The group of men spoke in low tones, but their words carried a sharp edge, and the occasional glances they threw Jaycie's way made it clear their comments were meant for her ears.

She didn't react, though. Soon enough, they'd be standing before her, addressing her respectfully due to her real identity.

The auction continued, and the next item was brought to the stage—a crystal sculpture named "Timeless Harmony". The piece was exquisite, made from high-quality crystal, but what really caught everyone's attention was the auctioneer's announcement that it was the work of Castiel Rivero, the legendary master of crystal sculpture.

Eileen's eyes lit up when she heard Castiel's name. She immediately raised her bidding paddle and turned to Cole. "This piece has incredible value! Your grandmother's birthday is the day after tomorrow. This would be perfect as a gift for her!"

Jaycie, who had glanced up at the sculpture when Castiel's name was mentioned, quickly looked away. Her voice was calm but carried a weight that seemed to douse Eileen's excitement. "It's a fake."

Eileen stared at her, disbelief written all over her face. She was about to snap back with something like, "What would you know, you country bumpkin?" But with Cole sitting right there, she forced a polite smile instead. "And how would you know that, Ms. Stanton?"

Jaycie replied evenly, "Because the real one was given by the heiress of the Stantons to her grandmother."

There was only one authentic piece in the world, and it was in her family's possession. The one on the stage had to be a counterfeit.

Jaycie had meant it as a simple warning, but Eileen burst into laughter, and the group of men behind them joined in, their mocking voices growing louder.

"Jaycie, if you don't know what you're talking about, just keep quiet. You're embarrassing yourself."

"Yeah, and what, were you hiding under the bed when the Stanton heiress gave it to her grandma? Or do you think just because your last name is Stanton, you're somehow related to the great Stanton family?"

Their laughter and jeers grew until Cole finally shut them down with a cold glare. He turned to Jaycie, taking her hand in his. "Jaycie, I know you've been reading up on art appreciation lately, but you can't learn everything from books. Eileen's been attending auctions since she was a kid, and she's studied crystal sculptures extensively. She knows what she's talking about."

His words weren't harsh, but the implication was clear—he thought she was wrong.

Jaycie simply smiled and said nothing.

In the end, Eileen spent a staggering 15 million to win the bid for the sculpture. As she swiped her card to complete the purchase, Jaycie couldn't help but chuckle. She wondered how Cole's grandmother would react when she found out her gift was a fake.

Jaycie didn't intervene or dwell on it. She excused herself to the restroom. As she washed her hands, a familiar voice rang out behind her.

"Jaycie, I thought I made myself clear. Yet here you are, still clinging to him. Are you really that desperate to be a mistress?"

The voice was sharp and cutting, a far cry from the poised and gentle demeanor Eileen had displayed earlier.

Jaycie turned to face her, her expression calm. "Ms. Wise, let's get one thing straight. I've been with him for five years. If anyone's a mistress, it's not me."

She moved to leave, but Eileen wasn't done. "Five years, and he still hasn't married you. Ever wonder why? I'm the Wises' heiress, and he's the heir to Benson Corp. We're a perfect match. But you? What do you have? A father who gambles and a sick mother. Your family's a mess. What could you possibly offer him?"

Jaycie froze. The story about her family was one she'd made up on a whim, but she hadn't expected Cole to share it with Eileen. A bitter smile tugged at her lips. If her background were truly that bleak, then her so-called boyfriend—the one who claimed to love only her—had handed Eileen yet another weapon to hurt her with.

"You're right," Jaycie said, the ache in her heart sharp but fleeting. "I'm not good enough for him. You two are perfect for each other. I hope you'll be very happy together."

With that, she walked away.

Not long after, her phone rang. It was her mother, Andrea Stanton.

"Jaycie, you need to come home soon. The whole family's waiting for you, and we've got so many gifts for you! Your father and I bought you a castle overseas. Megan got you a diamond tiara—apparently, it once belonged to the Queen of Angloland. And your uncle filled an entire garage with luxury cars for you…"

As Andrea rambled on about the extravagant gifts awaiting her, Jaycie couldn't help but laugh. "Mom, I'm coming back to take over the family business, not to bankrupt it."

