Chapter 67 You Deserve Better
Two platinum cards and two prominent figures in Mugden, Edward and Eric, actually had a confrontation over a necklace.
It was quite a rare scene.
The sales assistant looked at the black cards in front of her, shocked. "Gentlemen, there is only one necklace..."
"I know." Edward looked away from Evelyn's beautiful face. "It's because there's only one that I bought it."
Nicole was very pleased, waiting for Edward to hand over the necklace to her.
Seeing Edward's insistence, Evelyn pressed her lips, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
Indeed, as long as it was what Nicole wanted, Edward would go to great lengths to help Nicole get it, regardless of Evelyn's preferences or feelings.
"Don't mind Edward. Swipe my card and wrap it up!" Eric raised an eyebrow, tapping his knuckles on the glass cabinet. "Don't you understand the rules of buying and selling, first come, first served?"
"Eric." Edward frowned.
Looking at Edward's clouded face, Eric lowered his voice. "Edward, you know what kind of person I am. It's rare for me to seriously consider giving a gift to a woman. In our nearly twenty years of friendship, can you make an exception this time?"
Evelyn's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at the serious Eric.
Nicole was even more shocked, her mouth wide open.
'Lily, how dare she! Just a few days after leaving Edward, she managed to seduce well-known tycoons in the country! Lily is not worthy of love!' Nicole thought in her mind.
Edward's breath caught in his chest fiercely. In his memory, it was the first time Eric had confronted him over a woman, risking their nearly twenty years of friendship.
And all for Evelyn, who Edward had always claimed to be indifferent to.
"Thank you, Eric," Evelyn suddenly spoke, smiling happily at Eric. "I am happy with the necklace you gave me."
Eric was taken aback by her charming smile. "It's not a big deal! You liking it is more important than anything."
Edward's eyes reddened, and anger surged from his chest to his throat!
'How dare Evelyn ask for something from Eric when I am right here? She couldn't do this!'
At that moment, Eric picked up the necklace, circled behind Evelyn, and carefully put it on her.
Edward's face paled, his clenched fists feeling powerless.
"Wow, it's so beautiful!" the sales assistant exclaimed in amazement, covering her mouth.
"Yes, this necklace is very beautiful," Evelyn smiled slightly.
"No, no! I mean, madam, you are beautiful. Someone tried on 'The Sea of Stars' before, but they couldn't carry its aura. But when you wear it, not only do you enhance the beauty of 'The Sea of Stars,' but you are not overshadowed by it at all. It suits you perfectly!" the sales assistant explained.
Nicole gritted her teeth in anger. She glared at Edward, but Edward showed no intention of snatching the necklace away.
"Eric, I have to get back to work. Let's go," Evelyn said.
"Okay, let's go." Eric replied.
Evelyn completely ignored Edward, leaving with Eric as if they were lovers.
"Edward! Are you saying you want to give me that necklace?! How can it end up in Lily Brown's hands?" Nicole asked, her eyes red with urgency.
Edward frowned, striding after Evelyn. "Lily Brown!"
Evelyn stopped, looking back coldly. "What else do you want, Mr. Wellington? Do you want to snatch it away from me?"
Edward was surprised by Evelyn's sharp gaze, his thin lips pressed as he took out a black velvet box from his inner pocket and handed it to Evelyn.
Evelyn was taken aback. "What's this for?"
"A gemstone bracelet. The one my grandfather gave you was broken, so I'm replacing it for you." Edward's tone was cold, not mentioning the word 'gift'.
Edward knew that Evelyn had been hoping for a gift from him, but he was unwilling to give it to her.
He didn't want Evelyn to be happy.
"No need. Grandpa said he would replace it for me."
Evelyn sneered, "Mr. Wellington, take it back. If your fiancé sees it, she might misunderstand. I can't bear that responsibility."
"You take what Eric gave you. Why can't you just accept my gift?" Edward's eyes reddened as he was desperate.
"Maybe it's just that I simply find you annoying, "Evelyn replied.
Leaving behind a simple yet hurtful remark, she walked away without looking back.
"Edward, I'll see you tonight!" Eric hurriedly followed suit.
