“Henry, be good. Wait for me to come home.”
Jason walked beside her, and the moment she turned her back to me, she glanced at me and flashed a quick, sharp smile.
That smile held no apology, only open provocation and triumph.
The door opened.
Watching Victoria leave without a pause, the last trace of warmth in my heart disappeared.
“Victoria.”
“If this is how you deal with things.”
“I’m not satisfied.”
“I’ll handle this my own way.”
Victoria finally turned back.
Her face was calm, as if she thought I was only throwing a fit.
She even gave a faint, careless smile.
“Alright, Henry.”
“Don’t overthink it. Wait for me to come back.”
After that, she opened the door and left with Jason.
The door wasn’t fully closed, and sounds from the hallway drifted in now and then.
First came Jason’s low voice, mixed with fear and fake worry.
“Victoria.”
“Henry is so arrogant, and his family is so powerful. If he really wants to deal with me, what… what should I do…”
Then came Victoria’s voice, not loud, but clear enough for me to hear.
“Henry is just angry for now. He’ll calm down soon.”
“And besides.”
Her voice carried a cold certainty that made my chest ache.
“With me here, who would dare bully you?”
“You only know how to vent your temper on me. You’re best at bullying your own people. Look how scared he got from just a few words.”
Their footsteps slowly faded away.
Only a few shaken girls were left in the office, looking at me with sympathy.
Tired, I covered my face, hiding the marks, and spoke softly.
“Excuse me, could someone lend me a mask or a hat?”
One girl hesitated, then handed me a new mask.
“This one is clean.”
I looked at her name tag, my voice slightly hoarse.
“Thank you. I remember you.”
Her face reddened, and she quickly stepped aside.
I covered most of my face with the mask and pulled my hat low.
I left the company and got into my car.
I sent a message to the Lawrence family, the hosts of tonight’s auction.
“Tonight, Victoria will attend with a secretary named Jason.”
“Send Jason to me.”
Anyone in New York’s upper circle would beg for a chance to please me.
Jason handed the Lawrence family that chance.
I made another call.
“Find a stamp shop.”
“I need a hundred pork-shaped stamps, with the reddest ink that won’t wash off.”
The car had barely stopped at the villa when Butler Lawrence, the butler, rushed over.
“Miss Sins just came back. She said she’s taking Mr. Summer to tonight’s charity auction and needs a suitable suit.”
“She… she took someone straight into your dressing room.”
My heart sank, but my voice stayed steady.
“Which one did Jason choose?”
Butler took a deep breath, clearly holding back anger.
“It’s the ‘Aurora’ suit.”
My breath stopped for a moment.
Aurora.
That was the suit I wore to my engagement party with Victoria.
It wasn’t bought from a luxury brand.
It was sewn stitch by stitch by a master tailor, based on a sketch Victoria drew herself.
The suit was set with hundreds of natural sapphires of different sizes.
She once said it was like picking stars from the night sky and scattering them over me.
