Three days later, a delivery arrived for Nikki—an overwhelming number of gifts, all sent by David, who had yet to return to the country.
There was a one-of-a-kind, custom-made wedding veil. A diamond necklace worth tens of millions. A pair of wedding shoes adorned with real crystal diamonds.
She hadn’t expected him to be so thoughtful. Somehow, her heart felt… a little lighter.
That night, she went to try on the wedding ring David had ordered.
Just then, her phone rang.
It was Howard.
But when she answered, no one spoke. Only the sound of laughter and loud voices filled the line—it was a party.
"Howard won the dare!" someone shouted.
"Drink ten shots or kiss Lora—your choice! Hahaha!"
Nikki could hear Howard’s heavy breathing against the microphone. He sounded a little drunk.
The next second, Lora’s soft, shy voice came through.
"Howard, you can’t drink too much—it’s bad for your heart. Let me drink for you instead… Don’t let them tease me."
Then, it wasn’t Howard’s voice that spoke, but some rich second-generation heir from his circle. His tone was arrogant, dismissive.
"Come to the bar right now. Howard has a stomachache."
For a moment, Nikki’s heart clenched in reflex. She parted her lips, ready to respond—
But the call cut off.
She stood frozen for a long while, staring at the phone. Then, slowly, she curled her lips into a mocking smile.
How many times had this happened before?
How many times had she dropped everything, rushing to him the moment someone called?
Whether it was a business dinner, a late-night party, or just another social gathering, she had always been the one to worry about Howard’s health—more than he ever did himself.
This time, she was determined to break the habit. She wouldn't go there again.
Nikki tried on the ring and went home alone. As she passed by the bar, a group of drunken men blocked her path.
"Well, if it isn’t the fake Bray daughter."
"The Hewitt brothers are throwing a bachelorette party for the real one tonight. Didn’t you know?" One of them sneered. "Since you couldn’t climb your way up to the Hewitt family, why not settle for us instead…?"
They were infamous playboys in the circle. In the past, they wouldn’t have dared to look Nikki in the eye when the Hewitt brothers were around. But now, emboldened by alcohol, their lecherous gazes raked over her as they surrounded her, hands reaching out to grope her.