Chapter 5

JADE

I blinked rapidly just to be sure that the man standing in front of me was the same one who had once promised me eternal love. His words had haunted me for the longest time until I finally learned to let go.

Seeing him now was like ripping off the bandage from a fresh wound. And I hated that it still hurt even after all these years.

Caius' lips parted; he was unable to hide his shock. I took a deep breath and pulled myself together. It didn't matter what happened between us before now. I was married now. That part of my life had to stay buried – forever.

"Caius, this is my sister-in-law, Jade." Katya pulled me towards him, already making introductions.

"Hello," I said, bowing my head only slightly towards him. His lips parted, and I could already sense what he was about to say, so I stopped it. "It's nice to meet you, Caius." I reached out for a handshake.

I was not trying to hide the truth about our past relationship, but no one needed to know. We didn't have to make things messy.

He seemed to understand as he took my hand; his finger drew a circle in the middle of my palm, like he had the right to. He didn't! An uneasy smile stretched across his face.

"Nice to meet you..."

We both froze when a hand crept up my waist. He pulled me closer, possessive. Like he already knew. I could feel his heat press into my skin even through the fabric. His hand let go of mine, and it fell to my side.

"You must be Katya's guest." Roman's voice sent multiple shivers down my spine. The way his hand gripped my wrist was unnatural, almost like his instincts had tipped him off that something was wrong.

"Yes, brother, it is my..." She barely finished speaking when a loud noise was heard from the main entrance.

We all turned our heads toward the ballroom doors. I gasped when I saw Naomi in her usual over-the-top attire at the entrance. She looked like this was a party specifically thrown for her. She didn't need an invitation to make everything about herself.

"I am the sister of Jade, and I am allowed to be in there." Her lips puckered; her slightly purple lips pushed out too far.

"Ask her and see," she demanded of the guards, who remained immovable.

"You are not on the guest list, ma'am..."

"How dare you speak to me like that?" she cut him off angrily. She took a deep breath and gestured inside the hall. "Let me in now, or regret this action for the rest of your life."

Now all eyes were on me because Olga had introduced me as Jade. I turned to Roman, ready to explain that I couldn't have asked her to be here. For one, I hated being in the same room with her.

"I am sorry, ma'am, but..."

"I only came to offer my birthday wishes." Her voice was too loud. She knew the scene she was causing and the attention it drew to her, and she was not ready to let go of it yet.

Olga sighed and tapped her cane on the ground again. She turned to the PA who had been on her tail all night.

"Get her in."

Naomi catwalked through the room, every eye following her movement. She was dressed in a silvery pink dress that shimmered under the lights and stopped in front of the older woman. She smirked at me and turned her attention to Olga.

"Grandmother..." she dragged the word as if she were trying to make a point. "When I heard it was your birthday, I knew I had to come personally to offer my wishes."

"I brought this token to offer you," she said after a moment of silence.

"That is very kind of you," Olga said. Her PA took the box and opened it instantly. Inside was an immaculate white teapot and cup set. I recognized it instantly.

"It's the Lunar-Glaze Celestial Set," Naomi beamed with joy, a smile spreading across her face.

So this was her plan: make a scene here, offer a gift she was sure would upstage whatever I bought, and take all the credit.

I was sure she knew nothing about the gift and what it was worth. Victoria must be behind the ruse. I guessed they hadn't given up yet on the idea of Naomi taking my place, even though I was already legally married.

"To the ordinary eye, these look like a plain white china set, but they are thin, almost translucent like a dragonfly's wing, and when hot tea is poured into the cups, it reveals a hand-painted constellation invisible when the cups are cold," she recited, like she had spent all evening memorizing it.

She was right. It was such a special and rare set. The crowd behind us gasped at how valuable her gift was. The beautiful jade set we had presented earlier suddenly paled in comparison. Of course it did. Naomi didn't show up if she didn't want to win.

"Do you like it, Grandmother?" Naomi asked with fake humility that made my skin crawl.

"Of course, it's wonderful that a girl like you brings such a gift," Olga said, gesturing to her. Naomi stood by her side, grabbing her arm like a child clinging to something.

"Call me Nana." Olga's strong voice filled the air.

I knew it meant nothing, yet it felt like I had been thrown off a high-speed horse. Like I had lost something I didn't know I had been holding onto.

"I would have found something better if I had heard about the party earlier." She turned to me, her hidden smirk not so hidden anymore.

She bowed her head, and her voice dropped. My heart hammered in my chest; I already knew what to expect, but I didn't know how well it would work on the Volkov family.

"I don't blame my sister; after all, she is busy working as a junior at a private art gallery, so she doesn't have the time to get things in order."

I swallowed the feeling in my chest. Hook, line, and sinker. She was performing—and everyone was watching.

I was not ready to go head-to-head with her. This was a banquet neither of us could afford to mishandle, and offending the people here was unthinkable.

"What does her job have to do with anything?" Roman's voice cut through the air before my mind could find the right response.

I didn't ask him to step in, but I didn't stop him either.

Naomi's lips parted. I guessed she thought this was the Sterling house, where she could spin lies and everyone would believe her without question.

"Roman," she pouted, trying to move towards us, but he took a step back, and she stopped. "I was just trying to say..." She trailed off and shook her head.

"I understand if my sister is angry with me." She bowed her head again and sniffed.

With how image-obsessed she was, I knew she would never cry, and the sniffing was just for show.

"I stole the life she was supposed to live for years. Maybe that is the reason she wants to cut off our parents the moment she gets the chance. I am just worried about our old, poor parents and hope they don't get affected by Jade's actions."

"My wife doesn't need to suck up to anyone," Roman said, pulling me flush to his side like I was not already glued to him.

"If you spread these kinds of rumours again, I will have the Sterling family pay a big price for it."

Naomi's lips parted; she wanted to defend herself, but Olga stopped her. Naomi grabbed a fistful of her dress, her nose flaring in anger.

"Very good, Roman. It's important to stand up for your wife." Olga couldn't hide her smile. "Let's get back to the party so we don't cause a scene." She gestured to the crowd that had gathered.

"There is enough food and drinks to go round. Please help yourselves!"

Naomi threw me a look, and I didn't need to overthink it. She was just getting started, and now Olga had given her a free pass into the Volkov family to charm her way into my position.