Chapter 9

He wanted to take back all the gifts he gave her after a breakup?

Aurora couldn’t help but laugh at Joseph’s pettiness.

She had always thought he was just a little sleazy, but she hadn’t expected him to be this cheap and stingy.

Thinking about how she was once with a man like that, she felt utterly disgusted.

When she returned to her new home, she immediately started digging through her things, determined to gather up every single gift Joseph had ever given her.

Just then, Lucas walked in.

"What are you looking for?" His voice was calm and indifferent as he glanced at her.

Aurora paused, then casually replied, "Settling debts from a breakup. My ex wants all his gifts back. I've never met a man this desperate for scraps in my entire life."

There was a hint of frustration in her tone, her striking face carrying traces of annoyance.

The next second, her phone chimed.

A bank notification popped up, informing her that $40,000 had been deposited with a memo stating it was a gift.

Lucas cast an uninterested glance at the pile of cheap trinkets scattered on the floor, his expression as indifferent as ever.

"Throw all that junk away."

Aurora froze for a moment before she heard him adding, "Mrs. Carter, I don’t like my wife keeping another man’s things."

She quickly realized that her history of being hopelessly romantic had probably spread far and wide.

Lucas must have assumed she was still hung up on her ex.

"Relax, trash belongs in the trash."

Aurora twirled the sparkling diamond ring on her finger and arched a brow. "Besides, I already have my favorite one."

And she truly did love this ring.

Besides, now that she was married, as Mrs. Carter, she couldn’t let Lucas down.

At her words, Lucas’ lips curved slightly.

Aurora hesitated as she looked at the bank transfer. "Lukey, I should probably return this money to you."

Lucas certainly didn’t care about such a small amount.

But still, it was better to keep things clear.

"No need."

He raised a brow, his tone unhurried. "Don’t worry, I’m not the type to ask for compensation after a breakup. Just think of it as me spoiling my wife."

Aurora had been on the receiving end of Lucas’ generosity before.

She was always close to Megan.

As kids, Megan would often pull her along, acting cute and sweet in front of the adults.

Lucas had been one of those adults.

She remembered how, whenever she pouted and played along, Lucas would smile slightly, his gaze warm as he handed her a thick stack of cash as pocket money.

But this was the first time she was receiving money from him as his wife.

For some reason, her face felt a little warm.

"Then… thank you, Lukey."

She didn’t refuse again.

After packing up the old gifts, Aurora was about to take a shower when she suddenly noticed that the gold necklace Joseph gave her had a patch where the color had worn off.

Her brows furrowed.

She instinctively ran her fingers over the discolored patch and let out a laugh—half amused, half exasperated.

The gold necklace was a fake.

The only valuable-looking gift Joseph had ever given her turned out to be a knockoff.

…

That night, curled up in bed, Aurora couldn’t resist video calling Megan to vent.

Megan was completely stunned.

"A fake?" Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Has the Hunt family gone broke or something? Who gives a girl counterfeit jewelry as a gift?"

"It was probably something one of Joseph’s friends arranged," Aurora said lightly.

All of Joseph’s gifts were picked out by the people around him.

He had never put much thought into her.

So, it wasn’t surprising that even the gifts were cheap knockoffs.

Megan’s mouth twitched.

Joseph’s behavior was so absurd she didn’t even know where to begin.

Just as they were talking, the bedroom door suddenly swung open.

"It’s late. Aren’t you going to sleep?"

At the doorway, Lucas stood casually, dressed in a thin pajama set.

His dark eyes were unreadable, his posture relaxed, exuding an effortless elegance.

Aurora froze for a moment.

Meanwhile, Megan, still on the video call, was utterly dumbfounded.

"Holy shit! Why is my cousin with you?!"