She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 387

However, precisely because Dominic was now an employee of the Royce Group, he was terrified of offending the heiress of the company.

"Do you need something, Mr. Hale?"

The moment Melanie spoke, her icy, unapproachable aura made the smile on Dominic's face freeze.

"Nothing in particular, just..."

"If you don't need anything, then get out of my way."

"Wait, sweetheart!"

Dominic reached out and grabbed her arm.

Melanie didn't immediately shake him off, nor did she struggle.

She merely gave him a look.

Her glare was so razor-sharp that Dominic flinched, his hand instinctively releasing her.

"We are divorced. If you call me that again, I'll call the cops and have you arrested for harassment."

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

Dominic lowered his head deeply, taking a step back.

"Melanie, today is your first day on the job. I got you a gift..."

Adopting a pathetic, subservient posture, he held up a shopping bag with both hands and offered it to her.

"It's the newest Hermes handbag. It costs over three hundred thousand dollars!"

Hearing him deliberately emphasize the price tag, Melanie gave a dismissive shrug.

"I don't want it. Take it back."

In a flash, Dominic's expression darkened.

"Are you rejecting this because it isn't as expensive as the necklace Preston gave you?"

Melanie stiffened, caught off guard by the sudden mention of Preston's name.

Dominic regretted the words the second they left his mouth.

This was absolutely not the time to lose his temper with her.

"T-this bag is just a token of my appreciation. If you don't take it, I'll go beg Mr. Royce to make you accept it!"

With that, Dominic forcefully shoved the bag into her arms, spun on his heel, and ran off.

Around the corner, Aria watched the entire exchange with hawk-like precision.

Melanie had accepted the Hermes bag from Dominic.

She pulled out her phone and secretly snapped a picture of Melanie holding it.

At Sable & Ivy Fine Dining.

Only three people were seated in the luxurious six-person private dining room.

The rest of the space was occupied by assistants and bodyguards.

They stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the background, resembling an impenetrable wall.

"Elara, I didn't realize you were planning a long stay in Averin. Please forgive my lack of preparation!"

There was no need to say them out loud.

Preston already knew.

When Marjorie called him earlier, she hadn't mentioned that Elara would be at Sable & Ivy Fine Dining.

She had simply told him to drop whatever he was doing and come over.

Elara had been terrified that if Preston knew she was going to be there, he would have found an excuse to bail.

So, she specifically asked Marjorie to keep it a secret.

As the first courses arrived, the atmosphere at the table grew exceptionally strained.

"Elara, you're far too thin. You need to eat more... Preston, serve her some food! She loves seafood..."

Marjorie shot Preston a pointed look. He put down his own utensils, picked up the serving tongs and offered her a portion of the seared scallops.

Still, he said absolutely nothing.

Elara forced a smile and looked at him.

"This is delicious."

Preston didn't even glance her way. It was as if his body was at the table, but his mind was miles away.

Out of the three of them, only Marjorie and Elara made any attempt at conversation.

Slowly, the tension began to ease.

"By the way, Mrs. Whitmore, I happened to see a girl recently. She seemed to be wearing that heirloom necklace you gave Preston."