Chapter 3

I froze, instinctively hanging up the phone, but couldn't help but marvel at how much these people loved to suddenly speak from behind others.

I turned around, seeing Julian's distinctly unhappy expression.

After a moment of hesitation, I explained, "Oh, nothing. Just some old colleagues asking what I plan to do after resigning. I was just joking with them, saying I'm going home to inherit the family business."

Julian frowned, about to speak, but I had already walked several steps away. I looked back and called out, "Coming? There are still a few jewelry pieces to be presented."

Hearing that, Julian stopped himself, nodded, and followed me.

Back in the auction hall, Julian bought several more jewelry pieces at high prices, had them wrapped, and presented them to me.

I looked at the boxes in my hands. "I don't wear this kind of jewelry," I said softly.

Julian smiled, ruffling my hair. "You'll get used to it. Don't worry about wasting money. I'll buy you diamonds for life."

My lips moved, but I ultimately held back the rest of my words.

I don't wear these million-dollar jewels.

My jewels, each piece, are worth hundreds of millions.

The auction was over, and people were gradually leaving. Julian and I, along with our group, didn't linger.

Everyone had driven their own cars, and we should have just gone our separate ways. But as soon as we got into the car, before it even started, Seraphina knocked on the passenger window.

The window slowly rolled down, revealing her bashful face, her voice equally sweet and delicate, completely devoid of the sharp-tongued venom she'd shown me in the restroom earlier.

"Julian, my car broke down. Could you give me a ride home?"

Julian frowned, about to refuse, when she added, "Your parents asked you to look after me. You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Julian's expression darkened, clearly remembering something. He finally agreed.

Seeing him nod, her smile visibly brightened. She then pushed her luck, looking at me. "But I get motion sickness. What if I can't sit in the back?"

Julian looked at me, but before he could speak, I had already pushed open the car door, stepped out, and swiftly moved to the back seat.

My movements were so quick that Julian hadn't even reacted before I was settled in the back.

His words were stuck in his throat, making him look uncomfortable.

He seemed hesitant, wanting to say it was just a seat, nothing to fuss over. When his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror and saw me with my eyes closed, pretending to rest, he stayed silent.

Just then, Seraphina got into the car. The door closed, and seeing me resting in the back, a triumphant smirk touched her lips.

Her voice was soft and sweet, her eyes coyly on Julian. "Is Miss Sterling tired? Let her rest for a bit then."

Perhaps sensing my unusual quietness, Julian didn't engage much with Seraphina. He just nodded and silently started the car.

I must have actually fallen asleep at some point, because when I woke up, the car was already parked in the Vance family villa's garage, and Seraphina was long gone.

Julian stroked my face. "Awake? You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you."

Still a little groggy, I nodded, opened the car door, got out, and walked straight towards the front door without waiting for Julian.

Julian caught up to me at the entrance, blocking my way. "Are you mad? Seraphina really is just the daughter of my parents' friends. Don't worry about it."

I hummed in response.

Julian thought I was still angry. He took my hand, coaxing softly, "She's truly just the daughter of my parents' friends, baby. You know I only love you."

After speaking, he caught a whiff of my rose perfume, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he leaned in to kiss me, but I pushed him away.

Watching his astonished expression, I walked directly inside.

"I'm on my period and not feeling well, so I'm heading to my room to rest."

With that, I locked the door, completely cutting off Julian's chance to come in.

The next morning, in the downstairs dining room, as Julian and I ate breakfast, my phone, which was lying nearby, suddenly rang.

It was a timed alarm I'd set a while ago. The reminder: "Meet the Parents."

Julian also saw the message.

Before, I had planned to reveal my identity to him and suggested he come home to meet my parents, which he had agreed to.

We exchanged glances. I was wondering how to cancel the meeting when, the next second, his phone also rang.

It was Seraphina.

I couldn't hear what she said, but his expression changed slightly. When he turned back to me, he apologized and called off our meeting.

"Elara, something's suddenly come up that I need to deal with. How about we meet your parents another time?"

I nodded calmly. "Perfect, I have something to take care of today too."

Julian left soon after, and I followed suit.

I went shopping, buying a gift for each of my girlfriends whom I was meeting later.

When we met, everyone opened their packages, gasping as they saw a brand new luxury item in each box.

"Elara, where did you find so many high-end fakes? They look so real!"

"They're all real." Seeing their surprised faces, I couldn't help but chuckle. After explaining, and seeing they still looked unconvinced, I revealed my true identity. "Actually, what I told you before about my father gambling and my mother being sick—that was all fake. My real identity is the sole heir to the world's wealthiest family. I'm saying goodbye to you all because I'm going home to inherit the family fortune."

Hearing me say this, everyone was first shocked, then overjoyed, exclaiming that a real-life heiress had been right among them. Their screams nearly blew the roof off the restaurant.

After their excitement, someone remembered Julian and quickly asked, "But if you go back, what about Julian? Does he know your real identity?"

At the mention of Julian, the smile on my face faded slightly. "He's planning to marry someone else."

"No way!" My friends were incredulous. "He always seemed like such a devoted rich guy to us!"

"Exactly! Three years ago, you said you liked night-blooming orchids, and he spent a fortune buying every rare one in existence just to see you smile. Two years ago, when you got the flu, he cancelled a multi-million-dollar deal and flew back from overseas to personally care for you, staying awake all night. And a year ago, your car got into an accident. The truck was headed straight for you, but he swerved to protect you. You didn't even lose a hair, but he broke three ribs and was in the hospital for three months, almost not waking up. Now he's getting married? How could the bride not be you?"

Hearing my friends recount those past events, I still felt a surge of emotion. Back then, Julian truly loved me enough to risk his life. But now...

I shook my head, smiling faintly. "He did love me, but his family thinks I'm not good enough for him and forced him into an arranged marriage. Before I even had a chance to tell him the truth, he'd already printed the invitations. From what he said, he probably intended to keep me as his mistress after the wedding."

My friends exploded instantly.

"What? A mistress?!"

"Asking the world's richest heiress to be a mistress? The Vance family must be insane!"

"Oh, really? He'll regret this, just you wait!"

"Exactly! If he knew you were secretly leaving, and his family found out your real identity, they'd go crazy!"

Just then, Julian and Seraphina walked in from outside, frowning as they overheard our conversation.

"What real identity?"

Seeing them enter together, one of my friends, absolutely furious, was about to speak but I stopped her. I looked at the two newcomers, my expression cold.

"What are you two doing here?"

At my question, Julian couldn't help but feel a little guilty, his eyes flickering. "The Vance and Beaumont families have a collaboration, so we arranged to meet and discuss it."

Hearing his reply, I just smiled. Of course, I knew about their "collaboration" – a marriage alliance.

Because they were discussing "business," Julian and Seraphina didn't sit with us, but at a separate table nearby—close enough for me to witness their intimate interactions.

Like him cutting her steak, her sharing her favorite food with him, him handing her a napkin, her wiping a smudge from his lips...

The two exchanged affectionate gestures, infuriating my friends, but my face remained calm.