I Became the Billionaire's Fake Lover to Get My Revenge
Chapter 90: Blood, Sweat, and Tears

Chapter 90: Blood, Sweat, and Tears

The Swandream launch party was already in full swing by the time Anna and Marienne arrived at the venue. Ironically, it was being held at the Emerald Hotel—Amelie Bennett’s own property—chosen no doubt because the name conveniently echoed the brand’s new gemstone-themed collection.

Yet to Marienne, it hardly mattered what the gem was. As long as it sparkled, she was enchanted.

"The new collection is absolutely stunning!" Marienne gasped, her eyes glittering with even more fervor than the emeralds nestled in delicate beds of diamonds across rings, bracelets, and necklaces. "God, I wonder how much the entire set would cost!"

Anna allowed herself a knowing smirk as she plucked a flute of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray. "Some of the VIP guests received complete sets of the new design as a gift," she said casually. "I got one, too."

She lifted the glass to her lips, watching with hidden satisfaction as Marienne’s expression briefly twisted with thinly veiled envy.

"Wow, you’re so lucky," Marienne said, her voice a pitch higher. "It must be nice being on the VIP list at every event!"

"Why?" Anna countered smoothly, taking a slow sip. "I thought you were already well-established in high society. Isn’t Robert Hyde’s company thriving? I’d imagine he could easily afford to buy you the entire collection if he wanted."

Marienne’s pout returned with full force, her expression petulant. "Yes, but there’s a waiting list! And even if there weren’t, he still... Ugh, I already have too much jewelry. It’s not like any of this stuff goes out of style anyway."

"That’s true," Anna nodded, offering a tight-lipped smile. She was about to say something else—something subtle that might have thrown Marienne off balance again—but the woman cut her off, her lips curving into an unnaturally wide smile.

"You know," she began again, eyes gleaming with self-satisfaction, "diamonds may go with everything, but pearls... pearls are timeless. They’re the eternal classics. My future mother-in-law owns the most exquisite set of South Sea pearls—a four-piece vintage Cartier collection of natural pearls. It’s worth over ten million now! One of the most expensive pearl sets in the world, can you believe that?"

Her eyes practically sparkled with excitement, but Anna didn’t feel the usual smug amusement or even mild annoyance she typically did around Marienne.

She felt rage. Devastation. A kind of hollow ache she couldn’t suppress.

Those are my mother’s pearls.

Anna swallowed hard, forcing down the invisible stone rising in her throat, tightening her chest. The vintage Cartier set—passed down from her great-grandmother, a woman with royal blood in her veins. That set was a family heirloom. Sacred. Irreplaceable.

If she even touches them... if she so much as dares to wear them...

"I’m going to receive that set as a gift," Marienne announced sweetly, twisting the blade of her words deeper into Anna’s already bleeding heart. Her smile was radiant, her delight completely genuine. "No designer gem could ever compare to that kind of legacy."

"How..." Anna nearly choked again but managed to clear her throat, disguising her reaction behind a strained cough. "How did your future mother-in-law get her hands on such an extraordinary set? If you don’t mind me asking."

Marienne grinned mischievously and beckoned Anna to lean in, lowering her voice as if she were about to reveal a closely guarded secret.

"They used to belong to my fiancé’s dead wife," she whispered with a smug little chuckle. "That poor idiot didn’t even bother to insure them. And when she passed, her equally foolish aunt tried to get her grubby little fingers on them, too. But Mrs. Hyde was clever enough to—"

"Excuse me, ladies," a calm voice interrupted before Marienne could finish. One of the event coordinators had approached with a warm smile, gesturing politely toward the stage. "The presentation is about to begin. This way, please."

"How exciting!" Marienne exclaimed, clapping her hands together. Without waiting for a response, she seized Anna by the wrist and practically dragged her forward. "I’ve been dying to see the president of the jewelry house in person!"

Anna followed along, her heels clicking against the polished floor, but her mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. Her chest tightened with each step, thoughts racing in frantic disarray. It wasn’t surprising that her aunt had tried to reclaim the pearls—but what had Colette done to stop her?

As far as Anna knew, the pearls had been legally transferred to her, secured by an affidavit and a possession history statement signed years ago by her late father’s lawyer. Everything had been legitimate. Or so she thought.

So what exactly did Marienne mean? Had Colette destroyed the original documents? Or worse—had she forged new ones to rewrite history?

"Ladies and gentlemen," the smooth, poised voice of the announcer pulled Anna back to the present. She blinked, lifting her gaze toward the stage as a round of polite applause echoed through the venue.

"Please join me in welcoming Mr. Thomas Richmond, the sixth president of the Swandream Jewelry House!"

The crowd erupted into polite applause once more as a rather short, stocky, middle-aged man stepped onto the stage, adjusting his jacket as he made his way to the microphone. But Anna’s attention wasn’t on him. Her sharp, ice-blue eyes remained locked on Marienne, whose face radiated genuine delight, her features glowing with admiration and awe.

Thomas began his speech, speaking eloquently about the inspiration behind the new jewelry line and the intricate process of its creation. He praised the artisans, the visionaries, and the moments of serendipity that brought the designs to life. Yet none of his words registered in Anna’s mind.

Marienne occasionally stole glances at Anna, giggling softly like a starstruck girl seeing her idol for the very first time. Her laughter was light, almost musical, but to Anna, it grated like nails against glass. She couldn’t even summon the strength to pretend interest, let alone smile.

Instead, her stare darkened into something fierce and venomous—an unspoken fury that could’ve torn Marienne to shreds. If looks could kill, the woman beside her would’ve been reduced to dust and scattered beneath Anna’s heel, ground mercilessly into the dirt where she belonged.

"And now," Thomas announced with a flourish, "I’d like to invite you all to enjoy a short video presentation—a glimpse into the blood, sweat, and tears that go into crafting something truly unforgettable."