I Became the Billionaire's Fake Lover to Get My Revenge
Chapter 34: Little Things

Chapter 34: Little Things

The living room of the Garrel estate was steeped in a suffocating silence. Anna, Gabriel, and Anaїs sat on a plush white couch, their expressions dark and contemplative, their gazes fixed on the glossy envelope resting on the coffee table. Atop it lay an elegant invitation card, its golden embellishments catching the dim light.

"A charity event, huh?" Gabriel finally muttered, more to himself than to anyone in particular. "William really is something... I wonder how he managed to get an invitation before we did."

Mrs. Garrel clicked her tongue in mild disapproval. "You know William—he always finds a way. Besides, it’s a charity event organized by Amelie Bennett. The moment she learned that Will was launching a major philanthropic project, she was eager to help."

"Amelie Bennett?" Anna’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. "The Amelie Bennett?"

"Yes," Anais confirmed with a nod. "She’s been a dedicated philanthropist for years. Overseeing large-scale charity events is practically second nature to her, and receiving an invitation to one of her auctions is quite an honor."

Indeed, Anna thought, pressing the nail of her left thumb into the skin of her right hand, an old nervous habit resurfacing. The Hydes have never been invited to any of her events before... So which one of the ’rats’ am I supposed to meet there?

When Violet had handed her the invitation, she hadn’t disclosed who exactly Anna was expected to encounter at the auction. She had only said that William had chosen to keep it a secret—insisting it was better this way. If Anna didn’t know, she wouldn’t spend days obsessing over the meeting; she could simply focus on preparing for the event itself.

But instead of easing her mind, it had the opposite effect. The more she thought about the auction, the more restless she became. Who was she meant to meet there?

"I’ve never been to an auction myself," Gabriel admitted, glancing at Anna, as if sensing her unease. "Grandma, do you know which one this is?"

Anaїs nodded and picked up the invitation, scanning the details once more. "It’s a silent auction featuring twenty-five art pieces from promising artists. Each guest is required to place a silent bid, which is considered their donation. The highest bid wins the piece, and the artwork sold for the highest price earns a spot in a renowned gallery—offering the artist a significant boost in recognition."

Gabriel’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, this is Chloe’s chance to finally showcase her talents! She’s been training so hard for this!"

But Anna couldn’t share in his enthusiasm just yet.

"Well," Anaїs continued, gently prying Anna’s hands apart, her touch both firm and motherly. "While Chloe was indeed invited as an art expert, there are more pressing matters to consider. For instance, the bad habits she still refuses to break."

Her sharp gaze flicked to the faint red marks on Anna’s hands—evidence of her nervous habit. Anna bit her lip, feeling the weight of the older woman’s judgment.

"I’m sorry, Mrs. Garrel," she murmured.

Anaїs sighed, her voice softer but no less firm. "I know old habits die hard, but you must always be mindful of the image you uphold. Chloe Dumas exhibits no such behavior, and you must remember that at all times. It’s the smallest details that betray us. Never forget, Chloe—we are made of the little things."

"I will remember that," Anna said with a quick nod, silently berating herself for clinging to such a childish habit.

Mrs. Garrel was right—small mannerisms often left the strongest impressions. Robert and his family had reprimanded her countless times for ruining her hands like this. If she was to shed the identity of Anna Hyde completely, she needed to abandon every trace of her past, even the habits she had carried for years.

"Now," Anaїs continued, her tone softening slightly, "there’s one more thing you need to be mindful of—Amelie Bennett herself. She majored in linguistics and speaks flawless French. I have no doubt she’ll take an interest in you, so be careful with your speech. She can easily spot a non-native speaker. While you’ve excelled in your language studies, even the smallest mistake could betray you."

"Understood," Anna replied, her expression turning serious.

She was fortunate to have studied French at university, meaning she only needed to refine her vocabulary and accent. But Anaїs was right—one misplaced word, one nervous slip, and Chloe Dumas’s identity would be at risk.

"Lea," Mrs. Garrel called, setting the invitation back onto the coffee table. "Please inform Mr. Moreau that we’ll need the car in about an hour."

"Yes, Madame Garrel," the maid replied with a polite bow before disappearing down the hall to relay the message.

Gabriel, who had been quietly observing, perked up. "Are we going somewhere?" he asked as Anaїs gracefully rose from her seat, smoothing the fabric of her skirt with a practiced motion.

"Yes, we are going shopping, my dear boy. After all, such an important event calls for new attire."

She made her way around the couch, heading for the stairwell. "We are meeting at the entrance in an hour!"

***

"The bags must be heavy. I’m really sorry, Edmond," Anna said, casting the butler an apologetic look as he carried the shopping bags upstairs to her room. Edmond had served the Garrel family for over forty years, and though he was still as dedicated as ever, he wasn’t exactly in his prime for hauling such a heavy load.

She moved to help, but Edmond waved her off with a good-natured chuckle. "This is nothing compared to the shopping sprees Madame Garrel used to have when she was your age. I must have strained my back at least a dozen times just carrying all her shoes!"

Anna couldn’t help but laugh. Even though she still felt uneasy letting him handle so many things alone, it was reassuring to see that he didn’t resent the task.

As they reached her bedroom door, she hurried to open it, allowing Edmond to step inside without breaking his stride.

The moment they entered, however, the motion-sensing lights failed to turn on. Outside, the sun had already set, and the room was swallowed in complete darkness.

"Strange," Edmond murmured, pausing. "I was certain I instructed the maids to change the lightbulbs every two weeks."

"You’re right," Anna agreed, setting a few of the bags down. "Lea replaced them just a couple of days ago. It’s probably the sensor acting up. I’ll use the switch for now—we can call maintenance in the morning."

"As you wish, Mademoiselle. Have a good night." Edmond bowed slightly before retreating down the hallway, his footsteps fading into the distance.

Anna let out a sigh, turning toward the wall as she reached out in search of the light switch. "Alright... where are you?" she muttered.

"A little more to your right," a deep male voice instructed.

Anna froze. A sharp jolt shot through her body, her breath catching in her throat.

"Oh my God!" she gasped, nearly jumping out of her skin. "Mr. Stark?!"