The call to Simon Hawthorne did not go through.
Yet, Stella Joyce felt an inexplicable wave of panic. This had never happened before. Simon had suddenly pulled her from the magazine and forbidden her from posting the necklace. What on earth was the reason?
After turning it over in her mind, Stella’s instincts told her something was wrong. She dialed the jewelry brand director at the Hawthorne Group.
The last time she wanted to buy this necklace set, the director had told her it was already reserved. Though she hadn’t managed to purchase it, she figured she could fish some information out of him.
"Director Miller, is there really no way to get my hands on the Alice’s Heart set? I really love it," Stella said, her voice laced with a smile that carried an implicit, intimidating pressure.
Director Miller hesitated for a moment before asking, "Miss Joyce, you didn’t receive it?"
Stella froze. "What do you mean?"
"A couple of days ago, Mr. Hawthorne’s special assistant came to the store and took the final set," Director Miller said, sounding confused. "I assumed he was giving it to you. Have you really not received it?"
Stella’s expression changed instantly. "Are you sure?"
"How could I not be? It was Special Assistant Shaw himself. He said it was a gift from Mr. Hawthorne. When I went over, the store manager even mentioned that Mr. Hawthorne was trying to coax someone, and Special Assistant Shaw specifically requested that it be beautifully wrapped."
Stella felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. Her face darkened abruptly, and she slammed the phone down in a fit of temper.
Simon was gifting it to someone? But she hadn’t received it! He had even forbidden her from posting about it on X and pulled her magazine feature! Could it be... As a certain guess formed in her mind, a look of disbelief mixed with a vicious, sinister glint flashed across Stella’s eyes.
Over the weekend.
Zoe Lancaster was woken up bright and early by Heartbreaker. The little guy was barely four months old and in his most mischievous phase—he ate, slept, and pooped constantly. Even when she came home exhausted from working overtime, she still had to take him downstairs for a couple of laps before she could finally rest.
Unfortunately, her peace was short-lived. She received a phone call from Martin Lancaster.
"Dad," Zoe answered, her tone relatively obedient.
Martin was also perfectly willing to play along with the charade of a loving father and devoted daughter. He spoke with feigned concern, "Have you been busy at work lately? The weather is getting cold, so make sure you dress warmly. Don’t catch a cold."
Zoe replied absentmindedly, "Okay, I know."
Martin was a very busy man and rarely showed her such care. Because of this, her heart actually ached with a sudden pang of sourness in that brief moment.
Only then did Martin get to the point. "I’m not busy today. Come home for a visit. I haven’t seen you in quite a while."
Zoe’s initial instinct was to refuse. However, hearing Martin cough a couple of times on the other end of the line, she massaged her temples and frowned. Ultimately, she could only agree, "Alright."
The Lancaster family villa was located over ten kilometers away from the city center, taking roughly forty minutes by car. Ever since she was accepted into university and moved out, she rarely returned. With Wendy Lawrence and her daughter living there, it felt as though this place was no longer her home.
Upon walking through the door, she saw that lunch was gradually being served. Wendy and Riley Lancaster were both present.
Spotting Zoe, Riley smiled and said, "Dad, the daughter who doesn’t annoy you is back! Now you can stop complaining about how I’m always clinging to your side and causing a ruckus."
Martin patted Riley’s shoulder dotingly. "You’re the most clingy of all."
Wendy also took up her role as the dutiful stepmother. "Hurry up and wash your hands for lunch."
Martin finally set down his newspaper and waved Zoe over. "Come here, Zoe. Sit next to Dad."
Zoe’s legs felt like lead. They looked like a perfectly happy family of three, while she was just an out-of-place intruder who could never quite fit in. Taking her seat in silence, Zoe wore a polite, obligatory smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Martin asked with concern, "Are you facing any difficulties at work? If it’s too tough, just come home and learn the ropes with me for a while. That way, you can help share my burden."
