Chapter 14: The Necklace from a Boyfriend

"I like to go with the flow, just like when we got together originally. It was effortless, no need to force anything." Angelo tried to comfort her. "Don't you think our relationship is just right as it is now?"

Livia wanted to say that the so-called effortless meeting was just her taking advantage of an opportunity.

She understood what he meant now. He didn't want to go public with their relationship.

In the public eye, they still maintained a distance.

Livia smiled with feigned indifference. "It's fine. Being together in secret means there won't be any gossip if we split up later."

As the elevator doors opened, Livia walked out of it and into her apartment.

Angelo followed and closed the door behind them, then embraced her from behind. "I never thought about breaking up with you."

Likewise, he never thought about marrying her.

Livia knew that.

She gently removed his hands, saying indifferently. "I'm going to take a shower."

Angelo released her, seeing the disappointment in her eyes.

At that moment, he felt irritated, too.

Recently, her desire for a formal relationship had become increasingly evident, which was not the situation he wanted.

That night, they lay in bed together.

Livia, half-asleep, felt the weight on her body and wandering hands as waves of warmth trickled down from her ears.

She couldn't help but moan softly, stirring slightly. The man who had been playing gently before became more forceful upon her movement.

He was dominant and authoritative, yet his touch was tender, effortlessly conquering her time and again.

Three years were enough for him to know exactly how to please them both.

Post-coitus, Angelo relaxed with a cigarette, feeling refreshed.

Livia felt a twinge of regret. Fully rested, she got up from him without a word. Angelo, silent, followed her movements with his eyes.

Livia stayed in the bathroom for nearly half an hour before coming out, still feeling upset.

She didn't expect Angelo to comfort her and didn't bother with him either.

Today Valentia was due at school, so Livia had to check if the preparations were flawless. Given that she was a national sensation, her presence was a spotlight wherever she went, potentially bringing fame to the school too.

Thus, while maintaining the school's authenticity, it was also essential to ensure that the media couldn't find faults or unforgivable flaws.

She put on a white ankle-length dress with a simple but elegant black blazer.

Being exceedingly glamorous by nature, she was cautious about her attire and makeup, never wearing garish makeup or brightly colored clothes.

Yet even so, her natural beauty was unmatched at the school.

Angelo stood behind her, draping a necklace around her neck from the front.

The cool sensation made her shiver slightly. He had already put it on without waiting for her response.

"A gift from my business trip." Angelo embraced her from behind, admiring the woman in the mirror. "You look beautiful."

Livia pursed her lips stubbornly, reaching to take it off.

"Still angry?" Angelo caught her hand, turning her to face him, his patience rare as he saw her defiance. "How about I pick you up for lunch?"

Livia frowned slightly. "You're going to pick me up?"

"Yes."

"Aren't you worried about misunderstandings?"

"What others think is beyond our control." Angelo wrapped his arms around her waist, his voice deep and coaxing. "What do you feel like eating?"

He was making the first move to appease her, especially since he mentioned picking her up at school. That meant Angelo didn't care if people thought he was her boyfriend.

Livia was elated inside.

Everyone could tell Livia was in a great mood.

Florence leaned in closer to her, her eyes gleaming as she stared at the necklace around her neck. "Finally, I see you wearing some jewelry. That necklace looks familiar. Oh, I remember Valentia posted a picture of that necklace on Facebook, saying how much she loved it, but the designer wanted to keep it for a personal collection. She wanted it, but couldn't have it. How did it end up with you?"

Livia touched the necklace. "Really? It just seems like a common design, nothing special."

"I didn't remember it wrong," Florence insisted, pulling up Valentia's old tweet from the internet.

There it was, the same one she was wearing.

"Look," Florence said, "It's the same, right? How did you manage to get your hands on something that's not for sale?"

Livia was a bit bewildered.

She thought Angelo had simply bought it to cheer her up, unaware that it wasn't something easily obtained.

"Boyfriend's gift, right?" Florence asked with a gossipy grin. "You're so beautiful. It'd be a crime not to have one. When can we meet him?"

Livia didn't think about the necklace any further.

Thinking that Angelo was going to pick her up at noon, she felt very happy inside.

"You'll meet him," Livia said with a smile.

At ten in the morning, Valentia arrived.

The entire school, teachers and students alike welcomed her with great enthusiasm, even playing games together on the field.

Being up close with Valentia made the students feel even more that she was a celebrity worth adoring.

Standing at a distance, Livia admired Valentia's innocent and sweet yet approachable demeanor, thinking to herself that she truly was a national icon. She was so beautiful.

As a woman, she genuinely admired the excellence in another.

After playing games and singing songs, time flew by quickly.

The students were satisfied with meeting their idol and obediently returned to their classrooms to continue their day.

Valentia had a sit-down with the school administration before concluding the day's event.

Livia was chatting with colleagues in the hallway when she saw Valentia leaving the meeting room.

Their eyes met, and Valentia smiled and nodded first. Livia and her colleagues naturally responded with similar courtesy.

"Miss Ashcroft, could you escort Valentia out?" the principal requested.

Livia certainly wouldn't refuse.

Walking with Valentia from the office building to the field, the atmosphere was quite pleasant when suddenly Valentia paused, looking at Livia's necklace. "Miss Ashcroft, may I ask who gave you that necklace?"

Livia was surprised, feeling that the question was a bit abrupt.

Still, she politely responded, "My boyfriend."

Valentia's smile faltered, followed by a laugh that wasn't quite as sincere as before, her tone slightly cooler. "Oh, is that so? Your boyfriend is quite generous, isn't he?"

Livia could detect the hint of sarcasm in her voice but chose only to smile in response.

"I really love that necklace too, but the designer just wouldn't sell it. I even had a friend try to see if there was a way to buy it for me," Valentia expressed, with an unmistakable sense of loss in her eyes.

Livia had no words to comfort her.

Yet Valentia revealed a sweet smile. "It's fine. I'll have to think of a nice gift, and next time I see him, I'll get him to buy it for me."