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Chapter 47 A Gift for Goodbye

+8 Pearls

Naomi’s nature made it obvious–she might not say anything on the surface, but she’d always find a way to get revenge in

secret.

“You should go home with her if she asked you,” Zayden’s voice suddenly came from behind them.

Eliza looked over just in time to see him wrapping his hand around Naomi’s. The gesture was intimate–Naomi had often linked arms with him, but this time, it was Zayden bwho /breached out first.

With only a nce, Eliza responded calmly, “Sorry, I really don’t have btime/b.”

She turned to leave, but Naomi called after her, loud enough for the nearby students to hear,

“Eliza, did you know? Zayden and I are dating now.”

Zayden said nothingb. /b

Naomi continued, “You’re my sister, and I want your blessing. I’ve already agreed with Grace–we’re getting engaged after graduation. Our parents are meeting tonight to talk about it. If you don’te, I’ll be really sad.”

Eliza raised an eyebrow. “You really want me there?”

“Of course!” Naomi smiled sincerely. “No matter bwhat/b, you’re my sister. I want your blessing.”

“Alright then. I’lle with you tonight–and give you my most heartfelt blessing.

Her voice sharpened at bthe /bst few words, and without looking back, she walked straight into her ssroom.

That evening, the Holt family’s car waited outside the school.

Naomi climbed in with ease, patting the leather seat beside her. “Eliza,e on.”

She and Zayden sat together, leaving Eliza across from themb. /b

In the car, Naomi grabbed Zayden’s hand.

In the past, such a scene bwould /bhave cut into Eliza like a knife.

But now? She didn’t feel a thing.

She remembered bthis /broutine from her previous life–Naomi clinging to Zayden, constantly using these little gestures to get bunder /bher skin. It was all too familiarb. /bToo tired.

bInside /bthe small, confined space, Naomi leaned bagainst /bZayden like she was trying to be a part of him,

Still, Eliza’s expression didn’t change.

When they arrived and Zayden had already stepped inside, Naomi turned to her again. “Eliza, aren’t you curious how we gotb. /btogether? I was going to tell you.”

“Oh Eliza yed balong/b. “How did you get together?”

Naomi blushed. “bLast /bnight, Zayden btook /bbme /bout. I didn’t know he was going to confess to me… and after that, we went to a hotel

Her tone was vague bon /bbpurpose/b, designed to let imaginations run wild.

But Eliza saw through it immediately.

If Naomi were telling the truth, she would’ve bragged about it in the car–bwith /bZayden right there–just to humiliate her. That she didn’t only confirmed the lie.

“Eliza, now that I’m with Zayden… you’ll give me your blessing, right?”

+8 Pearls

Chapter 47 A Gift for Goodbye

“Of course, Eliza replied with a bbright /bsmile.

She thought back to how Naomi had stolen everything from her in her past life–without shame, without hesitation.

Her smile deepened.

She wasn’t here to give blessings.

She came to return the favor–and make Naomi feel what it’s like to have something you love ripped away.

bInside /bthe Rivers family home, Nathan and Evelyn beamed as they greeted Zayden and Grace.

But the moment they saw Eliza step through the door, their smiles froze.

No one expected her toe.

“Mom, I brought Eliza back on purpose.” Naomi said sweetly, blinking /bbarms /bwith her. “She said she wanted to give me at birthday blessingb.” /b

Evelyn’s smile thinned. “Didn’t we already cut ties? Why did you bring her back? Wash your hands and get ready to beat/b.”

Her dislike for Eliza was open and unfiltered.

Eliza didn’t say a word.

While Naomi went to the bathroom, Eliza nced toward Zayden, already seated at the table.

“Zayden,” bshe /bsaid. “I’ve got something for you.”

She walked up beside him and spoke in a low voice only he could hear.

After a moment of hesitation, bhe /bstood and followed her upstairs.

Zayden bhad /bnever known where Eliza’s room was.

Not until she led him all the way up–to a tiny attic room on the top floor.

Servants usually lived in spaces like this.

He’d always known she had it hard here.. but he hadn’t imagined it was this bad.

Eliza opened the bdoor /band walked inside. From a drawer, she pulled out a bsmall /bmetal box and handed it to him.

Zayden looked bdown/b. “What is this?”

“You used to ask why I bhad /bso many photos of byou/b,” Eliza bsaid /bsoftly. “I liked you. So I made this box–every picture inside bwas /btaken by me.”

She paused.

“But now that you’re engaged to my bsister/bb, /bI figured I

ould bgive /bit back.”

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