Chapter 5

Susan's birthday party was held in the home that belonged to Lizzie and Cedric.

The villa's lawn was transformed into a dreamscape—strung with fairy lights, balloons, cascades of fresh flowers, and swathes of white gauze.

Cedric had invited half of Summersome City's most prominent figures, all gathered to witness Susan's grand celebration.

Confetti cannons burst. With ribbons and glitter streaming through the air, Susan walked in on Cedric's arm, her sweet smile blooming under the lights.

Guests murmured in admiration.

"I hear Mrs. Lannister planned this party herself. How thoughtful."

"The birthday party is for a girl Mr. Lannister has been sponsoring. For him to care so much, he must truly be a philanthropist."

"Mr. Lannister has always loved charity work. Nothing unusual about that."

From a distance, Lizzie stood listening, her lips curving into a cold, ironic smile at the praise showered on his so-called kindness.

On stage, the couple held the same knife and cut into the three-tier cake she had prepared.

Cheers erupted.

Then Cedric's assistant stepped forward, carrying a gift box.

Inside lay the "Tears of Venus"—a famed blue diamond necklace, symbol of love, beauty, and devotion.

In her past life, Lizzie had told Cedric countless times that she adored this necklace and hoped he would bid for it. He had promised, again and again.

But the promises never materialized. Not because he forgot, but because it had never been meant for her at all.

Now, as he clasped the necklace around Susan's neck, the hall gasped.

Everyone knew the piece. Nobles and tycoons alike had fought for it; its price had soared close to a 100 million.

"She's just a sponsored girl, isn't she? That's no ordinary gift."

"Even out of pity, such extravagance seems… excessive."

"I remember last year, Mrs. Lannister also received a necklace, but it wasn't nearly this rare."

"Clearly this is more than charity. Look how close they stand. Listen to how intimate they sound."

"No wonder Mrs. Lannister is hiding in the corner. She must be heartbroken."

The gossip drifted straight to Susan's ears.

Flushed, she reached up to remove the necklace.

"Cedric, this gift is too precious. I can't accept it. You should give it to Lizzie. I… I don't deserve it."

"Wear it. You're worth it." His hand pressed hers down firmly, his deep voice hoarse with intensity. "Besides, I have something even more valuable for you."

Her eyes wavered with unease and anticipation. "What is it?"

A delicate jewelry box appeared. Inside lay a heart-shaped meteorite.

"This is my second gift," he announced. "A fragment from a distant star. I've purchased the naming rights to the planet it came from. From now on, it will be called 'Redding Star.' It's yours, as a birthday present."

Though his tone was quiet, the microphone carried every word, slicing through the air. Guests craned their necks, eager to glimpse the rare stone.

Lizzie's face remained serene.

On stage, love was being displayed in its most ostentatious form—a performance that wasn't for her.

In her previous life, she had forbidden Cedric from bringing Susan into their home. So the pair had built a home elsewhere, one she never entered.

She had known he loved Susan, but never the details.

Now she saw what love meant to him: the urge to place the rarest treasures in the world into her rival's hands. The Tears of Venus. A star named after her.

Once, Lizzie too had basked in that devotion—rare cars, flawless diamonds, everything money could buy.

His object of devotion had changed, but his grand gestures had not.

Perhaps one day, Susan would become the second Lizzie. But for now, she was still fresh, untouched, the sole focus of his burning adoration.

Onstage, love blazed like a spectacle. Below, opinions multiplied like wildfire.

Some even approached Lizzie directly.

"Mrs. Lannister, you'd best be careful. That girl doesn't seem so simple."

"These days, morals mean nothing. Especially for women clawing their way up from the bottom. Their goals are obvious enough. Watch out."

Lizzie merely curved her lips but remained silent.

She lifted her gaze—and caught Cedric looking back at her.

Something in her composure unsettled him. Or perhaps it reminded him of something.

He strode over. "Lizzie."

She looked up calmly. "Mm?"

"Today must have been hard on you." He slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. "You know how Susan has suffered all her life. I just wanted her to feel less inferior. Don't overthink these gifts. Others may misunderstand me, but you understand, don't you?"

He was desperate for her approval, desperate to soften the guilt of his betrayal.

Lizzie found him wearying.

She lifted her hand to smooth his collar, but he instinctively flinched away.

She withdrew, lips curving in self-mockery.

He caught her hand at once.

"Lizzie, we're husband and wife. Our bond isn't for others to judge. My feelings for you have never changed."

She replied, "Cedric, feel free to be yourself. I won't think too much about what you do."

Back when they had gotten married, Cedric has said those words to her. Now, she was repeating them to him.

His expression darkened. He pulled her into a sudden embrace. "Lizzie… you've changed."

"How so?" she asked with a faint smile.

He couldn't quite name it. Only that she felt different. More reasonable. More yielding.

"You're… more understanding than before."

A bitter smile touched her lips. She had clawed her way back from hell. How could she still lose herself over a man whose heart had long strayed?

He wasn't worth it.

Susan came over then, her voice lilting sweetly. "Lizzie."

Cedric released his wife and smiled at Susan. "Lizzie worked hard to prepare this birthday party for you. You should thank her properly."

"Thank you, Lizzie. Truly. I'm so moved. This party means the world to me."

Yet as she spoke, her eyes lingered on Cedric, shimmering with tenderness.

He avoided her gaze. Instead, he slipped an arm around Lizzie's shoulders.

"By the way, Lizzie, you must have prepared a gift for Susan too. Go on—show her. Make her even happier."

Lizzie hadn't prepared anything.

But she unclasped the four-leaf-clover bracelet from her wrist—the one Cedric had once given her—and slipped it onto Susan's arm.

"This was from Cedric. I think it suits you better than me. You're still young, and pink suits a girl like you."

Cedric's gaze flickered with something unreadable. His hand twitched as if to stop her, but in the end, he let it be.

Susan's eyes lit up, though she feigned protest. "Lizzie, I can't take something Cedric gave you. I'd feel like I was stealing your place."

"Take it," Lizzie said coolly. Sooner or later, she'd throw it away anyway.

Cedric clasped Susan's slender wrist, studying the bracelet against her pale skin.

"It does look better on you. Keep it. I'll buy something more fitting for Lizzie another time."