"Of course, it's real!" Casey jumped in. He rolled his eyes, his face, a mirror of Tommy's, showing irritation and impatience. "Dad went out of his way to buy this for you. Instead of thanking him, you're questioning him? What kind of woman does that? You should know better."
"How dare you speak to your mom like that?" Realizing Casey was getting carried away, Tommy quickly stopped him from further scolding Eugene.
He then gently asked her, "Why are you asking this all of a sudden? I bought this bracelet at the auction as your birthday gift. Of course it's real, sweetheart. How could I give you a fake?"
"Really?" Eugene's lips curled into a contemptuous smile. If it weren't for what just happened, she might have believed him.
But it didn't matter anymore. Soon, she would forget everything, forget this hypocritical and disgusting man.
Tommy grew uneasy at Eugene's expression and cautiously probed, "Honey, have I been too busy lately? Are you upset?"
"Tommy, do you remember the promise you made me?" she asked.
Eugene and Tommy had been college classmates. Back then, she was the campus beauty, admired by countless men, including Tommy.
But Eugene came from a single-parent family. After her father cheated and abandoned her mother, she grew up with deep insecurities and a lack of trust in others.
She resisted anyone who tried to get close to her. One by one, her admirers gave up, except for Tommy, who persevered.
Eventually, she was moved by his persistence and gave him a single condition, "Don't lie to me. Even if you stop loving me, don't lie."
The young Tommy had readily agreed and even swore an oath, "If I break this promise, may I never die a peaceful death."
Never die a peaceful death. Eugene smirked bitterly. She wondered if the God would ever punish a heartless man like him.
The seriousness in Eugene's demeanor caught Tommy off guard. She had stood by him for more than ten years, enduring countless hardships. During his toughest times, on a social event, she drank too much and got herself into the hospital to help him secure deals at business banquets.
At just 17 or 18 years old, Eugene had been in so much pain that she couldn't even straighten her back. Yet she still kept reassuring him that everything would be fine.
Tommy knew he owed Eugene too much. That was why he worked himself to the bone, building his business empire and achieving the success they now enjoyed, presenting it as proof of his love.
He gave her a satisfactory answer to this relationship. Tommy knew that Eugene had been drawn to him initially because of his sincerity and affection.
But now? He swallowed hard, his heart pounding with unease. Could it be that Eugene had found out?
No, impossible. He had hidden everything too well. And even if she had, so what?
Francine was his first love. Back then, she came from a wealthy family and looked down on him, leading to their breakup. She had always been the regret of his youth.
Now that the Dubois Family had fallen from grace and Francine had returned to the country, what was wrong with sending her a small gift as a friend? It didn't mean anything.
Of course, these were thoughts he kept to himself. If Eugene knew, she would no doubt curse him to his face.
For now, he forced a smile that mirrored his usual demeanor, "Of course, I remember. I've never lied to you, Eugene. This bracelet is real and so is my love for you."
Eugene stared at him quietly for a long moment and, strangely enough, she felt a slight pang in her heart.
Yes, if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, the way he used his WhatsApp to shower Francine with daily attention over the past ten years, she might have believed him.
