Chapter 4

Eyeing Jonah and Sasha in amusement, I replied, "Oh. Sorry about that. I didn't mean anything by what I said. You two are just being too sensitive.

"And by the way, it's also best to wear a matching set, no? This bracelet you gave me was made from the scraps left over after making that necklace. You should take it back."

Sasha bit her lip and said, "Don't worry, Celeste. Even though Jonnie says he wants to give it to me, I know it's meant to be for your wedding. I won't take it. Once my exhibition is over, I'll return it to you, okay?"

Patrick seized the opportunity to chime in, "Don't push it, Celeste. Look how scared Sasha is. Must you go this far over a necklace? It's been so long since Sasha came back, but look what you did. Are you satisfied only if you ruin everyone's mood?"

"That's right, Celeste. You come from a respectable family yourself too, don't you? Why are you acting like your family's about to go bankrupt? Who would think you'd be petty enough to fight over a measly necklace?"

Jonah's friends had always looked down on me. To them, only a goddess like Sasha was worthy of being with Jonah. In all the years I'd been with Jonah, they never accepted me no matter what I did. They still thought I wasn't good enough for him.

Sasha hastily cried out, "Don't say that! Celeste didn't know Jonnie gave it to me himself. Now that everything's out in the open, I'm sure Celeste won't hold it against me."

Jonah eyed me coldly. "You shouldn't have come in the first place. All you did was ruin the party."

"I'll get going then."

I swiftly headed for the door, but a thought came to me. "By the way, the guest bedroom at your house is a bit small. I'm guessing it won't be comfortable enough for Sasha. She should have the master bedroom instead."

Frowning, Jonah snapped, "What are you talking about? My house? Isn't it our house? Are you trying to kick up a fuss with me now? You're supposed to be my wife soon. Can't you act with a bit more propriety? Once you marry into my family, are you going to throw your temper around with my parents too?"

"Marry into your family?" I repeated with an amused smile. "The wedding has been canceled. Let's not talk about marriage."

Flustered, Jonah lunged at me and grabbed my hand, questioning harshly, "What the heck are you talking about? What do you mean the wedding has been canceled? I only said it'll be delayed. Are you so petty over a necklace that you want to cancel the wedding?"

By sheer coincidence, I happened to get a call from Austin, which I answered right in front of Jonah.

"Celeste, the designer wants to know what kind of gemstones you want for your wedding jewelry."

Recalling the green diamond used for his thumb ring, I replied, "Let's go with green diamonds."

Jonah, who only heard what I said, eyed me in scorn. "What's this about a green diamond? Are you getting yourself a diamond just because you didn't get the ruby necklace? Are you that insecure about being less than others?"

Meanwhile, Sasha started to cry again. "Jonnie, a-are you getting married?"

However, Jonah was too busy ranting at me to answer her.

"You better get one thing clear, Celeste. I only agreed to marry you. We haven't even registered our marriage yet, so that means we're not legally married. Don't think you can force me to hold a wedding ceremony with you so that you can become my wife!

"Apart from the jewelry, what else have you been secretly preparing, huh? The venue? Your wedding gown? Why are you doing it? Are you trying to force me to marry you? Are you that desperate to get married? Have the Fergusons gone bankrupt and can't afford to support you financially anymore?"

Jonah was getting more and more outrageous. I didn't want to stick around and argue with him, but I couldn't get his grimy hand off me.

"Let go of me!" I snapped. "Who said I'm trying to force you to marry you. I can buy whatever I want. What does it have to do with you?"

Sneering, Jonah shot back, "Hah! Look at you claiming that you're not trying to force me to marry you. Who else would you marry, besides me? Drop the act. You even got a call about it, so why bother pretending?

"I was going to be a bit more tolerant with you on account of our families' relationship, but if you continue to throw your tantrum and do such embarrassing things, then don't blame me for not indulging you!"

Just then, the door was shoved open, and an icy voice demanded, "Let go of her."