Chapter 5
Emma looked up when she heard the commotion. The moment she saw they were about to open the box, she quickly snatched it back.
Her sudden reaction made the three of them freeze, their eyes locked on her.
“Who did you choose? Anthony, Mateo, or…
Isaac did not finish his sentence, but Emma knew what he meant.
He was afraid she had picked him.
She forced a faint smile and met their eyes steadily.
“So what if I’ve decided? So what if I haven’t? There’s no need to be so nervous. Either way, it has nothing to do with you.”
Anthony suddenly grabbed her wrist, panic in his voice.
“What do you mean it has nothing to do with us? If there’s going to be a marriage arrangement, it can only be between you and one of us! There’s no one else in our generation that qualifies!”
Mateo stepped closer too, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
“We know you had a hard time choosing before, so we never pushed you. But now that you’ve decided, just tell us the truth. We’re tired of this too.”
“So even the thought of marrying someone you don’t love feels like a kind of torment, doesn’t it?”
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Emma inhaled slowly, then opened the box. Inside was a shimmering and eye–catching diamond necklace. She then held it up for them to
see.
“This is my answer. Are you satisfied?”
It was not the diamond bracelet from the Vegara family, the 20–carat ring from the Thompson family, or the heirloom pendant from the Vanderpool.
Only then did the three notice the bags of gifts in the trunk behind her and finally piece it together.
“This isn’t one of our family tokens,” Anthony said slowly. “You bought this yourself on your shopping trip? No matter what it costs, we’ll pay it back in full as an apology.
Emma just stared at the dazzling diamond in her palm without saying a word.
Isaac assumed she liked the necklace, so he picked it up and gently helped her put it on.
Anthony chimed in with a thumbs up, complimenting how well it matched her skin tone and saying it looked beautiful.
Mateo even whipped out his phone and snapped a few pictures, saying he wanted to save the moment.
After her rebirth, this was the first time Emma saw them genuinely smiling like that.
Their happiness came from believing she had not chosen anyone yet as they were still holding on to hope.
For a second, she felt the whole thing was oddly funny.
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She was about to say something when Janet suddenly showed up and cut her off.
Her eyes sparkled when she spotted the mountain of gifts in the living
room.
“Wow, what’s all this? Are these for you, Emma?”
The moment Janet appeared, the three guys turned their full attention to her eyes fixed, smiles growing.
Emma noticed and said casually, “They’re for me, but I don’t really like them. If you want them, go ahead.”
Then she turned and walked straight back to her room, not bothering with any of them.
Janet looked shocked and pointed at herself.
“Me? You’re joking, right? How could I possibly accept gifts that were meant for you?”
The three men caught the hesitation in her voice and instantly felt bad for her. They immediately nudged her toward the pile of presents.
“If Emma says they’re yours, then they are. Look at these brand–new designer dresses, handbags, and jewelry. They are fresh off the shelves. You’ll look amazing in them.”
“You’re totally worthy of these things, Janet. Don’t sell yourself short because you deserve the best.”
“Come on, start unwrapping. We’ll help you figure out what suits you.”
The sound of them fussing over Janet faded as the bedroom door clicked shut, leaving the room in silence.
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The cold weight of the necklace on her neck made Emma
uncomfortable.
However, she figured maybe, if she wore it long enough, she would eventually get used to it.
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