Chapter 425 Unveiled Infidelity
As Abella lifted the lid, her eyes were met with the radiant sparkle of a necklace, its centerpiece a large diamond encircled by ninety-eight smaller ones, all set in a rare, ocean-blue metal.
"From my mother to me on my eighteenth birthday," Claire revealed, her smile soft and warm. "And now, it is yours."
The necklace was a cherished heirloom, passed down through the generations of daughters in the Bourbon family. Claire was the fifth to receive it.
The fact that she was willing to bestow this treasure upon Abella spoke volumes about the high regard she held for the young woman.
Abella could tell at a glance that the necklace was priceless. Its cut, clarity, and color were of the highest quality.
"777 carats, a symbol of good fortune," Claire declared, her gaze filled with affection and admiration as she looked at Abella. "May your life be as smooth as the sea on a calm day, overcoming all obstacles and soaring to great heights, just like the well-wishes you pen."
Abella, recognizing the necklace's immense value and significance, hesitated. "This gift is too precious. I fear I cannot accept it."
Claire, however, would not hear of refusal. "It's a small token from me, and you must accept it," she insisted, swiftly changing the subject. "Now, let's see what your uncle has for you."
Andrew's gift was a key, intricately designed and bearing the Bourbon family crest. It was a priceless artifact in its own right.
The key unlocked the secret hideaways of the Bourbon family, and even their safes in overseas banks. Andrew believed that since Abella was now part of their family, she should have access to their wealth. He and Claire were world travelers, and if anything were to happen to them, Abella could use this key to inherit their possessions.
Phillipe, observing from the sidelines, joked, "Good thing it's not another piece of jewelry, or Abella would run out of room to wear it."
He had previously gifted Abella bracelets and necklaces, and she had also received a family treasure from Grandma Medici, not to mention the numerous pieces of jewelry from her brothers. Any more, and she would literally have nowhere to put them.
Phillipe's comment lightened the mood instantly. Seeing Abella's continued hesitation, he gently urged, "If dad gives it to you, you should take it. Don't be shy."
In the end, Abella accepted the two gifts. The family chatted happily for a while before leaving the private dining room.
Meanwhile, on the restaurant's main floor, Lola was dining with a few friends when she spotted Andrew assisting Claire out of the elevator. Her eyes lit up at the sight, and she was about to approach them when, to her surprise, Phillipe and Abella emerged from behind them.
Phillipe was whispering something to Abella, who responded in a soft voice. The two of them seemed incredibly close, almost inseparable. Lola noticed Andrew and Claire laughing and chatting with Abella, clearly fond of their prospective daughter-in-law.
Lola's fork clattered onto the table, her emotions a whirlwind of astonishment, shock, and disappointment.
Beside her, her best friend, Esme Donovan, nearly choked on her drink. "Lola, look! Isn't that Phillipe? And why is he holding hands with another girl?"
At Esme's exclamation, the rest of their group hurriedly looked over, their faces registering disbelief one by one.
"Who is that young woman?" they queried, noting her similarity in age to their own.
"Are those two standing behind Phillipe his parents? Have they already been introduced to their future in-laws?"
A gasp of disbelief followed, "Phillipe has truly crossed a line. Despite his commitment to you, he seems to be entangled with another."
"Could those be Phillipe's grandparents? No, surely I'm mistaken... I recall Phillipe's grandmother being in a persistent vegetative state..."
"Lola, isn't Phillipe your betrothed? What in the world is transpiring here?"
Lola, at a loss for words, responded with a dim, "Let's not discuss it."
Her friends regarded her with sympathetic gazes. Discovering one's fiancé's infidelity is a disconcerting experience for anyone...
"Lola, it's merely the nature of men. They sow their wild oats before marriage, then settle down afterward."
"You haven't officially signed the marriage contract yet, allow him his fun for another few years. Once you graduate and become Mrs. Bourbon, none of these women would dare to be so audacious."
"What can we say, it's Phillipe. Tolerate it; all these women flocking to him only prove his desirability."
"After he's had his fun, he'll realize that you're the best and then devote all his attention to you."
Yet, Lola found no comfort in these words. She merely looked up, her eyes filled with sorrow, and asked, "If I wasn’t from the Medici family, would you still be my friends?"
Her friends were taken aback by the question, "What do you mean, Lola? We're friends with you because of who you are, not your family lineage!"
"That’s right, just look at that girl at school; I don't even bother with her."
"Lola, is there something you're withholding from us? If there's an issue, share it, and we'll help you resolve it."
Several times Lola seemed on the brink of speaking, but ultimately, she remained silent. She finished her meal quickly, devoid of any enjoyment.
On her journey back to school, Lola received a call from Maria, informing her that Phillipe's parents would be visiting in a day or two.
Maria advised her to take a break from school and return home, to make a favorable impression on Phillipe's parents and outshine Abella, thereby altering the dynamics.
However, remembering how Phillipe's parents had been all smiles with Abella, Lola knew that no matter how hard she tried, she likely couldn't surpass the status Abella held in their eyes.
Everyone in the Bourbon family seemed to genuinely favor Abella...
Maria, on the other end of the line, implored Lola not to surrender. She mentioned how the parents missed Abella more these days when she wasn't home and spoke of her more frequently than they did of Lola.
This insinuated that Abella's standing in their parents' hearts had strengthened, while Lola's had diminished.
Maria also pointed out that if things continued in this manner, Lola's position in the family would be gradually supplanted by Abella.
"Lola, I’m not trying to be harsh, but you're so kind, always trying to make peace with her. You've been bringing her food, drinks, sending her caring messages—have you received any gratitude for all your efforts?"
"To be frank, she doesn't need a sister right now. Your presence only threatens her place in the family..."
"Lola, it's time for you to awaken..."
"You've tolerated your own disgrace, only to be met with increasing disdain and contempt from the entire family..."
Maria's words reverberated in Lola's mind, leaving her uncertain of where she had erred, and questioning why it was so challenging to improve herself...
Was there any merit in continuing to strive?
The following afternoon, Abella arrived punctually at the location Claire had reserved.
It was a fashionable restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered an intimate view of the region's largest Ferris wheel, and the breathtaking seascape was a balm to the soul.
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