Chapter 2
Three days later was my birthday and Lilian’s.”
Since I married Justin five years ago, the Jamesons have nominally acknowledged me as their goddaughter. They celebrate Lilian’s and my birthdays together yearly at a five–star hotel under the Jamesons‘ name.
Justin stood in the walk–in closet, getting ready for the day.
If it were the past, I would have run over to deliberately disrupt his movements, tugging on his tie to tease him.
Today, I merely glanced at him before heading to my personal makeup artist to get ready.}
Justin seemed to look at me a few more times, but he didn’t say anything.”
The hotel party hall was decorated in Lilian’s favourite pink style.
At the entrance stood two birthday signs:}
Lilian’s was studded with rhinestones, with the golden words “Jameson Family’s Pearl, Lilian’s 25th Birthday Celebration.“}
Mine was just a plain acrylic board with “Happy Birthday Francesca” printed hastily, like a last–minute addition.}
I sneered and walked into the party hall in my high heels.
Lilian was surrounded by a crowd, becoming the center of attention. She wore a custom–made Valentino starry sky dress, her smile innocent and radiant.
When she saw me come in, she affectionately trotted over and put her arm around mine. “Sister! Why are you running so late?“}
I pulled my arm away, a half–smile on my face. “Who’s your sister?“}
Her eyes instantly turned red.§
Melissa quickly stepped in with a scolding tone. “Francesca, Lily truly wants to be close to you. How could you speak to her like that?“}
I raised an eyebrow. “Then why doesn’t Lilian remember that today is also my birthday? Or has everyone in the Jamesons lost their memory?“>
Henry’s face darkened, suppressing his anger. “Today is your and Lily’s shared birthday. Of course, we remember.“>
“Is that so? I thought I was attending her birthday as a guest,” I chuckled, gesturing towards the two clearly different birthday signs.
Lilian bit her lip, her eyes red and filled with grievance. “Francesca, if you don’t like it, I’ll have them take the sign down.”
“Francesca, today is a happy occasion. Don’t make it unpleasant.”
Justin spoke blandly, his eyes carrying a warning as he looked at me.
Before I could speak, Lilian’s eyes lit up.”
She grabbed his sleeve. Her voice was as soft as honey. “Justin, you’re here! I was looking through my photo albums yesterday. I suddenly remembered that I sprained my ankle at Paris Fashion Week last month. Then, you flew over overnight and carried me back to the hotel from the show, right?”
She tilted her face up, her eyes shining with affection. “I was in such a daze from the pain that I never got to thank you properly.“}
The sharp lines of Justin’s face visibly softened. He looked down at her. “It was nothing.”
Nothing?
I gripped my champagne/glass tightly.”
Last month, during Paris Fashion Week, I was hospitalized for three days with acute gastroenteritis. I made seventeen international calls
to him, all of which went to voicemail.
So, he was busy being Lilian’s personal chauffeur at that time.}
“I even took up baking to make macarons for you.“}
Lilian suddenly turned to me, smiling innocently. “Francesca, want to join me? I can teach you!“}
I downed my champagne in one gulp and set the empty glass on the crystal table with a sharp clink. “No thanks. I’m allergic to expired ingredients … “}
“Especially old fake honey.”
Lilian’s expression instantly stiffened and Justin’s gaze toward me further darkened.
At this time, Jameson’s family’s old friend came over with a black velvet box, breaking the tension.
“Francesca, Lily, this is a mystery box I specially prepared. Inside are two bracelets. Choose one each as a gift.“”
“Francesca, you choose first,” Lilian said sweetly.”
I randomly picked one. It was a Balenciaga bracelet, while Lilian’s was a four–leaf clover.
Lilian’s expression instantly fell. She bit her lip, her voice choked with emotion. “But I like that one.”
Melissa immediately stepped forward. “Francesca, Lily likes it. Why don’t you let her have it?”
“Why should I?” I sneered. “I chose it first.”
When I refused, disappointment spread across Lilian’s face.”
Justin glanced at me and my heart sank.”
He turned to his assistant.)
The man stepped forward, holding a deep blue velvet box. The golden Van Cleef & Arpels logo shimmered under the lights.
4/4
3.3%
He offered it to Lilian, bowing slightly.”
“Miss Lilian, this is a birthday gift from Mr. Justin.”
Lilian’s fingers trembled as she took it, carefully opening the box. “This is from Justin?“>
The assistant smiled and explained, “Yes, it’s from Van Cleef & Arpels‘ ‘Eternal Bloom‘ collection. The main stone of this necklace is a 15–carat fancy vivid pink diamond, surrounded by natural brilliant–cut diamonds. Mr. Justin spent a full two years and went through three rounds of private auctions to acquire it.”
Someone in the crowd gasped.§
“Isn’t that the one–of–a–kind piece worth billions?”
Lilian cradled the Eternal Bloom necklace in her palms, then looked at me.“]
“Francesca, I actually wanted to trade with you for that blind box necklace. I really liked the one you got, but… “Ø
She blinked playfully. “Now that Justin gave me this one, I’m not interested in yours anymore.“>
When she said that, a few people around us let out knowing chuckles.
I stood in the centre of the crowd, feeling like a joke and my grandmother’s face surfaced in my mind.
When I was still regarded as the Jamesons‘ cherished daughter, she was the one who doted on me the most. Each year, she would meticulously create a gift for me on my birthday.
My grandmother was a renowned jewellery designer in her youth and her creations were highly sought after. She came out of retirement for my eighteenth birthday, hand–selecting the rarest gems to craft gifts for me.
Sadly, a few months before my eighteenth birthday, she fell gravely ill and passed away.
The jewellery never reached me. My father took it and sold it to cover the company’s financial difficulties.
Before I even had a chance to grieve, Lilian returned.
From that moment on, I no longer had the right to mourn the gifts my grandmother had prepared for me.§
However, over the years, have been quietly saving money. I sold off my luxury items and even agreed to partner with Elizabeth Sutherland. Everything was to redeem the last gifts my grandmother had left me, piece by piece.
And this necklace, the “Eternal Bloom,” was the most crucial piece of that collection.
I stared at the pink diamond, my eyes feeling like they were about to bleed.
“Justin,” I forced the words out through a dry throat. “What about my gift?”
His brows furrowed. “You need a gift from me?“>
I took a deep breath and said slowly, word by word, “Yes, I do. I need it badly. I want the one in Lilian’s hands.“}
The whole room seemed to freeze.
