Chapter 48: Mia's Dream
Mia's POV
My plan was halfway to success. I was one step away from getting Gavin to abandon me completely.
I tried hard to ignore the sense of loss and sadness deep inside, repeatedly telling myself that all of this was worth it.
As long as I could completely free myself from him, I could start a new life with Susan.
The next day, I received a call from Fiona.
"Mia, guess what I got?" Her voice was filled with barely concealed excitement.
"What?" I was keeping Peggy company while she drew, and asked halfheartedly.
"Invitation to Anita's jewelry exhibition! Two of them!"
After all these years, hearing Anita's name again made me feel dazed for a moment.
Anita was a famous French jewelry design master.
I had loved jewelry design since childhood, fascinated by those sparkling gemstones.
Anita had once been my teacher.
She taught me a great deal about jewelry design, discovered my talent, and even predicted I would become an outstanding designer in the future.
However, studying jewelry design required a lot of money.
Henry spent all his money on Camilla and Eva, completely unwilling to invest in me.
I hadn't been in contact with Anita for many years.
That dream had long been buried in the deepest part of my heart.
Fiona knew I'd been in a bad mood lately, so she tried hard to persuade me.
"Anita is your favorite jewelry designer. Don't you want to see her latest works? Think of it as going out to clear your head and lift your spirits."
Hearing Fiona's invitation, my instinct was to refuse.
But she wouldn't give up, insisting I go with her.
After a brief internal struggle, I convinced myself it was just to look.
Once there, I admired the exquisitely designed, dazzling jewels in the display cases, and my mood improved considerably.
Each piece was full of spirit and vitality, as if telling a moving story.
I immersed myself in the world of jewelry, temporarily forgetting about Gavin, Eva, and all those troubling matters.
Midway through, Fiona took a work call and went outside the exhibition hall.
I wandered around the hall alone.
"Mia?" A male voice came from behind me.
I turned around, surprise flashing across my face.
I hadn't expected to run into Jayden here.
I greeted him. "Jayden, what a coincidence."
Remembering my last-minute cancellation, I apologized to him.
"I'm sorry, Jayden, about standing you up on my birthday. I really apologize."
"It's okay," he smiled. "I didn't take it to heart."
"I know you love jewelry design, so I came today on the off chance of running into you. I didn't expect to actually find you."
My eyes widened slightly. "You still remember?"
Jayden's gaze was gentle. "Of course. You used to draw design sketches in your notebook during class all the time."
His words made me blush involuntarily.
"By the way," he continued, "I know the designer of this exhibition. We're good friends. If you'd like, I can introduce you."
Hearing this, my heart raced, but I quickly calmed down.
Meet Anita, and then what?
I was afraid of seeing disappointment in Anita's eyes.
In the end, I shook my head and declined his kindness.
"No need, Jayden. I'm studying foreign trade now, and that's the industry I'll work in."
"Why?" He asked, confused. "I remember your biggest dream was to become a jewelry designer."
"No particular reason," I said. "I simply don't want to anymore."
I'd seen enough of the exhibition and was about to leave when Jayden caught up with me.
"Mia." He grabbed my arm, his tone probing.
"On your birthday, I saw everything."
His words startled me, and my expression became unnatural.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I saw Gavin!" He said. "I know you left with him."
"Not only that!" Jayden continued. "Mia, I also saw what happened on the school forum. Those photos, and the rumors about your relationship with Gavin Adams."
"Mia, leave him," he said earnestly. "Gavin already has a fiancée. The newspapers and news are all talking about it. Being with him won't lead anywhere. You can't keep making this mistake."
The truth I'd worked so hard to hide was laid bare just like that.
In that instant, I felt both angry and ashamed.
I even began to regret coming here today. If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have run into Jayden and had my most shameful side exposed.
Jayden pulled a bank card from his pocket and pressed it into my hand.
"There's some money in here. Not much, but it should help with your immediate difficulties."
"Mia, I can finance whatever you want to do, so you don't have to be forced by Gavin anymore."
His words completely crushed my taut nerves.
I understood that what I had with Gavin was indeed a financial transaction.
But when Jayden tried to use the same method, using money to "rescue" me, this act deeply wounded me.
It was as if no matter how I struggled, in others' eyes, I was always just a commodity that could be bought and sold with money.
I felt an indescribable nausea and humiliation.
"Jayden, I'm not the kind of woman who's after money. And I'm already planning to leave Gavin."
"Really, Mia?" Surprise flashed across Jayden's face, quickly replaced by joy.
An infinite irritation rose in my heart. "Yes, so please stop saying these things."
Third Person POV
Adams Manor.
Eva walked into Gavin's bedroom.
She wore a sexy lace nightgown. "Gavin, I want to show you something good."
Gavin glanced at Eva coldly.
Eva was in high spirits and didn't mind Gavin's cold attitude.
She handed her phone to Gavin. "You'll understand when you see it."
Gavin took the phone. The screen displayed a video.
In the video was Mia's conversation with Jayden at the exhibition.
In the video, Mia admitted with her own words that she was planning to leave Gavin.
The video was very short, only a dozen seconds.
After watching the video, Gavin's expression darkened.
The oppressive atmosphere emanating from him made even Eva feel a trace of fear, though it was quickly replaced by the joy of imminent success.
She walked behind Gavin, wrapping her arms around his neck, her voice saccharine.
"Gavin, Mia doesn't love you at all. She's only after your money. Now you should believe me, right?"
"After we're engaged, I'll take good care of you. I'll never betray you like she does."
Gavin turned off the video, his voice icy. "Where did you get this video?"
"I... I hired a private investigator to follow her," Eva quickly explained. "I was just too worried about you, afraid that woman would deceive you."
Eva looked at Gavin's face, made even more handsome by his anger, and felt her heart flutter.
She thought this was the perfect moment, so she leaned forward, her lips parting slightly, trying to kiss Gavin's mouth.
However, what greeted her wasn't the kiss she'd imagined.
Gavin suddenly stood up, grabbed her by the throat, and violently pushed Eva away.