She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 1000

He actually wanted to marry her?

The realization sent a sharp, agonizing pang straight through Shawn's chest.

"Pull over, Caleb."

The Maybach rolled to a smooth stop. Shawn rolled down his window and extended his arm into the cool night air.

Resting in his palm was the velvet box holding the pink diamond.

Shawn opened his fingers. The box tumbled seamlessly into a nearby trash can.

"Drive."

Caleb swallowed hard and hit the gas.

He had seen Shawn throw the ring away.

Unless he was losing his mind, that piece of jewelry was worth millions of dollars.

He also knew Shawn had bought it exclusively for Melanie.

And she had shot him down.

But still... it was millions of dollars. If Melanie didn't want it, he could have given it to someone else!

Like...

Linda.

Caleb's eyes accidentally locked with Shawn's in the rearview mirror, and a violent shudder wrecked through his spine.

"Something on your mind?"

Shawn's voice was a blade of ice.

"No, sir. Nothing..."

Caleb shook his head frantically, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Aurelia Gardens—Melanie's current luxury apartment complex.

The moment Melanie stepped off the elevator, she wasn't surprised in the slightest to find Preston waiting at her door.

He was leaning against the wall, his face cast in dark shadows, looking like an incredibly lethal guard dog.

Melanie's mouth twitched.

They lived right next door to each other now. There was absolutely no reason for him to be stalking her hallway.

"Dinner ran late?"

Preston turned his head, their eyes locking. He didn't seem surprised she was back at this hour, but his deep voice was dripping with bitter jealousy.

Melanie checked the time on her phone.

The second Melanie turned around, Preston's massive, imposing frame crowded her space.

She instinctively held her breath, taking a step back until her calves hit the edge of the sofa.

"You two were laughing, flirting... You even hand-fed him mango cheesecake?"

Melanie's brain short-circuited.

Who was he talking about?

Was he talking about her?

She had zero memory of doing any of that.

Preston was standing so close she could feel the heat radiating off him. He was completely consumed by jealousy.

The possessive rage rolling off him was so thick she could practically choke on it.

"Hold on, Preston, calm down..."

Melanie tried desperately to defuse the ticking time bomb in her living room.

"Your brother was there the entire time! Did I flirt with Shawn? Did I hand-feed him cake? Go ask Gabriel! He'll tell you the truth."

Instead of calming him down, her defense only made Preston's eyes turn dangerously dark.

"Everything I just said... came straight from Gabriel."