Runaway Bride, Runaway Heart

I couldn't be bothered to waste my breath with them, so I released my suitcase. As a result, it rolled toward them. I calmly mentioned, "Since you're here to pick me up, let's go. You can take me back to the hotel."

As soon as the words left my mouth, they stared at me with mouths agape, looking like I had lost my mind. Then, they immediately burst into mocking laughter.

"Are you insane? Don't you see that Oliver is here to pick up Ms. Samantha Miller? She's the wife of Holden Group's CEO."

"Expecting us to take you to the hotel? Who do you think you are?"

Angela covered her mouth, her eyes filled with scorn as she looked me up and down. "Do you really think you deserve for Oliver to personally take you to the hotel?

"Seriously, do you even know how to read the name on the sign? We're here to pick her up, not you. You sure think highly of yourself!"

I nodded. Of course, I recognized my own name.

"Mrs. Holden is the absolute apple of Mr. Holden's eye."

"People always say, if you offend Mr. Holden, you might still get a second chance. But if you cross Mrs. Holden, you're done for!"

Listening to their conversation, I couldn't help but smile.

Daniel truly did spoil me rotten and treated me like a princess. With Holden Group's expansion, even our business partners knew just how dearly he cherished me.

Angela continued, "On Mrs. Holden's birthday last year, Mr. Holden bought her the Heart of the Ocean necklace. It's a legendary blue diamond that was once kept in a museum. They say it cost hundreds of millions.

"Mrs. Holden sure is fortunate to have a husband who spoils her like that. I heard they have a daughter too. They're such a happy family!"

Just then, her eyes suddenly landed on the necklace around my neck.

Without hesitation, she reached over and yanked at it with a mock sneer. "Is this a fake? Seriously, Jessica, if you had to wear something fake, couldn't you at least pick something less obvious?

"Everyone knows there's only one Heart of the Ocean in the world, and it belongs to Mrs. Holden. Anyone can tell yours is a knockoff just by looking at it.

"You're wearing cheap clothes with not a single recognizable brand. Now, you have a fake necklace too? Are you really that desperate to show off?

"Though, to be fair, it's a pretty impressive imitation. Must've cost you quite a bit. The blue diamond almost looks real. But no matter how good a copy is, it's still a fake! Just like you! You're just an orphan! How could you ever dream of becoming someone like Mrs. Holden?"

The others laughed uproariously.

Indeed, I used to be an orphan.

However, three years ago, one month before my planned wedding with Oliver, my biological parents finally found me and asked me to come live with them in Everdale.

Back then, I refused because I couldn't bear to leave Oliver. I had planned to tell him about my true identity after our wedding, but I never got the chance to do so.

In their eyes, I was nothing more than an abandoned orphan who'd been left at the altar by her fiancé. How could someone like me suddenly become the wife of Holden Group's CEO?

To them, it must've sounded impossible.

I stepped forward, reaching out to take back my necklace. However, Angela tightened her grip and refused to let go. "Jessica, how about selling it to me? I'll give you 10,000 dollars for it. How does that sound?"

I firmly shook my head and reached forward. "No way. Give it back. It was a gift from Daniel..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Oliver shoved me roughly aside.

I lost my balance, fell onto the hard floor, and scraped my arm. Luckily, my belly was unharmed.