She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 1056

After listening to Preston's brief explanation, Elias nodded continuously on the other end of the line.

"Those shoes retail for over a hundred grand. You definitely paid a massive premium to get them, right?"

"Yeah."

Preston had actually dropped a staggering three hundred thousand dollars to secure the pair.

Granted, not all thirty pairs commanded such an insane markup.

But with a base price of over a hundred grand, it was an astronomical sum for a single pair of shoes.

Unbidden, Preston's thoughts drifted to Sebastian York.

Sebastian claimed he had come to offer Melanie a simple apology gift, yet he had brought shoes worth over a hundred grand.

That was hardly the standard budget for an apology.

Furthermore, that night on Luna Isle, Melanie had been completely in the dark.

But Luna Isle and Ruben Isle were both part of The Rosa Archipelago. As a native of Ruben Isle, there was zero chance Sebastian was ignorant of Luna Isle's local customs and legends.

Which meant Sebastian knew exactly what finishing that traditional dance entailed—that they would receive the blessing of the Goddess of Love—and he dragged Melanie through the entire routine anyway.

Preston's grip on his phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. His chiseled features darkened, looking as stormy as a brewing hurricane.

Ruben Isle.

Since returning, Sebastian had been running his clinic, though it was currently a slow hour with barely any patients.

He was also reviewing the files Melanie had sent him regarding the new targeted therapy.

But his focus was entirely shot. He couldn't absorb a single word, staring at the pages with abysmal efficiency.

Every few seconds, his gaze drifted to the bright orange shopping bag resting in the corner of his office.

It was the first time in his life he had proactively bought a gift for a woman...

And he hadn't even managed to give it to her.

Sebastian rested his chin in his hand, letting out a heavy sigh.

"How could it be such a coincidence? We bought the exact same shoes," he muttered to himself.

If he had bought a different style than Preston, would Melanie still have found a reason to turn him down?

Recalling the scene that had unfolded downstairs at the Royce Group earlier that day, a cold, cynical smile tugged at the corner of Sebastian's mouth.

"Shoes worth over a hundred grand... What kind of assistant can afford that? Limited to thirty pairs worldwide... What kind of assistant has that kind of access?"

Preston chuckled. He stepped up to her, his large hands—still clad in crisp white gloves—gently resting on her legs.

Melanie's mouth twitched.

She had literally just warned him, and he was already pushing his luck?

"If I massage your legs... does that count as taking advantage?"

"Yes..."

The word slipped out before she could stop it. She quickly backpedaled.

"...No?"

If he was just giving her a leg massage, wouldn't she be the one taking advantage of him?

Reasoning with herself, she comfortably stretched her legs out across the cushions.

"I can't get a good angle like this,"

Preston noted smoothly. His movements were swift and decisive.

Before Melanie even registered what was happening, he had lifted her legs and settled them firmly across his own lap.