Grandpa Winston couldn't have mistaken the jewelry's unique design. In his rage, he yelled loudly, dragging the attention of the people. Stella's smile didn't falter. She straightened up, her painted long fingernails caressing the diamonds. “Oh, you mean this?” She laughed. “Dad, don't work yourself up over it. I got this jewelry from your sweet granddaughter-in-law.” “What? What do you mean by that?” “Heidi gave it to me.” Stella stepped close to Blake, looking at him lovingly. “Honey, this is an heirloom that is passed down to every deserving woman in this family. Aren't I the only current daughter-in-law? It should belong to me, right?” An Heirloom? The crowd couldn't help but take an attentive look at the unique jewelry. Never had they seen such exquisite and elegant design wrapped in simplicity. Its several diamonds reflected with the light, casting a soft glow over its wearer. Grandpa Winston's expression turned sour, hearing Stella's explanation. His hand shook
Grandpa Winston's eyes lit up, and his vigor returned. “Heidi, you have come,” he called out, and Heidi finally located him. “Grandpa Winston, I'm so sorry I'm late.” Heidi approached, kissing him on the cheek. “I was supposed to be here since, but something held me back.” And a fleeting rage flashed in her eyes when she remembered that thing. Heidi's anger only subsided after finally seeing Grandpa Winston. “The important thing is you're here. I knew you wouldn't let me down.” Grandpa Winston chuckled deeply, then he turned to Stella. “Aren't you too shameless? How could you lie on Heidi? You think you can deceive everyone with your fake necklace, right?” “Dad, what benefit will I get from lying on her?” Stella put on a look of disbelief. “The person who is wearing the fake necklace is obvious. Can't you differentiate the real one?” Heidi finally noticed Stella and Blake. Her eyes widened a bit when she saw Stella wearing the same necklace. So many thoughts ran inside
“What do you mean, Dad?” Blake frowned. “You must have seen wrong. Stella's jewelry is the real one-” “Silence! Do you take me for a fool not to recognize something I made with my own hands?” He tossed the fake jewelry at Stella and thundered, “The diamonds on this jewelry aren't even real. The gold is just metal painted with color and dust sparkles! Get out of this place. I didn't invite you to my birthday party. You came here to make a scene, isn't it?” Stella stared at the jewelry in a trance, her eyes blinking rapidly. Blake was also surprised that his wife's jewelry turned out fake. How did that happen? “Did you make a mistake, Dad? Maybe you accidentally swapped Heidi's fake jewelry with Stella's real one.” “Enough with your stupidity!” Grandpa Winston showed him Heidi's jewelry. “I was holding Heidi's jewelry in my right hand while I held your wife's fake one in my left!” And the whole crowd saw that. Stella's expression ashened as well as Blake's. The couple exc
“Let go.” Heidi's heart raced and she pushed at his chest. “You- How did you…?” She trailed off, her chest heaving up and down heavily from the sudden attack. “You found the real jewel thief. On your knees, now.” Heidi took in a deep breath, feeling gravely suffocated by his alarming presence. “Lucas Harrison, how did you swap the jewelry?” “Wasn't it easy?” Lucas said mockingly, and Heidi's mind wired back to the moment she stepped foot into the mansion. Lucas had appeared out of nowhere, pinned her against the wall the way he was doing now, and even made advances at her, while Heidi fought him relentlessly. That was the reason why she didn't appear at the birthday hall in time. Was that when he swapped the jewelry? Heidi didn't need to ask, because the answer was obvious. “How did you know it was Stella's doing?” “Maybe you should ask yourself what gave you the idea that I would steal the jewelry from you,” Lucas responded sarcastically. Heidi's guilt returned. Kn
“Lucas Harrison, let me go!” Heidi glowered, her voice low and vengeful. “In your dreams.” Footsteps came from the left, and Tracy emerged from Lucas's room. Tracy stilled for some seconds before rushing towards the couple. “Heidi, it's you again?” Tracy stepped between Heidi and Lucas, widening her eyes with fear. “What brought you here? Are you here to cause trouble?” The insecurities in Tracy's eyes didn't miss Heidi's scrutiny. Shaking her head, her lips curled into a disdainful smile. “I'm not here for trouble, but someone obviously is. Why don't you reign him in, Tracy? He claims you're the only woman in his heart, but he's chasing after other women and messing around.” Tracy looked from the stoic man to Heidi. She shook her head in disbelief. “No, Heidi. I know what you're trying to do. You will never succeed in driving a wedge between me and Lucas. I don't believe you.” “That's your business.” Rolling her eyes, Heidi threw Lucas a last glare and left. Tracy's fin
Inside Lucas's Room. Tracy sat beside him on the couch, pulling the man, who seemed to be in a trance, out of his thoughts. “Lucas, I wonder if Grandpa Winston is no longer mad at me. Can I go see him now?” “No. Grandpa isn't in a good mood tonight.” After witnessing Grandpa Winston's fluctuating mood, Lucas didn't think it was a good idea. “I- I understand.” Tracy dropped her head, sighing softly. “Heidi's here, and Grandpa might compare us.” “Lucas, do you remember this cup?” She unboxed an antique wooden cup outlined with nature patterns. “I do. Grandpa would drink from its type when we were young.” “This is made from a unique oak. I urged Dad to travel to the mountains and beg the ancient carver to make it. Isn't it amazing that it looks exactly the same as Grandpa's old one?” She let out a soft laugh, staring at the cup with sad eyes. “To rekindle old memories, I bought this with a lot of money. I hope Grandpa will like it. Grandpa doesn't want to see me, Lucas. Can y
His demeanor shifted. Stiffening for a while, he looked sideways at her, his eyes filled with confusion, anger, as well as disbelief.“Fine. Don't be late.”“I won't.” Heidi walked past him, not glancing back for once. The tension inside the room was impalpable. Lucas's dark eyes were glued to her back. For a long time, he stood there. Even after her figure had disappeared out of the mansion, he didn't move as if in a daze. Blake Harrison stood on the balcony of his room, his eyes fixed on his wristwatch.Not long after, one of the bodyguards appeared. “Where is she?” Blake's low voice was filled with impatience.The bodyguard hung his head. “I apologize. I wasn't able to capture her, Master.”“What did you say!?” Blake snapped. “That girl was in this mansion, right under your nose. How did you not seize the opportunity?”“It's the Young Master. He was with her. While she left, the Young Master was watching her, so we couldn't do anything.”Hearing the bodyguard's explanation onl
…At StriveStyle Co. The next morning.Isla hurried up to Heidi while she removed some documents from her bag, dropping them on the desk. “Ms. Olsen, bad news. The board of directors are here again.”“What do they want?” Heidi arranged the documents then turned off her computer. “Well, they demand an urgent meeting, Ms. Olsen,” Isla said, looking exasperated. “I think they're here to make things difficult for you just like last time.”Heidi also thought the same. “I'm busy right now. Reschedule the meeting to another day.”“It's the board of directors.”“Is the president present?”“No, Mr. Zach Olsen didn't come,” Isla replied.“Since that's the case, just convey my order.”Isla feared the outcome of the meeting, but not as much as she feared her boss turning down a meeting with the board of directors. Heidi got to her feet and hung the bag over her shoulder, checking her wristwatch. “You seem to be in a hurry. Are you off somewhere, Ms. Olsen?”“Yes, I'll be back soon. If somethi