Chapter 48
288 Mouchers
On the day of the engagement party, Eloise went all out, decked in designer brands. Her jewelry sparkled, hinting at its hefty price tag.
Greeting guests at the entrance, she kept glancing around as if searching for someone. I had just stepped out of a nearby shop when Eloise spotted me.
She approached with a bright smile, grabbing my hand. “Grace, I’ve been waiting for you.”
Then she glanced behind me and, with a puzzled look, said, “Grace, what’s up with your taste in men? Found yourself a gross old man?
“Oh, Grace, check out this bracelet. Antonio insisted on
buying it for me. I’ve told him so many times that we should keep things low–key. You know, he just got divorced and now we’re getting engaged. But he was determined to give me something even fancier.”
She had flaunted this bracelet on social media multiple times. I had seen every post but never paid much attention.
But now, with her practically waving it in my face, I had to glance at it. “It’s beautiful,” I said.
Eloise seemed dissatisfied with my reaction and muttered, “Grace, are you upset because Antonio never gave you such things?”
Lignored it and reminded her that the ceremony was about to
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start. After all, this was her party, and many important people, including her mentors, were here.
She stopped talking to me and went back to chat with her mentors. Just then, Antonio arrived, presenting Eloise with a brand–new Hermes bag.
I turned to the “gross old man“, as Eloise called him, and Whispered, “Can you tell from here if that bag is real?” He was a luxury goods appraiser.
He studied it carefully. “Can’t be sure, but it looks a bit off.”
I nodded and went inside. From the moment I signed in, I felt eyes on me, especially from those at the hospital.
Jarvis noticed me, stood up from his seat nearby, and walked over with a grin. “They were just betting on whether you’d show up.”
“What was your bet?” I asked.
Jarvis raised his hand, filled with winnings. I smiled at him. “You know me well.”
He offered me a seat beside him.
Antonio saw this and walked over, with feigned concern. “Feeling better?” I answered, “Much better. Thanks for asking.”
“Relax. We’re still friends even after the divorce,” he suggested. I put on a smile and said, “I prefer to keep my circle drama–free, but thank you for the thought, Mr. Kaufman.” My words annoyed him, and he raised his voice, saying, “You’re not still hung up on me, are you?”
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“I was told people can’t be friends in that case.” I found him shameless.
Then Jarvis chimed in, “If that’s true, she must be hung up on me, right?”
I almost burst out laughing.
Defeated, Antonio muttered some nonsense and walked
away.
Before the ceremony started, they played a video of Eloise receiving an award, using data from my surgery.
As the video ended, Eloise’s face went blank.
She probably needed a moment to grasp that Antonio, who had been helping her with her papers and awards, wasn’t talented–he plagiarized others‘ papers.
The credit didn’t really belong to her, since the data was obtained illegally, making her papers invalid.
I had already called the police.
Eloise and Antonio both looked at me.
“It’s her! She made this fake video because she’s bitter and jealous and wants to ruin me!” Antonio shouted.
I stood up, smiling. “Yes, it’s me, but the video is real, you fakers.”
With that, I played the recording of Antonio’s speech from the law firm.
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Chapter 49
