Chapter 3

Mason's POV

Oliver's expression hardened as he glared at me with eyes full of resentment. Selene, on the other hand, walked up to me and said solemnly, "I didn't expect you to play this well. I have a concert-grade piano at home. Would you like to come over and give it a spin?"

I parted my lips, but before I could answer, Yvonne chimed in coldly. "It's getting late; you should head home now. Oliver can take you."

Selene looked at me with a tinge of disappointment. Oliver looked displeased, but he still followed her out, though he kept glancing over his shoulder at me every few steps.

Yvonne and I were the only ones left in the spacious living room. I hunched my shoulders because the air conditioning was blasting, but at that moment, her face was colder than the air.

Yvonne seized my wrist in a vice grip, her tone so harsh it bordered on cruel. "Mason, you were just released, and you're already flirting with other women. Were you that pent-up in prison?"

After hearing that, I merely tugged at the corner of my lips. I hardly looked like a man at the moment. I'd lost almost 20 pounds, and the vitality that once lit up my face was gone.

When I remained silent, she was caught off guard. The old me used to love trading barbs with her.

However, now, looking at my face, which was as still as stagnant water, she felt something prick her heart. Her tone suddenly softened. "I didn't mean it like that. I'll give you an explanation, but not right now. Our engagement still stands."

When she brought that up, her voice faltered. "What did you mean when you said 'He wouldn't' at the dining table earlier?"

Yvonne studied my face intently, as though my response mattered a lot to her.

Instead of answering her, I asked, "Where is my family's heirloom bracelet?"

Yvonne froze, and her eyes flickered.

My chest tightened, and I choked out, "Answer me! Where is it?"

Yvonne sighed in exasperation. "Oliver took it, and I forgot to ask for it back. I'll call him right now."

Once again, a loud ringing filled my head. I closed my burning eyes for a moment and waited quietly.

After wrapping up the call, her gaze landed on my wrist. "Where's the bracelet I gave you?" she asked slowly.

"It snapped."

Her breath hitched. Drinking in my indifferent expression, her chest felt inexplicably stuffy.

…

Half an hour later, Oliver hurried over. Beads of sweat had formed on the tip of his nose.

A flicker of heartache crossed Yvonne's eyes, her tone slightly reproachful. "What's the rush?"

Oliver bit his lip and responded quietly, "I was worried Mason would blame you."

Yvonne stroked his head, acknowledging his hard work.

He stuck out his tongue and walked up to me with a smile. "I was the one who badgered Vonne into giving me the bracelet, Mason. I hope you won't hold it against her."

Oliver was always good at playing the nice guy. With just a few words, he had painted me as cold and unreasonable, while he got to play the poor, understanding gentleman.

Yet, I couldn't be bothered to play along with him. I simply held out my hand. "Hand it over."

He nodded and handed me an exquisite little box. My heart pounded as I hurriedly reached out to take it.

However, in a heartbeat, the moment the box grazed my fingertips, it suddenly plummeted. I lunged forward to catch it, but it was too late.

The box sprang open, revealing the bracelet that had been split into two. Oliver appeared startled and flustered, yet when he leaned close to my ear, his voice slowly slithered out like a snake's forked tongue. "If I can't have it, neither can you!"

Looking into his smug eyes, my mind went blank, and I raised my hand to slap him across the face.

Oliver hit the ground with a loud thud, his voice trembling with fear. "I'm sorry, Mason! If it makes you feel better, you can hit me or yell at me." Right after saying that, he reached out to gather the broken fragments of the bracelet.

Noticing that he was still putting on an act, my blood boiled, and I reached out to shove him away.

Yet, the very next second, Yvonne seized my wrist in an iron grip and shrieked, "That's enough!" The veins on her forehead bulged, as if she were utterly enraged.

However, when she met my teary eyes, brimming with despair and sorrow, her tone softened significantly.