It was a full set of limited-edition jewelry from Chanelixue Nai, worth seven figures.
“My God, your wife is really lucky to have you!”
“With such a devoted husband, who wouldn’t be jealous?”
I only smiled faintly.
I’d seen this scene too many times he was always so good at making others believe in love.
He knew exactly how to show the world the image of a perfect marriage,
but somehow forgot that I, too, once needed to believe in it.
The room was filled with laughter when the door suddenly opened.
A tall, radiant figure appeared under the lights, glittering with jewels.
Lyra.
Her smile was familiar, sweet, and suffocating.
“How could a reunion be complete without me? After all, we’re all part of the same circle.”
The air froze instantly.
I could hear classmates whispering under their breath.
She pretended not to notice the awkwardness and gracefully took the seat across from me, her gaze sweeping over the jewelry in everyone’s hands.
“Chanelixue Nai quite a famous brand,” she said with a curved smile. “But perhaps you don’t know I’m the founder.”
I froze, my fingertips tightening.
She founded it?
A few years ago, her family had nearly been expelled from the industry for financial fraud.
And now she dared to declare herself the owner of an international brand?
She went on casually, “Two years ago, my husband invested in more than twenty companies under my name. One of them, luckily, turned out to be Chanelixue Nai.”
As she spoke, her eyes flicked toward Dante, her lips still curved in that calm, knowing smile.
It wasn’t provocation it was certainty.
A dull ache spread through my chest.
Two years ago, he really had been busy.
He told me he was ‘expanding into overseas markets,’ and I believed him.
So that was what he was busy with not business, but building her dreams.
“What’s wrong, Giselle?”
Dante noticed my pale face and immediately reached out to steady me. “Are you feeling unwell? Should I call a doctor?”
Lyra let out a quiet laugh, her tone dripping with mockery. “Giselle, you’re so delicate. Mr. Dante treats you like glass, yet you still look half-dead. How pathetic.”
Before anyone could react
Slap!
The sharp sound cut through the air.
Everyone froze.
Dante had struck her across the face. His voice was cold as steel. “Say one more word, and get out.”
Lyra covered her cheek, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. Then she gave a short, disdainful laugh and turned to leave.
After she was gone, the tension in the room slowly eased. Laughter returned, one cautious chuckle at a time.
But I couldn’t bring myself to laugh.
I looked at Dante’s face the face of a man seemingly protecting his wife and felt nothing but strangeness.
He gripped my hand tightly, his voice full of concern. “Darling, what’s wrong? The doctor’s on the way.”
“I’m fine.”
I gently pulled my hand free. “I just need to use the restroom.”
The hallway lights were bright. Halfway down, she appeared.
Lyra leaned against the wall, her red lips curving into a smirk. “Don’t think he hit me for you that doesn’t mean you’ve won.”
I stopped and met her gaze coolly.
Her smile deepened. “I’ve given him twins. Do you believe me when I say, if I call and tell him one of them has a fever, he’ll leave you right away?”
I didn’t answer.
I simply turned and walked away.
