She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 1053

As the crowd of onlookers grew, the whispers and rumors grew louder.

Sebastian adjusted his new black-rimmed glasses.

"Since my gift was rejected, I won't take up any more of your time, Ms. Royce."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode away.

Melanie pressed her lips into a thin line.

It was obvious she had pissed him off.

Sending a brand-new partner away in a foul mood wasn't exactly a stellar professional move.

But there was absolutely no way she could have accepted those shoes.

Melanie wasn't particularly obsessed with high fashion, but social media algorithms occasionally fed her luxury news.

Like how Louis Vuitton was releasing a globally limited edition heel to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their footwear line.

The style in the promotional photos was identical to the one Sebastian had just tried to give her.

The price tag on a hyper-limited piece from a top-tier luxury brand was bound to be astronomical.

It was far too extravagant for a simple apology.

Whether Sebastian was genuinely apologetic or had an ulterior motive, accepting such a lavish gift was out of the question.

"For the record, I didn't reject his shoes because you bought the exact same pair, and I definitely didn't do it because I was worried you'd get jealous."

Once Sebastian was out of earshot, Melanie crossed her arms, adopting a stern, purely professional tone to explain herself to Preston.

Seeing the lingering annoyance on her face, Preston lowered his eyes, adopting a rare, pitiful look.

"I'm sorry. I know I was wrong... I shouldn't have blindly accused you, and I definitely shouldn't have gotten involved in Elara's mess..."

He kept his head bowed, offering a surprisingly humble apology while secretly shooting anxious glances at her face.

He couldn't tell if she was still fuming.

In reality, Melanie was biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.

It was incredibly rare to see the proud Preston Whitmore groveling like this.

And the sheer panic in his eyes—the obvious terror that she might still be mad at him—filled her with an immense, petty satisfaction.

Under the stunned gazes of dozens of employees, Preston pulled the heels from his box and placed them gently by Melanie's feet.

It wasn't until that moment that Melanie realized he was intending to put the shoes on her.

"Preston, I can do it myself..."

She hissed, leaning in.

She was painfully aware of the massive audience of Royce Group employees surrounding them.

But Preston blatantly ignored her protests, deftly unbuckling her current heels and slipping them off her feet.

Melanie's face burned crimson.

Especially when the crowd erupted into a chorus of excited squeals.

The new shoes were absolutely breathtaking.

They seemed like simple black heels, but the artisanal craftsmanship and ultra-luxe materials completely dwarfed anything off the rack.

The moment she slipped them on, her entire aura shifted, elevating her presence to a stunning new height.