Chapter 39

Chapter 39:

A single wedding invitation sat in the box, its gold-embossed lettering declaring the union of David Lloyd and Alice Barnes.

Sarah’s jaw dropped when she spotted the names. “Are you kidding me? Those two snakes are actually tying the knot p>

She snatched up the invitation, fingers twitching as if ready to rip it to shreds.

Sophie just laughed under her breath and gently pulled Sarah’s hand away. “Just toss it. I’m not going, so why let them bother you p>

Sarah’s eyes widened with determination. “Hold on! Why wouldn’t you go? Seriously, you have to! If you skip it, they’ll think you’re hiding. They’ll be whispering that you can’t handle it and feeling smug about it p>

She gripped Sophie’s shoulders. “You need to walk in there looking like a queen and let them see how much you’ve thrived.” The longer Sarah spoke, the more fired up she became. “You’re one of the top designers at Pinnacle Jewelry now! Your career is booming! They’d lose their minds if they saw how well you’re doing p>

Sophie shook her head and tried to back away from Sarah’s plan for a dress-up showdown. Facing that pair was the last thing she wanted. Dressing up to impress them sounded exhausting, not empowering.

But fate had other plans.

Almost as if he knew she would refuse, David sent her a direct message inviting her to the wedding.

R𝘰𝗺𝗮ո𝘤𝗲 𝗮𝗇𝗱 pа𝘴ѕ𝗶о𝘯 𝘰𝗇

Sophie didn’t hesitate to decline. But another text popped up right after.

“By the way, do you still want that bracelet you gave me? If you don’t, I’ll just get rid of it p>

“Unbelievable,” Sophie grumbled, her jaw tight with frustration. While the bracelet wouldn’t fetch much money, it was priceless to her—every bit of it a memory she shared with her mom.

She remembered that summer at the beach, how she had spotted a little heart-shaped stone in the sand. Her mother’s gentle hands had helped thread a string through it, turning it into a bracelet right there by the waves.

Sunlight had caught the kindness in her mother’s smile. “Soph, maybe one day you’ll give this to someone special p>

A younger Sophie had quickly tucked the bracelet behind her back, cheeks burning. “No way! This one’s mine forever p>

Years later, David had showered her with gifts—expensive watches, designer bags, all things she could never return in kind. The pressure of it made her say no every time.

One evening, after yet another refusal, David had finally snapped. “Do you even care about me at all? If you won’t take my gifts, then why not give me something instead p>

Without thinking, Sophie’s fingers had played with the bracelet on her wrist. David’s eyes caught the movement at once. “Let me have it. Please?” he said, looking at her hopefully.

She paused, her heart torn, but in the end she nodded and slipped the bracelet into his hand.

Back then, she truly believed she had found the one—the man she could tell her mother about with pride. She never imagined that, after everything, David would treat the bracelet like nothing more than junk to be tossed aside.

Drawing a steady breath, Sophie picked up her phone and typed a short reply. “I’ll come get it myself. Just don’t lose it p>

By Saturday morning, dark circles under her eyes were the first thing to greet her in the bathroom mirror. Last night’s all-nighter spent perfecting design drafts was written all over her face.

Sarah’s voice echoed in her memory. No way would she give that pair the pleasure of seeing her look defeated. David would probably convince himself she was heartbroken and sleepless, while Alice would gloat.

That wasn’t going to happen. If she had to show up, she would make sure they saw her at her best.

She reached for makeup, going for a look that was polished but not showy, and settled on a simple, classy dress that was just right—nothing too dramatic.

“Got plans p>

Sophie nearly smeared her lipstick as Adrian’s voice broke the silence behind her.

She spun around to find him leaning against the doorframe, dressed sharp as ever in a crisp suit, every bit the executive.

“Oh, I’m just meeting up with a friend,” she replied, fingers fussing with the hem of her dress as she avoided his gaze.

Adrian’s eyes traveled across her face, then drifted down, pausing at her legs. He loosened his tie a little. “Thought weekends were for you and your sketchbook p>

Sophie forced a laugh, trying to sound casual. “Even designers need a day off. Got to get out and breathe sometimes p>

For a moment, Adrian just watched her, suspicion flickering in his eyes. Without another word, he turned on his heel and headed out.

A scowl settled on his face as he ducked into the back of a Bentley waiting under the trees. The door had barely clicked shut before he yanked his tie off in frustration. “Turn on the air conditioning p>

Neil, sitting up front, shot him a quick look before silently adjusting the controls. Something was definitely off this morning. Adrian seemed even more on edge than usual.

Clearing his throat, Neil handed over a folder. “Here’s everything you asked for about Sophie, sir p>