Rural Belle & Three Heirs
Chapter 44 The Arrogant Woman

Karlie and Michael were a PR couple, a setup that worked out well for both of their futures.

Before today's big event, Karlie invited Michael so they could attend again as a publicity stunt, but he replied saying he had some urgent stuff to handle and suggested she go solo. She figured he was busy networking with industry folks. She never thought he'd show up with Chloe, a total outsider, tagging along.

Chloe wasn't exactly a knockout, but if photos of them together got out, it could mess up their image as a couple.

What really got under Karlie's skin wasn't just Michael showing up with Chloe. It was Chloe's makeup-Karlie instantly knew it was Michael's work. Known for his thoughtful nature and skills in image design, Michael had always turned down Karlie's requests to do her makeup. Yet, here he was, having done a stunning job on Chloe.

Did this mean plain old Chloe had a special place in Michael's heart?

Karlie wanted to act out, but with all the cameras around, she kept her cool for the sake of her image. She greeted everyone politely, though she couldn't help but shoot a venomous glance at Chloe's back. Women were sensitive creatures. When Chloe turned around and saw Karlie's blank face, she teased Michael. "Michael, your on-screen partner doesn't seem too happy, huh?" Michael scratched his head, "Really? I didn't notice."

"I did. You should go and comfort her. If she gets mad, it could be a problem."

Chloe's words made Michael frown. He was a star known for both his looks and smarts, and a lot of girls liked him. He couldn't bring himself to swallow his pride to comfort any girl.

Seeing Chloe's serious expression, Michael wrinkled his nose. "What's there to be mad about? It's just an on-screen couple; she wouldn't take it seriously, would she?" Michael shrugged it off.

"You'd better go comfort her. I don't want to be the target of her sharp eyes." Chloe let go of Michael's arm, grabbed a glass of champagne, and headed to a corner of the party. Watching Chloe walk away, Michael called after her, "Don't drink too much. I'll introduce you to Cedric later."

After talking to Chloe, Michael went to greet Karlie. As usual, they shook hands and shared a brief hug. As they hugged, the cameras zoomed in, capturing the moment of their on-screen couple reunion. Among the crowd, a few actors who knew Michael well approached him.

"Mic, who was that girl you came with earlier?"

"Yeah, she seemed pretty close to you..."

"With such a gorgeous face, she can't be an everyday plain Jane. Hey Mic, be honest with us, are you planning to ditch our lovely Miss Taylor?"

In this industry, gossip was like gold, and journalists were always itching to dig into celebrities' private lives. Just a whiff of a story could lead to headlines about Michael juggling a girlfriend and another woman.

Michael was all set to introduce Chloe, confident that her status as a Miss from the Davis Family would instantly earn respect. But out of nowhere, Karlie jumped in first.

She explained for Michael, "You guys got it all wrong. That girl is related to Mic; they're cousins."

When Michael heard this, his face darkened. He was clearly pissed at Karlie. Did she really need to define his relationship with Chloe?

Karlie had already noticed Michael's displeasure, but to secure her position, she kept talking, "There's nothing wrong with Michael being close to his cousin, right? Besides, we have an awesome relationship. He'd never ditch me. You guys are blowing this out of proportion. Just wait for our wedding and you'll see."

After saying this, Karlie hugged Michael's arm, signaling their impending marriage. Michael's face darkened even more.

He had agreed to the on-screen couple act, thinking Karlie was sensible and wouldn't cause trouble. Now, he saw her true colors.

Coldly, he removed her hand and walked away amidst everyone's congratulations. The atmosphere grew tense. Stunned, Karlie apologized, lifted her dress, and hurried after him.

The scene of Michael and Karlie arguing was witnessed by Chloe. She was leisurely sipping a glass of champagne when she saw Michael angrily heading her way.

Chloe teased Michael, "Oh, Mr. Martin, what's wrong? You seem upset. Did you have a fight with your girlfriend? Hey, I'm telling you, men and women are different. When your girlfriend is angry, you need to comfort her. Being cold and upset will hurt her feelings."

Chloe's words made Michael even more upset. He snatched the champagne from Chloe's hand and downed it in one gulp.

Then, he angrily said, "Didn't I tell you earlier? We are just a showmance. She's not my girlfriend. I hate women who think they know everything. Can't I speak for myself? Why does she have to speak for me?"

In front of Chloe, Michael didn't hide his displeasure and vented all his frustrations. Unfortunately, Karlie, who was chasing after him with her dress, heard his words loud and clear. Her face visibly darkened. She called out to Michael, feeling wronged, "Mic."