Chapter 3
In my previous life, when I found that necklace, I completely lost it. I called him, screaming and crying, demanding answers.
But he just said coldly, "You're being ridiculous."
Then he hung up on me.
This time, I suppressed a cold smile and answered in a gentle voice, "Alright, I'll go look for it right now. Is the password for the study still my birthday?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
"Yeah," came his reply after a pause.
"Okay, once I find it, I'll have the driver send it over right away," I said, playing the obedient one.
After hanging up, I headed into the study and punched in the password like I'd done it a hundred times.
With a beep, the safe clicked open.
The blue folder was right there, front and center.
I pulled it out and flipped it open.
Inside, there was a small velvet box.
When I opened it, a diamond necklace sparkled coldly under the light.
The pendant was a tiny platinum kitten.
How... uniquely ironic.
I pulled out my phone and snapped a photo of the necklace and the folder, but I didn't send it to anyone. I just saved it.
Then I put the box back exactly where I found it and closed the folder.
I didn't bother calling the family driver.
Instead, I got behind the wheel myself and drove the folder over to the front of Andrew's company building.
I didn't go inside. I just handed it to the receptionist and told her to give it to Mia.
"Just say Mr. Sinclair left it at home and had me bring it over," I told her.
With that done, I drove away without a second thought.
As I drove down the busy street, my phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
I picked up, and on the other end, Mia sounded both surprised and delighted.
"M-Ms. Graham?" she stammered.
"It's me," I replied.
"Thank you so much. Seriously, I can't thank you enough," Mia sounded genuinely grateful. "If you hadn't helped, Mr. Sinclair's important files would've been..."
"No worries. It's nothing," I replied, cutting her off coolly.
"Ms. Graham, you're honestly so nice," she kept going. "I... I used to think..."
"Used to think what?" I teased, even though I already knew.
"Oh, nothing, nothing," she rushed to say. "Ms. Graham, to thank you, can I treat you to coffee when I'm back from the business trip?"
Was she provoking me, or just trying to test me?
I smirked.
"Sure," I replied.
After hanging up, I watched the city blur past outside the window, my gaze cold and unreadable.
Mia, Andrew, I was done playing their games.
But before I walked away, I was going to make sure they both got just a taste of the hell I went through in my previous life.
My phone buzzed again. It was a transaction alert from the bank.
The penthouse I'd bought at Moon River, paid in full, was officially mine now.
Looking at that long string of digits, I couldn't help but let out a genuine smile.
Andrew, thank you for your generosity.
This was what you owed me.
Three days later, Andrew and Mia came back.
When Andrew walked in, I was in the kitchen, simmering a pot of soup.
He slipped his arms around my waist from behind, nestling his chin into the crook of my shoulder, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
"I'm back," he murmured.
"You must be worn out," I said softly, turning to kiss his cheek. "Dinner will be ready soon."
He seemed to really enjoy how obedient I was acting right now.
"Janet, you're becoming such a good partner," he said.
I just smiled and didn't say anything.
Good partner?
This was just a facade to make him let his guard down.
During dinner, he casually mentioned, "Mia did a great job this time. She handled everything so smoothly."
"Oh, really? That's good to hear," I said, ladling some soup into his bowl. "Looks like you picked the right person."
My calm reaction seemed to catch him off guard.
He looked at me, testing the waters. "She wants to treat you to coffee to thank you for helping with the file last time."
"I know, she already called me," I replied. "I agreed."
Andrew was completely stunned.
He probably thought I'd find any reason to turn her down, maybe even blow up about it.
"You agreed?" he asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
"Yeah." I nodded, taking a sip of soup. "She's just trying to be polite. I can't embarrass her, right? Besides, she's going to be working with you for a long time.
"We'll be running into each other a lot, so keeping things friendly is good for both you and me."
My words were flawless, perfectly reasonable.
Andrew had nothing to say back.
He just stared at me, his eyes searching me more intently, suspicion flickering in his gaze.
"Janet, what are you really thinking?" he asked again, repeating the same question as before.
"I'm thinking," I said, setting down my spoon and meeting his eyes, "when are we getting married?"
Andrew clearly hadn't expected me to just drop that on him.
He froze, caught off guard.
"Getting married?" he repeated, still in shock.
"Yeah," I replied matter-of-factly. "We've been together for three years, and I'm not exactly a kid anymore. I can't just stay with you without any real status, right?"
In my previous life, I'd dropped hints about marriage countless times.
But he always brushed me off, saying his career came first or that the timing just wasn't right.
I knew deep down he never really planned to marry me.
All he wanted was a girlfriend, someone pretty, obedient, and presentable enough to show off in public.
Not a wife who'd share his wealth or tie him down.
"Janet, isn't this a little soon?" he frowned.
"Soon?" I smiled. "Andrew, did it ever cross your mind to marry me?"
My voice was steady, not accusing, just saying it how it is.
That calmness put more pressure on Andrew than if I'd lost my temper.
"Of course I did," he said quickly. "I just think what we have now is pretty great, isn't it?"
"Good? Really?" I shot back. "I live in your house, spend your money, just like a caged canary. Everyone knows I'm your girlfriend, but nobody sees me as your fiancée. Andrew, this kind of 'good' isn't what I'm after."
I stood up and looked down at him from above.
"I'll give you time to think about it. If you don't want to get married, that's fine. Just be straight with me. I won't cling to you."
With that, I turned and walked back to my room, leaving him alone in the dining room, his expression clouded and brooding.