< Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Taryn took the gift and politely thanked her.
arm
Menu
with a woman who Mariela was unfamiliar with.
As they exchanged pleasantries, Jaime arrived late, arm in
When their eyes met, Jaime was stunned.“Marie? Why are you here?”
Jaime instinctively brushed away the hand of the Woman on his arm, and her expression stiffened.
“I am friends with Taryn, too. Is it strange for me to come to her birthday party?” Mariela looked at Jaime with a half–smile. “No, I didn’t mean that. I thought you didn’t like attending such parties, so I didn’t tell you in advance,” he said. Mariela sneered, thinking, “Really? You big liar.
“You didn’t tell me because you wanted to bring someone else.”
After Jaime finished explaining, he coldly scanned the room.
The look in her eyes seemed to be asking who invited her here.
Taryn averted her gaze nervously, pretending it wasn’t her doing.
*Hello. You must be Mariela, right? I’m Juliette. You must have heard about me from Jay,” the woman who came with Jaime approached Mariela, greeting her.
Mariela thought, “So, this is Juliette, Jaime’s first love as well as his beloved.”
She still felt a pang in her heart, her chest tight. After all, she had been seeing Jaime for three years. She couldn’t just stop loving him overnight. But she masked her emotions well. With a smile, she nodded and said, “I’ve heard a lot about you, Ms. Murphy.” Juliette smiled and looked at her, “Ms. Logan, has anyone ever told you
that we look a bit alike?”
Jaime’s expression immediately darkened.
Amused, Mariela glanced at him and then turned her gaze away to meet Juliette’s slightly provocative eyes.
beg to differ. I’m
“Oh? Is that so?” Mariela blinked. Then she said
The onlookers were shocked.
innocently, “I
prettier than you.”
-They all thought that Mariela was the gentle, sweet type. What had gotten into her today?
As the atmosphere was becoming awkward, Taryn changed the subject.
“Hey, guys, why are you all standing there? Come and have a seat.”
Juliette suppressed her annoyance with Mariela, forced a smile, and handed Taryn her gift.“Happy birthday, Taryn. This is a gift for you.” Taryn took it and was surprised to see it was identical to the gift bag Mariela had given her. I’ve liked this necklace for a long time. Thank you, Juliette.”
was too much of a coincidence.
She took out the gift box from the bag and opened it with surprise.“WowG
Mariela paused. It was the same necklace she got for Taryn. Taryn opened the gift bag
gift bag that Mariela had just given her.“Wow! Marie, you gave me the same necklace!”
“It must be fake.”
One of Taryn’s friends behind her said without glancing at the necklace, “This necklace costs almost 10,000 dollars. Mariela is just a Z–list lawyer, and her monthly income isn’t enough for her to buy such a pricey necklace for you.”
< Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Menu
The scene instantly fell silent.
Everyone looked at Mariela, their gazes strange.
Apparently, they agreed with Taryn’s friend.
Mariela was just an unknown lawyer. Of course, she wouldn’t spend that much on a
Jaime pulled a long face.“Marie, if you need money, you can
How could you give Taryn a fake?
tell me.
And h
gift for Taryn. The necklace must have been fake.
Jaime couldn’t bring himself to say the words that followed, but “uld have helped you with the gift. How could you…”
Mariela looked at him coldly and asked, “Jaime, do you also think
Jaime remained silent with a sullen face.
neckla
is
His answer was obvious.
Mariela was disappointed.
Though she said that, Mariela could see a hint of disdain in her eyes.
Taryn smiled awkwardly, trying to mediate, “How could that be? I’m friends with Marie. She her feelings.”
wouldn’t
me
a
fake. Don’t say that. It’ll hurt
The reason why she spent almost 10,000 dollars buying this necklace for Taryn was to thank Taryn for taking care of her.
Three years ago, Mariela ran away to Los Angeles because she refused an arranged marriage and had a fallout with her family. Deandre Logan, her dad, froze her bank account and cut off her financial resources. Without using any of her family’s connections, she found a job at a law firm through her own efforts.
In her first year, she worked as an intern lawyer, earning only 4,000 dollars per month. After one year, when she obtained her lawyer’s license, her salary increased, though only slightly in the eyes of these people, she was broke.
a few
Jaime’s rich friends had always looked down on her, seeing her as a “pauper“. They often subtly excluded and isolated her during outings.
Jaime turned a blind eye, but Taryn helped her out
times and even initiated conversations with her.
Marie thought that Taryn was different from others, but it turned out Taryn looked down on her, too.
How ridiculous.
The night she agreed to the marriage, Deandre restored her bank account access.10,000 dollars was nothing to her.
“Give me the necklace. I’ll get you another birthday gift,” Jaime said.“I apologize for Marie’s mistake.”
Taryn glanced at Mariela and then glanced at Jaime, caught in a dilemma.
If she didn’t give him the necklace, he’d feel embarrassed.
If she gave it to him, it’d mean she also believed the necklace was fake. Though it seemed to embarrass Mariela, since Mariela was Jaime’s girlfriend, he’d be the one being embarrassed anyway.
“He wants
- it. Just give it to him then.” Mariela crossed her arms and looked coldly at Jaime.
Taryn could only hand over the necklace to him.
Juliette, who was aside, suddenly spoke, “Jay, don’t blame Ms. Logan. She meant well.”
