The party was already halfway through when Callum finally showed up with Ruby.

Ruby, who had looked pale just now, had regained a rosy glow to her cheeks, and Callum looked pretty satisfied.

As soon as the guests noticed them, their eyes quickly shifted to me. They were waiting for some drama.

If this had been the old me, I probably would have gotten jealous and made a scene.

But after living through everything once again, all I wanted was to enjoy my tea. Honestly, it was pretty good tea.

Callum pulled Ruby into his arms and got ready to shield her. He shot me a look, all tense and defensive.

But what caught him off guard was me calmly sipping my tea, like none of this had anything to do with me.

At first, his eyebrows drew together in disbelief, but then something just clicked, and he eased up. He smirked and said, “Moon, I see you finally came around to what I said earlier.

“This is how it should be. If you want to marry into the Fido family and be my wife, you need to know your place.”

He looked really pleased with himself. Then, acting all generous, he added, “I bought a bracelet at an auction recently. I’ll give it to you as a reward.”

He told a maid to bring it over. But before the box was even opened, Ruby snatched it up.

“Wow, Callum, this bracelet is beautiful.” Ruby looked at Callum with hopeful eyes. “You’ve never given me one before.”

The tone of her voice was full of envy and sorrow.

“Ruby, if you like it, it’s yours. From now on, I’ll only give bracelets to you,” Callum promised lovingly.

Ruby shot me a smug look, but when she turned to Callum again, her voice turned soft and pitiful. “But… this was meant for Moon. I can’t just take it.”

Callum let out a cold laugh. “You’re the only one who deserves the best. As for Moon, she never did.”

Callum tossed the bracelet box in front of me. “There. That’s your gift.”

Even though Ruby had her hand over her mouth, I could clearly see the smug little smile on her face.

I gave the box a quick, cold glance, then went right back to sipping my tea like I could not care less.

When I stayed calm and did not react, Callum got frustrated. He felt like I was challenging him.

Trying to provoke me, he pulled Ruby close and sat down right next to me.

How boring. I was not interested and just wanted to leave.

As I stood up, Callum let go of Ruby and grabbed my arm. “Moon, what’s that supposed to mean? Do you think you can just walk out without my permission?”

I frowned and yanked my arm free. “Let go. What I do is none of your business.”

He scoffed. “None of my business? Hah. Don’t forget, you’re supposed to be marrying me. If you’re going to be my wife, you’ll do as I say.”

His tone was commanding.

I rolled my eyes. “Who said I was marrying you?”

His expression twisted into a mocking smile. “You did. You’re the one who said you’d never marry anyone else.

“And besides, there are only two unmarried men in the Fido family, me and Harvey. Harvey’s already engaged. So if not me, who?”

“Who said you and Harvey are the only options?”

Callum frowned. “You’re not talking about Uncle Jaxon, are you?”

“Moon, seriously? Use your brain. Uncle Jaxon’s been overseas for years, recovering from health issues. He’s not even thinking about marriage. The only reason he came back was to attend my engagement party. And come on. He’s smart, successful, and way out of your league. Do you really think someone like you could ever have a chance with him?

“You’ve been trailing after me for years. Honestly, who else would even want you?”

Ruby waited for my response with a smug look.

If it were not for the agreement I had with Louie Fido, Callum’s dad, I would have embarrassed Callum on the spot.

But I did not feel like arguing. I simply turned around and left.

On the way back, Ruby actually asked to come with me.

Without Callum around, she dropped the sweet act. Looking down at me like she had already won, she said, “So what if you end up marrying Callum? If you don’t have his heart, you’ll always be someone people can step all over.”

She was not wrong. In my past life, I was a pitiful person whom people could step all over.

Meanwhile, my dad arranged a wedding between her and his friend’s son, and she lived a life far better than mine.

In this life, I was really curious to see how things worked out between her and Callum.

I looked at her sincerely and said, “Then I truly hope you get what you want and marry Callum.”

Her proud little smirk froze right on her face. For a second, she did not know how to respond.

Later, when the Sawyer and Fido families officially announced their partnership, I was invited to the Fido family’s mansion again.

I did not want to be stared at like a circus act, so I quietly slipped away to the garden to enjoy the flowers on my own.

Of course, like she had some radar, Ruby found me.

She had been all over the society gossip pages lately. Word was, Callum had been throwing money at her like he had lost his mind.

On that day, she looked just like a rich lady. She had designer labels from head to toe. Honestly, anyone who did not know better might have thought she was already married to Callum.

