Chapter 49 It's All My Fault

After that small but significant incident, the anniversary celebration continued as planned. I remained seated in the corner, fearful that the engagement ring might fall off. Despite my efforts to keep to myself, people occasionally approached to chat. As Mrs. Harmon, I had to Not wanting to engage with too many strangers, I eventually slipped into the restroom. To my surprise, I bumped into fill, who was heavily intoxicated.

Coincidentally ill had attended the same school as us and seemed to have been at odds with me since our freshman year. It wasn't until later that a roommate mentioned she also liked Max Reid, but I had gotten to him first

M the time, my pursuit of Max was the talk of the campus. Jill, being proud, didn't want to keep pursuing him and instead started picking on me. I intended to ignore her, but she grabbed my ann

"Eva, why are you running away? Are you feeling guilty?" she slurred

"Jill, you've had too much to drink," I replied while trying to pull away, but realized I was too weak to even fend off Jill.

She held on tight, her eyes full of disdain. "Why are you pretending? You broke up with him and found yourself a rich guy. Why come back? Gold-digger, schemer, villain! You never loved him. Why not stay with your rich boyfriend in Manovia.? Whycling to Leonard?" She was indeed drunk. She'd never say these things sober. I almost considered recording her, thinking I might be able to blackmail her later. As I was lost in these absurd thoughts, Zack came to my rescue.

"Ms. Pope, you've had too much to drink. Let me get someone to help you to the lounge," he said, gently pulling her away.

Till looked at her hand in confusion, then leaned closer to examine him before pushing him away.

"Zack, are you crazy? Don't you know she followed a rich guy to Manova? Why are you all into this fake girl? She's a fraud!"

"Oh, that's right. You left for Manovia a year earber. You must not know."

"I tell y you"

Zack ignored her and summoned a server to escort her to the lounge 1 smiled slowardly. "I'm sorry. 5

She's just drunk."

Zack wiped his hands, then casually said, "I remember you went to Manova with your mother."

I froze, instinctively looking to the side. "I-I should be going."

Before I could leave, Zack grabbed my wrist gently, as if afraid to hurt me. "I was at the airport that day. I saw you with an older woman. That was your mother, right?"

His gaze bore into me, and I swallowed, unsure of how to respond. Everyone thought I went abroad for a curious life, but only a few close friends knew it was a matter of life and death. Just as I was feeling comered, Lily walked over and gasped. "Eva, what's going on? How could you..."

Zack instinctively let go, and I awkwardly rubbed my wrist. Lily, now in a different dress and holding two large bags, looked furious. "If you don't want to divorce Leonard, you shouldn't be clinging to other mIEM,"

"Didn't you leave? Why did you come back?"Material © of .

I turned to wash my hands, flicked the water off them as Lily stepped back. She took a deep breath and looked at the bags in her hands. "Eva, since Leonard won't divorce you, and you act so loving in public, I'm retuming everything he gave me." "Please pass these gifts back to him. I can't accept such expensive clothes and jewelry,"

She looked at me with a stubborn, innocent expression but didn't extend her hands. I didn't take them, realizing she didn't intend to give them to me. "You can give them to him yourself. He's in the hall."

I turned to leave, but as I looked back, I saw Leonard walking over with some executives. Lily suddenly ran to me and said loudly while facing Leonard's back, "Eva, since my presence bothers you so much, you can have these."

She stretched out her arm and let go of the bags. They hit the ground with a thad, and I heard a shattering sound. Lily looked at me with feigned tears. "Eva, this emerald set is worth at least ten million dollars. How could you just throw it away?"

Her eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction, and it made me nauseous. I rushed to the restrooms to retch. When I came out, Leonard was holding the jewelry box, frowning at the broken emerald bracelet inside. Lily sobbed uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Eva was upset and smashed the bracelet. It's all my fault!

"Leo, it's a big day. Please don't be angry with her. Blame me instead.