Seeing the smug look on Steven's face, I chuckled. "Such an expensive watch, even if she dared to buy it for you, would you dare to wear it?"

Steven's eyes instantly welled up with tears. His earlier joyful expression turned somber and he said with a hint of grievance, "I'm sorry, Mr. Cruz. You're absolutely right. It's way too valuable. I don't deserve to wear something like this."

"I'll return it to Miss Sunray immediately."

Looking at his humiliated state, it was as if I was the one bullying him with my power.

He went to unbuckle the watch strap, but Josette stopped him.

"Okay, okay, Ronan. It's just 100 million, not even pocket money for you. There's no need to scare Steven."

She leaned close to my ear, her breath warm against my skin. "When we get home, I'll give you a big surprise as an apology for Steven."

I kept a cold face and didn't respond or look at Steven again.

It was already late at night when I got back home.

I loosened my tie and asked the housekeeper to pour me a whiskey.

Sitting on the sofa by the French windows, the cigarette between my fingers slowly burned down to the filter.

My phone screen stayed lit, showing a yellowed photo.

It was a picture of my childhood sweetheart, Winona Claire and me.

I carried her on my back and was chased by a puppy.

In the photo, she was laughing, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

Memories flooded back like a tide.

She was sixteen that year, standing in a white dress at the airport. Her eyes were red, but she refused to cry.

"Ronan, you have to come find me," she said, holding her little finger. "Pinky promise."

I hooked my pinky around hers, feeling the tremble in her fingers. "Once I've fully taken over the family business, I'll first bring you back."

"Then I'll wait for you to marry me."

She suddenly came close, kissed me lightly on the cheek, then turned and ran into the security check channel, never looking back.

The cigarette burned my finger and I snapped back to reality, stubbing it out.

A lingering ache spread through my chest. I murmured to the empty living room, "I broke my promise."

The phone suddenly vibrated, then a notification popped up.

Steven had just updated his status.

In the photo, the Patek Philippe, which was auctioned for hundreds of millions, gleamed on his wrist.

But what stung even more was the ruby pendant hanging around his neck.

The large "C" character on it pierced my eyes.

That ruby pendant was passed down through generations of my family, symbolizing the Cruz Family heir.

[Thank you, Miss Sunray. It's the first time in my life that I've worn such an expensive watch. It's worth remembering!]

[I said I feared walking home alone at night and she gave me her family's heirloom for protection. Such a thoughtful boss, one in a million.]

My fingers tightened uncontrollably and the veins were exposed.

This was no longer just a provocation but a blatant declaration of war.

"What are you looking at?"

Josette's voice came from behind me.

I turned around and saw her walking towards me, wearing only a thin black lace underwear.

It was sensual and bold, full of a wildness that made my blood rush.

She had never worn this style in all our years together.

Her wet hair was draped over her shoulders and water droplets slid down her collarbones into the barely visible cleavage.

I would have already pinned her to the sofa if it had been yesterday.

Now, I just felt nauseous.

"Where did the pendant in the study go?"

I asked calmly, my voice as cold as ice.

Josette was taken aback for a moment, then shrugged nonchalantly. "That day, Steven came to the house to deliver client documents. He saw the pendant and really liked it, so I gave it to him."

She walked over and straddled my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck and nibbling my earlobe, her face flushed.

"Forget all that, I just want you right now and I want you so badly."

I grabbed Josette's wrist with such force that she frowned.

"So you let him into my study?"

I asked slowly and deliberately, "You know, no one is allowed in my study without my permission, including you."

Josette's expression instantly turned cold.

She stood up from my lap, snatched her bathrobe and wrapped it around herself. "Ronan, are you out of your mind tonight?"

"You already said some nasty things at the auction and now you're acting like this at home? Don't you think that's going a bit too far?"

"Too far?"

I almost laughed out loud.

Steven seemed very considerate when he posted on social media to block his Miss Sunray.

I stood up, looking down at her. "Josette, I'm asking you, does emotional cheating count as cheating?"

Her eyes suddenly widened, then she snapped back loudly, "Only a dirty mind sees dirt everywhere!"

"Nothing is going on between me and Steven. We're clean. Go ahead and investigate if you want!"

"Also, if you don't like me giving people gifts, I'll have him return the watch tomorrow!"

"Is it necessary to be so angry?"

I shook my head and showed a sarcastic smile. "I'm not angry about a watch."

Josette thought I was backing down and her tone softened.

She reached out and touched my face with a bit of arrogance. "It's good that you are not angry. Then, I won't punish you for sleeping in the study tonight."

I let her lead me upstairs, lie down on the bed and close my eyes, pretending to fall asleep.

Once her breathing became even and relaxed, I went to the balcony, took out my phone and dialed a number.

"Dad, I've thought it over. I'll go through with the marriage arrangement with the Claires."

After hanging up, I sent a message to my secretary.

Putting down the phone, I looked at Josette's sleeping face.

She was as beautiful as an angel under the moonlight.

But I knew that angel was no longer pure.

The next morning, I arrived at the company earlier than usual.

Not long after I sat down, the office door was pushed open.

Josette rushed in angrily, followed by a red-eyed Steven.

She slammed the Patek Philippe watch hard onto my desk. "Ronan, I can't believe how petty you are!"

"He already agreed to return the watch to you and you actually had HR fire Steven overnight?"

"Doing such a despicable thing behind your back, are you still a man?"

I picked up the watch slowly, looked at it and swept it into the trash can beside me.

I called my secretary. "Have them come in."

Soon, more than a dozen luxury store managers came in with hundreds of famous watches in their hands.

They lined up in a row and bowed respectfully in unison. "Good morning, Mr. Cruz!"

