Chapter 4
Fabian stared at the notification, a wave of unease rising once again.
He was just about to pick up Angelina’s phone to check the message when the fitting room curtain suddenly opened, and Angelina stepped out.
The dress she wore perfectly complemented the gemstone jewelry Fabian had prepared for her, adding a radjant touch to her already stunning beauty.
Fabian immediately forgot about the countdown on her phone, his eyes lighting up surprise and admiration.
“My dear Angelina, I’m so lucky to have you.‘
with
If this had been the old Angelina, she might have blushed and felt her heart race under his loving gaze.
But now, her expression remained calm, her heart unmoved as she looked away indifferently.
When Fabian leaned in to kiss her, she subtly avoided it.
“Let’s go. We’re running late,” she said flatly.
As she reached for her phone, Fabian remembered the notification he had seen earlier.
Frowning deeply, he asked, “I saw a countdown on your phone–seven days left. What’s that
about?”
Angelina froze for a moment, a flicker of panic flashing in her eyes.
She didn’t want Fabian to know about her plans to leave before it was time.
“Seven days from now is our wedding day. Did you forget?” she replied, meeting his gaze with a composed expression.
Fabian’s face showed a fleeting trace of guilt before he quickly dropped the subject.
By the time they arrived at the venue, the banquet hall was already bustling with people.
As the room was slightly cool from the air conditioning, Fabian draped a shawl over Angelina’s shoulders, one he had prepared in advance.
Seeing this, many women in the room looked on enviously, while Fabian’s friends and business associates teased him with good–natured remarks.
“President Fabian truly dotes on Miss Angelina. You won’t find a couple more perfectly matched in all of Boston. I’ll definitely be at the wedding next week to offer my
congratulations.”
“In all of Boston, if Fabian isn’t the most devoted husband–to–be, no one else dares claim the
title!”
“That’s for sure. President Fabian is the epitome of a good man. What woman in Boston wouldn’t envy Miss Angelina for having such a great fiancé?”
Amid the chatter, the room was filled with praises for Fabian and Angelina’s relationship. Fabian smiled, his usual cold demeanor softening slightly.
Even though he knew many of the compliments were meant to curry favor, Fabian still enjoyed the attention, greeting everyone warmly
The flattery flowed freely as people seized the opportunity to get closer to him.
Angelina, on the other hand, felt her head buzz with the noise, the cacophony making her dizzy.
At this moment, she had no desire to listen to the congratulations from people unaware of the truth.
Noticing her impatience, Fabian waved off the crowd and led her to a quieter corner.
They had barely settled when Natalie, dressed in a dark gown, sauntered over with a confident
sway.
“President Fabian, Miss Angelina, it’s been a while,” she greeted them with a smile.
As someone sponsored by the Carnegie family in recent years, Natalie naturally had an invitation to the charity banquet. Not only that, she was scheduled to give a speech later.
Angelina had no interest in exchanging pleasantries and kept her head down, pretending to focus on her phone.
Taking a step closer, Natalie spoke with a voice full of apparent remorse.
“Miss Angelina, are you still upset with me? I’ve already apologized for what happened last time. I only came up with the idea of having President Fabian pretend to marry me because I was desperate.”
“But President Fabian turned me down, and I now have a boyfriend. Can we call it even and
move on?”
Angelina detected no sincerity in her words, only provocation.”
Fabian, too, noticed Natalie’s smug tone and frowned, his impatience evident as he dismissed
her.
“Know your place. If Angelina doesn’t like you, keep your distance.”
Natalie pouted playfully. “She might not like me, but some people do.”
As she spoke, her gaze lingered on Fabian, and she deliberately winked at him.
Fabian swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he reached for his drink and downed it in
one go.
Watching their flirtation unfold as if no one else were around, Angelina got up
toward the restroom.
Fabian quickly followed her, leaving Natalie surrounded by admirers.
“Natalie, your dress is stunning! And your earrings are gorgeous too!”
Natalie tilted her head proudly.
and headed
“Of course. These were gifts from my boyfriend, and only the best will do for me.”
Her bragging elicited a wave of admiration from the group.
“Your earrings look like they’re made from the same jade as Miss Angelina’s jewelry. Maybe your boyfriend and President Fabian sourced the jade from the same place?”
Angelina’s steps faltered briefly. She glanced at the jade bracelet on her wrist, then yanked it off forcefully, clenching it tightly in her hand. The smooth stone pressed painfully into her palm.