She strutted over and stood in front of me. “Moon, I bet you haven’t heard yet. Callum promised me a private wedding even if he ends up marrying you.”

So what? Whatever kind of wedding Callum gave her had absolutely nothing to do with me.

Ruby saw that I was not reacting the way she wanted, so she kept talking. “Callum said you’re just a decoration. I’m the one he really loves. Whatever he gives you, he’ll give me twice as much.”

I did not want to argue, so I stood up to leave. But then I noticed the pendant around her neck.

It was the jade charm my parents had gotten me when I was born, a one-of-a-kind gift meant to protect me. I never wore it. I kept it safe under my pillow.

Ruby had stolen it and was flaunting it right in front of me. She was doing this because she knew Callum would back her up.

I shot her a cold, angry look.

Ruby had never seen me like this before. She flinched and took a step back.

Then I thought, maybe it was not the same charm. Maybe she wore a similar one to get me to lose control in front of everyone.

I stepped forward to get a closer look at the pendant.

But Ruby suddenly leaned back, and her voice turned fake and whiny. “Moon, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you! But everything I’m wearing is from Callum. You can’t just rip my clothes off in front of everyone because you’re jealous!”

Someone suddenly grabbed my wrist hard, and it hurt.

“Moon, what the hell are you doing?!” Callum snapped.

So, he was here. No wonder Ruby suddenly switched to acting like a poor, innocent victim.

I yanked my wrist away from his grip, turned to Ruby with a cold stare, and asked, “Where did you get that pendant?”

Ruby looked guilty. She quickly hid behind Callum, mustered her courage, and said, “It was Callum who gave it to me!”

“You’re lying! This pendant was a gift from Dad and Mom when I was born. They got it from the church themselves! I’ve always kept it under my pillow. You stole it!”

I stepped up and grabbed Ruby, but Callum suddenly slapped me across the face. “Moon, stop it! You’re acting crazy!”

He pointed at me with disgust. “Stop acting like a lunatic. Ruby is your sister. She would never steal your silly pendant.

“And anyway, whatever Ruby wants, I give her. She wouldn’t need to steal anything from you.

“I gave this pendant to Ruby.”

The slap made my ears ring, and for a moment, I felt dizzy.

I had shown Callum that pendant before, so he knew how important it was to me.

But he was lying to protect Ruby and even had the nerve to hit me. Our friends and family were gathering to watch the scene unfold.

I felt more disappointed than angry. “Callum, you’ve lost all sense of right and wrong. You’ve just destroyed the last bit of trust I had in you.”

He had never seen me this determined. His hand froze in midair, and he instinctively wanted to apologize.

But then Ruby cried. She took the pendant off her neck and held it out to me. “Moon, I’ll give it to you. Please, don’t fight with Callum.”

She looked at Callum with teary eyes. “Callum, if it makes Moon happy, I don’t mind being the one who’s wronged.”

She pushed the pendant toward me, but as I reached for it, she let go. It dropped to the ground and shattered into pieces.

“Ruby, you’ve crossed the line!”

I was livid. I raised my hand to hit her, but Callum stepped in and shoved me to the ground.

“Moon, if you touch Ruby, I’ll make you pay a thousand times over!”

I fell to the ground and glared at Callum with eyes full of fury. He instinctively tried to help me up, but Ruby stopped him.

“Callum, I’m still sick and haven’t recovered. My head feels so dizzy.”

Ruby leaned on his shoulder, and tears rolled down her face.

Callum immediately felt bad for her and quickly picked her up to take her to rest.

People around me started to criticize me. “Moon is completely obsessed with Callum. Every time Callum is with Ruby, she throws a tantrum. She’s really lost all her dignity.”

“The Sawyer family must be so embarrassed by her. If I were part of the Sawyer family, I’d be hiding.”

“Even though they are sisters, Ruby is clearly better than Moon. Moon can’t compare.”

I could hear them whispering. Callum came back, looked down, and pointed his finger at me. “Moon, you’re going to apologize to Ruby now.”

One of Callum’s friends added, “No woman in Central City would be as jealous and crazy as Moon. Callum is really unlucky to have her in love with him.”

With his friends backing him up, Callum grew more confident. He warned me, “Today, the Fido family will announce the engagement. If you want me to marry you, you need to apologize to Ruby.

“Also, you are going to tell my parents you don’t want a wedding. My wedding will be with Ruby only.

“And after we’re married, you won’t have my children. When Ruby gets pregnant, you can adopt her baby.”