Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 272

Seaview City

Tyrone was still in Harboridge, tied up with affairs at Lynch Corporation. There were countless things demanding his attention; after all, he needed to make sure he had a solid escape plan before he could truly walk away.

Alicia had returned ahead of him. The new school year was just around the corner, and her language immersion course started early, so she needed time to prepare. While in Harboridge, Tyrone had found her a private language tutor and introduced her to several Italian friends to help her practice. Yvonne had also connected her with people in their social circle. With her natural talent for languages, Alicia picked up Italian in no time.

Already fluent in three languages, Alicia found learning a new one came easily to her.

“Alicia, is it true Maddox has a new heir and Tyrone’s about to be thrown out on the street?” The classroom was nearly empty when Alicia arrived early and settled in with a book, only to hear Chloe’s sharp, mocking voice from across the room.

Alicia ignored her, eyes fixed on her book.

“Quit pretending. Once Tyrone is booted from the Lynch family and loses control of Lynch Corporation, I can’t wait to see how miserable you two become,” Chloe taunted, her smirk faltering when Alicia refused to react. She strode over and snatched Alicia’s book away. “Seriously? Do you have any idea how many enemies Tyrone’s made in our circle, just because people didn’t dare cross him while he was in charge? But if he’s no longer the sole heir, do you know what that means?”

Even someone like Chloe could see what Easton’s return to the Lynch family would mean for Tyrone. If a sharp old fox like Maddox, who’d survived decades in the business world, didn’t understand, who would?

Alicia’s mind was spinning with thoughts of Tyrone. Her heart ached for him. The old man’s blatant favoritism was enough to chill her to the bone—and she was only an outsider. She couldn’t imagine how Tyrone felt.

She took a deep breath, determined not to stoop to Chloe’s level. The last thing she wanted was to create more trouble for Tyrone.

“Put the book down,” Alicia said quietly, her voice cold.

Chloe only laughed, holding the book just out of reach. “You’ll find out soon enough what hell looks like. Alicia, you got Mira and Henry thrown in jail. Neither the Holloway nor Lawson family will ever forgive you, and they’ll go after Tyrone too. Now that there’s a new Lynch heir, everyone’s going to side with him. You two are finished.”

“Anyone can talk big,” Chloe sneered, then pitched Alicia’s book across the room.

The rest of the class watched, eager for drama. Among the students headed to Italy, a handful were truly talented, but most came from influential families. Everyone knew Chloe’s background and, rather than get involved, preferred to watch from the sidelines.

Alicia kept to herself; she didn’t have friends or allies here. Chloe, on the other hand, had formed her own clique before classes even started. People like her thrived on ganging up to bully anyone unable—or unwilling—to fight back. It was always the same with Mira and her crowd: build a little kingdom of their own, pick on the isolated, and flaunt their supposed superiority.

Just as Alicia was about to demand her book back, someone intervened. With a loud smack, a girl in a baseball cap and loose tank top—her style bold, almost tomboyish—picked up the book and hurled it straight at the back of Chloe’s head.

The whole room froze in shock. Even Chloe, tears springing to her eyes from the blow, spun around, utterly stunned, face twisted in disbelief.