walked in, his forehead creased into a frown.

He scanned the room, his eyes landing on the mess the men had created. He moved closer to Clara, his confusion deepening. "What happened here?"

"Ask that whore of a girl," Clara snapped, pointing at Nicolette.

Suzie stepped forward. For a woman who had been crying her eyes out moments ago, her voice was razor-sharp. "Mind your fucking tone, old lady."

Richard stepped between them, his voice steady and authoritative. "Enough! Show some respect."

"Those are the trash Alaric allowed in his home," Clara said, cackling. "Look at them, pathetic excuses for women!"

"Aunt Clara!" Richard snapped. "That was rude."

"Oh, was it?" Clara sneered. "She parading herself with another man, soiling our good name, isn’t that just as rude?"

Nicolette clenched her fists, her heart pounding as she waited for Richard’s response.

Of course, he had seen the news too. And like Alaric and his mother, he was definitely going to judge her too.

Her heart sank as the reality settled in. Because of this, Richard would probably refuse to help Suzie.

What was she supposed to do?

She stepped closer, desperate to plead her case. If Richard was mad at her too, that was fine. But he had to help Suzie regardless.

Just as she was about to speak, Richard said, "That didn’t happen. It’s all a lie."

"What?" they all gasped.

Richard turned to face them. "The news about Nicolette and Lucian Crawford is false."

Nicolette blinked, shock racing through her.

Did Richard believe her?

Before she could confirm her thoughts, Clara spoke, her voice harsh and dripping with disdain.

"You stupid child!" Clara shouted. "You... you have been infected too. She has charmed you like she did Alaric!"

Richard raised his hand to silence her.

"No, it’s not that. I checked the facts. They don’t match what’s being circulated."

Relief flowed through Nicolette, and she reached for Suzie’s hand.

Richard believed her and maybe, just maybe, Alaric could believe her too?

"What?" Clara gasped, staggering. "No... you don’t think..."

"I know so," Richard said firmly. "And I expect you to apologize to Nicolette for that false accusation."

Clara’s mouth fell open and stayed that way for a moment before she recovered. She clutched her chest dramatically, her eyes widened. "You... how dare you, Richy!"

Suzie smirked. "Cat got your tongue now, ma’am?"

Clara shook her head in disbelief. "You are disgusting! Despicable!" she hissed, jabbing a finger toward Nicolette, her mouth twisting as she snatched up her coat and bag. "I’m disappointed in you too, Richard!"

Richard sighed. "Aunt Clara... Aunt—"

But she had already stormed out of the house, her men trailing behind her.

"Bye bye," Suzie mocked, laughing as she watched her leave.

Nicolette let out a long breath. She had barely had a moment of peace when her phone buzzed. She checked it.

It was a message from an unknown number, and her brow furrowed as she read it:

"I heard what happened at Le Rez with your friend. I know your husband is in Australia and that your friend is in danger.

Be mine, Lettie, and I will solve all this in an instant. Just say the word. I await your response, my love."

Fucking Lucian.

Nicolette’s anger boiled at Lucian’s audacity. Still, fear rippled through her veins.

How did Lucian know all this? How was he watching them so closely?

She had no idea. But one thing was clear, Lucian was a dangerous man. And she wanted nothing to do with him.

She groaned, the fear doubling inside her. There was only one person to blame here—her father. For forcing Lucian into her world.

And now he won’t just leave her alone.