Chapter 2

Natalie snorted.

“Nothing about this is improper. If he blames you, he can forget about marrying me.”

With that, she grabbed Matthew’s hand without hesitation and walked away.

I rubbed the photo of Yvonne Shaw in my hand and sneered.

‘Natalie, I was never going to marry you anyway.’

The coming-of-age ceremony was nearing its end.

Most of the guests had left when Natalie and Matthew finally reappeared.

Natalie had changed into a high-neck gown, while faint, suggestive marks adorned Matthew’s neck.

The air between them was so thick with intimacy that one could almost smell it.

The old me would have stormed up to them in a fit of rage and confronted them.

However, I had seen this play out countless times in my past life.

I was numb to it.

I tipped my head back and drained my glass of wine. Then, I turned to leave.

When Natalie saw my indifference, she frowned.

For the first time, she called out to me.

“Cole, what’s with the attitude? I’m your fiancee, and Matthew’s your brother. It’s rude of you to leave without even saying hi! Did you forget your manners? Apologize to me and Matthew right now, or you’re not getting your birthday gift this year!”

She was clutching a small ring box.

Matthew took it from her and waved it in front of me with a smug look.

“Cole, Natalie had this custom-made just for you! She put a lot of thought into it.”

My gaze followed the box. That was when I noticed a custom ring on Matthew’s finger.

The logo matched the one on the box in his hands.

I sneered and said sarcastically, “She put a lot of thought into it? Looks to me like the ring on your finger took more thought than that.”

Matthew could barely suppress his grin. He put on a look of mock innocence.

“What? No way! This one’s just a bonus that came with your gift.”

Matthew flipped open the ring box and tossed it at me.

I did not reach out for it.

The box hit the floor with a soft thud. A silver necklace tumbled out of it, even though it was supposed to contain a ring. I knew in that instant what the necklace was supposed to be.

Natalie’s frown deepened. She snapped, “Cole, why are you standing there like a block of wood? Didn’t you see the gift I got you fall to the floor? Pick it up!”

I let out a bitter chuckle.

“A freebie necklace that comes with a ring… You call that a gift?”

Matthew hurried to pick up the necklace as if it were something precious. He shot me a disapproving glare.

“Natalie picked it out for you. It’s from the heart!”

From the heart? How many of her so-called heartfelt gifts had I received in my previous life?

For as long as I could remember, every year on my birthday, I received nothing but junk from Natalie.

Leaves she picked off a tree, a doll she did not want anymore, crumpled paper balls she tossed around when she was annoyed, among other things.

Whatever was lying within reach, that was what she “gifted” me.

Back then, I treated every piece of trash like treasure and carefully kept them all.

In my past life, I even showed them to her proudly after we got married. I thought that would please her.

All I got back was her ruthless mockery.

“Cole, are you a trash can or what? I can’t believe you kept everything I threw away. That’s seriously creepy!”

My heart broke at those words.

Natalie, however, did not think she was being cruel.

She even went around telling people all about it.

Ever since then, everyone in our circle looked at me with barely concealed mockery.

Just thinking about how I was ridiculed and talked about in my past life was enough to sour my mood in an instant.

I casually tossed the necklace onto the table and turned to leave.

But Natalie suddenly stepped in to block my way with her arms outstretched. Her eyes burned with rage.

“Cole, how dare you throw my gift away?! Pick up that necklace and clean it right now, or our engagement is over! Or else, even if you come crawling back to me on your knees, I might not change my mind!”

I sneered at her.

“Natalie, I was never going to marry you.”