Zac instinctively brushed off the woman’s hand from his arm. She stiffened, momentarily caught off guard.

Charlotte met his gaze, a half-smile playing on her lips. “Quinn and I are friends too. Is it so strange that I’d be at her birthday party?”

Zac hesitated. “No, I just thought you didn’t like these kinds of parties, so I didn’t mention it to you.”

Charlotte scoffed inwardly. “Oh? Was it really because I don’t like parties? Or did you just not tell me because you planned to bring someone else instead?”

After offering his explanation, Zac scanned the room. His gaze was cold and piercing, as if saying “Who invited her?”

Quinn, avoiding eye contact, guiltily turned away and pretended she had nothing to do with it.

Just then, the woman Zac had arrived with stepped forward, smiling. “Hi, you must be Charlotte Riley. I’m Wendy Cooper. I’m sure Zac has mentioned me before?”

Oh.

So this was Wendy Cooper—Zac’s first love, the one he could never forget.

A dull ache settled in Charlotte’s chest, making it hard to breathe.

Three years of dating.

No matter how much she tried to tell herself it didn’t matter, feelings couldn’t just disappear overnight.

But she hid it well.

With a composed smile, she nodded politely. “Miss Cooper, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Wendy’s lips curled into a bright, seemingly innocent smile. “Miss Riley, has anyone ever told you that we look alike?”

The second those words left her mouth, Zac’s expression darkened.

Charlotte let out a small laugh and gave him a brief, amused glance before shifting her gaze to Wendy, whose eyes held a hint of provocation.

“Oh? Is that so?”

Her wide, almond-shaped eyes sparkled with feigned innocence as she tilted her head, her voice sweet and airy.

“I don’t see it.”

Then she smiled—soft, yet merciless.

“You’re not as pretty as me.”

The room went dead silent.

The onlookers, who had been quietly enjoying the drama, were stunned.

Wasn’t Charlotte always the gentle, well-mannered type?

Since when did she start throwing shade?

Sensing the tension in the air, Quinn quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. “Come on, everyone, don’t just stand around. Grab a seat!”

Wendy forced a smile, clearly irritated but unwilling to show it. She turned to Quinn and handed her a beautifully wrapped gift. “Happy birthday, Quinn. This is for you.”

Quinn took the bag, and the moment she saw it, her brows lifted in surprise.

“Wait… isn’t this the same gift bag Charlotte just gave me?” she muttered to herself.

Curious, she opened it and pulled out a jewelry box.

Her eyes lit up. “Wow! I’ve had my eye on this necklace for ages. Thank you, Wendy!”

Charlotte’s gaze flickered.

The same necklace?

Before she could react, Quinn grabbed the bag Charlotte had given her earlier and opened it too.

“Oh my God! Charlotte, you got me the exact same necklace!”

The excitement was short-lived.

A voice from behind Quinn snorted.

“Fake, obviously.”

Without even looking, she sneered, “That necklace costs over ten grand. Charlotte’s just a small-time lawyer. How much does she even make a month? Do you really think she could afford the real thing?”

The moment those words fell, the room went dead silent.

All at once, every gaze shifted to Charlotte—curious, skeptical, amused.

It was obvious.

They all believed it.

After all, she was just an insignificant, no-name lawyer. Why would she spend that kind of money on a real luxury necklace for Quinn?

Zac’s expression darkened, clearly displeased. “Charlotte, if you’re short on money, just tell me. I could’ve gotten the gift for you. There was no need to…”

No need to buy a fake one.

He didn’t say the words out loud.

But everyone in the room heard them anyway.

Charlotte’s expression remained calm, but her gaze turned cold. “Zac, you think I gave her a fake necklace too?”

Zac didn’t answer.

His silence said everything.

He didn’t believe her.

Quinn let out an awkward laugh, trying to smooth things over. “Come on, guys, that’s not possible. Charlotte and I are close. There’s no way she’d give me a fake necklace. Don’t say things like that, it’s really hurtful.”

Her words were meant to defend Charlotte, but the subtle look of disdain in her eyes didn’t escape her notice.

Charlotte’s heart sank.

She had spent over ten grand on this necklace as a token of gratitude for the small kindness Quinn had once shown her.

