Chapter 1

Six months after our divorce, Darren announced his engagement.

He called me, demanding I return the Huber family's heirloom necklace, but I didn't answer.

Then he texted: [Eliana, don't think you can just vanish. Give that necklace back to Willow.]

Darren: [We were once married. Don't make me take you to court.]

Darren: [Don't forget, you owe Willow big time. If it weren't for you, she wouldn't have suffered like this.]

Still, I didn't reply.

Later, a court summons showed up at my apartment.

In the livestream of the engagement party, people were roasting me online, calling me shameless for clinging to the Huber family's heirloom even after six months of being divorced. They called me a thief.

Then, my landlord barged into the engagement party and threw the summons right back at Darren. "She's dead! Who are you even suing?"

I saw real panic in his eyes for the first time.

*****

At the Huber family's private estate, guests were arriving in droves.

Today was Darren Huber's engagement party with his beloved adopted sister, Willow.

I was floating overhead, watching the lively scene below, but I felt nothing inside.

Photographers had set up streaming gear at six prime spots, broadcasting every moment of their engagement ceremony.

The Huber family wanted the whole world to witness their happiness.

People online swarmed into the livestream, both amazed and curious to see the spectacle.

A million dollars' worth of roses were spread out across the lawn for guests to walk on, more than a dozen Michelin-starred chefs were cooking live for everyone, and ninety-nine luxury salutes were lined up and ready. The whole scene was absolutely breathtaking.

Everything was perfect, except for one thing. Willow, immaculately dressed, did not have any accessories on her neck.

Darren, in a perfectly tailored suit, stood with one hand in his pocket, looking increasingly frustrated as he kept calling the same number over and over.

But no one ever picked up. That was my phone he was calling.

Willow, supported by her friends, glided gracefully over to him. She gave a gentle smile and asked, "Darren, has she... still not brought it?"

Darren shot a look at the entrance of the venue.

He said in a deep voice, "Don't worry. I've already got people out looking for her. No matter what, I'll make sure you get it back today."

People in the livestream started asking why Darren looked so grim on his big day.

Someone said: [Word is, the Huber family has an heirloom, an amethyst necklace worth ten million dollars. Eliana took it when they split. That necklace is supposed to go to the daughter-in-law, so Mr. Huber must be waiting for it.]

All of a sudden, everyone's attention swung back to me.

Someone commented: [Seriously? Eliana is so shameless, still clinging to the Huber family's heirloom after the divorce? Isn't that basically stealing?]

[No wonder Willow's rocking that purple dress today. Bet she had it made just to match the necklace.]

[Did everyone forget how desperate she was for cash? Married rich, still wanted more, jumped into showbiz for extra cash, hooked up with sugar daddies, and even cheated on Mr. Huber. Stealing the necklace? Totally her style.]

[Poor Willow. She used to be living the dream. Rich, gorgeous, everything going for her. Then Eliana hurt her. She finally gets her happy ending with Mr. Huber, and even her engagement party gets ruined.]

I just sat up in the tree and let out a wry laugh.

But when I married into the Huber family, I didn't even get an engagement ceremony, just a rushed, no-frills wedding. No one seemed to remember that.

Time ticked by, second after second. All the guests had arrived.

Darren's people kept coming back, wave after wave.

But all they could do was come up empty-handed. No sign of me anywhere.

He tried my number one last time. Still, no one picked up.

Then he sent me a message: [Eliana, we were married once. I could let the past go.]

Darren: [But Willow has to carry all this pain for the rest of her life because of you. Don't you feel any guilt at all?]

Darren: [You've got half an hour. If you don't return it by then, don't blame the Huber family for coming after you.]

He hesitated, his long fingers lingering over the screen for a few seconds.

Finally, he sent one last message: [If I'd known things would end up like this, I never would've chosen you in the first place.]

Funny, I was thinking the exact same thing.

A few minutes before the engagement ceremony officially began, Willow walked over to Darren.

She gently rubbed his brow, trying to ease the tension that had been there all morning.

She whispered, "It's okay, Darren. I don't really care about all these material things. As long as you're by my side, that's more than enough for me."

Then she turned to face the camera, addressing me directly on the livestream.

She said, "Ms. Norrel, I know things must've been really hard for you since you were blacklisted. If that necklace can help you, go ahead and keep it. Think of it as my gift to you.

"I also hope you can make a fresh start, learn from your mistakes, and take charge of your own future."