Chapter 7
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Rhea couldn’t believe her eyes. “Is Mabel seriously trying to snatch the gift meant for me! And right there, in front of our parents? The audacity was almost laughable almost..
Rhea frowned and shot a sharp question across the room. “Mabel? What do you think you’re doing?”
Before Mabel could even open her mouth, Beatrice stepped in, her voice cutting like glass. “What’s wrong with you? This is clearly a gift your dad bought for Rhea. Why are you sticking your nose in it? Claiming it’s yours? Do you even know your place? And don’t you dare break that tiara”
Mabel, of course, knew exactly who had bought the tiara. And spoiler alert: it wasn’t Dale.
Mabel wasn’t about to spill the beans just yet. Instead, she gave Beatrice a sly smirk and fired back, “Oh? And how are you so sure? My birthday’s coming up, isn’t it? Maybe Dad just wanted to give me an early gift for my big milestone.”
Beatrice had to physically restrain herself from rolling her eyes. Sure, Mabel. Keep dreaming
Out loud, though, Beatrice kept it cool–well, sort of. “I’m sure because your dad and I already picked out your eighteenth birthday gift weeks ago. And trust me, it’s not this tiara. So step aside, will you? This is for Rhea.”
Rhea stood frozen, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. She hadn’t expected Mabel to go this far–shamelessly trying to take the tiara in broad daylight. Embarrassed, her cheeks flushed pink as she lowered her gaze. Her voice came out soft, almost uncertain. “Mom, don’t be so hard on her. Even if Dad bought this for me, it’s okay. If she likes it so much, I can let her have it… Honestly, I’ve lived simply for so long. I was used to owning nothing. A tiara this beautiful? I don’t deserve it anyway. As long as we’re all happy and together, that’s enough for me.”
“Absolutely not!” Beatrice barked, cutting her off mid–sentence. Her face darkened as she turned her glare on Mabel. Look at you. After years of hogging the good life while your sister suffered, now you want to snatch this from her? Now Rhea’s devastated again. Apologize to her, right now!
Mabel scoffed inwardly. Apologize? IN YOUR DREAMS.
Mabel had heard enough of Beatrice’s dramatic monologues to last a lifetime. She crossed her arms, defiance sparkling in her eyes. She couldn’t wait for the moment the truth finally unraveled, sending Beatrice and Rhea’s self–righteous act crumbling to the ground.
“Why should I apologizel Mabel said coolly, her voice steady and cutting through the room like a knife. “This tiara was mine to begin with.”
Rhea’s blood ran hot at Mabel’s sheer boldness. She was shocked that Mabel could be so “shameless.”
The tiara was practically within Rhea’s grasp, and the thought of Mabel walking away with it made her stomach churn. Dropping her usual pretense, Rhea decided to go all in. If this was a battle, she wasn’t about to lose.
She stepped forward, blocking Mabel with deliberate force, her voice taking on a syrupy–sweet tone that masked her steel- edged intent. “Mom, be kind to her. She’s just not used to having me back home. Besides, since Dad went out of his way to choose this for me, I really shouldn’t refuse it. He might think I’m being ungrateful Turning to Mabel with a pointed, almost pitying look, she added, “Mabel, I know you love my things, but I’m afraid this time, I can’t give in. Don’t worry Dad will definitely get you something even better next time.”
With that, Rhea nudged Mabel aside. Her pretense of sisterly love was gone, and she reached for the dazzling gift box. The tiara was hers – there was no way she was letting Mabel take it now.
The two deliverymen stood at the door, amused by the unexpected family drama. Their instructions hadn’t been clear enough to differentiate between the two Miss Harpers, which had clearly fueled the chaos unfolding before them. One of them decided to step in, turning to Rhea to clear up the confusion. “Miss M. Harper – this tiara is for Miss M. Harper. Are you the Miss M. Harper we’re looking for?”
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Chapter 7
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Rhea froze mid–reach, her hand hovering awkwardly over the ornate gift box. Im sorry, what?”
“M. Harper Mabel? Rhea’s thoughts raced, colliding into one another like shards of glass.
Her face fell in an instant, darkening like an oncoming storm.
Beside her, Beatrice stiffened, her carefully composed expression cracking under the weight of shock. Dale doesn’t even like Mabel, she thought bitterly. “Why on earth would he spend over millions on a gift for her and without even telling me?‘ Mabel, by contrast, remained calm and poised. A soft, knowing smile curved her lips as she stepped forward. “She’s not. I.
She extended her hand, ready to take the pen and receipt from the deliveryman. But before she could, Rhea lunged forward and snatched the paperwork from her. Her panic was impossible to hide.
“Are you sure there’s no mistake?” she asked, her voice a strained mix of desperation and disbelief. “Isn’t this gift meant for R. Harper?”
