“Let’s go,” she told Eric, grinning. She’s been trying to stop herself from smiling since she won the bidding, but she just can’t. She’s just too happy.
The young Thompson giggled at her, “This is really all you came here for?” he teased, but instead of getting annoyed, Belle nodded at her, still grinning.
It’s as if she was confirming that what he said was right. The necklace was indeed all she wanted, nothing more.
Eric offered her a hand and she quickly took it. On their way out, a stunning young man blocked their way. Belle quickly looked the other way but he held her by the elbow.
“Why are you so willing to spend a billion on that? Is that junk so precious to you?” Tristan asked with a mocking smile.
He wasn’t planning to say that but he was infuriated when he saw Belle’s hand on Eric’s arm. He can’t let them walk out smiling.
If his night was ruined, everyone else’s night would be ruined as well. He can’t be the only one feeling depressed.
Jacob, who was watching from the side, couldn’t help but shake his head in utter disbelief. ‘Here he goes again with his tantrum,’ he thought to himself.
“You know what’s junk?” Belle asked in return, but Tristan just shot his eyebrows up at her. “It’s you, for donating something that doesn’t even belong to you.” She smirked at him before pulling her arm and walking ahead of Eric.
Before Belle could take another step, Tristan spoke again, “You should stop wasting your money on junk like that. It’s not even worth it.”
Belle turned around to face him, “Don’t worry, I can just sell the gifts from your grandfather, then I’m rich again,” she smiled sweetly at him before turning on her heel.
Eric, who was also shocked by what Tristan said, shook his head at his friend. “I can’t believe you called that necklace junk. Do you even know what that necklace means to her?” He asked his stupid friend. When Tristan shook his head, Eric chuckled, “Learn to ask next time man, stop throwing a tantrum anytime you feel like it.”
He tapped Tristan’s shoulder before leaving. The young De Clarion, on the other hand, was confused by what his friend said.
He turned to his assistant to ask, but even before he could, Jacob already shrugged at him. He was sending a message to his boss that he didn’t know a thing.
“Are you okay?” Eric asked while inside his car, as Belle kept letting out deep sighs. Belle nodded before smiling sweetly at him. “I was just wondering if that necklace was from your mother, how did it end up in De Clarion’s hands?”
Belle shook her head, “That’s what I wanted to know as well,” she looked out the windshield for a few seconds before returning her eyes to the necklace inside her purse.
“Yesterday, while I was still in Dale, I received a call from my father. It was he who told me that it was being auctioned. I didn’t even know I owned something as valuable as this.”
Eric sighed, he suddenly felt sorry for the woman next to her. He suddenly recalled her story. She lost her family at a very young age and it’s only recently that she found them.
Unfortunately, her grandfather and mother had already passed away. Her father remarried and her stepmother and half-sister schemed on her.
Looking at her and the necklace, she could understand in his heart how valuable it was to her. And it angers him that Tristan insulted them without knowing why Belle was so eager to win it.
After taking Belle home, Eric stood for a cup of coffee. They engaged in random conversations that they didn’t even notice the time.
“Hey, I’ll get going,” he told her, pointing at her wall clock. It’s already past ten in the evening. They did leave the party early.
Belle thanked her for the nth time for bringing her to the auction. “Eric, thank you so much for letting me come with you,” she said again while leading him to the door.
“Ssshhh… I got enough thanks from you in one night,” pretending to scold her, but he couldn’t help but chuckle in the end. “Oh, by the way, why is your door painted red?”
Eric wanted to ask about it when he picked her up but it slipped his mind when he saw Belle looking stunning in her dress. Good thing he noticed it again on his way out, so he was able to ask about it.
“It’s to ward off evil spirits,” Belle joked, Eric creased his forehead at her. “Vernice and Joyce vandalized my door while I was in Dale. I only saw it when I came back, so I had it repainted,” she explained.
Eric’s face frowned, “Those two are really ruthless, you need to be careful of them,” he reminded her.
Belle nodded and was about to thank him again but he was quick to shush her. Belle chuckled, instead of thanking him again, she just hugged him.
Eric even waved at her after letting her go and before he got in his car. Belle waited until she couldn’t see the man’s car anymore before going back in.
She immediately plopped on her bed, hugging the necklace close to her heart. As if hugging her biological mother who she dearly missed although she doesn’t have any memory of her.
When Eric reached the arch of the subdivision, he stopped his car on the side of the road. Pulling his phone out, he quickly dialed his stupid friend’s number.
“Where are you?” he asked as soon as Tristan answered the call.
“I’m at Eden with Jacob.”
“Wait for me there, we need to talk,” then he quickly ended the call and drove off to Eden. ‘I need to tell him about the necklace before he does something stupid again.’
He hated how Tristan always had huge reactions toward Belle. When it came to Joyce, however, he was always undecided.
Eric felt disappointed. He knew how much Tristan liked Belle. But it infuriates him that his friend was doing everything for Belle to push him away. He’s wasting a golden opportunity.
If it was him, he would have made a move on Belle. If it weren’t for Tristan, he would have wooed her. He would have given her everything, cared for her, and loved her.
But in the end, Eric could only have wishful thoughts. He can’t take her away from his friend. Besides, even if he wants to, even if he can, it’s still impossible.
He is well aware of how much Belle loves Tristan as well. So, no matter what he does or what he can do, her heart will only belong to his stupid friend.