Chapter 34 Chapter 34
Sophia's POV
By the time Ethan and I reached the venue of Marcus’s new jewelry store, cars had already filled the parking lot, the media present and ready to capture the unveiling moment.
Ethan had his hand pressed to the small of my back, guiding me protectively as we gently pushed through the crowd to the front, to get a better view. Marcus was giving some bullshit speech about following your dreams and never giving up. I rolled my eyes, Kira hissing inside my head, whispering curses at him.
As soon as his eyes landed on us, a smirk stretched across his lips. He pointed in my direction, causing the media to turn to capture our faces.
“...and lastly, I'd like to thank my dear ex wife. This had originally been our dream together, but after she left me, she tried to bring our dream to life alone and failed woefully,” he said, the last words laced with spite.
I tried to look offended, keeping the smile threatening to break free firmly at bay. Marcus bought it. He mistook my silence for regret, and his smirk stretched even wider.
Ethan pressed closer to me in a subtle power play to mess with his head and it worked. Marcus's jaw tightened.
Tearing his eyes away from us, he gestured for the scissors, which Lila gently placed in his hand, acting as his pillar of support.
Two-faced slut.
“Thank you, darling,” Marcus drawled, purposely placing a kiss on her cheek like that would get a reaction out of me. Oh, please.
“And now for the official opening of me and my most precious wife’s jewelry store I present to you Blackthorn jewelry and co.” The scissor snapped close, slicing the red ribbon in half as it drew a round of applause and cheers from the onlookers who had gathered.
Reluctantly, I raised my hands, clapping slowly.
Ethan did the same and this made Marcus beam with pride.
“Oh, this is going to be spectacular,” I whispered to Ethan as we followed the crowd into the building where we could finally get a view of the new designs my new designs.
“I can't wait to see how stupid he looks when he discovers that he's been played,” Kira howled, her excitement bubbling over, almost making me lose my composure.
Ethan gave my hand a little reassuring squeeze without saying a word, his eyes already scanning the room, making sure there were no immediate threats.
I let my gaze travel around the beautifully decorated room. Marcus might be a rude, narcissistic, lying, stealing bastard but I got to admit, he did have taste.
I mean, he stole my designs so of course.
The room holding the jewelry was large enough to host an event.
Gold, diamonds, and rubies were all displayed behind carefully crafted glass cases that accentuated the beauty of the designs even more.
For a moment, I felt a swell of pride in my chest that these pieces of jewelry, cheap copies of my designs, still managed to look this good.
A throat cleared, followed by the faint echo of a key hitting glass.
Marcus stood on a raised platform in the room, Lila smiling like a fox in sheep’s clothing beside him, while three of his pack servants stood to the side, each carrying a box, waiting for Marcus to give the order.
“Attention, please,” Marcus called, his voice echoing sonorously across the room. “I'd like everyone to spare a few minutes of their time before resuming their shopping.
I assure you, what I have here, in these three boxes, is nothing compared to the beauties already on display around the store. These are the three best, most crafted, intricate designs to be newly released into the jewelry industry.
Ladies and gentlemen, businessmen and businesswomen, allow me to present to you what I like to call Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.”
This time, I was the one who squeezed Ethan's hand in anticipation. Surprisingly, Kira didn’t comment, as if afraid she might miss the moment of shock Ethan was about to experience.
The first maid opened her box, and Marcus picked up a glistening gold necklace studded with crystal stones.
The chandelier lights bounced off them to scatter beautiful shades of color around the room.
The crowd gasped in awe.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling as he lifted the necklace high over his head like a trophy.
He opened his mouth to speak probably gearing up for another boring speech when a sharp clink echoed against the tiled floor.
Marcus froze.
Ethan and I exchanged a sideways glance.
Another stone slipped free. Then another. And another, until the necklace collapsed completely, scattering across the floor in front of everyone.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as Marcus stood frozen, eyes locked on the ruined jewelry at his feet.
“Oh, this is even better than I thought,” Kira squealed. “Take that, you lying, stealing excuse for a man.”
Ethan nudged me gently forward.
This was my moment.
I sashayed to the front, complaints and questions buzzing around me as cameras flashed in Marcus’s face, capturing every second of his humiliation.
Lifting the ruffles of my satin gown, I stepped onto the platform and positioned myself directly in front of him.
“First, I’d like to say congratulations on your new jewelry store, dear ex-husband. Can I get a round of applause for the founder of Blackthorn Jewelry & Co?!”
The crowd barely reacted. Other than Lila’s pathetic clapping and a few of their pack members, no one even smiled.
Perfect.
“Next, a very special thank-you to you, Marcus,” I said, my voice smooth and deliberate. His eyes widened as recognition finally dawned. “This is what happens when you steal someone else’s designs and pass them off as your own. Tonight, you’ve shown the world the difference between imitation and quality.”
Lila gasped.
Dramatic bitch.
I turned back to the crowd just as Ethan gave me a nod.
“Now,” I said, “allow me to show you what real quality jewelry looks like.”
Men in tailored suits filed through the doors, each carrying a sleek black box stamped with my logo.
“You’ve heard of diamonds. You’ve heard of silver. You’ve watched gold lose its meaning copied, diluted, and sold until brilliance became ordinary.” I paused, letting my voice echo through the silent crowd.
“But ladies and gentlemen… what if I told you that we are standing at the edge of something entirely new? Not a metal mined from the earth. Not a stone polished by time. But a finish that responds. A beauty that does not merely sit on the skin but listens to it. Today, we are no longer wearing jewelry that reflects light alone. We are wearing jewelry that reflects you.”
I stepped off the platform as the men opened their boxes in unison. A wave of gasps swept through the room.
Lifting the first piece, and holding it between my fingers, I raised it high as its surface shifted, color blooming and changing into a different shade of hue before their eyes.
“This,” I said softly, “ is called Aureflux.”
“You conniving bitch!”
The scream ripped through the room.
And then hell broke loose.