She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 382

Melanie stood dumbfounded.

What had he just said?

A family heirloom?

For his future wife?

Lowering her gaze, her eyes fell on the necklace resting in her palm.

She knew it was valuable from the start, but she hadn't realized it carried that kind of weight.

An inexplicable flutter stirred in her chest. Suddenly, the jewelry in her hand felt impossibly heavy.

Even Preston's affection for her seemed to carry a suffocating weight.

Melanie admitted to herself that she had feelings for him.

But...

After surviving a failed marriage, she had developed an instinctual aversion to romance and commitment.

Right now, they weren't even dating. Accepting this necklace would be genuinely irresponsible to him.

"If it holds that much meaning, then I absolutely cannot accept it."

Her rejection was resolute.

Preston knew she was serious.

But...

He didn't want her to reject him with such conviction.

Consumed by a wave of nameless frustration, he suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Melanie gasped.

Before she could react, he forced her fingers closed, trapping the necklace tightly within her grip.

"Preston, don't do this..."

A thread of cautious fear wove through her voice.

Although Preston possessed an intensely commanding presence, he rarely showed this domineering side to her.

It was why she had never felt unsafe or uncomfortable sharing an apartment with him.

Yet, in this exact moment, she was genuinely afraid.

He hadn't crossed any physical boundaries, but a sudden panic gripped her.

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