Three years ago, Charlotte had run away to Harbor City to escape her arranged marriage, cutting ties with her family.

Her father, Desmond Riley, had retaliated by freezing her bank accounts, cutting off her finances completely.

Determined to stand on her own, she refused to use her family's name or connections and managed to land a job at a law firm entirely on her own merit.

In her first year as a junior associate, she barely made $800 a month. Even after passing the bar a year later, her salary wasn’t much—at least, not in the eyes of the rich heirs and heiresses in Zac’s social circle.

To them, she was nothing but a nobody, an outsider.

Every time they went out, they sidelined her, excluded her, sometimes outright mocking her.

Zac never interfered. He simply turned a blind eye.

But Quinn had stepped in. She had defended her a few times, chatted with her when no one else would.

Charlotte had naively believed Quinn was different.

But now? She could see it clearly.

She had never truly belonged in their world.

And she never would.

How ridiculous.

That very night, after Charlotte had agreed to the engagement, Desmond reactivated her bank accounts.

Now, ten grand meant nothing to her—no more than spare change.

Zac finally spoke, his voice cool and authoritative. “Give me the necklace. I’ll make sure Charlotte replaces it with a proper gift.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she looked at him coldly. “If he wants it, just give it to him.”

Quinn hesitated, caught in the middle.

If she refused, she would be going against Zac—which would be a bad look.

But if she handed over the necklace, it would mean she believed it was fake—publicly humiliating Charlotte.

And Charlotte was still Zac’s girlfriend. If anyone looked bad here, it was ultimately Zac himself.

Under his piercing gaze, Quinn had no choice but to hand over the necklace.

Just then, Wendy spoke up, her voice soft and gentle. “Zac, don’t blame Miss Riley. I’m sure she meant well.”

Zac remained silent, his face clouded with irritation.

Someone in the group quickly suggested a drinking game to break the tension. Wendy eagerly joined in, flashing her usual charming smile.

Charlotte, uninterested in the lively scene, quietly walked over to a sofa in the corner and sat down, scrolling through her phone.

A few moments later, Zac followed and sat beside her, his expression still cold.

Charlotte ignored him, keeping her eyes on her screen.

After a long pause, he finally spoke in a low, firm voice. “If you didn’t have the money, you could’ve just bought something cheaper. That would’ve been better than gifting a fake.”

Charlotte didn’t even look up. Her tone was calm, indifferent. “If you think it’s fake, give it back.”

Zac’s jaw tightened. “Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is for me?”

Charlotte shut her eyes, took a deep breath, then suddenly opened them.

She turned to look at him directly.

Her voice was calm, but her eyes burned with quiet fury.

“Embarrassing for you? Exactly how did I embarrass you? The receipt’s in the bag. You couldn’t be bothered to check? Or do you need me to take you to the store so you can verify it with a sales associate?”

Zac stiffened.

For a moment, he just sat there, speechless.

Then, wordlessly, he reached for the gift bag and started searching for the receipt.

Zac’s expression finally eased as he looked at the receipt.

The necklace was real.

His tone softened. “Why didn’t you just say you had the receipt?”

Charlotte let out a cold laugh. “Didn’t feel like it.”

With that, she returned to her game, fingers tapping the screen as if he weren’t even there.

Zac sat in silence for a while before finally lowering his voice.

“Sorry. I misunderstood you today.”

Charlotte pretended not to hear him, fully focused on her game.

Zac didn’t say anything else, but he didn’t leave either.

His gaze, however, wasn’t on her.

It was on Wendy.

Charlotte finished her game and glanced up, only to catch him staring at Wendy.

Across the room, Wendy had just lost a round of the drinking game. Her friends cheered as they pushed another drink into her hands.

At first, Zac restrained himself.

But the moment she tipped back her third glass and reached for a fourth, his expression darkened.

Suddenly, he shot up from his seat, striding across the room.

Before Wendy could take another sip, Zac snatched the glass from her hand.

“Your stomach’s still weak, and you’re drinking this much? Wendy, do you have a death wish?”

The once lively room fell into a stunned silence.

Everyone turned to look at them.

Wendy, clearly irritated, met his angry gaze and sneered. “Why do you care?”

“You’re not drinking anymore.”

