However, hearing Holden casually talk about tens of millions made Sarah doubt the real-world value of things in this world. Were all top-tier rich people this extravagant?
In the book, the male lead Ronald mostly gave the female lead Elisa jewelry worth tens of thousands. Yesterday, he gave Elisa a dress and jewelry set identical to Sarah’s, totaling just over ninety thousand, which made Elisa feel very proud because Ronald rarely bought her such expensive things.
The male lead’s wealth was only one tier below Holden’s, yet the treatment was vastly different.
Sarah changed into the dress and jewelry, tying up her long hair.
When she came out, Holden’s gaze lingered on her.
Her figure and demeanor suited the dress perfectly. The fabric was delicate and smooth, exuding a low-key luxurious sheen, like a still autumn pool rippling in the breeze. The intricately embroidered roses were grand yet orderly, reflecting her reserved yet impressive demeanor.
The high-neck design accentuated her long, graceful neck, and the delicate pearls at the waist added a touch of elegant sophistication. The dress hugged her curves, showcasing her slender waist beautifully, while the hem flared slightly. As she moved, her slim, fair legs peeked through, modest yet full of allure.
Sarah had pinned up her long hair, securing it lightly with a jade hairpin. A few loose strands fell around her fair neck, adding a touch of laziness and elegance.
Although she wasn’t wearing any makeup, her features were still striking. Her curved eyebrows framed a pair of pretty eyes that sparkled, captivating anyone who looked into them.
Sarah said, “There aren’t any makeup products here. I might need to go home.”
She had only washed her face with water and hadn’t applied any foundation or lipstick. But her natural beauty, combined with meticulous skincare, left her skin flawless and white, though a bit too pale.
Holden replied, “No need. You look just right now.”
He knew that if Sarah went back to apply makeup, she might draw too much attention.
“It’s about time. Let’s go to the restaurant for breakfast first.”
The hotel restaurant on the top floor always served a lavish breakfast.
Sarah, worried about maintaining her image and preventing another bout of gastritis, only had a glass of milk and a sandwich in front of her, even less than Holden.
Holden raised an eyebrow, recalling something, and smiled, “Not hungry today?”
“Yeah,” Sarah took a sip of milk. “You know, I never have much of an appetite. I always eat very little.”
“Sarah? What are you doing here?”
Ronald, who had come to have breakfast with Elisa, spotted Sarah immediately. Sarah’s presence was hard to miss due to her outstanding demeanor.
Sarah turned her head. Holden looked over as well.
At this point, Holden hadn’t met Ronald yet, but he knew Ronald’s name and that he was the object of Sarah’s affection. This was the reason Holden had married Sarah in the first place.
Sarah’s heart tightened. She couldn’t let Holden know that she no longer had any feelings for Ronald. If Holden realized she didn’t love Ronald anymore, he might doubt her sincerity and possibly suspect that she could fall for him. A man like Holden hated women clinging to him.
Today, Sarah’s dress was stunning, making her the center of attention.
Ronald was also dazzled, feeling a mix of anticipation and irritation. “Are you… are you waiting for me on purpose?”
Elisa, being a woman, first noticed the man opposite Sarah. She had thought Ronald was already top-tier among men, but seeing Holden, she realized Ronald couldn’t compare.
Holden’s voice was indifferent, “Sarah, who are these two people?”
Ronald then noticed Holden. In an instant, Ronald’s guard went up, sensing that this man was not simple and seemed to have a significant background.
Ronald introduced himself, “I’m Ronald Martin, Sarah’s friend. This is my girlfriend, Elisa.”
“Ronald Martin,” Holden repeated his name, his eyes darkening, “I’m Holden Smith, Sarah’s husband.”
Ronald was stunned. This young man was Holden Smith?
Ronald had heard of Holden’s exploits in the business world, building an unimaginable empire. He had assumed Holden was an older, wealthy man with a beer belly.
He hadn’t expected Holden to be so… handsome and young.
Sitting next to Sarah, they actually looked like a perfect couple.
Elisa had also heard about Holden. People said Sarah’s husband was worth hundreds of billions and was a powerful figure who could shake up City N. Like Ronald, she used to think that Sarah was just materialistic, marrying an old, ugly man for money.
When she saw how handsome Holden was and that he was wealthier than Ronald, Elisa felt a pang of jealousy.
Elisa had believed that by mimicking Sarah and stealing her man, she had gotten the best the world had to offer. She hadn’t expected Sarah to have something even better.
Elisa’s eyes couldn’t help but scan Sarah’s outfit and jewelry.
The jade bracelet on Sarah’s wrist was a deep, clear green, making her wrist look slender and glossy, so beautiful that it was hard to look away. The emerald and diamond necklace on her neck looked anything but gaudy, exuding an understated luxury and growing more stunning the longer one looked at it.
Elisa quickly spoke up, “Mr. Holden, it’s an honor to meet you! We’ve all heard of you. We were so surprised when you married Sarah because you’re such an excellent man, and we all thought Sarah wasn’t good enough for you.”
Sarah, “…”
No wonder Elisa was the sweet, innocent, and pure heroine who could win over everyone. She sure knew how to flatter the big shot right off the bat.
Holden responded calmly, “Sarah is a good girl. If anyone isn’t good enough, it’s me who isn’t good enough for her.”
Elisa felt even more jealous. She now thought that Holden had more class and was more considerate of a woman’s feelings than Ronald. Whenever someone told Ronald that Elisa wasn’t good enough for him, he never refuted it.
Elisa looked at Sarah enviously. “Sarah, your clothes and jewelry are so beautiful. Did Mr. Holden buy them for you? Where did you get them?”
Holden immediately recognized that Elisa’s outfit was identical to what Sarah wore yesterday. He said lightly, “Custom-made, one of a kind.”
Elisa looked a bit embarrassed. She had been hoping to hint to Ronald to buy her the same thing, but now she saw that it wasn’t going to happen.
Ronald’s face had been darkening ever since. He noticed that Sarah hadn’t looked at him once. And Sarah’s high-neck dress covered her chest completely, making him suspect what she and Holden might have done last night in the hotel.
Ronald didn’t eat breakfast and walked straight out of the restaurant.
Elisa hurried after him, “Ronald! Ronald! Wait for me!”
Ronald stopped abruptly.
Elisa, feeling very aggrieved, said, “I haven’t even eaten. Why did you leave so suddenly?”
Ronald’s face was dark, and he didn’t say anything.
Most of the time, when they were together, it was Elisa who had to coax Ronald. After all, Ronald was a CEO and the young master of the Martin family. If Elisa didn’t treat him well, there would be plenty of other women willing to.
Feeling extremely wronged, Elisa said, “You still can’t forget about Sarah, can you? Seeing her with her husband, you’re jealous, aren’t you?”
Ronald snorted, “No.”
“Then what do you mean?” Elisa’s eyes turned red. “I know I’m just a substitute for Sarah. If you like her, go back to her.”
Seeing Elisa’s pitiful look, Ronald suddenly felt a surge of pity for her.
That woman Sarah was so fickle, always jumping from one man to another. What’s so good about her anyway?
Elisa, on the other hand, was the one worth his affection.
Besides, Elisa wasn’t much worse than Sarah; in many ways, she was even better.
Ronald felt a hollow emptiness inside him as he quickly hugged Elisa, saying, “Alright, don’t be mad. Let’s go eat.”
Sarah stared at Ronald’s disappearing figure, pretending to look wistful. No matter what, in front of Holden, she had to act like she still had feelings for Ronald.
Holden smirked, “He’s the man you love?”