4
Before the wedding, my brother took me to a high–end jeweler to add to my dowry. An endless sea of glitter- ing gems was laid out before me, all for the choosing.
Even after a month of immersion in this new world, my eyes instinctively darted to the price tags.
So. Many. Zeros.
4/7
02 46
Chapter 1
02:46
The old me couldn’t have afforded a single one of these even if I collected plastic bottles for three hundred
years.
Just then, Isabelle’s shrill voice cut through the quiet elegance of the boutique. “What do you mean I can’t
just take it? I always used to!”
The sales associate maintained her professional smile with visible effort. “Miss Beaumont, previously you! purchases were billed directly to the Beaumont estate. However, Mr. Beaumont personally called last weel
to cancel the account.”
“Your total comes to one hundred and fifty–six thousand dollars. Will that be cash or card?”
Isabelle froze. To make matters worse, she was surrounded by the very same socialites she used to compe
te with.
“Well, well, look how the mighty have fallen.”
“I heard she gave up her position as the Beaumont heiress voluntarily. I bet she’s regretting it now.”
Isabelle’s face flushed a deep, humiliated crimson. To save face, she turned to Leo, her voice a desperate
whine. “Honey, I haven’t been able to dress up at all since I left with you. Won’t you buy this for me?”
Leo glanced at the price tag, and his face paled. He forced a smile and patted her head. “Sweetheart, you don’t need to dress up. You’re the most beautiful woman in the world to me. These are just useless rocks They’re not worth the price. Only an idiot would buy them!”
Isabelle’s face fell, a look of confusion in her eyes. “$156,000 is a lot? I never used to look at prices when
shopped.”
The more she thought about it, the more she wanted it. As if to prove to her old friends that she was stil doing just fine, she planted herself in front of the counter and refused to move.
Then, she spotted us. Her eyes lit up.
“Brother! What are you doing here?” She latched onto his arm, reverting to her old habits. “Brother, they’re al laughing at me! I want this! Pay for it!”
My brother coolly detached her hand from his arm. “Isabelle, you are no longer my sister. Aurora is my only
sister.”
She stared at him, stunned. She couldn’t seem to comprehend that the brother who had doted on her for twenty years could say something so cold.
Leo pulled Isabelle to his side. “Ignore him. Who does he think he is with all his money? We don’t need him.”
Isabelle pouted. “But I want it~”
Unable to reason with her, Leo pulled out his phone, took a picture of the necklace, and ordered a cheap knock–off from an app. “There. Happy now?”
5/7
02.46
02.46
Chapter 1
“That’s not the same! Forget it, my brother adores me. He’ll buy it!”
She turned back to my brother. “Brother, I’m being the bigger person and talking to you, and you’re still mad? If you keep this up, I’ll really disown you! Now, hurry up and pay for this, or I’ll never speak to you again!”
My brother just laughed. “We’ve already severed ties. What you want has nothing to do with me.”
Isabelle glared at him, her face a mask of disbelief. “You’re really going to be this cruel? Are you using this to try and force me to come home? Well, I won’t give in!”
“Think whatever you want.” My brother walked past her and turned to me, his voice warm again. “Aurora, i you can’t decide, we’ll just have the staff pack up all of them.”
I maintained a graceful smile, but inside I was screaming.
AAAAAAAH! THIS IS INSANE!
5
