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“A woman with real feelings tends to have a small heart and sharp eyes. She notices everything, whether she wants to or not. But if she only gets jealous when it comes to the man she loves, that’s enough proof that he truly matters to her,” Cosmo whispered to himself as he looked at Eloise.

He felt like he had purposely asked her those questions just to get her to say “I love you” out loud. But Eloise didn’t take the bait.
“Don’t change the topic. You’re making yourself look guilty,” she shot back with a glare.
Cosmo scratched his head. “I didn’t do anything. She was the one interested. That’s not my fault. Or… maybe you didn’t like me back then either?”
Eloise raised a brow. “That’s not a fair comparison. Those rumors about someone courting me never even reached the elders, but people still joke about it until now.”
Cosmo smiled. “So, what do I do now?”
He put on a mock-serious face as if he was really asking for advice. After a few seconds, Eloise burst into laughter.
“Nothing! Just go to sleep!” she said, turning away from him.
Cosmo glanced at the back of her head and teased, “So you really don’t have anything else to say?”
“Don’t talk to me,” Eloise replied, trying hard to hide her smile.
Cosmo leaned closer, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and whispered, “You’re jealous. And I love that.”
Eloise gasped, pushed him away with her elbow, and fell silent.

A few days later, Eloise began accompanying Tania to gatherings of well-known families, such as charity events and social banquets.

Some people looked down on her, some envied her, some wanted to embarrass her, and others criticized Arellano and his wife, saying they basically sold their daughter for money. But no matter what people said, none of it shook Eloise.

She faced society as Mrs. Cosmo Dominguez, carrying herself as if she were the rightful daughter, not the one who was switched at birth.

The gossip also did nothing to stop the Lopez family from rising in wealth and influence.

At a charity dinner hosted by Tania, Eloise and Cosmo attended together as a couple. It was their first time officially appearing side by side in the elite circle.

While Eloise was fixing Cosmo’s suit and adjusting his tie, he asked, “This is a charity dinner, so we’ll be donating, right? What are we giving?”
Cosmo’s eyes lingered on her fair, delicate face. “I thought you’d ask, ‘What are you donating, and what am I donating?’ Don’t worry, I came prepared.”
Eloise straightened his tie and smoothed his blazer. “We’re married. There’s no need to separate things like that. And as for donations, there are many ways, projects, scholarships, or medical assistance.”

Cosmo had prepared to offer a pair of antique vases and several rare artworks from a well-known painter.

When they arrived at the venue, all eyes were immediately on them. Many came forward to greet them, with endless compliments on how perfect they looked together.

Tania, as the host, gave a speech before officially starting the auction.

The more Eloise joined these events, the more she admired Tania. She was intelligent, graceful, and carried herself with true class as a daughter of the Dominguez family.

And secretly, Eloise felt grateful she wasn’t Tania’s enemy. If she had been, Eloise doubted she could stand against her.

There was no auction brochure that night, so no one knew what items would be up for bid. That mystery only made the event more exciting.

Cosmo leaned close and whispered, “If something catches your eye, just tell me. I’ll get it for you.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll have to be extra observant tonight,” Eloise replied with a smile.

While guests mingled around the venue, new arrivals caught everyone’s attention: Gabriel and Ciela.

Gabriel wore a dark blue suit, simple yet elegant, while Ciela was dressed in a gradient blue gown that shimmered like starlight with every movement. She looked as if she were walking under a trail of shooting stars.

Eloise remembered the time she went to the mall with Sasha and happened to see Gabriel with Ciela, shopping together.

“Is he announcing their relationship in public?” she whispered to Cosmo.

“You know him. He always does what he wants. It’s not necessarily an announcement, maybe he just wanted a date tonight,” Cosmo replied calmly.

Eloise quietly observed him, noting how unbothered he looked despite the whispers and stares from the guests around them. She pressed her lips together and thought: Does Gabriel really want to make Chloe jealous? But I don’t think Chloe would be affected by something like this. Maybe he’s going about it the wrong way.

Compared to Cosmo, Gabriel was always high-profile. Everyone was already used to seeing him with different women. But tonight was different, he was with someone from the Baylon family, so people couldn’t help but take notice.

Ciela had her arm wrapped around Gabriel’s as they walked, clearly enjoying the attention they were getting. She whispered softly, “Gabriel, it feels like everyone’s staring at us.”

Gabriel immediately noticed Cosmo and Eloise at the front table. Smiling, he said, “Just let them. It doesn’t matter.”

When they reached Cosmo and Eloise, Gabriel greeted them, “Cousin, Eloise, it’s rare that we see each other!”

Ciela greeted politely, “Cosmo, Eloise.”

Cosmo gave a slight nod, while Eloise simply smiled without saying a word.

Without hesitation, Gabriel pulled out a chair for Ciela and had her sit beside him.

“My cousin seems very used to all the attention now,” Gabriel commented casually, crossing one leg over the other.

Cosmo’s face remained expressionless as he asked coldly, “Are you two together?”

“What do you think?” Gabriel replied with a grin. “Are you worried about me, or about someone else?”

He didn’t mention a name, but both of them knew exactly who he was referring to.

“If you’re trying to provoke me, don’t be subtle about it. It doesn’t affect me. What I’m more concerned about is whether what you’re doing will even work,” Cosmo said in a flat tone.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gabriel shot back, unwilling to show any weakness in front of him. “Don’t judge me as if you know me that well.”

Cosmo didn’t respond. Gabriel frowned, irritation rising inside him, and it only grew worse when he noticed how close and comfortable Cosmo and Eloise seemed while talking to each other.

“Gabriel,” Ciela asked softly, “did you two just fight?”

“No,” Gabriel said, leaning closer to her with a forced smile.

“But your face doesn’t look good,” Ciela whispered. “Were you talking about me earlier?”

“Why would we be talking about you?” Gabriel reached out and gently patted her head. “Don’t overthink. Just enjoy.”

Ciela blushed at the gesture and said nothing more. She didn’t have the courage to ask if they were officially together, so she looked away and turned her attention to the stage where items for the auction were being presented.

Most of the wealthy women had donated things, jewelry, antiques, and artworks. Naturally, whoever sold the most expensive item would become the center of attention.

One by one, the items were auctioned, but none caught Eloise’s interest until a jade hairpin was brought out, its surface gleaming with a vivid green shine. Her eyes lit up as she admired it.

“Do you like it?” Cosmo asked.

Eloise gave a small nod. “It’s beautiful.”

Cosmo didn’t say another word. He quietly raised his bidding card to make an offer.

He hadn’t joined a single bid all night, so his sudden participation quickly drew attention.

Sitting nearby, Gabriel acted as if he didn’t care, but then he raised his card as well, outbidding Cosmo by a million.

It was clear he wanted a competition.