Without even looking at me, Jonah said nonchalantly, "Don't be ridiculous! Sasha's dream in life is to become a world-renowned artist."

He didn't bother commenting on how Patrick was trying to set him up with Sasha—even though I was the one he was supposed to marry soon.

Just how much of a pushover was I back then that I could be in love with a man whose heart was devoted to another woman?

Biting her lip, Sasha said tearfully, "Don't listen to them, Celeste. They're just joking around, albeit a little carelessly. Please don't take them seriously."

She passed me an exquisite-looking box and said, "Here's a gift I brought for you, Celeste. Do take a look and see if you like it."

When I opened the box, I was greeted by the sight of a thin, dainty bracelet dotted with some barely visible fragments of rubies.

I looked up at Sasha who was wearing a necklace made with several large, intricately carved rubies. Judging from the style and workmanship, it was obvious it was custom-made.

The sight of it made me freeze for a moment.

Didn't Jonah get that necklace made for me?

He claimed he wanted me to wear that necklace when I walked down the aisle. The brilliance of the red rubies signified his passionate determination to marry me.

After preparing the design draft, the designer informed me that once the rubies had been cut for the necklace, some scraps would be left that could be used to make smaller accessories, such as bracelets.

Well, the statement necklace meant for my wedding was now being worn around Sasha's neck, and she had just given me the additional bracelet made from the discarded gemstone pieces.

I couldn't resist laughing, which Patrick misunderstood for joy. He scoffed in derision, thinking that I was so ignorant that even a bracelet like that seemed precious to me.

Someone else in the room muttered, "I can't believe Jonah would be interested in a woman like her."

Meanwhile, someone else looked at Sasha and was drawn in by the ruby necklace she was wearing, exclaiming, "Sasha, that's such a gorgeous necklace you're wearing!"

Shyly fiddling with the necklace, Sasha turned to Jonah with an affectionate gaze and said, "Jonnie gave it to me. He said it was to celebrate my return to the country. He also said he'll give me an even better one once my exhibition is over."

I abruptly remarked, "Oh, my! How generous of Jonah. Those rubies were a family heirloom passed down from his mother's side. Just the design process for the necklace alone lasted almost six months. The rubies were even sent abroad to be cut and polished. That necklace was meant to be passed down in the family among the Alstons' daughters-in-law. Jonah sure does care about you a lot."

Instantly, the room plunged into silence, and Jonah's expression darkened.

Even the most clueless of guests earlier started realizing the situation.

Since the necklace was meant to be given to the daughter-in-law of the Alston family, it should've been given to me, the one who was about to marry Jonah. And yet, it was now worn around Sasha's neck. What more was there to say about that?

Sasha shakily stood up. She clutched the necklace, looking as if she didn't know whether to take it off. Her eyes reddened within seconds.

"I'm so sorry, Jonnie… I-I didn't know it was meant to be for Celeste. I'm such a fool. I should've asked you about it…"

Her tears streamed down her face, making her seem rather pitiful.

Hands trembling, she tried to rip the necklace. She even made it seem as though she didn't care if she got injured in the process, for she yanked it against her neck so hard that her skin turned red.

"Quick, Jonnie… Help me take it off," Sasha pleaded tremblingly, even sounding like she could scarcely breathe.

Jonah's heart ached for her. Pulling her hands away, he said, "Since I said it's yours, that means it's yours! Why should you take it off? Just leave it on. Don't listen to her nonsense."

Then, he glared at me and continued, "It's just a bunch of rubies! Didn't you study medicine? Why would you care so much about a handful of stones? You even have a doctoral degree! I can't believe you're still so shallow. Aren't you ashamed of acting this way in public?

"In any case, since it's meant to be for the daughters-in-law of my family, that means it's for my future wife. I have the right to decide who gets to wear it! Don't assume it should be yours. Since I gave it to Sasha, it means she's worthy of it.

"We're about to get married, aren't we? Why are you still so hung up on these petty things? You'll be my wife anyway, so why aren't you satisfied?"

