Chapter 3

“Didn’t JY’s chief designer release a new jewelry collection last month? I really love that pink diamond necklace and bracelet from the collection. Will you buy them for me, honey?”

Florentia looked at Hunter with the same gentle gaze as always, her tone soft and almost coquettish.

The moment she finished speaking, she could clearly feel the atmosphere in the hospital room turn strange.

Her gaze drifted lightly toward Whitney.

Whitney was biting her lower lip, the corners of her eyes reddened with anger and helplessness. She looked almost ridiculous.

“Why the sudden interest in jewelry? You never used to like this stuff.”

Hunter forced a stiff smile.

Florentia pouted slightly, her voice turning even softer.

“What woman doesn’t love jewelry? Besides, isn’t this collection called Eternal Heart? It’s been all over the internet lately. Just think of it as a gift for our fifth anniversary, okay? A way to prove you’ll love me forever.”

Hunter’s lips tightened almost imperceptibly.

He checked the price of that jewelry set before.

It cost a full twelve million dollars.

To him, twelve million wasn’t a huge amount.

The problem was that Whitney just told him recently that she wanted it too.

Hunter glanced instinctively toward Whitney.

Her eyes were already shimmering with tears.

None of their silent exchange escaped Florentia’s notice.

She put on a thoughtful, understanding expression and gently took Hunter’s hand.

“Is it too difficult? Are you short on funds right now? Should I talk to Grandpa for you?”

The moment the word “Grandpa” came up, Hunter made up his mind.

He wrapped an arm around Florentia’s shoulders and smiled.

“I’ll have someone transfer the money to you right now. If you like it, then buy it.”

Once he secured the shares, twelve million would be nothing.

Besides, Florentia really behaved well these past few years.

Buying her an expensive gift was only fair.

Not long after, Florentia received the notification that the twelve million was transferred into her account.

Whitney and Valda had already left the room. Whitney was probably furious after being provoked like that, while Valda rushed off to comfort her.

Florentia put away her phone.

For the sake of that twelve million, she stayed in the hospital room a little longer before eventually using work at Swiftline Magazine as an excuse to leave.

Hunter didn’t try to stop her.

The moment Florentia left, Whitney and Valda returned to the room.

Whitney’s eyes were red from holding back tears, and the sight made Hunter’s heart ache.

“So you really gave that woman twelve million? She’s just some nobody from the countryside.

“Letting her live a good life these past five years was already generous enough. I refuse to watch Whitney suffer like this any longer.

“Just give it one more month. Once you secure the shares from your grandfather, throw her out for good!”

Valda sounded furious.

She was still waiting for Whitney to give her a grandson.

With Florentia standing in the way, how was Whitney supposed to have Hunter’s child?

Whitney quickly tried to calm her down, her voice gentle and understanding.

“Mom, don’t blame Hunter. He’s always been soft-hearted.”

That only made Hunter feel even more sorry for Whitney.

Still, he had to admit that Florentia truly hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Whitney, I’ll buy you something even better another day. Just let her have this one.”

Whitney smiled through her tears.

But inside, she felt even worse.

That jewelry set was worth a full twelve million dollars, and it carried a very special meaning.

After leaving the hospital, Florentia headed straight to JY’s jewelry boutique to buy the set.

The collection had an extremely limited global release. The total number available could practically be counted on one hand.

She was afraid Hunter might look into it later. If he found out she never bought the jewelry, wouldn’t that expose her?

The moment she entered the boutique, a sales associate in uniform walked over.

“Good afternoon, miss. Is there something you’d like to see?”

Florentia pointed at the Eternal Heart set secured behind the display case.

“I want that one.”

“Of course. Let me take it out for you.”

The associate slipped on a pair of black velvet gloves, unlocked the display case, and carefully removed the jewelry.

There was no denying it.

The set was breathtakingly beautiful.

No wonder Whitney liked it so much.

Florentia took out her card and handed it over.

“Go ahead and charge it.”

“Yes, miss—”

The sales associate had just been about to process the payment when a voice suddenly interrupted.

“Wait.”

Florentia and the sales associate both turned toward the voice.

Several bodyguards in black suits stood at the entrance of the boutique.

Leading them was a beautiful young woman dressed in an elegant black dress.

She lifted her delicate chin as she looked at Florentia, her gaze filled with disdain.

“Miss Walker, you’re here.”

The sales associate’s attitude immediately became even more enthusiastic. She practically bent at the waist.

The young woman strode in on high heels and dropped onto the sofa.

She pointed lazily at the jewelry set with her chin and said, “I want that set.”

“Um…”

The sales associate looked awkwardly toward Florentia.

“Miss Walker, this lady already selected that jewelry first.”

“She hasn’t paid for it yet, has she? If the payment hasn’t gone through, then the highest bidder gets it. It’s twelve million, right? I’ll pay fourteen.”

The young woman raised an eyebrow casually.

Florentia fell silent.

What kind of spoiled heiress casually raised the price by two million?

The moment the sales associate heard that, she immediately made her decision.

She walked over to Florentia and smiled apologetically.

“I’m terribly sorry, miss, but Miss Walker took an interest in this set. If there’s anything else you like, please feel free to browse. We can offer you VIP pricing.”

Florentia knew when to back down.

All she needed was an expensive enough jewelry set to deal with Hunter anyway.

“Then let her have it. She seems to need it more than I do.”

She gave up the Eternal Heart set and casually picked out another jewelry set at a similar price instead.

Just as she was about to pay this time, the young woman, who was playing on her phone moments ago, suddenly stopped her.

“Hey, wait!”

Now what?

Florentia paused and asked, “You want this set too?”

The girl’s expression turned oddly complicated.

“You can have the Eternal Heart set back. I don’t want it anymore.”

Both Florentia and the sales associate were speechless.

The girl looked young, but she changed her mind on a whim.

“Alright. Thanks.”

Florentia was more than happy that the girl was willing to give it up.

After purchasing the jewelry, she left the mall.

Meanwhile, surrounded by bodyguards, the young woman climbed into a stretched Bentley.

The moment she got in, she immediately made a phone call.

“Seriously, what was that about? I was buying that jewelry for my future sister-in-law. I was seconds away from paying, and you still made me give it up!”

“She would’ve ended up with it sooner or later anyway.”

From the other end of the phone came a cold, commanding voice that carried an invisible sense of pressure.

Florentia returned home and placed the jewelry set she had stolen out of Whitney’s hands into her safe.

Only then did she finally let out a long breath of relief.

But this still wasn’t enough.

As she thought about the past five years she spent slaving away for the Patel family, working while also taking care of Hunter and Valda, Florentia knew there was no way she would let this end so easily.

She deleted her earlier report, then contacted a reporter she knew who specialized in celebrity gossip and scandals.

“I’ve got a huge story for you. Interested?”