Zoe glanced at the mother and daughter sitting across from her. Sure enough, their expressions slipped for a fleeting second at his words. Her lips curled into a smirk. "Got it, Dad. If I can’t handle it anymore, I’ll come crawling back to you."
Wendy couldn’t sit still any longer. As she served the soup, she casually brought up, "You really need to rein in that willful temper of yours, child. Just look at yesterday—you made Mrs. Quincy furious."
Martin furrowed his brow at this.
Riley smiled. "It’s fine. Mom and I have already apologized on my sister’s behalf. We just need to be more careful in the future."
Martin had naturally already heard about the incident from the two of them. When Wendy returned yesterday, she had claimed that Zoe showed absolute disrespect toward Mrs. Quincy, repeatedly contradicting her future mother-in-law and saying all sorts of nasty things. Wendy had even added that Mrs. Quincy might now seriously reconsider the marriage. That was precisely why he had summoned Zoe home today.
"Zoe, you aren’t young anymore. It’s time you learned to be sensible," Martin lectured. "She’s an elder, after all, and your future mother-in-law to boot. What good does offending her do you?"
Zoe stirred her soup. Hearing his reprimand, she let out a soft laugh. "Are you worried about me, Dad, or are you worried that the Lancaster family’s business will be affected?"
Martin’s expression darkened. "Is that any way to speak to me?"
Losing her appetite entirely, Zoe maintained the smile on her face. "Mrs. Quincy looks down on me. Even if I were to marry into their family, I would only be met with cold shoulders and bullying. Aren’t you worried that my life would be miserable, Dad? Aren’t you afraid that I’ll be picked on and humiliated?"
Martin slammed his chopsticks onto the table. "Isn’t that how every woman gets through it? What makes you so special?"
The reprimand was like a knife carving into her heart.
Zoe stared in utter disbelief. She couldn’t fathom that her own biological father would say such a thing. She looked at him with profound disappointment. "So in your eyes, I’m nowhere near as important as your business deals? Even if it costs me a lifetime of happiness?"
Martin swallowed hard. Meeting his daughter’s reddened eyes, an inexplicable surge of guilt washed over him.
Zoe could no longer play along with this family’s act. She stood up. "Think it over carefully, Dad. I truly don’t like Preston Quincy. But if you insist on pushing this... then I have nothing more to say."
She grabbed her bag and turned to leave.
Martin stood up, his face pale as he called out, "Zoe! That’s not what I—"
Riley quickly hurried over to support his arm, speaking with gentle consideration. "Dad, Zoe is just lashing out in anger. She and Preston grew up together—how could they not have feelings for one another? Girls are just thin-skinned about these things, that’s all."
"Is that so?" Martin ran a hand over his face, distraught. Deep down, he naturally loved his daughter. But Zoe was just too stubborn and obstinate, always doing things to provoke his anger.
Riley narrowed her eyes and added, "Next week is Old Mr. Quincy’s eightieth birthday banquet. Let’s have Zoe go over and apologize properly then. Mrs. Quincy is an elder; she won’t truly hold a grudge. And it’ll be the perfect opportunity for our two families to sit down and discuss the wedding."
She needed to get her hands on those shares, and Zoe had to be her stepping stone!
Martin patted the back of Riley’s hand. "At least you’re sensible, Riley. Let’s do as you suggested."
Riley raised a brow in triumph before returning to her seat.
Suddenly remembering something, Martin asked, "How are things going with your blind date? According to Mr. Jennings, his son mentioned that the two of you really hit it off."
Riley’s expression stiffened ever so slightly before she broke into a smile. "It’s going quite well. He’s very gentle and gentlemanly."
"Then nurture the relationship well. The Jennings family made their fortune in construction materials—their influence is not to be underestimated." Martin nodded in approval. His elder daughter was much more obedient, engaging in a proper romance and heading steadfastly toward a proper marriage.
Riley smiled in response. Underneath the table, she stared at her phone’s messaging app. She had just sent a text: "I bought a bunny-tail buttplug. Do you like it?"
The person on the other end hadn’t replied, leaving Riley with a gnawing sense of unease.