Smiling through her tears, Sasha piped up, "Thank you, Jonnie. I really think this ruby necklace matches the gown I'm wearing for the launch of my exhibition really well. It's been so many years, Jonnie, but you still know me best."

Eyeing Jonah and Sasha in amusement, I replied, "Oh. Sorry about that. I didn't mean anything by what I said. You two are just being too sensitive.

"And by the way, it's also best to wear a matching set, no? This bracelet you gave me was made from the scraps left over after making that necklace. You should take it back."

Sasha bit her lip and said, "Don't worry, Celeste. Even though Jonnie says he wants to give it to me, I know it's meant to be for your wedding. I won't take it. Once my exhibition is over, I'll return it to you, okay?"

Patrick seized the opportunity to chime in, "Don't push it, Celeste. Look how scared Sasha is. Must you go this far over a necklace? It's been so long since Sasha came back, but look what you did. Are you satisfied only if you ruin everyone's mood?"

"That's right, Celeste. You come from a respectable family yourself too, don't you? Why are you acting like your family's about to go bankrupt? Who would think you'd be petty enough to fight over a measly necklace?"

Jonah's friends had always looked down on me. To them, only a goddess like Sasha was worthy of being with Jonah. In all the years I'd been with Jonah, they never accepted me no matter what I did. They still thought I wasn't good enough for him.

Sasha hastily cried out, "Don't say that! Celeste didn't know Jonnie gave it to me himself. Now that everything's out in the open, I'm sure Celeste won't hold it against me."

Jonah eyed me coldly. "You shouldn't have come in the first place. All you did was ruin the party."

"I'll get going then."

I swiftly headed for the door, but a thought came to me. "By the way, the guest bedroom at your house is a bit small. I'm guessing it won't be comfortable enough for Sasha. She should have the master bedroom instead."

Frowning, Jonah snapped, "What are you talking about? My house? Isn't it our house? Are you trying to kick up a fuss with me now? You're supposed to be my wife soon. Can't you act with a bit more propriety? Once you marry into my family, are you going to throw your temper around with my parents too?"

"Marry into your family?" I repeated with an amused smile. "The wedding has been canceled. Let's not talk about marriage."

Flustered, Jonah lunged at me and grabbed my hand, questioning harshly, "What the heck are you talking about? What do you mean the wedding has been canceled? I only said it'll be delayed. Are you so petty over a necklace that you want to cancel the wedding?"

By sheer coincidence, I happened to get a call from Austin, which I answered right in front of Jonah.

"Celeste, the designer wants to know what kind of gemstones you want for your wedding jewelry."

Recalling the green diamond used for his thumb ring, I replied, "Let's go with green diamonds."

Jonah, who only heard what I said, eyed me in scorn. "What's this about a green diamond? Are you getting yourself a diamond just because you didn't get the ruby necklace? Are you that insecure about being less than others?"

Meanwhile, Sasha started to cry again. "Jonnie, a-are you getting married?"

However, Jonah was too busy ranting at me to answer her.

"You better get one thing clear, Celeste. I only agreed to marry you. We haven't even registered our marriage yet, so that means we're not legally married. Don't think you can force me to hold a wedding ceremony with you so that you can become my wife!

"Apart from the jewelry, what else have you been secretly preparing, huh? The venue? Your wedding gown? Why are you doing it? Are you trying to force me to marry you? Are you that desperate to get married? Have the Fergusons gone bankrupt and can't afford to support you financially anymore?"

Jonah was getting more and more outrageous. I didn't want to stick around and argue with him, but I couldn't get his grimy hand off me.

"Let go of me!" I snapped. "Who said I'm trying to force you to marry you. I can buy whatever I want. What does it have to do with you?"

Sneering, Jonah shot back, "Hah! Look at you claiming that you're not trying to force me to marry you. Who else would you marry, besides me? Drop the act. You even got a call about it, so why bother pretending?

"I was going to be a bit more tolerant with you on account of our families' relationship, but if you continue to throw your tantrum and do such embarrassing things, then don't blame me for not indulging you!"

Just then, the door was shoved open, and an icy voice demanded, "Let go of her."