The CR store manager praised Juniper endlessly, his joy entirely genuine.


    And for good reason.


    Years ago, his little grandson had fallen gravely ill. They had visited countless hospitals, but no doctor could offer a solution. It was on the agonizing trip home, essentially waiting for the inevitable, that they ran into this absolute lifesaver.


    She went to incredible lengths-running experimental tests, trekking to the peaks of snowy mountains to source rare medicinal herbs... After exhaustive efforts, she finally dragged his grandson back from death''s door.


    She truly had a heart of gold.


    She hadn''t taken a single dime. When she left, she epted only two pieces of chocte as her fee.


    Such a monumental debt of gratitude couldn''t possibly be repaid with a few pieces of candy.


    "It really is the CR store manager!" Someone in the crowd gasped in recognition. "I''ve seen him online, I definitely wouldn''t mistake him."


    "My god, did Juniper Payne actually get the manager himself to make choctes for her?"


    "So the choctes she brought aren''t just real; they''re entirely unique in the world!"


    "Since the manager is right there on the screen, have him take a look at the ones Sheryl gave..."


    Hearing this, Sheryl stiffened. All the color drained from her face as her heart pounded against her ribs.


    Just moments earlier, she had quietly texted the friend who bought the choctes for her. After pressing them relentlessly, the friend finally admitted the choctes were fakes. They had even made excuses, iming the replicas were so meticulously crafted that not even the CR manager would be able to tell the difference.


    "These choctes?" Before Sheryl could process her panic, the manager''s voice echoed clearly from the phone. "Our shop has been closed for renovations recently. Aside from the bespoke box you have there, we haven''t sold a single piece of chocte to anyone."


    "Those three boxes in the trash? Honestly, they''re fakes."


    Fakes?


    The guests'' jaws dropped, their eyes wide with shock. After all that drama, the wealthy, high-society darling Sheryl Yardley had gifted counterfeits.


    Talk about the pot calling the kettle ck!


    "The Yardley family is supposed to be well-off. How do you end up buying knock-off choctes?"


    "She was just trying to suck up to Miranda. We all know exactly what her endgame was!"


    "She got a little too arrogant just because she thought she had some connection to Mr. Schwartz."


    "Honestly, Ms. Payne was so calm while being ndered, and hereback was wless. No wonder Mr. Schwartz likes her. Even I''m impressed."


    "And what about the bracelet Ms.


    Payne gave Hannah?" someone else interjected, steering the


    conversation to another


    looks


    understated, but that''s no ordinary


    sandalwood."


    "Especially the one Hannah is wearing. I just looked it up—it''s an antique blessed by


    a renowned spiritual master centuries ago..."


    For someone who valued spiritual bnce, an item like that was priceless.


    "Ms. Payne is incredibly thoughtful. Unlike some people whose tterypletely backfired."


    "Seriously. She was running her mouth a minute ago, but now that she''s been proven wrong, she''s suddenly mute?"


    "Does she not know how to apologize when she''s wrong? Is this the kind of upbringing the Yardley family provides?"


    The tide of public opinion shifted at breakneck speed. The very people who had been questioning Juniper just moments ago were now elentlessly tearing Sheryl apart These social climbers knew exactly


    how to y the game.


    "I"


    Surrounded by whispers and judgmental stares, Sheryl clenched her fists. Her


    cheeks burned with humiliation.


    Apologize?


    As the pampered princess of the Yardley family, she had never bowed her head to anyone Especially not to someone who had conveniently swooped in and stolen her rightful ce as the future Mrs. Schwartz.


    Expect her to apologize? In her dreams!


    Just as Sheryl was hesitating, Shanley''s voice suddenly cut through the tension.


    "Ms. Yardley, is it? I suddenly remembered you!"


    "?"


    Sheryl''s head snapped up, her eyes lighting up with desperate joy.


    He finally remembered her? Given their history as childhood sweethearts, surely he


    was about to take her side?


    Juniper, meanwhile, frowned. Her knuckles suddenly felt itchy. She had a strong urge to knock something to relieve the annoyance.


    Preferably, Shanley''s head!


    ***