Chapter 625

The necklace was a one–of–a–kind piece, the only thoughtful gift Aubree had ever received from him.

Usually, it was just cash, with instructions to go out and buy whatever she fancied.

Hidden within the intricate design of the necklace were their names, subtly engraved. He couldn’t quite explain why he’d done it at the time; he just thought it might bring a smile to Aubree’s face.

But now, Aubree had returned the gift, and in such an impersonal manner, via a delivery guy, no less.

It wasn’t just about the necklace’s worth, which was in the millions. The fact that Aubree had entrusted such a valuable item to a complete stranger, not to mention the insultingly cheap. delivery fee, seemed to mock the sentiment with which he’d given it.

Andrew stared at the text message for a long time, wondering how long it would take for Aubree to cool off this time.

Even at her angriest, she had never spoken of ending things with him. And this time, he was at a loss to understand what had set her off.

Fuming, Andrew tossed the necklace onto the passenger seat just as Tessa walked in. She opened the car door and immediately spotted the necklace, a flicker of delight crossing her face.

“Andrew, is this for me?” she asked, her voice sugary with hope.

Deep down, she knew it belonged to Aubree. She’d seen it around Aubree’s neck before, and Aubree was wearing it when those thugs had raped her.

Tessa’s smile never wavered as she picked up the necklace. “It’s gorgeous, and it must have cost a pretty penny. I’ll treasure it. Thank you, Andrew.”

She leaned in and pecked his cheek, making him stiffen involuntarily. His instinct was to say it wasn’t meant for her but was Aubree’s, but he saw Tessa’s joy and hesitated. Besides, Tessa had already sniffed out his affair with Aubree, and bursting her bubble now would only make things awkward.

It was just a necklace, after all. If Tessa wanted it, she could have it. He’d simply buy another for Aubree. The names were engraved so discreetly that Tessa would never notice.

His response was noncommittal, his hands resting casually on the steering wheel. “If you like it, wear it,” he said flatly.

Victory shone in Tessa’s eyes. For her, it was a trophy, a reminder of Aubree’s defeat and how she had been broken in body and spirit.

“I love it. Let’s hit the road. We’ve got to get to the venue. They’re about to set the wedding date, Andrew. I’m so happy. This is what I’ve dreamed of for years.”

12.05 Andrew was momentarily lost in thought, then nodded and flipped on the car radio.

Breaking news blared through the speakers. “The Rowland family is currently facing a capital deficit of thirty billion, and with wedding talks underway, it seems Austin has cleverly courted venture capitalists, looking to raise the exact amount needed. It appears this engagement is nothing more than a warm–up for a massive fundraising campaign.”

The smile vanished from Tessa’s face as the words echoed in the car. Even Andrew’s brow furrowed.

His phone buzzed – it was his mother, Marissa.

“Andrew, did you hear about the Rowland’s financial troubles? I know we all wanted you and Tessa to marry, but the Rowlands have stepped out of line here. We haven’t even started to discuss a date, and Austin’s already tipping off venture capitalists for a thirty billion raise. It’s like they’re using our family name as a billboard for funding.”

The Clements had always been supportive of the Rowlands, but being played like this was too much to swallow. The Clements were now facing the Rowland’s smug complacency and felt like they’d swallowed a fly.