Keeping my expression cold, I suddenly raised my voice.
“Does President Gideon believe that I, Ophelia, can’t marry without you? Or does President Gideon think the Quinton family has sunk so low that our daughter must beg for approval?”
For the first time, Gideon saw me truly angry, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to do.
Watching my expression, he spoke cautiously. “Ophelia, it was wrong of me to leave the engagement banquet, but I only did it because I care about you too much and lost control.”
“You’re only upset that I gave the wedding ring to Addison. Tonight, I’ll go to the black market and buy Queen Elizabeth’s wedding ring for you.”
“Queen Elizabeth’s wedding ring?” A bitter laugh escaped me. “Gideon, it seems you have no idea what I’m actually angry about.”
Silent, Gideon kept his eyes fixed on me. After a long pause, he finally spoke. “I can’t give Addison a title. All she wanted was a ring, such a simple request. Can’t I at least grant her that?”
“You and I are the ones who will spend our lives together. For our sake, can’t you just let this go?”
My eyes moved from the gown draped on Addison’s body to the hands Gideon used to shield her so carefully.
Quietly, I replied, “Fine. I’ll let go. I’ll never concern myself with you again.”
The pallor on my face went unnoticed by Gideon. He believed, as always, that acting pitiful would make me give in to him.
“As expected of my dearest Ophelia, your understanding truly is remarkable.”
Pain tightened my chest as I turned and left in haste.
When I reached home, Addison was directing people to move things into the villa next door.
Seeing me, she didn’t even bother to fake a smile.
“The place I was staying wasn’t safe, so President Gideon gave me this villa.”
“Miss Ophelia isn’t married to President Gideon yet. His premarital assets aren’t under your control, are they?”
Too tired to argue, I turned to go inside, but my eyes caught on the blood-red pendant around her neck.
Catching my look, Addison smugly brushed her hair back, letting the pendant show completely.
“I haven’t been sleeping well lately, so President Gideon gave me this pendant.”
“I heard it’s the one Miss Ophelia was wearing during her car accident. It even has your mother’s blood on it. I must say, things from the dead really do keep away evil. I’ve been sleeping perfectly ever since…”
My hand came down across Addison’s face, stopping her words cold.
As she stood frozen in shock, I reached for the pendant, but Addison reacted first; she threw it to the ground.
Pieces of the shattered pendant scattered across the floor, and my heart broke right along with them.
Kneeling down, I trembled as I gathered the shattered pieces of sapphire, not realizing my fingers were bleeding.
“Ophelia!” Gideon rushed forward, pain flashing across his face as he took my injured fingers into his mouth and shouted for someone to call the family doctor.
Addison’s reddened eyes as she began to cry softly.
“Miss Ophelia will never forgive me now. Even if I sold myself, it wouldn’t be enough to repay her pendant.”
Freezing for a moment, Gideon quickly let go of my hand and drew Addison into his arms to comfort her.
“Stop blaming yourself for everything.”
Turning his eyes toward me. “Ophelia, it’s just a pendant. If you want, I’ll find you an even bigger and better one. Stop taking it out on Addison.”
At his words, my eyes slowly rose to meet him.
“Gideon, you know exactly what that pendant means to me. How could you…”
“Miss Ophelia, would you believe that I never wanted to steal President Gideon from you if I died?”
