Chapter 4

Thalia's POV

What Gabriel had really meant was, "It's not worth it to build one for you."

"I actually came across the plans you designed by chance," Camille said. "I thought they were really good. All I did was ask once, and Gabriel agreed immediately. He told me he'd give me anything I wanted, as long as I was happy."

Her eyes crinkled into a smile as she deliberately turned her hand to flash the pink diamond at me. "Even this ring. It's one of a kind."

I looked at her smug face and smiled back. "Bragging about being someone's mistress is also a one-of-a-kind personality trait."

Camille's smile froze. The next second, as if she had noticed something, her eyes began to water. "Ms. Jensen, why would you say something like that about me…"

Almost instantly, someone forcefully shoved me away. My lower abdomen slammed into the corner of the table, knocking the wind out of me.

When I looked up, I was met with Gabriel's stormy gaze. "Thalia, what on earth are you doing here?"

Gabriel stepped in front of Camille, holding my wrist as he looked at me with a coldness that almost felt foreign. She hid behind him, her eyes red and brimming with tears.

"Mr. Hudson, I swear I didn't know Ms. Jensen was also planning to open a bookstore. Why don't I give this store to her—"

"Why would you do that?" he cut her off. "I built this bookstore for you. I decide who I want to spend my money on."

Although he was speaking to Camille, his eyes never left mine. Suddenly, I felt so drained.

I was just about to nod and tell Gabriel we should end things between us when Camille timidly added, "I can give her everything she wants, but I can't tolerate her calling me a 'mistress.' It's just so humiliating…"

I could feel the grip around my wrist tighten.

Gabriel's voice remained calm, but his tone had turned utterly cold. "If you have a problem, take it up with me. There's no need to bully a young woman. Apologize, Thalia."

By then, the customers in the bookstore had started gathering to watch. A few here, a few there, until before long, a small crowd had formed around us.

I looked up at him. "You want me to apologize to her? Why should I?"

He answered calmly, "Because you accused her without any proof."

"How did I accuse her?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he took Camille's hand and held it up for everyone to see. The two pink diamonds glittered brilliantly beneath the lights.

"Damn. Aren't those the pink diamonds that were auctioned off a few days ago? I heard the buyer's husband asked to bid until the end!"

"What a joke. She's wearing her wedding ring, yet that woman has the nerve to call her a mistress. Who does she think she is?"

"The whole 'bid till the end' thing even made the news. If she wanted to latch onto a rich guy, you'd think she'd at least do her homework first. She had to go for the man who loves his woman like a queen. This is hilarious!"

Countless phones were raised, their flashes painfully bright. Little by little, I lost my voice.

Five years ago, Gabriel had begged all my friends to help him plan an elaborate proposal just to win me over. On our wedding night, he held our rings in his hand, his eyes red with emotion.

Four years ago, I had wanted to divorce him because he had strayed from our marriage.