Chapter 6
“No…” Her voice shook as she begged, “Please, I’m claustrophobic. I will die in here…”
“That’s enough.” Eric cut her off in irritation. “Estelle was just messing around.”
Then he hung up.
Calista sat there in a daze, the phone slipping from her fingers.
Outside the door, Estelle’s laughter rang out like a blade slicing through her chest. “Looks like he made his choice.”
“Do you finally understand where you stand in Eric’s heart?” Estelle taunted from the other side, her tone filled with smugness. “If you get it now, don’t try to get close to him again. He’s mine.”
Footsteps echoed down the hall until the morgue fell silent once more.
Curled up in the corner, Calista trembled.
She got it.
She finally got it.
That night, her screams echoed in the cold room until her voice gave out. She cried until no tears were left. By dawn, a nurse finally found her and let her out.
When she got home, the first thing Calista did was pull out every gift Eric had ever given her.
Jewelry. Designer bags. Limited–edition dresses. She threw them all into the trash, one by one.
“What are you throwing a tantrum for?”
A hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. Eric stood behind her, frowning. “What about your dad’s medical bills?”
A sharp pain twisted in her chest.
Even now, he still did not know her father was gone.
She quietly pulled her hand free and did not say a word.
Eric’s expression was unreadable as he pulled her along. “Come with me.”
Calista thought he was going to scold her or worse, but the car ended up stopping in front of a mall.
“You don’t need to buy me anything…” she said quietly.
Eric gave her a sidelong glance. “Who said it’s for you? Estelle’s birthday is next week. I want to get her some gifts, but I’m not sure what suits her. Since you two look somewhat alike, you can try them on for me.”
So that’s what this was.
Calista let out a quiet laugh at herself for even thinking otherwise.
Like a mannequin, she tried on dress after dress, pairing them with different accessories.
One gorgeous gown after another, each more dazzling than the last.
The shop staff watched her with admiration, not knowing she was just a stand–in.
23.460
After he picked out several gifts for Estelle, Eric turned and headed out.
As they passed by a shop window, Calista stopped without thinking.
On display was a white dress, its hem covered in delicate pearls that shimmered under the lights.
She froze, a memory surfacing–her mother’s last words, “My little Calista is the prettiest princess. When I get better, I’ll buy you the most beautiful dress in the world…
That dream dress looked exactly like the one before her now.
“What are you staring at?” Eric’s voice snapped her back. “Let’s go.”
Calista quickly looked away. “Coming.”
She did not see the way Eric glanced at the dress again, just briefly, before walking on.
Back at the villa, just as Calista reached for the car door, a sleek paper bag was suddenly handed to her.
She looked inside and froze.
It was the white dress.
Eric cleared his throat. “I just bought it. Don’t overthink it.”
Before she could say anything, his phone rang.
When he picked up the phone, his brows tightened. “Something came up
at the office. You go in first.”
Calista stood there in silence while holding the dress close as she watched the car disappear down the road.
