Chapter 282 Classic Brenda
Elizabeth was swamped with makeup duties while Raymond's crew was in the middle of a heated argument.
Brenda piped up, "Why don't we keep performing? I can play the harp and do some court dances."
Enrique nodded. "Yeah, that sounds cool. Your dancing is awesome."
Raymond, though, just sneered, "Seriously? Haven't you guys learned anything from the last two episodes? Playing and dancing got us squat. We're in Aevum City now, not some backwater fair. There are tons of people here who can outplay and outdance you. Let's not make fools of ourselves."
Brenda went quiet, feeling the sting of Raymond's harsh words. She thought, 'I'm a pro; how could those people compare to me? Raymond is such a jerk!'
Enrique's face darkened. "Don't push it, Raymond."
Raymond shot him a hard stare. "What? Can't handle the truth?"
Enrique snapped back, "Good luck finding a girlfriend with an attitude like yours."
Raymond scoffed, "If it's someone like Brenda, I'd rather stay single forever."
Enrique fumed. "You're such a jerk. Brenda wouldn't even look at you!" He'd heard Raymond was arrogant and rude, especially to women who tried to charm him. He had thought the rumors were exaggerated, but now he realized they were spot on.
Smirking, Raymond taunted, "That's great to hear."
Totally at a loss for words, Enrique could only fume silently. Brenda, meanwhile, was near tears. She'd only approached Raymond a few times, but from his words, it sounded like she was a monster. She cursed inwardly, 'That jerk! He's getting more and more outrageous. Elizabeth must have said a lot of bad things about me behind my back.'
With red-rimmed eyes, she said, "Fine, I won't play or dance. What do you suggest we do next?"
Raymond's face twisted in disgust. "Stop with the pity party. If you're gonna play the victim, at least do it better. Who cries this easily? You're not some phony drama queen." He was fed up with Brenda's constant fake expressions. Only the Clark brothers could tolerate it for so long.
Nancy couldn't help but laugh. "You really know your stuff, Raymond."
Raymond lifted his chin, pleased. "Of course, I'm very clear-headed."
"If you're so capable, then you two make money yourselves," Brenda snapped, storming off. She couldn't endure another second of Raymond's bitter tongue without breaking down completely. She cursed Raymond in her mind, 'Damn it! My online reputation will worsen.'
Raymond smiled with genuine delight. "Goodbye, and good riddance," he muttered, watching her go.
Nancy, tired of Brenda's antics, merely shrugged. "It's about time."
Enrique glared at Raymond. "You've got no manners. From now on, we're splitting up." He hurried after Brenda, hoping to console her.
Raymond's smirk returned. "Good. I'd prefer it that way."
On the other side, Brenda walked away crying, looking like she had been severely bullied.
The audience watching the live stream buzzed with divided opinions. Some viewers sided with Raymond, tired of what they perceived as Brenda's act. They appreciated his blunt honesty. Others, especially Brenda's loyal fans, felt Raymond's words were far too harsh and unwarranted. They urged Brenda to earn money this way and prove Raymond wrong.
Enrique shared the same thoughts as these viewers. He caught up with Brenda, trying to soothe her. Although cautious due to their earlier encounter, he avoided any physical contact and spoke gently instead, "Let's prove Raymond wrong. We can perform and make good money. This is Aevum City; people appreciate harp music and court dances here. Let's show him he's the one who's wrong."
Brenda, her resolve hardening, wanted nothing more than to succeed and make Raymond eat his words. She longed to win Raymond over and make him protect her and target Elizabeth. But in front of Enrique, she feigned indecision. "Okay, I'll follow your lead, Enrique." If things went south, she'd ensure Enrique took the blame.
Watching the live stream, Richard and Arnold felt a sense of familiarity.
Richard sneered, "See, she's setting Enrique up to take the fall if they don't succeed. Classic Brenda."
Arnold nodded, eyes glued to the screen. "Absolutely. She's always been like this, manipulating those who care about her."
With a rueful look, he added, "It's clear now more than ever. Watching from the outside, you can see right through her schemes." If he hadn't experienced it, he wouldn't believe this was the Brenda they had loved for over a decade.
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