I looked at Steven and said, "Since you like expensive watches so much, I'll grant your wish."

"Pick any you like. If you're not satisfied, we can bring in another batch. But you must return the pendant to me!"

Steven's face was flushed crimson. His gaze was fixed on the tips of his shoes and he wished he could disappear into the floor.

Josette snapped, "Ronan, what exactly do you think you're doing?"

"Just because you have money, you think you can humiliate people like this?"

I said calmly, "What's wrong? You can give him gifts, but no one else can?"

"Don't forget, I'm also his boss."

Josette was momentarily speechless, then changed the subject. "Then why did you fire Steven? You at least owe me an explanation!"

"It was not my idea for him to be fired." I leaned back in the chair, crossed my fingers on my belly. "The inspection team found issues with his work conduct. He wasn't a suitable fit for the company. It's as simple as that."

Steven's face went from red to pale in an instant.

Of course, he knew exactly what "improper conduct" I was referring to.

Harassing female colleagues, frequenting nightclubs, gambling and embezzling company funds.

I'd had someone gather all the evidence a long time ago. I just hadn't brought it to Josette's attention.

But Josette was completely unaware. She demanded angrily, "What improper conduct? You explain yourself!"

"Mr. Cruz … "

Steven's eyes welled up, his voice trembling.

"I know I'm not very capable at work, but I'm Miss Sunray's special secretary. I should ask Miss Sunray first if there's anything. HR shouldn't bypass her and go directly."

I interrupted him with a half-smile, "What's this? You're just a recent graduate, an intern. Are you trying to tell the company how to operate?"

Steven immediately lowered his head. "Mr. Cruz, I absolutely didn't mean that."

Josette looked at me with eyes full of disappointment. "Ronan, I chose you back then because of your free-spiritedness, unconventional ways and uniqueness."

She scoffed coldly, "Now it seems I was wrong."

I stood up and walked over to her, reaching out to touch her face, but she turned away.

I didn't mind. I said softly, "Josette, do you know Winona is returning to the country?"

Josette's body visibly stiffened.

As a well-known socialite in city circles, she certainly knew who Winona Claire was.

My childhood sweetheart, the only daughter of the Claires.

If it weren't for Josette, Winona and I would have married long ago.

"I know. So what?" she said, trying to appear calm. "Why are you suddenly bringing up Winona?"

I smiled and didn't answer. I casually snatched the pendant hanging around Steven's neck when I was about to leave the office.

The force was so great that it nearly made him fall.

Still, he didn't dare to show his anger.

At the door, I stopped and said without looking back. "There is a family dinner tonight and my father specifically asked to invite you."

I didn't see Josette's expression, but I could feel the air in the office freeze instantly.

After a few seconds of silence, she nodded. "Okay."

***

As night fell, Josette, dressed in a slender evening gown and wearing ten-centimeter stilettos, stood in front of the carved iron gates of the Cruz residence.

Steven stood behind her, awkwardly holding the gift booth bag and from time to time, he glanced at the ancient building full of historical heritage behind the wall with the corner of his eye.

Billy the butler lowered his eyelids and spoke respectfully yet firmly. "I'm sorry, Miss Sunray, but this gentleman's name is not on the family banquet guest list."

"So he can't go in."

"Billy, Steven is my special assistant," Josette raised her chin, the diamond earrings I had given her glinting coldly in the twilight. "Since when did the Cruz Family start judging people based on their background?"

"Since when? Let me think."

A deep voice came from the depths of the courtyard. I walked out slowly, wearing a dark-patterned suit.

Glancing casually at the brand-new watch strap barely visible on Steven's wrist, I smiled mockingly. "I remember now, it should have started from the day Cruz Trading Company was officially listed in Heritage Walk three hundred years ago."

Steven suddenly coughed violently. The pale skin of his neck still showed the red mark where the amulet had been pulled off.

Josette quickly turned around to pat his back. "Steven, are you alright?"

"If the two of you want to put on a touching display of master-servant affection, please go to a hotel and do it slowly," I said coldly. "At the very least, tonight's guests have rung the NASDAQ bell. Are you sure you want your little assistant to go around toasting them?"

Anger flickered across Josette's meticulously made-up face. Just as he was about to speak, he was stopped by the housekeeper.

I turned and walked away, leaving behind a light remark. "Billy, rules are rules. They can't be bent."

"Remember to tell Miss Sunray that the kitchen has prepared Tremella soup. She can drink a few more bowls later if she has a sore throat due to internal heat."

Josette stomped her foot in frustration. Steven murmured, "Maybe it's better if I head back for now, Miss Sunray."

"No need. Please wait here for a while. Someone will invite you in later."

Josette shot a resentful glare at my retreating back before entering the Cruz residence herself. This time, the housekeeper didn't stop her.

***

Inside the banquet hall, Josette sat beside my mother with a glass of champagne in hand and a sweet voice to match. "Auntie, how have you been lately?"

"Not bad."

My mother replied elegantly, taking a sip of tea, a ruby bracelet sliding down her well-maintained wrist.

"Josette, this truffle foie gras is your favorite. You rarely come by, so please have some more."

The gilded lazy Susan rotated slowly at her words, bringing a celadon bowl to Josette.

My father suddenly tapped lightly on the table.

A line of servers entered, removing all the cold dishes.

Josette froze mid-air with a silver spoon, watching her favorite truffle foie gras being taken away.

"Everyone, " my father stood up and raised his glass. Today's family dinner is to announce something. My useless son is getting married."

Josette looked taken aback, then frowned.

"Uncle, this is so sudden."

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

My father didn't respond, just gave her a meaningful look.

"Because there's no need for that," I said coolly. "Today, in front of everyone, I declare that Josette and I are breaking up from now on."