I Am the Ruler of All (Kingsley) novel Chapter 96

Everyone at the table burst into laughter.

Serena glowered at Nancy icily as a murderous look registered on her features.

Meanwhile, Kingsley reached for her hand under the table and regarded Nancy impassively as he pointed out, "With a face like yours, it's no wonder you try to put Serena down."

"Excuse me?" Nancy shrieked. She grimaced menacingly at him and demanded, "Who the hell are you to speak to me that way?"

"He came as Serena's plus-one, didn't he? Maybe he's her boyfriend."

The guests had all brought along their own plus-ones, so they naturally overlooked Kingsley's presence at first, especially while he was plainly-dressed.

Emory assessed Kingsley contemptuously and drawled, "Of course he's her boyfriend. Will you look at the cheap counterfeits he's wearing? He and Serena-the-orphan are a

perfect match, if you ask me!"

Once again, everyone laughed in disdain. Nancy, in particular, was on a vicarious thrill when she saw that Serena was being made fun of. The crows' feet near the ends of her eyes crinkled as she beamed. This was finally her chance to trounce Serena.

"Who would've thought you'd find yourself a boyfriend, Serena? I ought to go out and see if pigs are flying," she mocked, clutching onto Tyler's arm. "But I must say you have horrible taste in men. Why would you go out with someone dirt poor like him? I mean, there's nothing wrong with being poor, but what's with all that fake-nouveau riche get-up? I'm embarrassed for you!"

Serena stared at her witheringly. "I can date whoever I want, so keep your nose out of my business."

"Now that you mention it," Nancy began, smirking triumphantly as she lay her head on Tyler's shoulder. "I'm perfectly happy with this man right here."

She had only just said this when everyone else started to shower her with shameless flattery. "Nancy and Tyler are the real deal here. Look at how perfect they look together!" "Yeah, and then there's Serena who is way out of her boyfriend's league. She's just dragging her self-worth through the mud by settling for less."

Tyler was practically glowing from all the praises, but he was secretly appraising Serena, his gaze flickering from one part of her body to the next as if deciding which he liked best. He had been drawn to her beauty since she walked through the door earlier, and Nancy, for all she was worth, suddenly felt like a sack of potatoes in his arms.

He was still eyeing Serena predatorily as he said with implication, "Nancy's right. It's crucial for women to choose men that complement their worth. Surely you wouldn't want to be saddled with some pathetic deadbeat guy forever, knowing that he would never be able to make something of himself." He had as good as told her that she ought to be with someone like him. Then, he glanced at Kingsley with a demoralizing air and asked, "What line of work are you in, anyway? Bet you can't even afford to buy Serena her favorite

cosmetics, can you?"

Kingsley leaned into his seat casually and replied, "I just retired from the army, so I'm still looking for a job."

"Oh, you're unemployed," Nancy concluded snidely, sputtering.

"I don't know why Serena has to stoop so low. Must be some serious self-esteem issues there."

Kingsley was staring daggers at him as he warned grimly, "Say that again, Noah."

Noah drew in a sharp breath. He parted his lips, then closed them again when he realized words had deserted him.

However, Nancy had no qualms with stirring up drama, and she wanted nothing more than to see Serena become the butt of the joke.

"Come on, Noah," she encouraged viciously. "Just say that again. I highly doubt someone like him could do anything to hurt you!"

"That's right," Tyler chimed in, nodding. "Go ahead and say whatever is on your mind, Noah. He can't do anything to you while I'm here."

Now that Tyler had spoken up in his favor, Noah regained all his bravado and pointed an accusing finger at Kingsley as he snapped, "Fine, I'll say it again! You are a lowlife philanderer, and only wh*res like Serena would ever—"

He had barely gotten his words out when Kingsley picked up the heavy porcelain teapot in front of him and hurled it toward Noah's face.

There was a loud and crisp crack that resounded in the room. Everyone held their breaths, and in the deathly silence, they saw Noah's front teeth fall onto the ground alongside the teapot.

He let out a groan as he clapped a hand over the lower half of his face. He doubled over in excruciating pain, and blood started to seep out from between his fingers, then dripped onto the floor.