Chapter 4
Chapter 4
The ring was gone, and I had no idea how to explain it to Sebastian, but his reassuring call came through first.
He told me he’d already ordered a few one from overseas and promised it would arrive by my birthday gala. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, and llev a weight lift off my shoulders.
Relieved, I decided to stop by the design studio on my way home to pick up the wedding dress my mother had designed for me before she died.
The moment I walked in, the receptionist looked up. “Miss Luna, Mr. Griffins is upstairs waiting for you.”
For five years, nobody around me knew I’d been so obsessed with Jake that I lost myself. He could walk into my my office, my favorite coffee shop, even my bedroom like he owned them.
My heart skipped a beat at the thought.
When I rushed upstairs, what I saw made my blood boil. Ivy was wearing my mother’s handmade wedding dress, twirling in front of the mirror like it was a game.
“Jake, honey, how do I look in this dress?” she cooed, batting her eyelashes.
“Stunning, of course. In that dress, you’ll be the most beautiful bride in the world.”
My mother had been an internationally acclaimed designer. Before cancer took her, she’d dragged herself out of bed to sketch this design, then stitched every inch by hand while her body was failing.
After she died, that dress became my only tangible connection to her.
During our first two years together, Jake had held me close countless times, whispering, “In this dress, Luna, you’ll be the most beautiful bride in the world.”
I felt like I’d been slapped, my head ringing with shock.
“Who the hell said you could touch my things? Take that dress OFF!” I shouted.
Jake’s face darkened immediately. “Luna, you’ve bullied Ivy enough. First you stole her ring, and now you can give her this dress as an apology.”
I refused to back down, my voice ice cold. “I said… take. it. off.”
Jake, humiliated by my defiance, exploded. “Enough, Luna! Keep this up, and I swear, even if you’re on your knees begging, I won’t show up at your birthday gala. You’ll be the one embarrassed, not me.”
“I’m warning you, back off now, or you’ll regret it.”
“It’s okay, Jake,” Ivy cutted in with fake sweetness. “If Miss Luna won’t share, I’ll just take it off.”
She disappeared into the changing room, but when she emerged, she was holding what looked like a pile of rags.
“Oh, Miss Luna, I’m so terribly sorry,” she said with mock innocence. “I had no idea the quality was so poor–it just fell apart in my hands! Good thing I decided against it. Wearing trash like this to a wedding would be embarrassing.”
I cradled the shredded fabric in my hands, my heart shattering piece by piece.
Jake, eyeing my tears, decided to be “merciful.” “Since it’s ruined–let it go. It wasn’t worth anything anyway. Get ready for next week–sign over all
your
father’s assets to me, not keeping a dime. After Ivy and I are married, you can be my official mistress.”
He smirked. “I’ll even give you $300 a month call it charity.”
I watched silently as they walked away laughing.
I lowered my cold gaze to the floor.
One week from now, let’s see if you’re still laughing.
2.6
Hair Ho Can’t Touch
Char
My father threw me an extravagant birthday gala. All four elite families of Boston attended, along with mumerous mistoper paritet
When Jake entered, everyone immediately swatined around him with congratulations.
Mr. Blackwoods, you were clearly born for wealth and power. You and Miss Laina are a match made in heaven!”
“After today, you’ll be the most powerful man in Boston. When you feast, I hope you!!
let some of us smaller companies have a taste.
Jake was soaking up their praise, oozing arrogance from every pore.
When I appeared in my elegant gown, he immediately scowled and lowered his voice. “Why are you dressed so flashy? It’ll be harder for you to hide. Go change into a maid’s uniform and lock yourself in the bathroom. Don’t come out all day.”
I didn’t even spare him a glance.
Jake’s face turned dark with anger. “Luna, if you ruin my
wedding v
with Ivy, I’ll never look at you again.”
Just then, my father emerged from his study with a lawyer.
He smiled at me warmly. “My dear daughter, since you personally chose your husband, would you like to make the announcement?”
Jake watched me walk toward him, his lips curving into a smug
smile.
The next second, I walked right past him and linked my arm with the man standing behind him.
“Dad, I’ve chosen Sebastian as my husband.”
14
Chapter 5
