Chapter 5

Evelyn's POV

I flatly refused:

"You're Melanie's boyfriend. It's not appropriate for you to drive me. I'll hail a cab."

Julian choked on his own words—after all, that was a rule he had laid down himself.

He cleared his throat and gave a dry chuckle:

"Jealous? Relax. Melanie is just a temporary girlfriend. The only Mrs. Vance will be you."

Seeing that I still had no intention of moving, Julian added:

"There's a family dinner tonight. Come back to the estate with me. I'm not bringing Melanie. The only woman I bring home is you."

I glanced down at the ruby bracelet around my wrist.

Grandma Vance had personally placed it on me, telling me it was an heirloom passed down to her by her elders when she was young.

Since I wasn't going to marry Julian anymore, it was only right that I return it.

I opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat.

"How was the fitting? Satisfied?"

"Very satisfied."

I was, indeed. My mother's embroidery had been safely removed without a single pulled thread—how could I not be satisfied?

Julian had no idea what was actually going through my mind. Assuming I was pleased with the wedding gown, his expression softened slightly, and he put the car in gear.

Halfway through the drive, however, he pulled over along a commercial avenue.

Melanie, dressed to the nines with makeup glamorous enough for a red carpet, slipped into the back seat.

Julian glanced at me:

"Evelyn, I lied to you. Melanie is my current girlfriend. Naturally, she belongs at the family dinner."

My expression instantly turned cold.

Had I known she was going, I never would have stepped foot into this car.

I could easily have found another time to return the bracelet to Grandma Vance in private.

Julian, however, looked pleased by my reaction, his smile widening.

"Don't worry. I'll introduce Melanie as a business partner so it won't be awkward for you. You're already in the car—don't even think about running."

By the time we arrived at the Vance family estate, Grandma Vance hadn't arrived yet, but everyone else was gathered in full.

The moment the three of us walked in together, the lively chatter in the drawing room abruptly died.

His younger cousin, Chloe Vance, was the first to bounce over. Bypassing me entirely, she linked arms warmly with Melanie:

"Melanie! What are you doing here?"

Julian tossed out a casual excuse:

"Melanie is my business partner. We were in the area and dropped by to see everyone."

Chloe led Melanie inside, gushing over how gorgeous her dress was the entire way.

Mrs. Vance looked me up and down, her gaze settling on my ordinary work clothes with an immediate frown:

"Julian, you brought her to a family dinner dressed like that? Not even a presentable outfit to speak of. You're making us look ridiculous in front of our guests."

She turned her head to look at Melanie, nodding in overt approval:

"Just look at Melanie. How tasteful and appropriate."

Julian's aunt chimed in from the side:

"Melanie is a daughter of the Sterling family, after all. She's been raised in high society since childhood. She isn't like some girls from backwater origins, utterly lacking in class."

Julian sat in the primary seat, his expression neutral. He made no move to defend me, though his eyes drifted over to gauge my reaction every few seconds.

Whenever we had visited the estate in the past, he had guarded me fiercely, scowling if anyone dared to look at me sideways.

Today, his bystander attitude was as clear as day to the shrewd people gathered in the room, emboldening them to shed all restraint.

In the past, I might have offered an explanation or quietly swallowed a bellyful of hurt.

Now, I couldn't care less.

In a matter of days, I would have nothing to do with any of them.

Ignoring everyone, I walked over to an empty corner, sat down, and poured myself a glass of water.

My fingers lightly brushed against the bracelet on my wrist. I was only here to return this.

Chloe's voice drifted over again:

"Melanie, you're the one who actually matches my cousin. Unlike certain people who don't even greet their elders when they walk in, throwing temper tantrums the second someone says a word. Who is she trying to put on a show for?"

Sitting beside Julian, Melanie caught sight of my bracelet, her eyes flashing with calculation.

She knew exactly what it was.

Melanie tugged gently on Julian's sleeve, speaking in a delicate purr:

"Julian, I've always wanted to take a look at the bracelet Evelyn wears. I heard Grandma gave it to her personally, and I've never seen such high-grade rubies before."

"Evelyn guards it like a treasure and never lets me touch it. Since we're at the estate today, could you let me see it?"

Julian looked at her, a hint of hesitation crossing his features.

Melanie smoothly changed the subject:

"Oh, that's right, Julian... Evelyn once spent her entire savings to buy Sean Miller a luxury watch for his birthday, didn't she? I hear Sean still wears that watch to this day."

Julian's gaze turned instantly icy. He looked back toward me:

"Evelyn, let Melanie wear the bracelet for now. You'll get it back at the wedding."

The entire room leaned in, watching the spectacle unfold.

Without the slightest hesitation, I slid the bracelet off my wrist and set it down in front of Julian.

"What a coincidence. I only came here today to return it. I'll have to trouble you to hand it back to Grandma Vance for me."

"If you want to give it to someone else, you don't need to consult me. It has nothing to do with me."

Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and walked straight toward the entrance.

Behind me came the sharp crash of a glass shattering against the floor.