Chapter 4

After pressing a kiss onto the top of Selene's head, Caleb continued glaring into my eyes.

"You can't stand her, Quinn? Then I will."

He stopped looking at me. Caleb bent down and gathered Selene into his arms. Then, he brushed past me to leave our house.

The door slammed, the sound echoing through the empty mansion.

Caleb did not come back until the day he published his official statement on breaking ties with the Stewart gang.

The Stewarts used to rule Ashville. However, as different national powers came to light, the Stewarts had started shifting their focus to their overseas businesses. Caleb took advantage of the Stewarts' power and utilized his own ruthlessness to make a name for himself.

It was only a matter of time before they received notice of his departure from the Stewarts.

I sipped my tea, not offering a reaction.

Jason continued ranting angrily about Caleb.

Shortly after moving out, Caleb brought Selene to many exclusive events that he'd only have been able to enter on account of being married to the daughter of the Stewart family.

They flaunted their love unabashedly. Caleb pulled her chair out, helped her put her coat on, and wiped at the corner of her mouth constantly. Selene became the subject of envy for all the women in Ashville.

News about them flooded headlines from financial papers to entertainment tabloids. Caleb's love was passionate, and he wanted everyone to know about it.

Jason trembled with anger when he saw on his tablet that Caleb had won a bid for an expensive blue diamond and gifted it to Selene.

"Ungrateful bastard! How had he sworn on his life before Mrs. Stewart? How dare he do this? How dare he humiliate you like that? Mr. Stewart is overseas, not dead … Does Caleb really think there's no one left in the Stewart gang?"

I sat by the window, looking out at the overcast sky without replying.

A parcel came with no return address. I opened it to reveal a velvet box. Inside was the golden bracelet with Caleb and Selene's initials, the one she'd shown off to me.

"Cal said he'll marry me. You're going to be unwanted after this. This golden bracelet is an apology gift. Sell it off for some pocket money, Ms. Stewart."

I studied the bracelet and note for a long time. Then, I huffed out a laugh.

"Help me post a letter, Jason."

A month later, Caleb and Selene had their grand wedding. Caleb had reserved the most expensive seaside hotel in Ashville and invited all the elites in the city.

Selene wore a custom luxury wedding dress with the blue diamond on her ring finger. She hooked her arm into Caleb's, who was looking at her with adoration gleaming in his eyes.

"Mr. Caleb Larson, do you take Ms. Selene Gardner to be your lawfully wedded wife or better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, till death do you part?"

Gazing lovingly down at Selene, Caleb's smile widened.

"I do–"

The sound of a gunshot cut him off.

In the chaos, a man with sharp eyes in a button-down had approached Caleb from the back and held a Damascus dagger to his neck.

"So, you're the one who betrayed Quinn?"