Ch8 - Ex’s new girlfriend

"What's got her so stressed? Is she really wandering the rooftop just because she can't have pretty clothes and bags?"

"Haha, you guys are brutal."

"I'm heading to the scene now. Anyone coming?"

"Count me in—anyone else want to team up?"

"Don't bother. She’s not actually going to jump; she’s just looking for sympathy."

"Is it really okay to rub salt in someone's wounds like that?"

...

The online comments were relentless, and the things people said were too harsh for Lena to ignore. She rolled up her sleeves, adjusted her posture, and her fingers flew over the keyboard.

"I'm really sorry for hogging public resources. Rest assured, I have no intention of taking my own life—past, present, or future. Also, if someone truly had suicidal thoughts, those making snide remarks would only be complicit. Please watch what you say, and have a great weekend."

Lena switched off her screen and set her phone face down. She didn't care what else people might say; she’d spoken her mind and felt a rush of satisfaction.

If she had more money, she’d sue that tabloid in a heartbeat.

Speaking of money, what she had would only cover a few nights at a hotel. She gently touched the blue gemstone jewelry set. Logically, she should send it to a major auction house, where after a 20% commission, she could still get about $1.4 million. But that process was just too slow.

The next day, she visited the flagship store of the brand that produced the jewelry. A professional staff member welcomed her into a private room, put on gloves, examined the earrings and necklace, then used a device to inspect them. Placing the jewelry back on the tray, the staff member said, "This set is in excellent condition. Please wait while I consult with the manager to confirm the final buyback price."

Lena felt slightly reassured by this. But by the time the tea in front of her had cooled, the staff returned with a different expression, like she had something she couldn’t say.

Lena waited patiently for her to speak.

"We can buy it back for $600,000," the staff member said.

Lena was taken aback. "But you just said the condition was excellent—doesn't that price seem a bit low?"

Typically, they offered 40-60% of market value; even at the lowest end, she should get at least $800,000.

"Sorry, ma’am, but this price was confirmed by our manager."

Lena felt anxious and thought it over. "Could I speak to the manager directly? I’ve only worn this set twice, and I take excellent care of it."

The staff looked apologetic. "I'm really sorry, I don't have the authority..."

At that moment, the curtain was pulled back. "So, do you regret dumping your fiancé?" The voice belonged to a young woman with long black hair, wearing an outfit far more mature than her age. It was Elise—Stellan’s new girlfriend.

Lena was still processing Elise’s words as the staff member gave a subtle nod and left, leaving Elise to handle things.

Lena hadn’t realized this store was part of Elise's family business. Even if she had, she wouldn’t have expected Elise, fresh out of college, to be handling business here, let alone that she’d be here today of all days.

But meeting an ex’s new girlfriend isn’t as dramatic as in TV shows.

Lena didn’t want to waste time discussing relationships. She’d come to convert her jewelry into cash as soon as possible. Now, she was just a regular customer in a jewelry store, and she kept her tone polite. "Hello, are you the manager here?"

Elise looked annoyed by the question. "Do you not recognize me?"

"How could anyone not know you, the heiress of Waverly Jewelry? You're Elise, right?"

"Good. And I know who you are, too."

Elise’s tone wasn’t friendly, and Lena felt a slight headache coming on. She didn’t want to waste time on pointless matters. "Since we know each other, can you offer me a better price for the jewelry?"

Lena didn't take the bait, staying calm and polite. Elise bit her lip, clearly holding back a million questions, but not wanting to seem immature—a reason she probably dressed so maturely. "Honestly, we have to account for appraisal, reprocessing, and resale costs. $600,000 is the best price we can offer."

Lena’s heart sank. $600,000…lawyers and private investigators burn through money fast. She wasn’t sure how long this would last her.

"If you’re not satisfied, feel free to go elsewhere," Elise added. "Though I doubt you’ll get much more anywhere else. Some stores might offer even less. This set only has value because our designers made it."

This was Lena’s fifth jewelry store today. Some had outright refused, others said they couldn’t handle something this high-end...

She rubbed her thumb and index finger together for a few seconds before looking up. "Fine, I’ll take the offer. Could you issue the check today?"

Elise looked surprised, clearly expecting Lena to walk out. It seemed Lena's situation was worse than she'd thought.

Elise called the staff member back. As the staff began processing the transaction, Elise glanced at Lena and repeated her opening line. "When you dumped Stellan, I bet you didn’t think you’d end up like this. If you were still with him, you wouldn’t be struggling like this."

Lena met Elise’s gaze calmly. "I didn’t dump him. But either way, I’m glad we’re not together now."

Elise raised her eyebrows slightly. "Why?"

"Do you really want to know? You might not believe me." Lena shook her head.

This only piqued Elise’s curiosity more.

"If you really want to know, go to the Red Gate Private Club. You'll understand what I mean."

"And why should I believe anything you say about him?"

Lena shrugged. "Like I said, you may not believe me, but you can trust your own eyes."

The staff member returned with the check, handed it to Lena, who tucked it away. Before leaving, she leaned close to Elise and whispered, "One more thing: remember to get regular health checkups."