Chapter 278
Chapter 278:
We walked into the main hall. It was a cathedral of glass and light. Every surface sparkled.
Liam gestured to the displays. “Pick whatever you want. Necklaces, rings, tiaras. I don’t care about the price p>
I walked past the cases. The diamonds were beautiful—cold and hard. Just like the life I had left behind.
“I can buy these myself, Liam,” I said, not touching anything. “I have fifty million in the bank as of yesterday p>
Liam’s face twitched. He hated being reminded of my independence. He walked over to a display case and pulled out a diamond necklace. It was a cascade of white diamonds, heavy and ostentatious.
“Let me spoil you,” he pleaded. “Please, Skye. Just let me do this p>
He moved behind me. I felt the cold metal brush my skin. His hands shook slightly as he tried to fasten the clasp.
I stood still, feeling like a mannequin. I felt nothing—no excitement, no gratitude. Just exhaustion.
Suddenly, the glass doors at the entrance burst open. The bell chimed violently.
Matriarch Beatrice marched in. She wore a fur coat despite the mild weather, and she wielded her cane like a weapon. Lydia followed, looking smug, holding Beatrice’s arm.
Beatrice’s voice echoed off the marble walls. “Take that off her neck p>
Liam spun around, his body instinctively moving to shield me. “Grandmother? What are you doing here p>
“I am saving you from your own stupidity!” Beatrice shrieked.
She thumped her cane on the floor. “You shut down a theme park? Now you’re buying diamonds for this… this trash? While our stock prices are fluctuating p>
I reached up, unclasped the necklace, and let it drop. It hit the glass counter with a loud clatter.
“Keep your trash, Mrs. Kensington,” I said coolly. “I didn’t ask for it p>
Beatrice lifted her cane, pointing the rubber tip directly at my face. “Don’t speak to me, you gold digger! You whore! You seduced my grandson, you drained his accounts, and now you parade around town spending his inheritance p>
The staff looked down, terrified, pretending to polish the glass.
Liam grabbed the end of the cane. His face darkened. “Don’t you dare call her that p>
𝘑о𝘪𝘯 t𝘩е 𝖼𝗈𝘮m𝗎𝗻𝗂𝘁𝘆 at 𝘣𝗲l𝗇o𝘃е𝘭𝗌.с𝘰𝗆
“Liam, she’s just using you!” Lydia chimed in, her voice shrill. “Everyone knows she took money from Dominic Thorne yesterday. She’s playing both sides p>
I laughed. It was a genuine laugh of disbelief. “I have more liquid cash than both of you combined right now. I don’t need your inheritance, Beatrice. It’s pocket change to me p>
Beatrice scoffed. “Dirty money from sleeping around. You are a stain on this family p>
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the entrance. The air in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.
Alistair Thorne stepped in.
He didn’t storm in like Beatrice. He glided. He wore a black trench coat over a charcoal suit. He was flanked by four large men—Felix Carter and three other enforcers. They filled the space with a menacing presence that made the store security back away.
Alistair didn’t look at Liam. He didn’t look at Beatrice. He walked straight to me.
He stopped beside me and wrapped an arm around my waist. It wasn’t a tentative touch like Liam’s. It was possessive. Firm. Claiming.
He pulled me against his side. I smelled rain and expensive tobacco.
Alistair looked at Beatrice. His eyes were like chips of ice.
“You are speaking to my fiancée,” Alistair said, his voice low and smooth as velvet. “I suggest you lower your cane before I have my men break it. And the hand holding it p>
Silence hung in the air, thick and suffocating.
Liam stared at Alistair’s hand on my waist. His eyes widened, shock giving way to a flare of jealousy so potent it looked like physical pain. “Fiancée?” he choked out.