Edward felt hurt. The words "you're annoying" echoed in his mind.
Nicole witnessed the scene and her face darkened like a pale snake.
Evelyn quickly made her way to the underground parking lot, walking fast.
"Ms. Brown! Ms. Brown! Lily!" Eric caught up, grabbing Evelyn's wrist.
Evelyn turned abruptly, tears in her eyes, looking at Eric distantly.
"Let go!" Evelyn shouted.
"What's wrong with you? Is it because of Edward?" Eric's voice softened with guilt. "I'm sorry, I didn't know Edward would be here. If I had known, I wouldn't have brought you here."
Evelyn remembered the box Edward had given her, feeling uneasy.
'Did Edward give it as a compensation?' Evelyn couldn’t care less.
"This is yours." Evelyn lowered her head, took off the necklace from her snow-white neck, and handed it to Eric. "Thank you for the gift, but I'm sorry, I can't accept it."
Eric trembled, "Were you just using me?"
"I'm sorry." Evelyn's eyes were dim.
Although Eric was clearly being used, he didn't seem angry. On the contrary, he felt sorry for Evelyn.
In addition to feeling sorry, there was only disappointment. Eric could see that Evelyn still had some feelings for Edward, that she hadn't completely let go and needed time to settle.
Although Eric didn't know how long it would take, he was willing to wait.
"It's okay, it's fine. You didn't accept Edward's gift either, so I’m fine with it." Eric waved his hand nonchalantly, clutching the necklace tightly.
"Eric, you're actually quite good. You can handle many things better than Edward. You may seem a playboy, but you're actually very caring and know how to treat people well. You deserve a better woman, someone who is worth your time in the future." Evelyn felt a bit guilty and softened her attitude towards Eric.
"The better person, the deserving person has already appeared. It's staring me in the face!" Eric gazed intensely at Evelyn, his chest heaving.
"Thank you for your affection." Evelyn smiled graciously and left gracefully.
Eric stood frozen in place, feeling powerless and unwilling.
'Have I just been rejected after confessing his feelings?'
It would seem like it.
The lights came on in the Alahle Club lounge.
Tonight, Edward was in a terrible mood. Eric had instructed the staff to clear the place early, providing service only to both him and Eric.
Edward sat at the bar alone, exuding a cold aura that made the bartender retreat.
In front of him lay the black velvet jewelry box.
Edward had been carrying it with him these past few days, intending to give it to Evelyn at the first opportunity, but Evelyn didn't even spare a glance at it. It was truly humiliating!
Edward swirled the whiskey in his glass with ice, and images of Eric putting the necklace on Evelyn flashed through his mind. Evelyn laughed happily with Eric, and the two of them left together.
Evelyn used to smile only at Edward, but now she smiled at every man except him.
'Evelyn, without me, you're losing your value. You're being undignified!' Edward exhaled heavily, downing his drink in one go!
The bartender was rendered speechless. Drinking hard liquor like it was water could be fatal!
Edward poured another glass, ready to drink it, when a hand reached out and covered the mouth of the glass.
"Edward, you don't drink strong liquor like this. It's bad for your liver," Erica persuaded.
Edward squinted his slightly tipsy eyes at Eric beside him, gritting his teeth as he chuckled, "What's a little liver damage compared to being secretly robbed by you, Eric?"
"I didn't rob you of anything." Eric, also in a not-so-great mood, sat down next to Edward. "Give me one too. Just like his."
"Eric, Lily is not a woman you can mess with," Edward said coldly.
"Why can't I mess with her?" Eric chuckled.
"Lily Brown is already with Landon," said Edward.
Eric raised an eyebrow, teasingly asking, "So is it because Lily is with Landon that I can't mess with her, or is it because Lily is your ex-wife that I can't?"
Edward's throat felt dry, his chest about to explode.
Erica voiced out, "If it's the former, I don't care. If it's the latter, then I care even less."
The provocation in his words, combined with the effects of alcohol, finally caused Edward's long-suppressed emotions to erupt.
Edward knocked over the glass, then grabbed Eric's collar, his eyes red like bloodied knives.
"Eric Clark, as long as I'm alive, you stay away from Lily! Over my dead body!" Edward shouted.
