Chapter 206:
“First of all, I want to apologize to Mr. Reina and Mrs. Reina for, well, robbing this beautiful brooch.”
He bowed deeply to the Reinas, then added, “Today, I truly want to buy this brooch for the most beloved person in my life. I hope that, just like the two of you, we can be as happy and spend the rest of our lives together.”
Hearing this, I couldn’t help but glance at Caroline in the audience. She was watching Herbert intently, her eyes sparkling with excitement and happiness.
Although I had told myself I had no further relationship with Herbert, hearing him speak those words—saying that the brooch was for his beloved person, Caroline—made my heart twist with discomfort. It was as if someone had pricked it with needles. To ease the pain, I turned my gaze elsewhere. He must have loved Caroline deeply, right? I knew he wasn’t good at expressing his feelings, and for him to say such emotional words in such a crowded room—it had to mean something.
Then Herbert bowed respectfully to the Reinas.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Reina and Mrs. Reina, for passing on your luck and happiness to the person I love and me.”
The audience applauded. Out of courtesy, I joined in. At this point, the host placed his hand on his chest and smiled.
“How romantic! The person who can become the most beloved of Mr. Wharton is truly blessed. Now, I declare that this beautiful brooch from the British royal family, symbolizing happiness, now belongs to Mr. Herbert!”
At that moment, Herbert suddenly turned and looked directly at me. I froze. Taking the microphone again, he added, “Can I take her with me?”
I was stunned. The audience was just as shocked, their mouths wide open.
“Mr. Wharton certainly knows how to joke. If you could take her with you, wouldn’t that be a crime?”
The host was the first to realize it was a joke.
The room burst into laughter.
Was he really making a joke at my expense? I glared at him and reached up to remove the brooch from my chest. However, to my frustration, it wouldn’t come off. The audience continued to watch, and I awkwardly tried again. But it wouldn’t budge.
The host, quick on his feet as always, stepped forward. He had clearly anticipated such situations.
“It seems like this brooch, which symbolizes happiness, is unwilling to leave this lady’s side. Mr. Wharton, you might want to consider bringing her home as well.”
The host’s playful remark immediately stirred laughter among the crowd.
My face burned with embarrassment, and I kept my head down, desperately fumbling with the brooch on my dress. I didn’t dare to look toward the audience.
I pulled at the brooch with increasing frustration, nearly ripping my clothes in the process. But I held back—after all, the brooch was worth $780,000. What if I broke it?
At that moment, Herbert suddenly stepped forward.
My heart pounded as his hands covered mine. I instantly let go, feeling the warmth of his fingers as they brushed against both the brooch and my dress.
He leaned in, lowering his head as he worked to unfasten the brooch. His breath surrounded me, making it difficult to breathe.
With so many eyes on us, I felt paralyzed with nervousness.
Thankfully, the host had already moved on to the next segment of the evening—the dance.
