With that, Bianca turned to leave.
Seething angrily, Haris called out to her retreating figure, “What do you think your fiance would say if he found out about your wild night with a stranger?”
Bianca paused in her tracks, which just made Haris even more insistent.
“You’ve got two days to decide. Pay up, and I’ll keep quiet about the secret. But if you don’t, it’s not my fault for what happens next,” Haris warned her.
Haris was confident Bianca would give in, but she didn’t even look back, dismissing him, “Whatever.”
As she reached the door, Bianca slipped on her slippers and noticed the table from the previous night. It reminded her of the passionate moment she shared with Dave.
She sighed and placed her handbag on the table.
The sound of the lock clicking signaled her return, and Dave came closer, his white shirt neat and his broad chest blocking her way as she turned.
Without saying anything, he pulled her into a hug.
The man’s presence enveloped Bianca.
“There you are,” Dave said, his voice warm and soft.
Bianca wanted to stay in his embrace a little longer, but she resisted and stepped away.
“Is everything okay? Did someone bother you?” Dave asked, frowning as he looked at Bianca’s pale face.
With a weak smile, Bianca shook her head. “No, I’m just feeling a bit tired. I… I’ll go wash my face first,” she said and hurried to the bathroom.
She turned on the faucet and splashed cold water onto her face, feeling the droplets trickle down her cheeks.
After drying her face, she glanced up and noticed a necklace falling into view.
It was a delicate white gold chain with a vibrant red diamond surrounded by sparkling stones.
The red diamond gleamed brightly, captivating her.
In the mirror, Bianca saw Dave’s tall figure behind her, holding out the necklace with the fiery gem.
“This is…” she murmured, partly in awe.
Dave smiled softly, his lips forming a thin curve as he placed the necklace around Bianca’s neck. The red gem shimmered in the light, sparkling brightly.
“It suits you. I knew it would look perfect on you.”
Standing behind her, Dave gently wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder, admiring the reflection of the necklace on Bianca in the mirror.
Bianca stood still, her tone somewhat cool. “Mr. Evans, what do you mean?”
“It’s yours now. Wearing it means you’re taken.”
Bianca looked down, her silence speaking volumes. The red diamond was rare and undoubtedly expensive. Dave wasn’t rich, so this must have been a significant expense for him.
Haris’s unexpected visit today had brought Bianca back to reality. Soon, Dave would find out about her troubled past and probably walk away from her.
Despite the pain, she believed things meant to disappear would eventually do so, so it was better to end things now.
She couldn’t keep pretending and carry on with their relationship.
Gently, Bianca took the necklace from Dave’s hand and returned it to him.
“Mr. Evans, this is too valuable for me to accept.”
“It’s a gift for my girlfriend and, hopefully, soon-to-be fiancee. Please, keep it.” Dave placed the necklace back in her hand, his seriousness deepening her sadness.
Clutching the necklace tightly, Bianca looked up at Dave with tears welling in her eyes. “Mr. Evans, I’m sorry. I can’t be your girlfriend or your fiancee, so I shouldn’t take this.”
“Why? Didn’t we agree last night that…” Dave looked confused, furrowing his brow. She had kissed him passionately, so why was she rejecting him now?
Bianca, who was typically fearless, couldn’t bring herself to confess her past to Dave.
She hung her head, thinking for an explanation. “About last night… I just wanted to thank you for your support earlier.”
Dave’s expression turned cold and distant. “So you’re saying you kissed me just to say thanks, not because you have feelings for me?”
Bianca nodded. “That’s right.”
“And if another guy had helped you, would you have thanked him the same way?” Dave studied her eyes, trying to understand her intentions.
Bianca was speechless.
Feeling exhausted from the conversation, she simply handed the diamond necklace to him. Her eyes pleaded with him. “Mr. Evans, please don’t linger on me. You deserve someone better. This… This belongs to someone else.”
The red diamond, once a symbol of affection, now seemed out of place and mocking.
Dave’s expression darkened. He grabbed Bianca’s wrists and pressed her against the sink. His breath was cold, and his usually calm eyes showed flickers of turmoil, yet he maintained control.
His gaze shifted to Bianca’s pale lips, and he leaned in to kiss her.
But she turned away abruptly. Stray, wet hairs clung to her face, her lips pressed tightly together.
Her refusal to kiss him was clear and undeniable.
A harsh laugh escaped him as he let go of her wrists and stepped back.
“Bianca, I have a business trip abroad. I won’t be back for a while,” Dave announced, his voice devoid of warmth.
Bianca froze for a moment when she heard Dave was leaving for a business trip.
“When?” she blurted out.
“I’m leaving right now.” Dave emerged from the bathroom, grabbed a black coat from the closet, and put it on.
Bianca realized he was dressed up as if he had waited for her to return just to give her the necklace before he left.
“And this necklace…” She looked down at the red diamond necklace in her hand.
Dave changed his shoes, stood in the hallway with a cold stare, and said, “While I’m away, think things over. If you really don’t have feelings for me, I’ll take the necklace back when I return.”
With that, he stepped out and closed the door behind him, leaving Bianca no chance to object.
Alone in the apartment, Bianca retreated to her bedroom.
She carefully placed the necklace in her jewelry box and stared at it, resting her chin in her hand. It looked like a fiery drop of blood, deep red and pulsating.
She knew she had to handle such a precious item with care. She had to keep it safe and return it to Dave when he came back.
Bianca lay on her soft bed, covering her eyes with her arm. But every time she closed them, memories of last night haunted her – his firm kiss, his comforting presence.
He was off on business, and it would be some time before he came back. But as soon as he left, she couldn’t help but miss him.
Frustrated, she pulled the covers over her head, trying to force herself to sleep. She wouldn’t have to think about him if she could just doze off.