Zac swept a sharp, warning glance across the room. His voice was ice-cold. “I dare anyone to make her drink again.”

Nobody dared to meet his gaze.

Charlotte sat on the sofa, watching the ridiculous spectacle unfold before her, her lips curling into a mocking smirk.

Wendy suddenly got up, reaching for the glass Zac had taken from her.

Zac lifted it higher, keeping it out of her reach.

Determined, Wendy stood on her toes, stretching toward the drink.

She lost her balance.

With a startled gasp, she fell straight into Zac’s arms.

Zac instinctively caught her, his free hand tightening around her waist.

“Careful,” he murmured. “It’s been years, and you’re still just as clumsy.”

Wendy, her cheeks flushed from alcohol, leaned into his chest, tilting her head up at him with a playful pout.

“Zac, you’re so annoying.”

The crowd burst into cheers and teasing laughter.

Just as Zac was about to say something, he glanced up and unexpectedly met Charlotte’s ice-cold gaze.

It was as if Zac had just remembered that his girlfriend was still here.

Snapping back to reality, he quickly let go of Wendy’s waist and took a step back, as if waking from a dream.

His friends, realizing the awkwardness of the situation, immediately jumped in to smooth things over.

“Come on, let's keep playing! Wendy, your stomach isn't great—skip the drinks. Just do truth or dare instead.”

“Yeah, truth or dare works!”

Zac, now composed again, returned to the couch.

He thought Charlotte would be jealous, maybe throw a small tantrum.

But she said nothing.

That complete indifference unsettled him more than anger ever could.

For some reason, he had this nagging feeling that Charlotte felt different tonight.

A strange silence stretched between them.

Zac hesitated, wanting to say something, to explain.

But just then, the room burst into laughter and cheers again.

“Wendy lost again! Truth or dare?”

Charlotte didn’t even need to turn her head to know that Zac’s attention had already shifted.

“I’ll do dare.” Wendy smirked, then turned to Zac, eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

Someone handed her a stack of folded slips.

“Here, pick one.”

She casually pulled a paper from the pile. The moment the guy next to her unfolded it, his eyes widened.

His gaze flickered between Wendy, Zac, and Charlotte.

A curious girl peeked over his shoulder.

“What did she get? Let me see!”

The second she read it, she gasped sharply.

The room buzzed with excitement.

“What is it?”

“Come on, what’s the dare?”

The guy cleared his throat, then announced—

“Kiss a random guy in the room.”

As soon as the words fell, Zac’s entire expression darkened.

The temperature in the room dropped instantly.

Wendy, however, seemed completely unfazed.

With a playful grin, she turned toward a good-looking guy sitting nearby.

“Ethan, would you mind kissing me?”

Ethan Lincoln snuck a glance at Zac, whose expression looked murderous.

He didn’t even dare to breathe.

Seeing that he wasn’t responding, Wendy stepped closer, reaching up to hook her arms around his neck, about to press her lips against his.

“Enough!”

Zac’s sharp voice rang through the room.

Unable to control himself any longer, he grabbed Wendy’s wrist and yanked her away.

Without another word, he stormed out, dragging her with him.

The room fell into stunned silence.

Slowly, all eyes turned to Charlotte.

She picked up a glass of juice, took a sip, and smiled lightly.

“Why are you all looking at me?”

The group quickly looked away, some pretending to drink, others casually chatting—acting as if nothing had happened.

Charlotte took another sip, and with it, she felt the last bit of warmth drain from her heart.

In all the years she had known Zac, he had always been calm, composed, and indifferent to everything.

Tonight was the first time she had ever seen him completely lose control.

*

After finishing her drink, Charlotte got up and went to the restroom.

Just as she was about to step out of the stall, she heard voices by the sinks.

“Is Zac crazy? He just left his girlfriend behind and ran off with Wendy!”

“Ugh, isn’t it obvious? Wendy’s the one he actually cares about.”

“Right? Did you see his face when Wendy almost kissed Ethan? He looked like he was about to kill someone.”

“Poor Charlotte. She just had to sit there and watch her own boyfriend lose his mind over another woman.”

“Honestly, she’s just a stand-in.”

“Yeah, at this rate, they’ll break up soon. Anyone can see Zac is still in love with Wendy.”