The two deliverymen exchanged a quick glance, their poorly disguised disdain evident. It wasn’t every day they encountered someone so blatantly hypocritical. Just moments ago, this girl had been putting on a show of humility and selflessness. Now, she was unraveling.
“We’re absolutely sure,” one of them replied, his tone firm and deliberate. “This gift is specifically addressed to M. Harper.”
Rhea’s gaze dropped to the name on the receipt, her expression crumpling. The reality hit her like a cold wave: wasn’t hers. It never had been.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, the humiliation twisting into fury. What is this, Dale? A tiara worth millions for Mabel? Your adopted daughter? If she’s the one you treasure most, then what does that make me your actual daughter?‘
Mabel calmly took the paperwork from Rhea’s trembling hands, her smile turning mocking. “Sorry, Rhea, but I’ll be keeping this tiara. Looks like it’s your turn to make do. Don’t worry – Im sure Dad will buy you something even better one day,”
Her words, an echo of Rhea’s earlier jab, landed like a sharp slap, Rhea’s face drained of color, her anger leaving her visibly trembling.
After signing the receipt and sending the deliverymen on their way, Mabel glanced down at the heavy, elegantly wrapped box in her arms.
A rare, genuine smile lit her face. Without sparing another look at the mother–daughter duo’s murderous glares, she turned and went up the stairs, carrying the tiara to her room.
Once safely inside, Mabel exhaled softly, a weight lifting from her shoulders as she set the box gently on her desk. For a fleeting moment, she had worried that this second chance at life might rewrite her past in unexpected ways.
But it seemed some things hadn’t changed. That man’s feelings for me remain as steadfast as ever
Her slender fingers brushed lightly over the tiara’s sparkling diamonds, her eyes softening as the gemstones caught the light. For the first time in ages, her gaze held a warmth that she thought she’d forgotten how to feel.
In her last life, that man had chased her relentlessly. He had found her over and over again, insisting she was the long–lost daughter of the Barrett family. He said she was his fiancée, and they had been bonded by an engagement arranged in their childhood.
Mabel had dismissed him outright, suspicious and guarded. To er, he had been nothing more than an unhinged fraud. She had hurled insuk after insult at him, her disdain as sharp as her words.
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Chapter 7
“Why would a man with your looks resort to such ridiculous schemes?” she had sneered once, her voice dripping with derision. “Let me tell you something – EVEN IF what you’re saying is true, so what? I already have a fiancé, and my family treats me perfectly well. Why would I throw all that away for you? If you’re delusional, go see a doctor. Don’t waste my time!”
Mabel sat in her room, her fingers brushing lightly over the tiara’s box. Her thoughts wandered back to this very day in her past life. Back then, Rhea and Beatrice had gone shopping, leaving her alone at home. When the deliveryman arrived with a gift from HIM, her anger had boiled over. Without even bothering to open the package, she had thrown both the deliveryman and the gift out.
She hadn’t known that moment would mark the last time she’d hear from him. True to her wish, he never appeared in her life again.
or soul
It wasn’t until her death when her body sank into the cold embrace of the sea that she saw him once more. As her: hovered between worlds, she had watched him break, his sobs shaking his entire frame as grief consumed him. She’d witnessed him dive into the icy ocean, frantically searching for her, refusing to believe she was gone. But it had been too late. Far too late.
Mabel let out a soft, bitter laugh. Her past life had been a string of betrayals. Friends, family, even strangers – one by one, they’d abandoned her. She’d convinced herself that no one truly cared. Only in death had she seen what real, unwavering love looked like.
‘I was blind and foolish, she thought.
Looking back into her tragic past, Mabel scoffed.
She had failed to tell a villain from a hero. She had been so busy mistrusting the world that she threw away the one person who never gave up on her.
Her hand brushed away the tears pooling in the corners of her eyes as she chuckled dryly.
Determined not to repeat her mistakes, Mabel picked up her phone. After a quick search, she dialed the customer service line for the luxury brand that had delivered the tiara. Her voice was steady, but her heart raced as she spoke. “Hello, I’d like to inquire about a recent order, she began. “Could you help me find the purchaser’s contact information?”
After verifying her identity, the representative provided her with a phone number.
She stared at it for a moment, her breath uneven. Dialing the number, she held the phone to her ear.
It rang once. Then twice.
“Hello?” The voice that answered was deep and calm, carrying an air of restraint that masked untold emotions.
“Oscar, she began, her voice trembling. “I want to meet you.”
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. A long pause followed, as though the man couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“I’ll come to you,” he said at last, his eagerness barely concealed beneath his composed tone.
Mabel’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Don’t, she replied gently. You’ve always beearthe one to come to me…”
This time, I’m coming to you.”
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