Chapter 2
The Ward Group picked up the tab, but Houston ended up getting all the thanks.
Houston frowned. "But college is when she needs cash the most..."
I cut him off coldly. "She can just take out a student loan these days.
"Besides, college isn't that demanding. She can easily pick up a part-time job and make her own money.
"Or is it that you just can't bring yourself to let go?"
I looked up at him, my eyes so cold that Houston clammed up without thinking.
"You've been showering her with luxury gifts using my money, haven't you?" I said coldly.
Ever since I scrolled through Willow's Instagram, I had someone dig into her and Houston's financial dealings.
For the charity projects, he was charging everything to my company, but behind the scenes, it was a lot more than just covering Willow's tuition and living expenses.
"Those things are way outside what I'm willing to fund. Make sure she gives them back to me, just as they were," I said.
"If you're really trying to win her over, at least spend your own money," I added.
My words made Houston's face go from red to white. He stammered a few times, clearly flustered.
Then he finally blurted out, "Don't make stuff up. It's not like that between me and her."
I just stared at him, unable to put my feelings into words.
After six years together, I already thought of him as family.
Aside from keeping our relationship under wraps, he'd always treated me well. Even now, I couldn't understand how he could suddenly change so much.
I knew I shouldn't let sunk costs sway my big decisions, but the bonds I built over time were hard to break.
I thought, if a little tough love could bring him back, maybe I'd just turn a blind eye this time.
"I'll have her pay you back the cash equivalent for those things," Houston finally said after a long pause.
A few days later, Houston actually brought back all the stuff he'd taken, just like he promised.
The dress I wore when he proposed, my grandmother's emerald pendant, plus all my necklaces, earrings, and more.
Turns out, that day he'd helped himself to a bunch of my own jewelry designs and put them up for auction.
"Isabelle, I've told her straight up. From now on, she's on her own. I'm not going to see her again," Houston said.
"Trust me, I just felt bad for her. Her family's got it rough, and she's always working so hard. That's it, nothing more. I don't have any other feelings for her," he added.
He sounded so sure, and even though I wasn't convinced, I didn't push it any further.
After he finished, Houston tried to pull me into a hug, but I sidestepped. He awkwardly rubbed his fingers together and whined,
"Can you stop being so forceful all the time? Do you have any idea how humiliating it was for me to go to Miss Shepherd and ask for all that stuff back?"
He really had the nerve to blame me. I narrowed my eyes. "You took my things without asking. If you ended up embarrassed, that's on you."
He didn't say another word, just dropped his gaze, quietly masking the jealousy in his eyes.
Just then, a friend request popped up on my WhatsApp. It was from Willow.
I hadn't used the account linked to Willow's number in ages, and I had no idea how she got my private one.
I hit accept. If there was any way to set her straight, I wanted to try.
But as soon as I accepted, my phone started blowing up with her messages.
She said: [Miss Ward, you're just Mr. Chapman's fiancée. What makes you think you can snatch back the gifts he gave me?]
[Don't get cocky. Being Mrs. Chapman is going to be mine sooner or later.]
[Mr. Chapman told me himself. You two are just doing what your parents want. He doesn't love you, get it?]
[Poor thing. You can't even keep your man, so you just try to act tough with me.]
She was taunting me like crazy, nothing like the cautious girl who first reached out to me years ago, asking about the sponsorship.
I composed myself and put my phone away.
I glanced at Houston thoughtfully.
"Houston, you've fallen for the girl I've been supporting, haven't you?" I went straight for it.
Houston immediately shot back, caught off guard.
He said, "Come on, how many times do I have to say it? I just feel sorry for her.
"Besides, we've been together for years.
"Stop letting your imagination run wild."
As if to prove he really meant what he said, Houston stuck to me like glue every day after that.
When our anniversary finally came around, we were supposed to spend the day at Disney together.
But at the last minute, Houston called, saying there was a project he hadn't wrapped up yet and he needed to go to Oqreley City for work.
His voice was rushed and full of guilt.
Maybe I'd just stopped expecting much from him. I didn't get angry, just replied calmly, "Okay."
With Houston bailing, I asked Gianna to hit up Disney with me instead.
After all, the tickets were already bought. No way I was letting them go to waste.