“Yeah, I—”

The girl’s words caught in her throat.

Through the mirror, she saw Charlotte step out of the bathroom stall behind them.

She shut her mouth immediately.

The other two girls saw her too. Without another word, they lowered their heads and hurried out.

Charlotte walked up to the sink, calmly washing her hands.

Yes.

She and Zac were indeed close to breaking up.

But this time—

It wouldn’t be because he left her.

It wouldn’t be because he didn’t want her anymore.

It would be because she no longer loved him.

Because she didn’t want him anymore.

*

By the time Charlotte returned to Zac’s villa, it was already past eleven at night.

She was exhausted. She showered quickly, crawled into bed, and fell asleep almost instantly.

Zac didn’t come home until the following afternoon.

Pushing open the bedroom door, he immediately noticed the open suitcase lying on the floor, clothes neatly stacked beside it. His brows furrowed in confusion.

“What’s all this?”

Charlotte peeked out from behind the wardrobe. “Oh, you’re back. I’m heading home for a bit in a few days.”

She had lived here for two years. There were plenty of clothes, shoes, and random things she wouldn’t bother bringing back to Jersey City, but she still needed to sort through them and pack up what she wanted to take.

When she left, she wouldn’t leave a single trace of herself behind.

Just as she finished speaking, her eyes landed on the faint red marks peeking out from Zac’s collar.

For a moment, she froze.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she looked away.

She no longer cared.

Who he spent the night with had nothing to do with her anymore.

Zac frowned at her response. “Why are you suddenly going home? Are you still upset about last night? Are you trying to avoid me?”

“No,” she replied casually. “I just miss my parents. Thought I’d go see them.”

Hearing this, Zac was relieved. “That’s good. It’s been three years. You should go visit.”

She had never gone home once in all this time.

Even on holidays, she spent them alone.

Of course, he wouldn’t have accompanied her. Leaving his family behind for her had never been an option.

Bringing her home to meet his parents? Even more impossible.

His mother would never accept a woman without status or background.

After a brief pause, he added, “I’ve been busy lately, so I won’t be able to go with you. What day’s your flight? I’ll have my driver take you to the airport.”

Charlotte carefully folded a dress and placed it inside the suitcase.

“No need. I’ll get a car myself. Someone’s picking me up.”

At that, Zac exhaled subtly, though he wasn’t even aware of it himself.

He had been worried she might ask him to go back with her to meet her parents.

After three years together, for an average couple, it would be time to talk about marriage.

But he wasn’t an average man.

He was Zac Gibson, the only heir to the Gibson family fortune and the sole successor to Gibson Corporation.

And the gap between their worlds was one that could never be crossed.

Deep down, he had always known they had no future.

There was no point in meeting her parents, no point in discussing marriage.

Thankfully, Charlotte seemed to understand this too. She never clung to him, never asked him to take her home.

Thinking about it now, Zac once again felt a sense of appreciation for how obedient and understanding she was.

Even after last night, when he had recklessly left her behind to chase after Wendy, she didn’t throw a fit, didn’t cry, didn’t even question him.

She made things so easy.

For the past three years, she had never checked up on him, never gotten jealous, never fought with him over his flings.

Just then, his best friend’s voice echoed in his mind—

“Just keep dating both. And if you feel guilty about Charlotte, buy her some gifts. Women are easy to please.”

Maybe he really could marry Wendy and keep Charlotte as his lover.

After all, a woman like her would never find another man like him.

She loved him too much to ever leave him.

Yes, he would wait until she came back from Jersey City, and then he would talk to her properly.

Zac glanced at her packing and said casually, “Take care on the way. Let me know when you get home. And when you’re back in Harbor City, I’ll come pick you up.”

Charlotte lowered her gaze and replied softly, “Alright.”

I won’t be coming back.

She said it only in her heart.

Zac seemed like he had more to say, but just then, his phone rang.

After answering the call, he turned back to her. “I have to head out. Last night was my fault. I shouldn’t have left you there alone. I bought you a gift. My assistant will drop it off soon.”

Charlotte responded with a simple, indifferent, “Mm.”

Zac didn’t linger. He turned and walked out.

Moments after he left, her phone lit up with a message from Sean.

