Chapter 5
Herbert and I had always gotten along with each other courteously and politely. We had never shared a full–blown argument, nor had we ever exchanged sweet nothings.
To my surprise, he suddenly started talking in a soft voice as if trying to win me back.
“Lyanna, you know that my mom is very fond of you. She’s basically treating you like her daughter–in–law already. I’m sorry, okay? If you think that’s not enough, you can also splash stew back at me. Then we’ll just pretend none of it ever happened, alright?”
He then took out the gold bracelet from his pocket and grabbed my hand, trying to put it around my wrist once more.
I tried my best to twist my hand out of his hold and finally shook myself free.
“It’s precisely because Mrs. Fischer refused to let you marry Michelle that you want me to marry you so I could be your front. Isn’t that right? So that I could be your cover–up while you saw Michelle on the side?
“You truly are a calculative businessman, Herbert Fischer. You’ve thought of all the pros and cons and how the situation would benefit you each time. That’s why you let her dump stew on me in public, then came running back behind her back to try and win my favor again. Did you really think that I would forgive you just because you apologized and said a
few nice words to me?”
I shook my head before staring into Herbert’s terrified eyes.
“Michelle had a point, though. I’m just a tapeworm who just came out of nowhere. You’re way out of my league, Mr. Fischer. I’m not good enough for you. Please find someone else.”
I then pushed him out of the door, using up all of my strength and might, before locking
the door after him.
I had turned the second floor of my studio into a makeshift bedroom for now. I looked out from my floor–length windows and saw Herbert holding the bracelet in his hands, his head
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Chapter 5
bowed low, for quite a long time.
He finally left afterward.
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Fiona called and told me that I’d won first place in the competition. I was going to be attending the prize–giving ceremony in Dayris approximately two weeks later.
For the past month, I’d been forcing myself out of bed at dawn, experimenting with fragrance ratios and creating new blends for this competition, working so hard I could
barely sleep at night.
At long last, my hard work had finally paid off.
Just as I’d ended the call, the door to my studio was harshly thrown open.
“Lyanna! What have you done? You must have talked shit about me to Mandy!”
Michelle rushed in like a bull seeing red, knocking things over and jabbing her finger in my
face, nearly stabbing me.
I cocked an eyebrow and replied, “Didn’t the newspaper just run a column yesterday saying you were with Mr. Fischer at a famous jeweler, picking out wedding rings because the big day was right around the corner?”
Honestly, the media had worded it much worse than I did. The gossip column had painted Herbert as a playboy, switching girlfriends within a month, basically accusing him of cheating on me with a side chick.
However, Herbert and I had never been affectionate in public. The media had no proof, so everything the piece reported on was just based on hearsay.
Michelle’s face turned red as she glared daggers at me.
“Mandy refused to give me the bracelet and said that it was reserved only for you! And Herbie actually forgot my ring size! What kind of spell did you cast on them?”
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I chuckled. “Ms. Watson, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree here. I can only tell you that I’ve already broken up with Herbert and told Mrs. Fischer about It.
“Oh, and by the way, that gold bracelet you’ve been eyeing but never been able to get? I’ve already worn it for quite a long time.”
If looks could kill, then Michelle’s glare would have already rendered me dead. She stumbled in her sky–high stilettos and grabbed onto the nearest shelf for balance.
She then cast me another death glare and grabbed something on the shelf before hurling it
at me.
The things I’d kept on that shelf were all perfume samples I’d received just earlier this morning. They were in heavy glass cases.
I never thought that Michelle would start a physical fight in my studio. I quickly ducked and narrowly avoided getting hit by the glass bottle.
It flew right across my forehead and smashed into the cupboard right behind me. The bottle broke, and glass shards then ricocheted from the cupboard, slicing the skin on my ankle wide open.
The security guards at the door heard the commotion and immediately rushed over. They quickly apprehended Michelle, one on each side, as I dialled 911.
“Hello? I’d like to make a police report. Someone just intentionally tried to hurt me.”
Michelle glared haughtily at me, giving me a once–over with a smug look on her face. She was still threatening me with her words, saying, “So what if you make a police report? Do you really think that the police would dare take me in when I have the Fischers backing me up? At the very most, I’ll just be slapped with a fine. That’s all. So what? I’m filthy rich!”
She took her wallet from her purse, retrieved a huge stack of bank notes, and threw them at
me, scattering them all over the floor.
I ignored her, grabbed the first–aid kit, and sat on the nearby couch to treat my cut with antiseptic.
