The feeling of almost getting something, only for it to slip away, is way worse than never having it at all.
Mrs. Jade's face turned pale as she glared at Jessica Rocelyn. With just one mistake, Robert Jade was tricked again by Jessica. She was getting sneakier and more evil.
Jessica lowered her eyes, pretending not to see Mrs. Jade's angry look.
Her face was calm, but inside, she was super shocked. How did Eclipse Rocelyn become a shareholder of Alastor Empire?
Henry had defended her, and now he was even supporting Eclipse in front of the Jade family.
Jessica couldn't figure it out, so she just stood quietly, watching the scene.
Henry looked at Robert and smiled slyly. "Robert, if you can't prove that Miss Eclipse is with some other man, I'll help her sue you."
The crowd murmured in agreement. One girl even joined in, feeling guilty for blaming Eclipse before.
"Henry's right. Even though Eclipse is engaged to Robert, she's still part of the Rocelyn family. Robert, if you don't have proof, it's better to stay quiet."
Robert sneered at Eclipse. "How do you know she's not seeing someone else? She's been acting shady for a while now."
Henry's smile faded. "I've been taking care of Eclipse ever since she was kicked out of her house. I didn't know she had another man. Are you accusing me?"
Robert was silent for a moment.
He was sure Eclipse had done something wrong, but now he wasn't so sure.
He remembered Jessica and Mrs. Rocelyn mentioning a man helping Eclipse with her bags when she left the house.
He must have misunderstood.
Maybe that man was just Henry's driver, sent to help Eclipse.
Robert looked at Eclipse's beautiful face and felt embarrassed.
Everyone noticed the change in Robert's face. They started whispering and giving strange looks to Jessica and Mrs. Rocelyn.
"This mother and daughter are really terrible people!"
"They've accused Eclipse twice now. It's obvious they're trying to ruin her reputation."
Jessica and Mrs. Rocelyn felt the uncomfortable stares. Mrs. Rocelyn wanted to argue, but Jessica stopped her.
Jessica bowed her head toward Eclipse and said, "I'm sorry, Eclipse. My mom and I were wrong. I saw someone buy that diamond necklace at the auction, and I thought it was Henry, but I was mistaken. It caused Robert to misunderstand. Blame me, not him."
Everyone remembered that a man had bought Eclipse a diamond necklace for five hundred million, but it wasn't Henry.
If not Henry, who in Star City would spend that kind of money on a woman?
Everyone turned to Eclipse, curious about her answer. Even Henry looked interested.
Eclipse gently picked up the diamond around her neck.
With a calm smile, she said, "This necklace was given to me by a very good man who thinks I'm as beautiful and precious as this diamond. Is there a problem with that?"
Robert's face darkened, but before he could say anything, Eclipse's sharp gaze stopped him.
"Robert, before you accuse me, ask yourself how many things you've given to Jessica."
Robert's face turned red, but he insisted, "I gave Jessica gifts just because I wanted to, not for any other reason. But you've been playing around with that man—"
Eclipse cut him off with a cold laugh. "Playing around? Do you have any proof? Or are you just used to blaming me without evidence?"
"You gave Jessica so many things, and she shows them off to me every day. Have you ever given me anything?"
Robert froze. He realized he had never given Eclipse a single gift, not once.
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Robert stood there with a stiff and guilty expression.
Everyone could already tell what was going on. Suddenly, there were gasps in the hall.
Many men looked at Eclipse's calm face and felt sorry for her.
Was Robert really this clueless?
Before the scandal came out, Eclipse, so beautiful and kind, loved him with all her heart, but he didn't value her at all.
Some girls in the crowd couldn't help but shout, "Robert, Eclipse is your fiancée! How could you spend so much on Jessica but never give Eclipse anything, not even a simple birthday gift? That's terrible!"
Another chimed in, "You don't give her anything, but you won't let her accept gifts from others? That's not just unfair, it's gross!"
"If I were Eclipse and someone else offered me diamonds worth five hundred million, I'd accept them too. I wouldn't feel guilty at all!"
"Robert and Jessica are just awful! Honestly, if Eclipse cheated, I'd understand!"
Facing these harsh comments, Robert's face went pale, but he couldn't defend himself.
Especially when he met Eclipse's cold eyes, which now held a sadness that made him uneasy, like he'd done something unforgivable.
Jessica's face turned ashen.
She had planned to ruin Eclipse's reputation, but instead, her own image was tarnished.
What was wrong with Eclipse?! She used to be quiet and weak, but now she was so sharp and confident.
Jessica couldn't figure it out, and it made her furious. She bit her lip and lowered her head in shame.
Henry, satisfied with how things were unfolding, clapped his hands.
The crisp sound echoed through the room, stirring even more tension.
"Robert," he said with a sly smile, "a man like you, who can't tell right from wrong, has no business running the Jade family. If you ever take over, don't expect me to stay polite."
Robert's face darkened at Henry's blatant threat.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jade, looked just as alarmed.
They didn't even have time to argue back before Mr. Jade's father, Senior Mr. Jade, called for attention.
He sat at the front, his face stern, and his sharp eyes filled with disappointment as he stared at Robert.
His gaze made Robert break out in a cold sweat.
When Senior Mr. Jade finally spoke, his voice was emotionless. "Jason, help me upstairs to rest."
Jason, who had been watching the scene unfold, calmly stood and guided his grandfather out, leaving Robert feeling even more embarrassed.
After the room quieted down, Robert turned back to Eclipse, glaring at her angrily. "Eclipse, did you do this on purpose?!"
He was furious that she had embarrassed him at Senior Mr. Jade's birthday banquet, teaming up with Henry and causing such a scene.
This woman was out for revenge!
But then, Robert stopped himself. No, that couldn't be it. Eclipse loved him too much to hurt him... or did she?
Eclipse's smile was calm, her emotions hidden behind her icy eyes.
To her, Robert was just another stranger, someone she barely cared about anymore.
She had replaced the old Eclipse, and the new her had no patience for his nonsense.
Robert couldn't stand it.
He clenched his fists, desperate for her to show some sign of the girl who used to love him.
But all he saw was the cold, distant woman in front of him.
The onlookers began whispering again.
"Robert, are you seriously accusing Eclipse of manipulating the situation?"
"After everything Jessica did, you still think Eclipse is to blame?"
"Do you really think Henry would ignore the fact that you insulted his shareholder, Eclipse?"
Robert's anger flared. He couldn't stand the way Eclipse looked at him, so indifferent, like he didn't matter.
He fumed, "Eclipse, this is all your fault!"
Eclipse's eyes gleamed with a chilly light as she laughed softly. "It's always my fault, isn't it? Whenever Jessica cries, it's my fault. Whenever she fails, it's my fault. If she so much as frowns, it's still my fault. Compared to all that, what does this little incident even matter?"
Robert's face twisted in rage. "Eclipse, shut up! You always bullied Jessica because of your status!"
Eclipse's expression turned serious. "Oh, I bullied her? Me, the orphan whose father cheated, whose mother died with no one to stand up for her? And Jessica, with her loving parents, somehow always ended up as the victim. What a coincidence." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "And yet, despite all that 'bullying,' she managed to take everything from me. How hard she must have worked for that."
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