“Lottie, the engagement ring I had custom-made for you at Chaumet Paris has arrived at their Harbor City boutique. Stop by whenever you have time.”

Chaumet Paris was one of the world’s most prestigious luxury jewelry brands.

Charlotte had only agreed to the engagement a few days ago.

Yet, the ring was already here?

Had it been ordered in advance?

She didn’t ask. She simply replied with a short, “Okay.”

*

At the Chaumet boutique, the sales associate greeted her warmly, presenting the ring with a bright smile.

“Miss Riley, this is the custom engagement ring Mr. Jasper designed for you.”

Charlotte picked it up and examined it closely.

A five-carat rare blue diamond, encircled by delicate pink and colorless diamonds, sparkling brilliantly under the lights. It was so breathtakingly beautiful it almost looked unreal.

“The inside of the band is also engraved with your initials alongside Mr. Jasper’s,” the associate added.

Charlotte turned the ring slightly, inspecting the engraving inside.

SJ CR.

Clearly, a great deal of thought had gone into this design.

Slipping the ring onto her finger, she found the fit to be perfect.

“It’s gorgeous,” the associate remarked sincerely.

Just as Charlotte was admiring the ring, a familiar voice suddenly cut through the boutique.

“Charlotte Riley, what are you doing here?”

Charlotte frowned slightly and turned around.

At that very moment, Zac subtly let go of Wendy’s hand.

Wendy’s eyes darkened for a fleeting second, but she quickly regained her composure, as if nothing had happened.

Charlotte, however, wasn’t surprised in the least.

Of course, Zac would be here with Wendy.

She flashed a sweet, carefree smile.

“Trying on rings.”

Zac’s expression darkened instantly.

He took a few steps forward, his gaze fixing on the engagement ring on her finger.

Charlotte held up her hand and tilted her fingers slightly, letting the massive diamond catch the light.

“So?” she asked with a bright smile. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

A flicker of anger flashed in Zac’s eyes.

“No,” he said coldly. “It’s ugly.”

They both knew exactly what that ring represented.

Zac had always assumed Charlotte was obedient, sensible, and knew her place.

He never thought she would actually dare to reach for something that wasn’t meant for her.

Marriage?

That was something he could never give her.

And Charlotte was never worthy of it.

He remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Wendy, standing beside him, smiled pleasantly.

“What a coincidence, Miss Riley,” she said lightly. “Zac and I are here to look at rings today too.”

Charlotte let out a cold laugh in her mind.

So the phone call Zac had taken earlier—the one he had vaguely referred to as “something urgent”—was nothing more than Wendy asking him to go shopping with her.

She had called him to help pick out a ring, and he had dropped everything to accompany her.

Zac didn’t offer an explanation.

He didn’t even bother to deny it.

His silence was all the confirmation she needed.

Wendy’s gaze drifted toward the engagement ring on Charlotte’s finger.

Tsk. That blue diamond in the center had to be at least five carats.

And the surrounding halo of rare pink diamonds?

This ring had to be worth at least seven or eight million.

She really had the nerve to try it on.

Did she not feel embarrassed, knowing she couldn’t afford it?

But Charlotte barely reacted to Wendy’s thinly veiled provocation. She simply let out a disinterested, “Oh.”

She then continued admiring the ring on her hand.

She had to admit that Sean had excellent taste.

She was very satisfied with this ring.

“Miss Riley, that ring is absolutely stunning,” Wendy said with a smile.

Charlotte beamed.

“Isn’t it? I think so too.”

Zac’s expression turned even darker.

“Take it off,” he ordered.

Charlotte tilted her head slightly, feigning confusion.

“Why?”

Zac clenched his jaw.

“Why are you even trying on rings? What, are you trying to pressure me into marriage?” His voice grew sharper. “Let me make this clear. I will never marry you.”

For a split second, Wendy’s lips curved into a barely noticeable smirk.

She hadn’t needed to say anything at all.

Zac had delivered the final blow himself.

“Miss Riley,” Wendy continued, her voice light and airy, “Zac and I are here today at Mrs. Gibson’s request to look at rings.”

The “Mrs. Gibson” she was referring to was none other than Monica Miller, Zac’s mother.

Wendy’s meaning was clear—“I’m the one Zac’s mother has chosen. The Gibson family has already accepted me. So don’t even think about marrying into their family, Charlotte.”

