Chapter 557 I'll Take Responsibility for Any Consequences
"I'm Jesse," he said, his voice cool and collected. "Elara's boyfriend."
Elara and Willie both froze.
Elara hadn't expected Jesse to play along with the fake boyfriend act in public, while Willie was shocked that Elara had found someone so quickly.
"Boyfriend?" Willie scoffed, giving Jesse a once-over.
"Yep," Jesse replied, unfazed.
"I was wondering why you turned me down before. So, this is your type?" Willie assumed Jesse was just eye candy. "What would Harry think if he knew you were into guys who mooch off women?"
"Who are you calling a mooch?" Elara snapped.
Willie pointed at Jesse. "Him."
"He is..." Elara started to defend Jesse.
"No need to explain," Jesse cut in, giving her a reassuring look, clearly not bothered by the gossip.
Willie sauntered over, a smirk on his face, and addressed Jesse in a mocking tone, "I don't mind guys who rely on women. Everyone's got their hustle, but..."
He stopped right in front of Jesse.
"But what?" Jesse asked, still calm.
"Losing to you really ticks me off," Willie admitted, clearly annoyed.
"Then deal with it," Jesse shot back, cool as ever.
Everyone was stunned.
No one expected Jesse to be so blunt.
Willie's friends gathered around, eager to see what would happen next. "You're pretty full of yourself."
"Willie," Ralph, who had been beaten up earlier, spoke up, his voice shaky.
"Shut up!" Willie snapped, not even looking at Ralph. "I'll deal with you later."
Ralph looked like he was about to cry. He wanted to warn him that Jesse was a skilled fighter!
Jesse wasn't interested in causing trouble.
He glanced around at the group, then took Elara's hand. "Let's go home."
"Okay," Elara agreed, following his lead.
Willie signaled his friends, and they quickly surrounded Jesse.
Willie walked up, hands in his pockets. "Why the rush? Elara's like a sister to me. If you're dating my sister, shouldn't you treat me, her brother, to a meal?"
"Is he your brother?" Jesse asked Elara, playing along.
"No," Elara said, finding Jesse's act amusing. "If he were my brother, wouldn't my dad setting us up be pretty messed up?"
Jesse looked at Willie. "Did you hear that?"
"Then I'll call Harry and ask," Willie said, pulling out his phone. "I'll tell him everything that's happening here."
Elara tensed, her grip on Jesse's hand tightening.
If Harry found out, he might show up immediately.
If Harry came, not only would Elara's lies be exposed, but he might also reveal that she had intentionally moved in with Jesse.
At that point, pursuing Jesse would become a lot more complicated.
"Then I'll tell Harold you had your goons surround me," Elara shot back, swallowing hard. "If Harold finds out how you're treating me behind his back, you know what'll happen."
"I didn't ask Ralph to do this," Willie quickly distanced himself from the situation.
"Who knows," Elara retorted.
Willie's face darkened.
He knew Harold's personality well. To Harold, Elara was a sweet girl, and he would believe anything she said, true or not.
But as Willie looked at Elara, he started to calculate.
If it were someone else, Willie might be intimidated, but he knew Elara well enough to know she wouldn't lie to Harold. Her current reaction suggested she was afraid of him telling Harry about Jesse.
"Do as you please," Willie decided to take a gamble. "At worst, we'll both go down together."
Elara frowned, and seeing her reaction, Willie knew he had won the bet.
"Jesse, right?" Willie took out his phone, pretending to dial.
"What are you doing?" Elara noticed his actions.
"Calling Harry," Willie replied, his tone flippant and unreadable, "I'll tell him what's going on here and congratulate him that you have a boyfriend."
Willie twirled his phone, looking back and forth between Elara and Jesse. "What? Weren't planning on bringing him home?"
"None of your business," Elara snapped. "Mind your own business."
"If he wants to call, let him call," Jesse said, thinking Elara was afraid Harry would find out they were just pretending to be a couple. "I'll take responsibility for any consequences."
Elara lowered her voice and asked, "What responsibility?"
"I'll help you solve any problems you're worried about. I won't let you be in a tough spot," Jesse reassured her, whispering. "Even if you find someone you like in the future and don't need me to pretend anymore, I'll take the blame."
Elara was stunned, her eyes filled with emotion.
She knew Jesse was a good person, but she'd never imagined he'd go to such lengths for her.
"And one more thing," Jesse added, not lowering his voice this time.
Elara was a bit confused. "What else?"
"I'm presentable," Jesse said seriously, without a hint of joking, "I'm not afraid to meet your parents."
Elara couldn't help but laugh. If this were real, she would be very happy.
But Jesse was immersed in his role-playing.
"Then I'll really call," Willie dialed the number, glancing at Jesse a couple of times.
Elara tried to grab the phone but failed.
Two minutes later, Willie briefly explained the situation to Harry, and the result was that Harry was coming over.
Willie hung up the phone with a gloating smile. "Since you think you're presentable, think about what to eat tonight. Something too low-class would be embarrassing."
"This is none of your business," Jesse replied naturally.
Elara felt troubled. What a mess!
"Do you know what Elara's family does?" Willie decided to stir up more trouble.
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