Jaxon wasn’t around. Arabelle immediately dropped the act, crossing her arms and eyeing me with a mocking smile.
“How does it feel to be kicked out of the Aldridge family? Doesn’t feel so great, does it?”
Her words were hollow, like an echo that meant nothing to me. The truth was, the only two real consequences of leaving the Aldridge family were the lack of food and nowhere to sleep. She still thought I cared about Jaxon and still believed I was clinging to him.
I ignored her, trying to walk past, but she stepped forward, blocking my way. I frowned, meeting her gaze.
“Miss Kingsley, since I’m no longer part of the Aldridge family if you keep this up, things might get ugly.”
Arabelle sneered.
“Stop pretending. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re really up to. You’re acting like you’re leaving just so Jaxon will come after you, right? You think playing hard to get will get you back in his bed?”
I knew full well that Arabelle had the power to cancel the arranged marriage with the Montgomery family. To ensure the marriage went through and I could complete my final task, I didn’t dare provoke her. All I could do was grit my teeth and bear it patiently.
“So, what exactly do you want?”
“What do I want? I want you completely out of Jaxon’s life.”
“He only loves you. Besides, I’ve already agreed to marry into the Montgomery family. I won’t interfere with you.”
“That’s not enough…”
Arabelle’s eyes gleamed as she pulled out an invitation. She handed it to me, and I saw it was an invitation to her and Jaxon’s engagement party.
“Jaxon and I are getting engaged soon. I want you to come to our engagement banquet. I want you to see it with your own eyes. I want you to give up completely.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to go. I’ve got other things to do.”
Clearly expecting my refusal, Arabelle wasn’t surprised. She asked, “So you don’t want your diamond pendant either?”
I froze. “My diamond pendant is with you?”
A smug smile crossed her face. “Of course. Jaxon saw I liked it and gave it to me while you were serving your sentence.”
My vision blurred, and my heart sank. That diamond pendant had been handcrafted for me by Callum. It wasn’t worth much, but it held his heartfelt intentions.
Before leaving, Arabelle’s voice was cold, almost a warning. “If you don’t come, I won’t give you the pendant.”
I sighed. It seemed I had no choice but to attend the engagement party.
On the day of the engagement, the banquet was filled with the city’s elite, a grand and bustling event. I arrived late, hoping to slip in unnoticed, but Arabelle spotted me right away and called out my name loudly.
Countless eyes turned toward me, all eager for the spectacle. I knew I was the one who shouldn’t be there.
Jaxon walked through the crowd toward me, his face cold as ice.
“What happened to your pride? Weren’t you all tough and proud yesterday? Regretting it now?”
“I knew you couldn’t live without me. What dirty tricks are you playing this time? I’m warning you, I won’t let you ruin my engagement!”
Arabelle, dressed elegantly in her noble engagement gown, walked gracefully over and stood close to Jaxon.
“Liora, you came too? Could it be you still can’t forget Jaxon?”
It seemed Arabelle hadn’t told Jaxon why I was there. Before I could say anything, she teared up.
“Jaxon, it looks like Liora really does love you. Maybe I should give you up to her.”
She reached for the necklace around her neck. Only then did I see the diamond pendant Callum had given me.
“Arabelle!” Jaxon shouted, his voice filled with panic. “I only love you. To me, she’s not even worth a dog.”
“Get lost!”
“But my diamond pendant…”
I tried to explain, but the guests quickly surrounded Arabelle to shield her.
“The parasite’s back? Didn’t she push Arabelle last time? What’s she up to now?”
“Just go die already, you disgusting trash. Can’t you stop ruining things for them?”
Amid the crowd’s harsh words, Arabelle looked at me smugly. It hit me: I had fallen into her trap once more. She never intended to return the diamond pendant. Her real plan was to invite me here to humiliate me.
I looked at the diamond pendant hanging from her neck. I couldn’t let Callum’s gift fall into someone else’s hands.
I pulled a gift box from my bag, looking at Jaxon sincerely.
“I’m not here to ruin your wedding. This is premium ginseng; I wish you both a long and happy life.”
“And I hope you can return the diamond pendant to me. Let me keep it as a memento.”
Jaxon stared at me, taken aback. He hadn’t expected that, even after he’d discarded me like trash, I still cared about his health at his engagement to another woman.
After a long silence and under the stunned eyes of the crowd, he accepted the gift box. His gaze flicked to the pendant on Arabelle’s chest, then he nodded.
“Fine. I’ll agree.”
With my goal accomplished, I quietly retreated into the shadows. My gaze fixed on Jaxon as he pulled Arabelle close and kissed her tenderly.
As the engagement came to an end, I made my way toward the exit, intent on slipping away unnoticed, when suddenly Arabelle called out from the stage.
“My diamond ring is missing.”
A ripple of panic spread through the crowd. I didn’t want to stir up any more trouble, so I headed for the door, but a security guard suddenly stepped in front of me.
“Miss, may I check your bag?”
Before I could respond, the guard yanked my bag open, and a diamond ring slipped out, clinking onto the floor.
