Chapter 7
The Gaskal family, all four of them, were thrown out of the venue as the engagement banquet officially commenced.
While my parents gave their speeches on stage, Oliver looked down, fixing his gaze on me.
“Why didn’t you wear the hairpin I gave you? Don’t you like it?” he asked.
I reached up to touch the pearl hairpin nestled in my hair.
It was another gift from Oliver, delivered by his private jet, though it was less extravagant than the peacock coral hairpin.
Just as I was about to answer, I noticed how close we were.
His warm breath brushed against my eyelashes and caused me to momentarily lose focus.
“Hmm?” He chuckled softly at my bewildered look.
Flustered, I turned away, avoiding his eyes as I muttered, “That hairpin is too flashy. I’ll save it for the wedding.”
He smiled, keeping his gaze on me.
“Wear whatever you prefer. I’ll get you something even better.”
Oliver’s eyes were filled with deep, profound affection.
But why?
This was supposed to be our first encounter.
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In my previous life, we had never interacted.
Even when my family was brutally murdered and the Kimbere family fell, Oliver had remained an enigma, never revealing himself.
As if sensing my bewilderment, he smiled gently and led my hand to his collar.
My breathing suddenly became rapid.
He took my hand, then reached beneath the red string around his neck and pulled something out.
A small, twisted emerald pendant dropped into my palm, still warm from his body heat.
I could barely suppress a gasp as goosebumps covered my skin.
“Isn’t this my emerald pendant?”
I gazed at Oliver in astonishment.
He grinned, revealing a slight dimple, instantly pulling me back into memories from when I was eight years old.
That year, my parents and I traveled to a poverty–stricken mountainous region in Burma for charity work, where I met an American orphan.
After I asked my parents to help him, he stayed with us for three months, acting as our guide.
We didn’t speak each other’s languages. He knew no English, and I didn’t understand Burmese. But we communicated through gestures and became friends.
When we returned to America, I left him with the emerald pendant my parents had given me on my birthday.
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I used gestures to convey, “This emerald can protect you, turn bad luck into good, and change your fortune.”
“Ollie?” I exclaimed.
Oliver nodded and chuckled softly.
Back then, he struggled to pronounce his English name, only managing a sound similar to Ollie.
So, I playfully called him Ollie.
Oliver shared that throughout the years, he had worked desperately to
earn money, maintaining an unwavering focus on climbing the wealth rankings.
When he first made it into the top 100, he returned to America to surprise me, only to see Benson by my side.
Heartbroken, he threw himself into even more frenzied work.
Then, unexpectedly, he heard about my decision to auction off the right to a marriage alliance.
子
“When I received the news, the auction
explained.
was
already underway,” he
“I didn’t think twice about continuing to bid, because I couldn’t bear the thought of you ending up with anyone else.
“Bailey, after 18 years, I can finally be with you openly and truthfully,”
***
After the engagement ceremony concluded, I wasted no time in revealing the Gaskal family’s misdeeds to the media.
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The Gaskal Group’s stock price dropped to a historic low the following day and was subsequently removed from the stock exchange.
Once the police gathered comprehensive evidence of their kidnapping and abuse against me, they were promptly detained to await trial.
Henry and Maria liquidated all their assets and accepted full responsibility, managing to secure Benson’s release.
During this period, I recuperated from my injuries with Oliver’s support and started planning our official wedding.
After trying on my wedding dress at the upscale boutique, I noticed Benson kneeling at the entrance, holding a bouquet of roses.
He raised the flowers above his head, his eyes red as he looked at me.
“Bailey, I’m sorry. I love you.
Oliver wrapped an arm around me and scoffed, “Benson, whether you’re confessing or pleading, you should at least know the basics. Aren’t you aware Bailey is allergic to roses?”
Benson’s face turned pale at this revelation, and he angrily tossed the roses aside.
“inh
Tears streamed down his face as he gazed at me with bloodshot eyes.
“Bailey, I understand I made a mistake, and I’never intended to upset you.
“I love you so deeply that I became overly cautious, always seeking confirmation of your complete devotion. Every time you returned to me after I pushed you away, it comforted me! It was my way of knowing our love was strong.
“But now I see that I expressed my feelings in the wrong way, causing you pain. Trust me, from now on, I will treasure you, love you, and spend
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the rest of my life with you in love.”
A sudden wave of nausea churned in my stomach.
After
er years of chasing after Benson, I imagined I’d be thrilled to hear him speak words of love.
Instead, all I felt was the urge to retch.
It was revolting.
“It’s pointless, Benson. Your actions just make me feel sick,” I said, raising my hand clasped with Oliver’s.
“I’ve already discovered my true love and my forever home.”
Yet Benson persisted and pulled out a large glass jar from behind him.
