Chapter 3

Zachary turned slightly to glance at his phone. When he saw the message, a delighted look flashed across his face.

Selena, on the other hand, appeared calm as she stared at the message she received.

It was from Lucine.

The message read, "Selena, Zach's already spent quite a long while with you. Time for me to get him back."

Even through the screen, Selena could imagine the smug look on Lucine's face.

She didn't reply to the message and just turned off her phone screen.

When she raised her head again, her gaze met Zachary's. He gave her an apologetic look.

"Selena, there's unfortunately an emergency meeting at the company, so I have to head over there now. Once the meeting is over, I'll return immediately, okay?"

Though the words sounded like a question, his tone implied there wasn't any room for her to refuse.

Letting out a self-mocking laugh, she stared earnestly into Zachary's eyes and asked, "Do you have to go?"

Zachary hesitated for the briefest moment before nodding seriously. "Yes, I absolutely have to."

"Alright."

Upon hearing how easily she agreed, Zachary was rather surprised and a little uncertain.

He opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately grabbed his coat and left without another word.

Just like that, Selena was left alone in the room, which now felt empty.

She thought of the pink diamond necklace Zachary had just mentioned.

She really did like it and had been waiting for so long for it, so she decided she might as well buy it back now.

After getting herself ready, Selena left the house. She had only just stepped into the jewelry store when she spotted two familiar figures.

Lucine and Zachary.

In Lucine's hands was none other than the pink diamond necklace Selena had come here for.

Striding forward, Selena said to the store employee, "If I remember correctly, that necklace is the last of that series, and I happened to pre-order it half a year ago."

The employee's gaze darted between the three of them warily. Clearly, she was unsure what their relationship with each other was. It had only been half a year, yet the woman beside Zachary had changed.

Zachary hadn't expected Selena not to wait at home for him.

He stammered as he tried to explain, "I was here picking a gift for a client and coincidentally bumped into Lucy, so I—"

Selena ignored him and continued talking to the store employee. "Please wrap up that necklace for me."

A conflicted expression appeared on the employee's face. "Ms. Yane, this necklace was pre-ordered using Mr. Xenakis' name back then, so…"

Before Selena could respond, Lucine placed the necklace back on the viewing tray with red-rimmed eyes.

"This was originally supposed to be yours anyway, so I shouldn't have expected anything. It's my fault for not knowing my place. It's just that I never really had any nice things for the 20 years I was lost outside. That's why I couldn't tear my eyes away from this necklace. Sorry to put you in a difficult position, Zach."

As expected, the moment Zachary heard that, his heart broke for Lucine.

He turned to Selena, a displeased look in his eyes.

"Selena, as the older sister, isn't it only right for you to give in to your younger sister? You've always gotten whatever you wanted for all these years. Do you have to fight with her over a necklace? She's already had a tough life, so you should be more understanding."

With that said, he instructed the store employee, "Wrap it up for me, please."

After Zachary paid for the necklace, Lucine's eyes were practically glued to it.

She said to Zachary sweetly, "Thanks, Zach. Can you help me put it on?"

"Of course."

Zachary carefully brushed away Lucine's hair before helping her put on the million-dollar necklace.

While he was doing that, Lucine raised an eyebrow and shot Selena a disdainful smile.

Selena spun on her heel to leave, but then Lucine's voice rang out again, sounding aggrieved.

"Selena, where are you going? Are you angry with me?"