Charlotte studied the pair standing in front of her and almost laughed out loud.

She had merely tried on her fiancé’s custom-made engagement ring.

And yet here they were—

One, so self-absorbed, convinced she was desperately clinging to a man who didn’t want her.

And the other, so eager to flaunt that she had Monica’s approval.

But… seriously?

The Gibson family?

That tiny Harbor City nouveau riche household?

Her father wouldn’t even consider them worthy.

“Oh, got it.” Charlotte’s tone was completely indifferent, as if none of this mattered.

Both Wendy and Zac froze for a second.

Why didn’t she care?

Wendy studied Charlotte’s face carefully, searching for even the slightest trace of jealousy or resentment.

But her expression was flawless and completely unreadable.

For the first time, Wendy wasn’t sure.

Was Charlotte pretending not to care, or did she really not care at all?

Zac’s expression had already turned stormy.

“Charlotte Riley, do you think this is funny? Did you know Wendy and I were coming here to look at rings today, so you showed up on purpose to wait for me?

“Let me make this clear. You and I will never happen. If you’re trying to pressure me into marriage, it’s useless!

“Marriage is about compatibility. With your background, how could you ever be a match for me?”

His words were sharp and relentless. “Just look at yourself right now. It’s embarrassing.”

He was genuinely angry now, throwing out accusations in one breath.

But Charlotte wasn’t angry at all.

Instead, she smiled, her voice light.

“Oh? I’m embarrassing?”

She tilted her head slightly.

“As far as I remember, we haven’t broken up yet. So, by that logic, Miss Cooper here is a mistress, and you, Zac Gibson, are nothing more than a cheating jerk. Now tell me—who’s the embarrassing one?”

Zac’s entire face twisted in rage. His chest rose and fell sharply as he barked, “Take it off!”

Charlotte’s voice remained calm, unbothered. “No.”

“Fine! If you like it so much, then keep wearing it. But don’t expect me to ever buy you a ring, and don’t even think about marrying me!”

“Mm-hmm.” Charlotte nodded lightly, completely unfazed.

Zac was livid. No matter what he said, it was like throwing punches at air. Charlotte simply refused to react.

Frustrated, he shot her a furious glare before storming out of the store.

“Zac, wait for me!” Wendy quickly chased after him.

*

Once they were gone, the sales associate turned to Charlotte, looking completely confused.

“Miss Riley, those two are…?”

Charlotte adjusted the ring on her finger and said calmly, “Just irrelevant people. No need to mind them.”

Three years of dating, and Zac never once considered marrying her.

Little did he know that he wasn’t even qualified to marry her.

She had never once considered marrying him either.

Charlotte took out her phone and snapped a few photos of the ring, sending them to Sean.

“Does it look good?”

At that moment, in the CEO’s office of Jasper Corporation, Sean glanced at his phone.

At the sight of a message from the contact saved as "Lottie", a small smile tugged at his lips.

Setting aside the document he was reviewing, he typed back a reply.

“It looks beautiful. Do you like it?”

“I do.”

Sean’s smile deepened.

“As long as you like it.”

“Sean, this ring must have been really expensive, right?”

“Not at all. You deserve the best.”

Sean’s assistant, Harry Lowe, stood nearby, waiting for his signature.

He had already sneaked a few glances at his boss.

Was he seeing things?

The cold, expressionless CEO was… smiling?

And not just any smile—a soft, almost sweet one?

It was like the air around him was filled with pink bubbles.

Sean signed the last document and looked up.

“What are you staring at?” His tone was back to its usual coolness.

Harry immediately straightened up and grabbed the papers. “Nothing, Mr. Jasper. I’ll take my leave now.”

*

Meanwhile, Charlotte picked up the ring and walked out of the boutique, heading next door to a high-end men’s watch store.

She wanted to buy Sean a watch as a gift for when she returned to Jersey City.

Her father had sent her some recent photos of him.

Sharp features, deep-set eyes, a refined yet distant aura. He looked almost exactly as she remembered.

After carefully browsing, she selected a sleek black wristwatch that suited Sean perfectly.

Just as she finished paying, a familiar voice greeted her from the side.

“Charlotte, what are you doing here?”