Just as she finished speaking, a familiar voice came from behind her.

"What do you mean, 'take over the family business'?"

Jaycie froze mid-step, instinctively ending the call. She couldn't help but wonder why everyone seemed to enjoy sneaking up behind her and speaking out of nowhere.

Turning around, she saw Cole standing there, his expression far from pleasant.

After a moment of hesitation, she explained, "It's nothing. Just an old colleague asking what I'm planning to do after quitting my job. I joked that I was going home to inherit the family business."

Cole frowned. Jaycie wasn't the type to make such jokes. Something felt off, but before he could press further, she had already taken a few steps ahead and called back to him, "Aren't you coming? There are still a few jewelry pieces left to be auctioned."

Assuming she wanted to buy some jewelry, Cole nodded and followed her.

Back in the auction hall, Cole bid on several high-end jewelry pieces, winning them all. Once they were packaged, he handed them to Jaycie. She looked down at the boxes and said softly, "I don't wear jewelry like this."

Cole smiled, ruffling her hair. "You'll get used to it. Don't worry about the cost. I'll buy you diamonds for the rest of your life."

She opened her mouth to respond but decided against it. The truth was, she didn't wear million-dollar jewelry—her own collection was worth billions.

As the auction ended, the attendees began to disperse. Cole and Jaycie's group also prepared to leave. Everyone had driven separately, so they were ready to head home.

But just as Cole and Jaycie got into their car, before he could even start the engine, Eileen tapped on the passenger-side window.

The window rolled down, revealing her shy, delicate face. Her voice was soft and sweet, a stark contrast to the sharp, cutting tone she'd used with Jaycie in the restroom. "Cole, my car broke down. Could you give me a ride home?"

Cole frowned, about to refuse, but she quickly added, "Your parents did say you should look after me. You haven't forgotten, have you?"

His expression darkened, and after a moment, he reluctantly agreed. Seeing his nod, Eileen smiled. She then turned her attention to Jaycie, her tone dripping with false concern. "But I get carsick. I can't sit in the back. What should we do?"

Cole glanced at Jaycie, but before he could say anything, she had already opened the car door, stepped out, and moved to the back seat. Her movements were so smooth that Cole barely had time to react before she was settled in the back.

His words caught in his throat, leaving him frustrated. He wanted to say it was just a seat—it wasn't a big deal. But when he glanced at her through the rearview mirror, she had already closed her eyes, as if she were resting.

Eileen, now seated in the front, smirked as she looked back at Jaycie.

Even if Cole still loved Jaycie now, Eileen was confident that everything she wanted would end up in her hands. Winning his heart was only a matter of time.

Feeling pleased with herself, Eileen turned to Cole, her voice sweet and demure. "Ms. Stanton seems tired. Let her rest for a while."

Sensing Jaycie's unusual behavior, Cole remained quiet and nodded before starting the car in silence.

Jaycie must have dozed off at some point, because when she woke up, the car was parked in the Bensons' garage, and Eileen was long gone.

Cole gently touched her cheek. "You're awake? You were sleeping so soundly. I didn't want to wake you."

Still groggy, Jaycie nodded and stepped out of the car, heading straight for the front door without waiting for Cole. By the time he caught up, she was already at the entrance.

He blocked her path, his voice soft. "Are you angry? Eileen's just a family friend. Don't take it to heart."

Jaycie hummed in response.

Thinking she was still upset, Cole reached out to hold her hand, his voice low and coaxing. "She's really just a family friend. Babe, you know I only love you."

As he spoke, the faint scent of roses from her skin reminded him how long it had been since they'd been close. His throat tightened, and he leaned in to kiss her, but she pushed him away.

Ignoring his surprised expression, Jaycie stepped inside. "It's that time of the month. I'm not feeling well, so I'm going to rest in my room."

She then walked into her room and locked the door, keeping Cole outside.

