### Chapter 86 Avery felt a cascade of warmth on her face, yet a chill seeped into her bones. The water wasn’t cold, but the suddenness of it made her shiver. “Chelsea! What in the world are you doing?” Charlie’s voice rang out as he shot up from his seat, seizing Chelsea's arm and tugging her away. “Charlie! Don’t you dare stop me! I’m going to teach her a lesson tonight!” Chelsea’s eyes shimmered with a fierce fury, her tone slicing through the revelry of the private room. “Have you lost your mind?!” Charlie barked, his concern lacing his words. Chelsea had never encountered such public reprimand from him before, and rage flared within her. With a fierce push, she wrenched free from his grip, intent on launching another assault on Avery. Suddenly, a loud splash echoed. Avery, with a swift motion, launched her empty glass at the table, sending a deluge of juice cascading onto Chelsea's pristine visage. “If you’re going to bully me, at least make sure you’re competent,” she quipped, her voice calm amidst the shocked silence that now fell over the group. All eyes turned toward the duo. While Avery had merely been splashed with warmth, her face still held its clarity, albeit slightly damp. Conversely, Chelsea was now a chaotic splash of red watermelon juice, transforming her once meticulously delicate features into an absurd spectacle. “Enjoy your meal, everyone! I’ll take my leave.” Avery dabbed at her face with a tissue, then strode purposefully out of the private room, leaving a trail of startled expressions in her wake. Chelsea’s frustration boiled over, and she made to chase after Avery when Charlie’s hand shot out to block her. “Chelsea, are you really this oblivious to the humiliation you’ve just brought upon yourself?” “Ha! You think this is about you? Let me go!” Chelsea shook off his hand, hot tears streaming down her cheeks. The revelation of Elliot waiting for Avery in the rain outside Laura’s dilapidated apartment all night gnawed at her. His fever still lingered, yet he refused to seek help. It crushed her to see Avery treat someone so precious to her like an afterthought, and this pain ignited her need for revenge. “Chelsea, think! Is this really the way to show them who you are? The Chelsea I know is better than this,” Charlie countered, his words a piercing reminder, halting her tears. In that moment, she felt the weight of rejection from Elliot and even Charlie's disdain, drowning in a sense of abandonment by the world. “I don’t think you’re humiliating me; I’m just worried you’ll come to regret your actions. I’ve told you time and again that wit is your strongest weapon against enemies. Don’t forget that,” Charlie squeezed her hand urgently, steering her toward the bathroom. Meanwhile, as the Tierney siblings retreated, the remaining members of Tate Industries and Trust Capital exchanged puzzled glances. “What prompted the showdown between Chelsea and Miss Tate?” one representative from Trust Capital inquired bewilderedly. “I can’t say! None of us are privy to her personal dramas!” came the hasty reply from Tate Industries. “Oh… this is so convoluted,” said another, concern etching their features. “Will this impact our partnership?" “Probably not. Mr. Tierney is personally overseeing this collaboration and is adamant about its success,” a Trust Capital representative reassured, a sense of relief washing over those from Tate Industries. “Thank goodness for that,” they breathed, tension lifting slightly. Avery paused as she stepped out of the restaurant, the brisk air of early winter biting at her skin. The wet strands of hair clung to her scalp, each gust of wind sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. Last night had brought forth heavy rains, drenching everything in its path. The memory of it lingered heavily in the air; as the droplets had pelted down, she had felt an aching helplessness. Avery sniffled, the emotional weight heavy on her heart, feeling not only the chill of the air but also the chill of the events that had unfolded.