Chapter 4

I led the group into the elevator, heading upstairs in a grand procession.

In the elevator's cramped space, the atmosphere was strangely enthusiastic.

Violet's parents were still shamelessly cozying up to me, their faces full of obsequious smiles.

"Christina, Violet always tells us that meeting you was the luckiest thing in her life."

"That's right, that's right. We're truly grateful to you from the bottom of our hearts."

They sang in harmony, hinting that our two families should interact more in the future, growing even closer.

Naturally, Jensen's parents weren't willing to be outdone. They immediately pushed them aside and grabbed my other hand.

"Christina, don't listen to their nonsense. Jensen truly loves you."

"That Marketing Director position—he's wanted it for so long. This time, thanks to you and your father, Jensen must have accumulated good karma from his past life to have married you."

My dad stood behind me, one hand silently resting on my shoulder, gently holding me.

I could feel the warmth and strength from his palm, and also the suppressed fury about to erupt.

I knew he was holding back. I was holding back too.

It felt like a fire burning in my stomach, spreading from my chest all the way to my throat, burning painfully.

"Ding"—the elevator doors opened.

I took a deep breath and walked to Violet's familiar door.

First, I called her phone. Her sleepy yet slightly wary voice came through the receiver.

"Hello? Christina? It's so late. What's up?"

I smiled, my tone light as I asked, "Nothing major. I just wanted to ask if you're home alone? I have something I want to talk to you about right now."

On the other end, Violet was clearly jolted awake, her voice instantly becoming panicked.

"I... I'm home alone! But I... I've already gone to bed, Christina. Can we talk about it tomorrow? I'm really tired."

She was still lying. The trembling and guilt in her voice couldn't be hidden at all.

"Okay, get some rest then."

I hung up without hesitation and immediately called Jensen.

I used the exact same script to ask him: "Are you home alone right now? I have something urgent I need to talk to you about."

Jensen's voice was even more nervous than Violet's. He answered almost immediately: "Yeah, I'm home alone. Lots of work at the office, just finished."

He paused, seeming to think his reaction was too intense, then added in a joking tone:

"What's wrong? Do you miss me? If it weren't so late, I'd fly to your side right now."

How ridiculous.

He was clearly in another woman's bed, yet he could tell me he loved me without his face turning red or his heart racing.

I laughed softly and hung up.

At that moment, the previously noisy crowd behind me finally quieted down.

Whether it was Violet's parents or Jensen's parents, they had all picked up on something unusual from my two brief phone calls.

Their expressions changed from earlier anticipation and excitement to nervousness and confusion.

Violet's mother couldn't help but grab my arm, asking carefully: "Christina, what... what's going on? You called us all here, exactly what..."

I turned back, looking at their faces full of unease, and repeated what I'd said before.

"To give you all a surprise."

With that, under their suspicious gazes, I pulled out the spare key Violet had once forced into my hands from my bag.

"Click"—the door lock opened with a sound.