The next morning, Jaycie and Cole were having breakfast in the dining room when her phone buzzed. It was an alarm she'd set weeks ago, labeled "Meeting the Parents". Cole noticed the notification.

Jaycie had planned to reveal her true identity to him and suggested taking him to meet her parents. He had agreed.

Their eyes met, and Jaycie was about to suggest canceling the meeting when his phone rang. It was Eileen.

After a brief conversation, Cole wore a troubled look. He turned to Jaycie with an apologetic smile. "Jaycie, something urgent came up. Can we reschedule the meeting with your parents for another time?"

Cole had expected her to be upset or even angry, but instead, she simply nodded calmly. "Alright. I actually have some things to take care of today too."

Not long after Cole left, Jaycie also headed out. She went shopping, picking out gifts for each of her close friends whom she was planning to meet later. When they gathered at the designated spot, her friends unwrapped the presents and gasped in shock—each box contained a brand-new luxury item.

"Jaycie, where did you get all these knockoffs? They look so real!"

"They're not knockoffs. They're genuine."

Seeing their disbelief, she couldn't help but laugh. She then revealed her true identity. "Actually, the story I told you about my father gambling and my mother being seriously ill was made up. I'm actually the only daughter of the richest family in Housleton. I'm saying goodbye because I'm going home to inherit the family fortune."

Her friends were stunned at first, then shocked, and finally overjoyed. They couldn't stop exclaiming, "I can't believe an heiress has been right here with us all along!" Their excitement was so loud it felt like the restaurant's ceiling might collapse.

Once the initial excitement died down, someone remembered Cole and asked, "But what about Cole? Does he know your real identity?"

At the mention of Cole, Jaycie froze slightly, her smile fading. "He's planning to marry someone else."

"What? No way!" Her friends were in disbelief. "He's always been so devoted to you. We've never seen anyone so head over heels for someone."

"Yeah, remember three years ago when you said you liked the Queen of the Night? He spent a fortune buying every single one of that plant he could find just to make you smile. And two years ago, when you caught the flu, he canceled a billion-dollar deal abroad and flew back to take care of you himself. He stayed up all night, refusing to sleep."

"And then a year ago, when you were in that car accident—the truck was heading straight for your side, but he swerved to protect you. You walked away without a scratch, but he broke three ribs and was in the hospital for three months, barely waking up. How could he marry someone else now? It doesn't make sense!"

Hearing her friends recount these memories, Jaycie felt a wave of emotion. Back then, Cole had loved her so much he would have given his life for her. But now...

She shook her head and smiled faintly. "He did love me, but his family thinks I'm not good enough for him and forced him to marry someone else. I didn't even get a chance to tell him the truth before he had the wedding invitations printed. From what he's said, he probably expects me to be his mistress after he's married."

Her friends were outraged.

"What? A mistress?"

"He wants the heiress of the richest family to be a mistress? He must've lost his mind!"

"Oh, he's going to regret this big time. Just wait until he realizes what he's lost!"

"Yeah, when he finds out you've left and your true identity is revealed, his family is going to lose it!"

Just then, Cole and Eileen walked into the restaurant. Hearing the commotion, Cole frowned. "What true identity?"

Seeing them walk in together, one of Jaycie's friends was about to lash out, but Jaycie stopped her. She looked at Cole and Eileen, her expression cool. "What are you doing here?"

Cole looked uneasy, avoiding her gaze. "The Bensons and the Wises have a business collaboration to discuss, so we arranged to meet."

Jaycie smiled knowingly. Of course she knew about their "collaboration"—it was a marriage arrangement, after all.

Because they were there to discuss their "collaboration", Cole and Eileen didn't join Jaycie and her friends. Instead, they sat at a separate table nearby, close enough for Jaycie to see their intimate interactions.

He cut her steak for her, and she shared her favorite dishes with him; he handed her a napkin, then she wiped a smudge from the corner of his mouth...

The back-and-forth between them made Jaycie's friends furious, but Jaycie herself remained calm, her expression unreadable.