Chapter 6

Nora's POV

After that day, Preston and I fell into a cold war.

He left early and came home late every day. The few times we crossed paths at home, we had nothing to say to each other.

Stella's ankle gradually healed, but she didn't move out.

Preston hired a housekeeper to take care of her.

In that house, I felt more and more like an outsider who didn't belong.

Half a month later, there was an important charity gala in New York.

As a business elite, Preston was naturally on the guest list.

By convention, as his wife, I was expected to attend with him.

Before we left, I was in the closet picking out a dress.

Preston pushed open the door and handed me a jewelry box.

"Wear this tonight."

I opened it—the diamond necklace he'd given me.

"No need. I already have jewelry picked out." I declined flatly.

Preston's face darkened. "There will be a lot of media tonight. If you wear this, people will know we're happy together."

Hearing that from his mouth was the height of irony.

I looked at him, said nothing, and silently put the necklace around my neck.

The cold diamonds pressed against my skin, completely without warmth.

The gala was a glittering scene of evening gowns and champagne toasts.

Preston held my arm, gracefully moving through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with other business tycoons.

To outsiders, we were a perfectly matched couple.

Only I knew that the arm he had linked with mine was stiff, devoid of feeling.

Halfway through the gala came the charity auction.

Preston won an ancient painting, drawing rounds of applause.

The next item was an emerald necklace.

The host introduced it as "Tears of the Deep Sea," symbolizing eternal protection.

I looked at the necklace on the big screen, my expression shifting slightly.

It was a piece I'd seen in a magazine once and casually mentioned I loved.

Preston clearly remembered too.

He raised his paddle and started bidding.

The price climbed quickly, and in the end Preston won the necklace at three times the starting price.

People around us cast envious glances.

"Mr. Hartley really dotes on his wife—he didn't even blink at that price."

"Ms. Hayes is so lucky."

Listening to the compliments, I felt nothing inside.

After the auction ended, Preston went backstage to handle the paperwork.

I stood in a corner of the hall waiting for him.

A moment later, he came over holding a delicate velvet box.

I reached out to take it.

He pulled it away from my hand.

"I want to give this necklace to Stella." He looked at me, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather.

My hand froze in midair.

The air around me seemed to solidify.

"What did you say?" I doubted my own ears.

"Stella's been down lately. I want to give her a gift to cheer her up." Preston avoided my eyes. "You already have that diamond necklace. Give this one to her. You don't like flashy jewelry anyway."

I looked at him, finding it utterly absurd.

In front of hundreds of witnesses, he bid on a necklace I loved, then told me it was for another woman.

"Preston, what do you take me for?" I lowered my voice, fighting to control its tremor.

"Can you stop making a scene?" He frowned, impatience in his tone. "It's just a necklace. Do you have to be this petty? I'll buy you a better one tomorrow."

Just a necklace.