CHAPTER 171: REASON WHY YOU SHOULD MARRY ME.

Aubrey scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Why are you acting all pissed off, like I’ve committed some kind of crime?" she asked, her tone laced with arrogance.

Aubrey didn’t quite grasp what Augustine was trying to convey, but she was convinced his irritation was simply because she liked him.

Either way, Aubrey didn’t care a bit.

Augustine sighed, lowering his raised finger to his side as he clenched his fist, trying to steady his emotions.

If there was one thing he despised, it was losing control of his temper—especially in front of a woman.

"Why are you here, Aubrey?" Augustine asked, his voice calmer now, though laced with restraint, before pulling in a long, deep breath.

Aubrey sneered, rolling her eyes with blatant disregard. "What did your parents say to you last night when you visited them?" she asked, completely ignoring Augustine’s question.

Slowly, Augustine turned around, his gaze softening as it met Charles’.

Augustine stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on Charles’ shoulder, his voice dropping into a warm, tender whisper. "Pookie... would you mind stepping outside for a moment?" he asked, his thumb brushing soothingly against Charles’ skin. "Aubrey and I need to have a little private chat."

Charles eyelashes fluttered a few times as a worried expression became plastered on his face. "Ar... are you going to be alright if I leave?"

"Come on, Charles—or whatever silly nickname you go by," Aubrey spat, her tone laced with venom. "Do you honestly think your presence has done anything but ruin him? Ever since the day you slithered into Augustine life, he’s been drifting—pulling away from his family, from the people who actually matter. From the woman he was supposed to marry—"

"Out!" Augustine barked, his voice slicing through the air like a whip, cutting Aubrey off mid-sentence.

The sheer force behind Augustine tone made Charles flinch, his feet instinctively jolting from the floor.

Realizing the impact of his voice, Augustine immediately softened his tone as he warmly smile at Charles. "Pook... Pookie, I’m sorry," Augustine murmured, his tone melting into warmth. "I wasn’t talking to you."

He turned around and with a cold gaze that made him seem like an inhabitant of winter.

With a voice that crackled with restrained rage, Augustine pointed his index finger straight at Aubrey. "Get the hell out of my office this very instant!" he seethed.

Outside the glass walls, a few passing workers slowed their steps, stealing curious glances at the tension unfolding inside.

"Aubrey, I can take your bullshit," Augustine continued, his voice low but lethal, "but what I will never tolerate is you speaking to my partner with such vile disrespect."

’What... CEO Augustine has a partner?’

’Woah! Could this be the reason he hasn’t shown up at the company building ever since he launched the new designs?’

’His partner must be so lucky! Gosh, CEO Augustine is such a hot guy.’

’Lucky? More like cursed. I bet his partner is already regretting choosing him. That man is cold, heartless, and terrifying all at once. Tsk... I pity the poor lady.’

’What the hell is wrong with you? Don’t you know that the any man who’s are cold to the world are usually the sweetest, most romantic lovers behind closed doors?’

’Hmm, honestly, I’m just glad his partner isn’t Aubrey. That girl is nothing but a spoiled brat with too much entitlement.’

The murmurs of the workers, who had now gathered to watch the scene unfold, filled the hallway.

Though they tried to keep their voices down, Charles still caught every word that slipped through their lips.

"Umm... please excuse me, CEO Augustine," Charles said softly.

Augustine turned around quickly, ready to stop Charles from leaving, but his eyes landed on the group of employees standing just outside his wide open office door, their curious gazes locked on the drama.

The instant Augustine’s icy glare collided with theirs, the cluster of employees scattered like startled birds, pretending to mind their business as they darted in different directions.

Charles, acting just as swiftly, rushed to the door and slammed it shut, cutting off any further view of the chaos inside the office.

Charles sighed deeply, standing motionless behind the closed door, silently hoping that the unsettling thoughts swirling in his mind weren’t a reflection of what had truly transpired at Augustine’s parents’ mansion.

Meanwhile, behind the closed door, Aubrey placed her handbag on the office table, her arms crossing tightly over her chest as she leaned back slightly.

The tension in the room thickened, the silence between her and Augustine stretching longer with each passing second, as though the weight of unspoken words hovered in the air.

After a minute, Aubrey’s voice cut through the heavy silence as she leaned forward, her gaze piercing.

"What did your parents say about me, Augustine? It’s been a while since I visited them... I only see them when I drop by to check on you at the hospital," she explained, a slight smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "So, tell me... did they finally make you see reason? The reason why you should marry me?"

Aubrey brows arched, a challenge in her eyes. "And what about you? What’s your take on all of this? Are you ready to be mine, Augustine Wales? Are you ready to be Mine and mine alone?"

Augustine let out a mocking scoff, his lips curling into a sharp smile. "Yours?" He echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do you even hear yourself, Aubrey?"

Augustine’s gaze darkened as he stepped closer, his words cutting through the air. "Do you really think you have any claim over me?"

"H-huh?"

"Aubrey, even if I were into women..." Augustine scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "I’d never be interested in you. Ugh! You’re so spoiled and full of yourself, it’s honestly exhausting."

He shook his head, his gaze filled with both pity and irritation.

"Ar... Are you making fun of m—"

"Enough with the disgusting attitude of yours, okay?" Augustine spat, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Aubrey, you were the one behind the incident that happened to me on the day I launched my company’s designs, and you still have the guts to stand here before me?"

"What! What incident are you talking about?"