Chapter 4

Julian hadn't come home in two days.

I stood in the living room, taking down our wedding photos from the wall one by one. The frames made a dull thud as they dropped into the cardboard box.

My phone screen lit up—a message from Julian: "Moira, come to Hayes Manor. Now. Bring the sapphire necklace."

I knew what he wanted me there for. Yesterday he'd messaged saying he was throwing a birthday party for Freya at the manor.

His excuse was as lofty as ever: "This is Freya's dying wish. She's sick—we have to grant it."

I didn't object. In a few days, none of this would have anything to do with me anyway.

I walked into the closet and opened the locked jewelry box. The sapphire necklace lay quietly against the velvet lining—an heirloom of the Hayes family.

When he'd first given me this necklace, he'd said: "This has been passed down through generations of the Hayes family. Only the future lady of the house may wear it."

Expressionless, I took out the necklace and handed it to the driver waiting at the door.

The driver looked uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, but Mr. Julian said you need to deliver it in person."

I didn't want to make things difficult for him, so I got in the car.

The car stopped outside Hayes Manor, its windows ablaze with light. Before I even entered the hall, I could hear laughter and chatter drifting out.

"Happy birthday, Freya!"

I walked in, and every pair of eyes instantly landed on me.

"Isn't that the woman who's been clinging to Julian? What's she doing here?"

"I heard she won't let go of Julian no matter what. How pathetic."

"Julian should have dumped her ages ago. Freya's already pregnant—why is she still hanging around?"

"I heard she pushed Freya on purpose just to keep Julian. What a vicious heart..."

I ignored them all and walked toward the couple, step by step.

Julian saw me, his brow furrowing slightly. I handed him the jewelry box. "What you asked for."

Freya's eyes lit up. She reached out and took it, deliberately opening it right in front of me. "Julian, is this for me?"

Julian said nothing, only glancing at me with a complicated expression.

Freya clung to his arm, pouting coyly. "Will you put it on for me?"

He was silent for a moment, then picked up the sapphire necklace. His fingers traced around her neck, gently brushing aside the wisps of hair before fastening the clasp.

Freya suddenly rose on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her red lips firmly against his cheek. Then she turned to look at me, eyes gleaming with provocation.

Cheers erupted all around. I said nothing.

She walked toward me, her voice gentle, but her expression pure triumph. "Moira, thank you for coming all this way. Stay and celebrate with us."

I was about to decline when her body suddenly swayed. "Ah!"

Julian lunged forward to catch her, then whipped around to glare at me. "Moira! What are you trying to pull now?"

I looked at his twisted face and laughed. "Julian, you're so blind it's beyond saving."

He was about to retort when Freya clutched her stomach. "Ah... Julian, my stomach hurts so much..."

Julian panicked instantly. Without so much as a glance in my direction, he scooped Freya into his arms. "I'm taking you to the hospital!"

I smiled and turned to leave—but something caught my ankle hard.

I crashed to the ground, my forehead striking the metal edge of a floor decoration. Something warm trickled down along my brow bone, seeping into my eye socket, staining my vision a blurry red.

Julian heard the noise and turned back, instinctively taking a step toward me.

"Julian! My stomach hurts so much! Please, take me to the hospital!" Freya clung desperately to his arm, her voice breaking into sobs.

His footsteps halted. In the end, he walked away with her in his arms without looking back.

I lay on the floor, blood blurring my vision.

Mocking stares surrounded me. Not a single person reached out a hand.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up from the ground—only to discover that the engagement ring on my finger was gone.

It must have been loose for a while. I just never noticed.

Ignoring everyone's stares, I limped out of the manor and flagged down a taxi.

"To the hospital."

The driver was startled by the sight of me. "Miss, your head is bleeding!"

I reached up and wiped my face. My hand came away covered in red. But I laughed.

"It's fine. I'm not going to die."

Just then, my phone rang. It was my father.

When the call connected, his deep voice came through: "Moira, everything is arranged. Tomorrow, a helicopter will pick you up at the seaside private airstrip."

"Got it."

"Remember," my father paused, "from the moment you board that helicopter, you are the heir to the Corsican family."

I hung up and gazed out at the darkness beyond the window.

I was finally leaving. But before I did, I intended to deliver a special parting gift. I hoped Julian and Freya would like it.