A girl in a white cocktail dress, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, pressed both hands to her flushed cheeks and gazed up at Warren with stars in her eyes.
Camera flashes erupted like a storm.
The smile on my face froze at the corners of my mouth.
And the looks from my colleagues—some pitying, some mocking, some dripping with schadenfreude.
They all knew Warren was my husband. They'd assumed he bought the necklace to celebrate my win. None of them expected this.
Warren took the necklace and draped it around Yvonne Drake's neck with the gentleness of a man handling something precious.
"Happy graduation. From now on, stay carefree forever—my little girl."
Yvonne rose on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Warren."
The moment she turned and saw me, she stumbled backward, retreating into Warren's arms.
Warren noticed me. Something flickered behind his eyes, and he let out a resigned laugh. "You followed me here? That's a little pathetic, Leonora."
I pointed at the banner hanging above the stage. "This is my gala. Celebrating my necklace winning the award."
"The one you just bought."
Every gossiping pair of eyes in the room locked onto us.