Chapter 3

Yasmin felt nothing but irritation.

The moment she saw Theodore, she couldn't help but think of his entanglement with Scarlett, disgust churning in her gut. She sat in the passenger seat, silent the entire ride.

Theodore finally spoke. "Don't you have anything to say?"

Yasmin pressed her lips together, her tone clipped. "No."

Theodore's brow furrowed involuntarily, frustration flickering in his eyes. What was wrong with this woman? He'd given her an out, but she refused to take it. Would it kill her to back down and apologize?

When the car reached the Prescott Estate, Yasmin pushed open the door and stepped out, eager to breathe fresh air. She started walking toward the entrance, completely oblivious to Theodore's darkened expression as he emerged from the driver's seat.

Scarlett appeared out of nowhere, throwing herself into Theodore's arms. "Theo, I've been waiting forever. How come you only just—" Her half-petulant, half-complaining words cut off when she spotted Yasmin. Her eyes instantly reddened.

"Oh, Miss White is here too... I thought tonight you were only bringing me to celebrate Grandma's birthday..."

Yasmin felt a wave of nausea, anger surging inside her. Then her peripheral vision caught the pink diamond necklace at Scarlett's throat, and she froze in place.

That was... the necklace Theodore had given her when they got married. One of a kind in the entire world. Now, it hung around Scarlett's neck. The necklace did look good on her.

Yasmin looked away, staring at the picture-perfect couple before her. Whether her heart had gone numb or the pain had reached its limit, her voice came out eerily calm. "Is this your plan? Bring Scarlett to the estate, have her wear the necklace you gave me, deliberately make me see where your heart lies, force me to step aside obediently?"

Her voice was flat, though her body felt drained of all strength. "I never intended to stand in your way. Why bother with this whole performance? What's the point? Do you need me to personally wish you both happiness before you're satisfied?"

The more she spoke, the more her stomach churned with nausea.

Theodore said nothing, his face cold as he stared at the necklace around Scarlett's neck, his eyes unreadable.

Scarlett hastily spoke up, her tone flustered. "Didn't you have someone send this to me? I really didn't know it belonged to Miss White..."

Truth and lies—who could tell them apart anymore? Yasmin's lips twitched without humor. She didn't say another word. Simply sharing the same space as Scarlett made breathing feel suffocating. She couldn't stand it for another second.

After a long pause, Theodore finally spoke. "Scar didn't know about the necklace. Take it off."

Scarlett's hand moved to her throat, fingers clutching the necklace, reluctance written across her face.

"No need." Yasmin cut in, watching Scarlett quickly withdraw her hand. The sight was laughable. And Theodore still treated her like treasure.

Yasmin spoke slowly, enunciating each word. "I don't want things other people have worn." She gritted her teeth, her gaze boring into Theodore with pointed meaning. "It. Makes. Me. Sick."

The necklace was like that. The man standing before her was no different.

Theodore's expression instantly darkened like a storm cloud.

The commotion in the courtyard had grown too loud. Marigold was alerted and walked out slowly. The white-haired woman looked at Yasmin's reddened eyes, then swept her gaze over Theodore's grim face and Scarlett's feigned distress. Her voice was grave. "What's going on here?"

Yasmin turned away, discreetly wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, forcing a strained smile. "Grandma, I have something to take care of tonight. I won't be able to stay for your birthday."

In the future, she wouldn't be staying for anything. In all of the Prescott family, besides Marigold, who had ever truly welcomed her?

Marigold wanted to say more, but Yasmin had already turned and walked away without looking back. Behind her, Scarlett's startled cry and Theodore's angry questioning—she heard none of it. Even if she had, what difference would it make? She didn't want to care anymore.

……

For several days straight, Yasmin's mood remained dark and heavy.

Especially since Scarlett had apparently bought off countless entertainment reporters and gossip tabloids—Theodore's impending wife-swap dominated every headline, stoking Yasmin's fury.

Her parents called repeatedly. She hung up every time. Always the same speech—don't get divorced, think of the bigger picture.

Yasmin had her lawyer send Theodore another divorce agreement. Radio silence from his end. Not even a response. She'd pressed Theodore's secretary Grant, but always got the same answer: the boss is busy, no time.

Grant Wind was a scholarship student Marigold had sponsored who'd worked for Theodore since graduation. He'd always been courteous enough to Yasmin. She just didn't know if this excuse came from Theodore or Marigold.

Whatever. Yasmin was too tired to dig deeper.

Her lawyer did remind her she could pursue litigation for divorce. Yasmin considered it and asked him to start collecting evidence of Theodore's infidelity. Whether it would be useful in the end or not, better to be prepared.

This divorce was happening. Period.

The lawyer needed time to compile evidence. Yasmin didn't rush him, just asked him to be thorough.

Meanwhile, her new job was getting increasingly demanding. The cosmetics company Yasmin had joined wasn't large, but internal factions and nepotism ran rampant. As a newcomer without connections, she naturally became a target for exclusion.

The overtime was fine, though. At least it kept her mind off Theodore and Scarlett's whole mess.

But naturally, the people she least wanted to see had to flaunt themselves in her face.

On the new work week, Yasmin had barely arrived at the office when the director announced the company would be partnering with a luxury goods company under some major conglomerate. The partner had recommended an up-and-coming jewelry designer from a studio.

"Up-and-coming" just meant a rookie with connections looking to attach her name and leech resources. And that designer was Scarlett.

She appeared before Yasmin under the title of collaboration partner. Yasmin's mood instantly plummeted. Worse yet, during the meeting, Scarlett specifically called on Yasmin to be the liaison for this partnership.

Yasmin had never been one to swallow her pride. She flatly refused on the spot. Scarlett put on that pitiful two-faced act again, making Yasmin's stomach turn.

"Miss White, do you have a problem with me? I know there's some personal friction between us..." As her words fell, gossipy gazes from colleagues around the office instantly locked onto them.

Theodore's secretary Grant sat right beside Scarlett. Clearly, Theodore had sent him to back up his little mistress.

Yasmin didn't even lift her eyelids, her tone ice-cold. "Since you know we have personal issues, why deliberately pick me for this? What are you playing at?"

Scarlett stammered, caught off guard. "I..."

Yasmin cut her off directly. "Do you actually want to work together or not? If not, find someone else. Otherwise I'm afraid if I talk to you for one more sentence, I won't be able to stop myself from slapping you."

"If you're going to be a homewrecker, at least have some self-awareness. What's the point of parading around in front of me? Think because Theodore's protecting you, I won't dare touch you?"